Whether you’re feeling naughty or nice, these cherished cookie traditions deliver delicious holiday magic.
Behold a wonderland where history sparkles and simple things become extraordinary.
Witness the community, the stories and the teamwork it takes to ensure every child feels the wonder of Christmas.
10 SANTA'S SWEET LIST
Whether you’re feeling naughty or nice, these cherished cookie traditions deliver delicious holiday magic.
20 LIGHTING UP LITTLE LIVES
Witness the community, the stories and the teamwork it takes to ensure every child feels the wonder of Christmas.
26 GALLERY OF CHRISTMAS PAST
Behold a wonderland where history sparkles and simple things become extraordinary.
32 CITRUS HOLIDAY FIZZ
This Christmas soda celebrates the magic of the season.
36 FACES OF SEGUIN
Submitted photos from our readers
38 SAVE THE DATE
See what events are coming up
Warm wishes from Seguin Magazine and the Seguin Gazette, as we honor the cookie traditions and joyful memories that bring comfort, laughter and the sweetness to the season.
Vol. 12, No. 7
SEGUIN MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED TWELVE TIMES A YEAR BY THE SEGUIN GAZETTE.
PUBLISHER
Elizabeth Engelhardt
MAGAZINE EDITOR / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Desiree Gerland
CONTRIBUTORS
Felicia Frazar
Victoria Gaytan
Bianca Rawlings
Sydney Seidel
Danny Story
ADVERTISING
Gay Lynn Olsovsky
Delilah Reyes
Laela Reyes
TO ADVERTISE IN SEGUIN MAGAZINE CALL 830-463-0766
HAVE STORY IDEAS? LET US KNOW! seguinmagazine@seguingazette.com
This year has been a swirl of old and new for me. The kind of year that reminds you how big life can get. My teens are nearly ready to step into their futures, my grandparents have shown me both strength and fragility, and two different friendships grew in ways I didn’t expect. One here at home has grown into a kind of closeness that feels as natural as it is extraordinary, and another across the ocean deepened with long conversations on the streets of London, reminding me how expansive friendship can be. I’ve run laughing through a 5K mud pit and wandered through the mountains of the Pacific North West, letting myself feel small and adventurous at the same time.
And then I return to Seguin, where delicate paper ornaments made by seven devoted sisters are preserved like tiny echoes of the past. I taste the season in cookie recipes handed down from one kitchen to the next, some exact and some delightfully flawed. And I see generosity in motion as ministries collect gifts to make sure every child feels the magic of Christmas morning.
This month’s issue celebrates all of that, the heirlooms we safeguard, the traditions we reinvent, the generosity that anchors us and the stories that make us feel at home. Even as my own life stretches into new shapes far and wide, I am happily reminded that traditions aren’t meant to stay the same — they’re meant to stay meaningful.
Desiree Gerland
Magazine Editor
desiree.gerland@seguingazette.com
WHETHER YOU’RE FEELING NAUGHTY OR NICE, THESE CHERISHED COOKIE TRADITIONS DELIVER DELICIOUS HOLIDAY MAGIC.
During the holidays, even the most disciplined among us find ourselves drifting toward the sugar-dusted side of the season. Cookies become tiny celebrations, baked into trays and shared across kitchen tables, gifted in tins and eaten far too late at night when the yuletide sweet tooth hits. And while every family has its own festive favorite, a few of Seguin’s community leaders were kind enough to open their recipe boxes and share their memories of the holiday cookies that hold special places in their hearts.
For Seguin City Manager Steve Parker, his late wife Wendy’s chocolate chip cookies were all the rage for him, his family and friends.
“All of our friends would always request that she bring cookies,” he said. “She always said that she just used the recipe from the toll house bag of chocolate morsels.”
Steve and his daughter have tried to mimic Wendy’s creations but can’t seem to get them just right.
“We know she used Mexico vanilla,” he said. “My daughter and I have tried to replicate numerous times but they are just never the same. I guess making stuff with love as the secret ingredient really was the trick.”
Recipe: Original Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts (optional, if omitting, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour)
Step 1: Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.
Step 2: Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixer bowl until creamy.
Step 3: Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts.
Step 4: Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets
Step 5: Preheat oven to 375° F. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Guadalupe County Pct. 1
Commissioner Jaqueline “Jackie” Ott said her go-to cookie is a holiday classic.
“I like the sugar cookies with homemade decorative icing, the one that’s handmade with different colors that slightly bleed into each other,” she said. “They taste amazing, but they also make me happy.”
Ott was introduced to the cookies in college through her roommate, she said.
“My college roommate’s mom made
amazing cookies and I had never done handmade icing before and she taught me how to do that,” Ott said. “So, we would make little Christmas trees and Santa Clauses and bring them to our sorority house. It is really fond memories of that time.”
Now, when she makes them, Ott uses a standard recipe and tweaks it to find the right combination for her.
“I like to make little changes, like with the vanilla,” she said.
Recipe: Easy Sugar Cookies & Sugar Cookie Frosting - Courtesy of Sugar Spun Run
Sugar Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon table salt
Frosting
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted 3-4 Tablespoons milk
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Gel food coloring optional
Additional candies for decorating
Step 1: Combine butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand or hand mixer and beat until creamy. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until completely combined.
Step 2: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually stir dry ingredients into wet until dough is smooth and completely combined.
Step 3: Transfer approximately half of the dough onto a piece of clear wrap or wax paper (dough will be quite sticky at this point). Mold into a flat disk. Wrap tightly. Transfer dough to refrigerator and chill for at least 2-3 hours and up to 5 days.
Step 4: Generously dust a clean surface with flour and place one chilled cookie dough disk onto the surface. Lightly flour the dough and roll out to ⅛” or ¼”. Add additional flour as needed both on top of and beneath the dough so that it doesn’t stick. Note: if dough is cracking as you roll it, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften before attempting again. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and transfer to prepared baking sheet.
Step 5: Bake on 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until edges just begin to turn lightly golden brown. Allow cookies to cool completely on cookie sheet before decorating.
Frosting:
Step 1: Combine powdered sugar, 2 Tablespoons of milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a medium-sized bowl and stir until combined. If frosting is too thick, add 1 teaspoon of milk until the frosting is thick but pipeable.
Step 2: If coloring the frosting, divide into bowls and color as desired. Pipe frosting onto cookies and decorate with decorative candies, if desired. Allow frosting to fully harden.
Seguin Main Street Director
Blaire Friar looks forward to a staple of her mother’s each holiday season.
“My mom always makes this pecan toffee for Christmas,” she said. “It’s really good. I’ve never tired to make it, but I have the recipe.”
But if she’s looking for a cookie to satisfy her cookie craving, she gravitates toward something a little on the cinnamony side.
“If I had to pick a cookie, I would say a snickerdoodle, I’ve always been a big fan for a snickerdoodle cookie,” Friar said. “I love the buttery sugar cookie and I’m a huge cinnamon fan.”
For her, the cookie brings a feeling of home, Friar said.
“I think all of it together, the cinnamon, sugar and buttery flavor, is amazing and it’s comforting,” she said.
Recipe: The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - Courtesy of Modern Honey
1 cup Unsalted Butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups Sugar
2 large Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 3/4 cup Flour
1 1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar (for less tang, use 1 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
3/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 cup Sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla. Cream for 1-2 minutes longer.
Step 2: Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt, just until combined. In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon.
Step 3: Wrap the dough and let refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
Step 4: Roll into small balls until round and smooth. Drop into the cinnamonsugar mixture and coat well.
Step 5: Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Let cool for several minutes on baking sheet before removing from the pan.
Seguin Fire Chief Dale Skinner has the same affinity for a good snickerdoodle as Friar.
“It’s probably not a Christmas cookie, but snickerdoodles remind of Christmas,” he said. “I guess because of the cinnamon and the sugar, and everything else.”
While the combination of sugar and cinnamon fill the spot, making candy canes is a tradition he grew up with that
brings him back to his childhood.
“It’s not a cookie that my mom made when I was little at Christmastime,” he said. “As a kid, making homemade candy canes was fun and those were fun memories with my mom.”
He said they would make the traditional sugar cookie; however, the taste didn’t always hit like it should. “The cookie itself didn’t taste all that great, but they created memories,” Skinner said.
Recipe: Homemade Candy Canes - Courtesy of The Spruce Eat’s
3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water, divided
1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1 tsp red gel food coloring
1 tsp white gel food coloring
Prep: Spray 2 rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside. Position a rack in the upper and lower third of the oven and heat to 200°F.
Step 1: Combine sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup of water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir with a silicone spatula until the sugar dissolves. Pour the remaining 1/4 cup water into a small bowl and use it to wet a pastry brush. Use the wet brush to wash any sugar crystals off the side of the pan. Do not stir syrup. When syrup comes to a boil, insert a candy thermometer and continue to cook, without stirring, until thermometer registers 285°F. This is the soft-crack stage. Remove from heat. Let bubbles subside, then stir in peppermint extract.
Step 2: Pour about half of the syrup onto one prepared baking sheet and place it in the oven to keep warm. Stir 1 teaspoon red food coloring into remaining syrup. Pour candy onto the second baking sheet and allow it to sit briefly until it forms a “skin.” Spray a bench scraper or metal spatula with cooking spray, and use the tool to “knead” the candy. Flatten the candy, then fold it back over itself. Repeat this process until the candy is significantly cooler, 1 to 2 minutes. Using heat-resistant gloves, stretch the candy into a long rope, then fold rope in half and twist candy until it melts back into itself. Repeat this process until the candy takes on an opaque color and a satiny finish, 2 to 3 minutes. Stretch candy into a block, about 2 inches in diameter, then return it to oven, where it will stay warm and pliable. Repeat the process with the other baking sheet from the oven with white food coloring.
Step 3: Cut a 2-inch segment from the white log and another 2-inch segment from the red log. Put the remaining candy back in oven. Squeeze 2 segments together until they form a two-toned log. Stretch candy again to a desired thickness. When you’re happy with the candy’s width, twist rope to form those distinctive candy stripes. Immediately form the hook at the top of the cane and place it on a clean surface to firm up at room temperature. Repeat the process until you have used all the candy. Be sure to wrap them in plastic wrap or cellophane to preserve their shelf life.
Guadalupe Valley Habitat For Humanity Executive Director Madelyn Zwicke Dalman looks to her sister for Christmas morning sweet treats.
“My sister makes, I guess they’re called Monster Cookies with oatmeal, M&M’s and chocolate chips,” Dalman said. “She knows that she has to bring them to me every Christmas morning and that’s what we eat on Christmas morning.”
This tradition spans many years, as her sister began baking the cookies in their youth, Dalman said.
“She’s made them since we were kids,” she said. “So, it’s like the traditional thing that we do. We eat those Monster Cookies for Christmas.”
Jolly Ol' St. Nick also got to sample her sister’s creations.
“Those were the ones we would leave out for Santa, too,” she said. “It’s not Christmas without those cookies.”
Recipe: Monster Cookies - Courtesy of Lauren Allen on Taste Better From Scratch
1/2 cup butter (115 g)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g)
1/2 cup light brown sugar (110 g)
1/2 cup peanut butter (130 g) 1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
1 cup all-purpose flour (120 g)
1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (112 g)
1/4 teaspoon salt (1.5 g)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder (2 g)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (2.5 g)
3/4 cup M&M candies (130 g)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (90 g)
Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar together really well—at least 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add peanut butter and mix well. Add egg and vanilla and mix.
Step 3: In a separate mixing bowl stir together the flour (be careful to measure correctly, spooning the flour into a measuring cup, then leveling off), oats, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
Step 4: Add to the wet mixture and mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and M&M’s.
Step 5: Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or a little longer if you make them bigger than a 1 inch cookie scoop. Don’t over bake--they will look just set. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the pan.
Seguin ISD Superintendent Jack Lee said his holiday picks are more of an everyday treat, but they’ve become a holiday tradition in his house.
“My favorite holiday Christmas cookie is a plain Jane chocolate chip cookie,” he said. “It’s the perfect combination of comfort, joy and a little nostalgia. It was the cookie I set out for Santa.”
That is something he has carried over to his two children, Lee said.
“We use chocolate chip cookies for Santa Claus now with our kids,” he said.
“They have a specific Santa Claus plate that gets used, a Santa Claus mug that is used for the milk and it is chocolate chip cookies that are out there. I have 100% reason to believe that Santa Claus’s favorite cookie are chocolate chip.”
Outside of the classic chocolate chip, Lee finds comfort in another classic.
“A cookie that is one of my favorites, but not the favorite, is oatmeal raisin,” he said. “If there is a plate and there is chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, I can’t go wrong with either one.”
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup cacao wafers or disks, 70% or higher, coarsely chopped
Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt until combined.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until combined and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk to combine. Add dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until about halfway mixed in. Add chips and wafers and fold until just combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 24.
Step 3: Let dough come to room temperature. Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°F. Using a large cookie scoop (about 3 Tbsp.), scoop dough onto 2-parchment lined baking sheets, spacing about 3” apart.
Step 4: Bake cookies, rotating trays to top bottom halfway through, until edges are golden brown and just set and centers are almost set, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool slightly.
WITNESS THE COMMUNITY, THE STORIES AND THE TEAMWORK IT TAKES TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD FEELS THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS.
Every December, TruLight 127 Ministries transforms its Seguin campus into a place where giving feels personal. What begins as piles of donated toys turns into hundreds of wrapped presents waiting for children who will spend the holidays in the organization’s care.
“We give gifts to the kids that live
in our shelter, those foster homes that we license plus every child in that home gets a gift,” Executive Administrative Assistant Gabi Barrera said. “Last year, we gave over 2,000 gifts.”
The organization runs a general residential operation on a 10-acre property with four houses. Each home serves children and teens in foster care.
“We kind of split it up by gender and age,” Barrera said. “Right now, we have all ages ranging from as young as 3 and as old as 18.”
Since the program opened in 2019, more than 500 children have stayed there. For many of them, the holidays can bring up mixed emotions. The toy drive and Christmas party are ways to bring back some of the joy.
“The community and local volunteers really is what keeps us going,” Barrera said.
Local churches, schools and businesses across Seguin and surrounding towns step up each year with toy drives and Angel Trees. This support is vital to making Christmas morning special for TruLight’s kids.
“Triumphant Lutheran, Real Life Community Church, Crossroad Church, Springs Church, Blue Bonnet Palace, Green Insurance Group, KDJ Insurance Group, hair salons, dentists and so many more support us. They all do toy drives or Angel Trees for us,” Barrera said.
The Angel Tree program lets groups “adopt” specific children by name, age and wish list. For others, general toy drives work just as well.
“Some offices will do that where it’s really whatever people want to bring,” she said. “Elementary schools collect, local businesses run promos and our staff pick up donations to make it easy.”
Once the toys arrive, volunteers and staff members shift to one of the season’s biggest community events: the wrapping party.
“We invite the whole community,” Barrera said. “We turn on Christmas music and for, like, four hours on a Sunday afternoon, we just wrap presents.”
The party gives residents a way to see the impact of their giving.
“It’s an encouraging way to see the fruits of your labor,” she said. “You get to see all of the presents piled up and wrapped that we give out to the kids.”
Planning starts weeks in advance, handled by a small core team that makes sure everything runs smoothly.
“I do some of the planning myself,
love and impact is a journey of small steps. And First United Bank is here to inspire and empower you along the way. We invite you to call or stop by today to learn more.
Living a life of love and impact is a journey of small steps. And First United Bank is here to inspire and empower you along the way. We invite you to call or stop by today to learn more.
but heavily rely on the whole team.
From my sister, Cait, who is our director of compliance, to our CEO Sondra Ajasin, who loves Christmas and is so organized, and Miss Suzanne, who handles grocery shopping and household items – the list of staff and volunteers is endless,” Barrera said.
Yomi Ajasin, TruLight's director of treatment services, manages much of the last-minute work that happens in the early morning hours before the wrap party.
“Mr. Yomi is irreplaceable,” Barrera said. “He comes up at, like, 2 in the morning and takes all of the presents that have been labeled and puts them in the houses so we are ready for volunteers.”
Volunteers come from all over the community, including high school programs that focus on leadership and service. One group helps not only with the toy drive but in other ways as well.
“We had maybe 15 or 16 teenagers from the Seguin Area Youth Leadership Academy who toured and then wanted to make us their project recently,” Barrera said. “They redid our swing set, raised about $1,000 and came back to volunteer.”
After meeting the kids TruLight serves, she said, many student volunteers want to return every year.
“After they interacted with the kids and saw the need from someone who needed help and kindness, they wanted to help with popcorn and games and everything,” Barrera said.
The volunteer efforts, from donating toys to time, all pay off when the children wake to gifts and a celebration built entirely around them. For Barrera, her team and the army of volunteers, that moment matters most.
“We want to be that soft place to land,” Barrera said. “We want the kids to feel seen and celebrated.”
Every wrapped present, every volunteer with a roll of tape and every local business that fills a toy box adds up to something simple but powerful: a reminder that community and teamwork can turn the holidays into hope.
STORY
SYDNEY SEIDEL
FRAZAR
For many in Seguin, the holidays are a time for tradition, and the Heritage Museum is helping keep memories alive this December as it unveils its heirloom Christmas collection showcasing how local residents have celebrated the season across the decades. Officially founded in 1992 by
the inaugural executive director, John Gesick, the museum opened its doors in 1998 and now serves as the main repository for historical artifacts in Guadalupe County. With the exception of a purchased collection from Leon Kubala, a late local photographer who documented life in Seguin for decades, nearly
all of the museum’s items have been donated by residents and families, often passed down after loved ones have died.
Executive Assistant Alex Thompson describes the museum as a reflection of the county’s cultural blend, showcasing artifacts that represent the traditions and histories of its 36,000 residents, 27 different industries and 187 years of Texas history.
“New Braunfels has the corner on everything German, so we make sure everyone feels included in ours,” Thompson said. “We try to highlight traditions from across the community — German, Black, Latino — because Seguin is so diverse.”
That spirit of inclusion is especially evident during the museum’s Christmas season, when displays celebrate not just the past but the shared customs that continue to bring the community together year after year.
The showcase of Christmas heirlooms has been a museum staple for more than a decade, but it truly came to life after the passing of Wanda Timmermann in 2012, the last of seven sisters. The Timmermann sisters were well known in Seguin for their philanthropy and community involvement, as well as for their distinctive lifestyle — the seven never married, lived together their entire lives, and sewed their matching outfits and household decorations by hand.
Among their creations is a collection of about 70 handmade paper ornaments from the 1940s and 1950s, now carefully preserved and displayed at the museum. Their preservation has been the result of a dedicated effort by museum volunteers, who have worked hard to ensure the fragile decorations, crafted from old magazines and newspapers that should have deteriorated long ago, remain beautifully intact and viewable today.
On Dec. 6, the museum will host Afternoon with the Timmermanns, an event where visitors can learn more about the sisters’ legacy and hear stories from Patricia Redix, who once worked for them. While they were alive, during
the holiday season, they would open up their house every year for kids to view their Christmas tree as well as make cookies. At the event, there will be a door prize with an opportunity to win a Timmermann cookbook.
During the event, their handmade ornaments, along with the rest of the Christmas display, will be available for visitors to enjoy.
Other artifacts that people can expect to see are photos, replicas of what Christmas looked like over the decades, and antique toys that highlight the evolution of seasonal decor and celebration.
Office manager for the museum, Susie Sulaica, believes the display will offer something for patrons of all ages, providing families with a chance to explore and discover together during the season.
“It’s a learning experience for the younger ones,” Sulaica said. “And then it’s a chance for the older generation to reminisce about those days.”
In addition to the one-day celebration honoring the Timmermann sisters, the museum’s holiday collection will remain open through the end of the year for visitors to view the displays. Each exhibit has been carefully maintained and arranged by volunteers who work diligently to uphold archival standards while ensuring the museum remains a welcoming place for the community to gather.
The organization, which runs entirely on memberships and donations, encourages people to celebrate the holiday season with them and take part in appreciating the local history and traditions that make Seguin unique. By visiting the museum or attending one of its events, residents can work alongside volunteers in making sure future generations also are able to enjoy the stories and memories of times before them.
“In the past year and a half, we’ve been able to make great strides with outreach,” Thompson said. “We can only hope to keep that momentum going.”
1190 Borgfeld Rd. at FM 3009 (830) 566-1077
(830) 379-6654
1044 Hwy. 123 (512) 396-3493
988 Mission Dr. at Landa St. (830) 625-0401
482 Hwy. 46 S Next to Kohl’s (830) 626-3280
992 Business IH35 S 830-214-0622
WSTORY AND PHOTOS BY DANNY STORY
ith Thanksgiving past, it's officially the homestretch for the year and we finally get to start enjoying real winter things. As things get colder, we get to break out the coats, snuggle up under big blankets and get a mug of something nice and warm to drink... except we’re in Texas. We get to enjoy the cold for maybe 2 weeks and unfortunately those 2 weeks are practically never in December. So, instead of giving you my famous hot cocoa recipe, or a nice hot cocktail like a hot toddy, I’ve decided to go a completely different route. In celebration of December in Texas, I decided to go with something light, bright and
refreshing, but that still screams winter holiday flavors.
It was tempting to go full mixeddrink or cocktail mode, but I really wanted to make something that kids could enjoy, too. So, I did a lot of thinking for this one. How to make a drink that really tasted like Christmas, but stayed cool and refreshing?
A homemade soda, of course. If you’ve never made a soda at home, it’s insanely easy. Not only that, but you get fresh flavors that you really get to dial in to exactly what you want. So, this month, I’m going to show you my mulled apple cider soda, and I guarantee that it’s the best holiday soda ever.
For the soda syrup -
3 cups apple cider
2 cups cranberry juice
1 blood orange, sliced (half for the syrup, half for garnish)
2 sticks of cinnamon
6 whole cloves
1 tbsp sliced ginger
4 maraschino cherries
5 tbsp honey
For the soda -
Carbonated water
Vanilla creamer, if desired
1: Mix all the ingredients for the syrup in a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat. Once brought to a simmer, continue to simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring continuously to ensure there is no scorching. The mixture will thicken up slightly.
2: Turn off the stove and allow the mixture to cool. Once cool enough to touch, pass through a fine sieve or cheese cloth and into a container. Place the container in the fridge and allow it to cool overnight.
3: Now it’s time to assemble the sodas. Over ice, in a glass of your choice, mix the syrup and carbonated water half and half, add vanilla cream if you want an Italian style cream soda, then garnish with an orange slice and enjoy.
I think you’re all going to like this one. Since making this drink, I have had to remake it so many times for friends and family. It really is amazing how it keeps all the Christmas flavors while maintaining the refreshing quality of a cold soda. So, this is my gift to all of you, and I really hope you all enjoy it. In the spirit of the holidays, share it with your loved ones. Merry Christmas, and I’ll see all of you next time.
LIBRARY FOOD DRIVE: NOV. FIRST - DEC. THIRTY-FIRST – 1 - 5 PM
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Food Drive at the Seguin Public Library. Help us by donating essential non-perishable food items for the Christian Cupboard and other local food pantries. As the holiday season approaches, the library aims to ensure that families and individuals in need receive the support and nourishment they deserve. From November 1 through December 31, residents are encouraged to donate unexpired canned and shelf-stable goods. All contributions will be distributed to organizations serving the Seguin area. How you can help:
Donations can be dropped at the library’s circulation desk during regular operating hours.
Items especially needed include: · Protein: canned meats (tuna, chicken), peanut butter, dried beans.
· Meals & Sides: canned fruits and vegetables, pasta sauce, rice, hearty soups. · Breakfast: cereal, oatmeal, shelf-stable milk. The library invites individuals, businesses and organizations to unite in the spirit of giving. Together, we can help ensure neighbors in need receive the nourishment and care from their community. Contact information: Seguin Public Library, 830-401-2422
Location: Seguin Public Library, 313 W. Nolte St.
32ND ANNUAL HOLIDAY HERITAGE TOUR OF HOMES: THIRTEENTH – 1 - 5 PM
Experience the magic of the season with a self-guided Holiday Homes Tour in Seguin. Stroll through beautifully decorated homes and local businesses, all showcasing their unique holiday spirit. Each stop on the tour offers a unique holiday experience, with vibrant lights, seasonal decor and cozy atmospheres that capture the spirit of the season. Guests can wander at their own pace, enjoying the warmth and creativity of the community’s decorations. It’s the perfect way to get inspired and soak in the holiday cheer Seguin style!
Location: The First Church, 213 E. Live Oak St.
GCCWB 6TH ANNUAL UGLY SWEATER DINNER PARTY: THIRTEENTH – 6 PM
Enjoy dinner & drinks, silent auction items, live "magic" entertainment by The Amazing Magician Carlos David, and ugly sweater contests. This year, we will have a separate contest for the kiddos. Your donations will benefit the Guadalupe County Child Welfare Board to assist abused & neglected children in CPS custody in Guadalupe County. Every penny stays in our county.
Location: The Stephen & Mary Birch Texas Theatre, 425 N. Austin St.
CHRISTMAS IN NEW ORLEANS: FOURTEENTH – 4 - 6 PM
Get into the holiday groove with a jazzy, joyful celebration. From Tchaikovsky’s "Snow Maiden" to "A Charlie Brown Christmas", plus swinging Christmas favorites with the Dirty River Jazz Band, this concert will have you tapping your toes and feeling festive. The New Braunfels Children’s Chorus adds their magic to the mix.
Locations: Texas Lutheran University, 1000 W. Court St.
THIRD THURSDAY IN DOWNTOWN SEGUIN: EIGHTEENTH – 10 AM - 8 PM
Enjoy food, music and shopping. We’re all open until 8 p.m. and offering great deals and fun.
Shop and restaurant specials galore throughout downtown.
Location: Central Park, 201 S. Austin St.
