With Hanukkah just around the corner and Christmas fast approaching, it’s all about getting ready for the holidays! Welcome to the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party welcomes blog posts about anything that feeds the soul. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
NB. Please only share blog posts. I’m sorry, but links to Facebook posts etc will be deleted.
What’s Been Happening
We are definitely starting to get ready for the holidays round here. I’m hoping to finish my Christmas decorating this weekend. However I did squeeze in one last autumnal bake last week.
My Apricot Pecan Quick Bread is studded with dried apricots and crunchy pecans, and flavoured with warming ginger, It’s perfect for breakfast, dessert, or with a cup of tea or coffee anytime. Although it was photographed with a fall theme, I make it all year round!
I’m getting ahead by making and freezing dough rolls of these pretty Old Fashioned Cherry Christmas Cookies. This old fashioned slice and bake recipe is so popular with friends and family at Christmas.
One of my all time favourite Christmas treats, my late Auntie Irene’s Coconut Date and Cherry Christmas Squares bring back happy memories every time I make them. They are very easy to assemble and naturally gluten free too.
Thank you all for sharing your wonderful content and for your support of Hearth and Soul!
Getting Ready for the Holidays – Featured Posts
Getting ready for the holidays featured posts include (from top left, clockwise):-
I grew up in city with a very large population of folks who had immigrated to Canada from Germany so Pfefferneusse have long been a favourite of mine! Cindy from Seasonal and Holiday Recipe Exchange is sharing her Grandma’s recipe for these gorgeously spiced traditional cookies in Gram’s Traditional Pfefferneusse.
Penny from Penny’s Vintage Treasures offers some elegant seasonal decorating inspiration in her post sharing her White Orchids, Roses and Poinsettia Christmas Wreath.
Like Mrs Kringle, I have a serious weakness for English toffee, so I found the recipe for these English Toffee Cookies very hard to resist.
Tara from Stilettos and Shiplap has taken some very basic ornaments and made them into something very special indeed. I really like the creative ideas she shared in All the Trimmings – 5 Unique Christmas Tree Ornaments.
On with the party!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
- Please do not link to anything except blog posts. Please share the permalink to your blog post, and not to the home page of your blog.
- Linking your blog posts here means you consent to me sharing as many of them as I can on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook and featuring them on my blog with photographs from the post. It’s easier for me to share if you have share buttons on your blog, and if you put links to your social media on your home page.
- Please consider sharing the party with your friends and followers. There are share buttons at the top and bottom of this post to help make it easy.
Take care, stay safe and well, and I hope this week brings you lots of blessings.
Comments & Reviews
Morsels of Life | CJ Huang says
Your Apricot Quick Bread sounds lovely. I just might have to give it a try. Thanks for hosting! I brought by some Parmesan Roasted Acorn Squash. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
April Harris says
Thank you, CJ, and thank you for your support of Hearth and Soul!
Penny Phillips says
Thank you so much for the feature April…..hugs….
April Harris says
It’s my pleasure, Penny! Thank you for your support of Hearth and Soul!
Barbara Harper says
All those goodies look so tasty.
April Harris says
Thank you, Barbara!
Michelle says
Everything looks so tasty!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
April Harris says
Thank you, Michelle!
Sandra @ Dinner at Eight says
Thanks so much for hosting the party each week! Happy December!
April Harris says
Happy December to you too, Sandra!
Julie says
All of your baked treats look so good April. I’m sharing some holiday crafts this week. I hope you have a nice week!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Julie! I hope you have a nice week too!
Cindy Handy says
Thank you for featuring my grandmother’s Pfefferneusse cookies! I’ve already baked at least 25 kinds of cookies (I sell them on eBay), but had to copy your Cherry Christmas Cookie recipe to add that to my collection! My fruitcake bars and gingersnaps are great sellers all through the year, and these look like they will be too. I also buy my candied/glazed fruit from an online company (Nuts.com), but haven’t seen gold ones! I’ll have to look. Merry Christmas, and a very happy, healthy and safe 2021 to you!
April Harris says
It’s a pleasure, Cindy, and what a lovely compliment! I’m so glad you like the recipe. Coloured glacé cherries aren’t easily available in the UK, but I get mine from a supplier on Amazon.
Pat says
Wonderful recipes, April. I really like the Cherry Christmas slice and bake cookies you’ve shown and will try making them as part of my cookie tray.
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Pat! I hope you enjoy the Cherry Christmas cookies!
Lisa notes says
I need to finish putting out my Christmas decorations this week too. I started Thanksgiving weekend, then sort of lost interest. But you’re inspiring me to get back to it. 🙂 Love seeing all the beautiful colors and foods in your photos.
April Harris says
Thank you, Lisa! I’m glad you are feeling inspired again. 🙂
Marilyn Lesniak says
I need to do Christmas at your home. It all looks so delicious!
This is what I featured the week of 11-30 to 12-4-2020 on my blog. On Tuesday was Christmas Spirit Sugar Cookies. Wednesday saw Christmas Almond Balls. Thursday was Cherpumple Cake. And winding up Christmas specials was Turkey Ham and Cheese Strata. Enjoy!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Marilyn! Christmas at your house sounds pretty delicious too 🙂
Marielle says
I love the holiday season! Thanks for hosting a great linkup!
April Harris says
Me too, Marielle! Thank you for your support of Hearth and Soul!
Cindy Mom, the Lunch Lady says
Lovely features this week April. Our house is officially decorated and I have started baking and freezing a few Christmas cookies. Even though our Christmas will be small this year, the kids have requested their favourite cookies and Christmas treats 🙂
Thank you so much for hosting and I hope you have a wonderful week!
April Harris says
I’m still working on the last of my decorations, Cindy, but I’m definitely getting there. Our Christmas will be small this year too. It’s lovely to have the cookies and treats we remember though, so I’ll be baking too! 🙂
Lauren Renee Sparks says
I love apricots. Yum.
April Harris says
Me too, Lauren. 🙂
Joanne says
I’m mostly ready for the holidays; I’m just waiting for a few more gifts to arrive so I can finish wrapping.
April Harris says
You are ahead of me, Joanne! 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Tiffany says
Hi April, Love your Christmas goodies! I’m eyeing the Coconut Date and Cherry Squares! They look so extra yummy and I’m a sucker for coconut! Enjoyed your features! Thanks for hosting again!
Hugs,
Tee @ Teediddlydee
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Tee! I’m fond of coconut too. Have a lovely week. Hugs!
Patrick Weseman says
All of that food looks so mighty good. Might have to drop by and stay for a while. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
April Harris says
Thank you, Patrick. I hope your week is a great one!