It's crazy that Christmas is less than a week away! I spent today stamping kraft paper to pretty it up as wrapping paper, and wrapping a few presents. Our tree looks less naked now that there are presents underneath, even though almost all of them are for other people. Dan and I usually agree that our annual rock gym membership is our Christmas present to each other and try to forego superfluous presents, though as Christmas gets closer I have a hard time not buying a couple fun presents for him. Last year for Dan I splurged on a bottle of fancy Bruichladdich scotch the night before Christmas while on a grocery run, and it actually turned out to last nearly the whole year! My parents mailed us a few presents, though, so at least we'll have something to open on Christmas day. It's hard to "open" a rock gym membership, and it also lacks the element of surprise which is half the fun. I'm a purist when it comes to shaking or peeking at presents, or opening them early. Last year I wouldn't let Dan give me my birthday present early even though he told me it'd be super practical. I did end up opening it a bit early, and I wish I'd caved and opened it even earlier because it was an electric blanket and at the time we were living in the coldest house ever! Sometimes being a purist doesn't make the most sense.

dress + cardigan/via swap :: hat/Dan's :: scarf/h&m :: boots/courtesy of minnetonka
tights/target :: coat/coldwater creek :: beach photos by Dan

We don't have a ton of holiday traditions, but I knew there was one that I wanted to share that is a couple generations old in my family. Every year on Christmas morning my Mom makes a Swedish Tea Ring for breakfast. Since Dan and I have done our last two Christmases up in Alaska with my family I haven't yet had to take the reins on this tradition, but this year we'll be here in Tacoma, so I have to make my own tea ring this year! My mom actually gave me her Betty Crocker cookbook, edges frayed from 30 years of being cracked open, with this recipe in it as a wedding present. There's something so special and unique opening a cookbook passed down, and reading the same ingredients and directions as the women before me. I love the internet and being able to look up pretty much any recipe my heart desires, but there's no substitute for the generational ties folded between the pages of an old cookbook.

Sweet Roll Dough

1 package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (105-115F)
1/2 cup lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening, or butter, softened
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3.5-4 cups all-purpose flour

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water in larg bowl.

2. Stir in milk, sugar, butter, salt, egg, and 2 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix. inenough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

3. Turn dough on to lightly floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about 1.5 hours. Dough is ready if an indentation remains when touched. (to make ahead: after kneading, dough can be covered and refrigerated in greased bowl no longer than 4 days)

4. Punch down dough. Shape, let rise and bake as directed.

Cinnamon-raisin filling

2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins

Glaze

Mix 1 c. powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until glaze is smooth and of desired consistency

Swedish Tea Ring

1. Roll 1/2 Sweet Roll Dough into rectangle, 15x9 inches, on lightly floured surface.

2. Spread butter over rectangle, sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins.

3. Roll up tightly, beginning at 15-inch side. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal well.

4. Stretch roll to make even. With sealed edge down, shape into ring on lightly greased cookie sheet.Pinch ends together.

5. With scissors, make cuts 2/3 of the way through ring at 1-inch intervals. Turn each section on its side. Let rise until double, about 40 minutes.

6. Heat oven to 375F. Bake until golden brown , 25-30 mins. (If tea ring browns too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil.

7. Spread ring with glaze and, if desired, decorate with nuts or cherries while warm.