Santa Clues on Christmas Eve: A Celebration of Parenthood!

By Jeanne Benedict
Santa's Cookies & Milk

For me, one of the great joys of being a parent is playing Santa Claus. This Christmas, leave “Santa Clues” for the little ones so they know St. Nick was there. While you are finishing your Santa preparations, don't forget to Celebrate! Indulge in Lobster Bisque and sip a glass of Riesling while leaving the Clues for the kids to find on Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve Fun for the Kids

Getting the kids to sleep on Christmas Eve is quite a task. Chances are they’ve been munching on Christmas cookies all day, and bouncing off the walls with excitement. Here are some fun ideas to tire the little ones, so you can begin your Santa duties and have a little celebration of your own.

Santa Stop Here!

Sno-Paint from Plow and HearthSno-Paint from Plow and Hearth Santa Stop Here!

Let Santa know that he's welcome with a painted sign in the snow! This environmentally safe Sno-paint from Plow and Hearth will bring out the Arctic artists in your kids, as they mark the front yard for Santa and his reindeers to land.

Twas’ The Night Before Christmas

On Christmas Eve, many families read “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.” The children are so enraptured by the thought of Santa sliding down the chimney, that this is the perfect opportunity to create a little “St. Nick” mischief outside. My husband always slips out the backdoor and jingles sleigh bells near the kids’ windows.

Santa Tracker

Let the anticipation of Santa’s arrival build by tracking his whereabouts around the globe. NORAD Tracks Santa is an ingenious website that shows a satellite view of Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve. Notable people and celebrities narrate the “live” video of Santa’s flight on a world map, with regular updates throughout the night.

Official Santa "Naughty or Nice" Quiz and Certificate

Christmas Santa Claus is a website with a brief, interactive “Naughty or Nice” quiz, that kids can take to see where they stand! After taking the quiz, they can print a certificate as official proof of their ranking. The website also has a cute “letter to Santa form” and a lot of fun holiday stuff.

Snowman Plate and Mugs from Plow and HearthSnowman Platter and Mugs from Plow and Hearth

Cookies, Milk, and Carrots!

Baking and decorating cookies for Santa is a wonderful Christmas Eve activity. You can buy “ready to bake” cookies in the refrigerator section of the grocery store, and then embellish them with decorations. Offer your cookies on a special Snowman cookie platter with a warm mug of milk. Set the cookies on a table near the Christmas tree and don’t forget a carrot for the reindeers to munch on!

Gather by the Hearth

We like to warm up the chimney for Santa and wind down by a cozy fire. A personal tradition in my family is for each person to open one gift from a family member on Christmas Eve. We gather by the hearth, sip eggnog, and open our gifts. The kids roast marshmallows and drink hot cocoa with candy cane stick stirrers.

When The Children Are Nestled All Snug In Their Bed…

Since it takes forever for the kids to go to sleep, the first presents land under the tree around midnight in my home. Celebrate while on Santa patrol with prankish behavior, by leaving “Santa Clues” for the kids, and enjoying some late night snacks!

North Pole Mailbox

10 Ways To Leave Santa Clues

  1. Of course, eat the Santa cookies. Leave plenty of crumbs!
  2. Take a bite out of Rudolph’s carrot.
  3. Make Santa’s boot prints with soot from the fireplace.
  4. Make reindeer hoof prints on the driveway or pathway with dirt.
  5. Leave a North Pole snowball in the freezer. Form a perfect ball using this snowball maker.
  6. Leave cookies or homemade fudge from Mrs. Claus, in place of the cookies that were left for Santa.
  7. Tear off a piece of Santa’s “Naughty or Nice List” with your child’s name in the “Nice” column.
  8. Drop an elf’s business card on the floor with an appropriate toyshop job description.
  9. Leave magic snow crystals or fake snow with glitter on the floor.
  10. Drop a small pouch with “lumps of coal” candy by the fireplace. Attach a tag with a child’s name on it. Don’t put your child’s name on it. Say, “Santa must have dropped this for another kid. I guess he does leave lumps of coal for the naughty ones!”

Christmas Eve Rieslings

2006 Chateau St. Michelle Eroica Riesling

2005 Poet’s Leap Riesling

2006 Pegasus Bay Riesling

2005 Trefethen Dry Reisling

2006 Chateau Montelena Potter Valley Riesling

Look here for Holiday Chardonnay!

Santa’s Midnight Snack

I’m usually famished while playing Santa, and need a little more than the cookies and milk on the plate! Delight in warm Lobster Bisque and toasty Open-Face Gruyere and Prosciutto Melts, along with a festive Riesling to keep you going and give you a holiday glow.

 

 

Lobster Bisque

1 1/2 pound cooked lobster
1 1/4 cups water
1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
5 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 cup dry sherry

Remove the lobster meat from the shell, and chop meat; set aside. Place lobster shell in a large pot with water, clam juice, and bay leaf. Cook over medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Strain liquid and reserve stock; discard solids.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery and sauté for 3 minutes. Sprinkle flour over mixture in pan and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add reserved stock, milk, cream, tomato paste, salt and pepper and cook, stirring constantly, on medium for 10 minutes to thicken. Stir in lobster meat and sherry and serve immediately. Makes about 4 cups

For A Christmas Eve Snack: Prepare bisque on the morning of Christmas Eve, and cool to room temperature. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Warm in the microwave or in a saucepan on stovetop.

 

Open-Face Gruyere and Prosciutto Melts

4-ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
1/3 cup Gruyere cheese shredded
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons basil leaves
1 loaf French or Italian bread

Coarsely chop prosicutto and add to a mixing bowl. Stir in Gruyere, Parmesan, mayonnaise, lemon, basil leaves, and a dash of salt and pepper, until thoroughly combined. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

When ready to serve, preheat broiler. Cut thick slices of bread and toast. Place bread on broiler pan and spoon prosciutto-cheese mixture on top. Broil for 30-60 seconds, until lightly brown. Serve hot. Makes about 8 to 10 pieces.

For A Christmas Eve Snack: Prepare the prosciutto-cheese mixture on the morning of Christmas Eve. Cover and store in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, prepare and broil as instructed.


Did we spark any imaginative ideas for leaving Santa Clues? Send them, along with your Christmas Eve traditions to the Celebrations Community! If you’re looking for inspiration, visit our Christmas and Holiday Party pages to find festive food and seasonal décor ideas. As always, if you need a little help or suggestions, Ask Jeanne.

 

 

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