By Lisa Hentrich & guest blogger girlfriends

Some of my greatest gifts are the girlfriends in my life. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas when we’re sipping Baileys and cocoa together in our sweatpants, watching a Hallmark movie marathon! This month I’ve gathered a collection from some of our guest bloggers of gift ideas, holiday recipes, and “favorite things” that get us girlfriends into the holiday spirit. We’re passing them on to you and yours! Merry Christmas!

“Being a lover of essential oils and natural cleaning products, I like to use wool dryer balls with oils when I do our family’s laundry. It’s free of chemicals and smells great! It also makes a great gift to give to others. My personal favorite oils to use with my dryer balls are doTERRA's Purify oil blend, Frankincense, and Myrrh.” - Krissy Nordhoff, Brave Worship co-founder (Click HERE to read her guest blog)

Click HERE to learn about doTERRA oils.

"This is one of my most requested family recipes - I have been making for over 30 years. As our family gatherings have increased in size throughout the years, I double the recipe and there is NEVER left overs. May this recipe bless and bring your family as much joy as it has my family!” - Connie Nichols, Realtor (Click HERE to read her guest blog)

Potato Cheese Casserole

Preheat Oven: 450 degrees

Ingredients:

1 bag of Frozen Cubed Hash Browns

1 pint sour cream

1 stick melted butter

I can cream of chicken soup

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup chopped onions

2 cups of Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese ( I often use more)

Stir together until creamy: Sour Cream, Melted Butter and Cream of Chicken Soup. Add Salt and Pepper. Stir Well. Add Chopped Onions. Stir Well. Add Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese. Add Bag of Frozen Cubed Hash Browns.

Pour into 9 x 12 casserole dish. Spread but do not pack down.

Bake in 450 degree oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Enjoy!

“God gave me a great business idea to hand paint crosses on home decor items. I pray over each item as I paint them, that they will bless the homes they go in and the families who live there. At Christmas time, I have this shatterproof ornament available that you can insert written prayers inside of to create an heirloom for years to come!” - Tonya Lynette Stout, Creator of Kingdom HeART Design (Click HERE to read her guest blog)

Click here to order her “Time Capsule Prayer Ornament”

“One of my favorite things is olive oil and vinegars from around the world! When I am in New York City, I love to visit Oliviers & Co and pick some up from there. It's a great gift for the people in your life who love to cook!” - Dawn Fenn, Bridges to Destiny (Click HERE to read her guest blog)

Click here to shop Online at Oliviers and Co.

Click here to get delicious recipes from their “In Good Taste” blog.

One of my favorite recipes during the holidays is not very traditional, but it is for sure a family favorite! It’s YUMMY Enchiladas! Here is the recipe…I hope someone can enjoy it as much as we do! -Deanna Porterfield, Singer-Songwriter (Click HERE to read her guest blog)

1 lb. of ground beef

1 white onion

8oz Colby cheese

16oz monterey jack with jalapenos

1 pkg flour tortilla shells

1 pkg taco seasoning mix

Sauce

1/3 cup olive oil

3 TBSP flour

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 TBSP chili powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop the onion finely and cook them in pan a few minutes before adding ground beef. While that is cooking down, prepare the sauce by mixing a little bit of cold water in the flour before adding it to all other sauce ingredients to avoid lumps. Stir until thickened. Finish cooking ground beef/onions and add taco seasoning pkg according to package directions. You are now ready to start assembling. Add a spoonful of meat and cheese to tortilla and roll up. Repeat until you have filled a large pyrex dish with your enchiladas. Any leftover meat and cheese can be spread over the top of enchiladas. Now pour the sauce over top of enchiladas. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 20-25 mins. Cool for a few minutes and enjoy some of the best enchiladas you will ever put in your mouth!!!

These are a few of my favorite things! - Lisa Hentrich

1.  My mom has a sweet tooth, and her absolute FAVORITE gift of sweets I’ve ever sent her is Kola Reina caramels, handmade by Jennifer Sanders (Click HERE to read her guest blog).  

2. “Days of December” Christmas album.  I list this as one of my favorite things because it warms my heart each year to get texts and messages from people saying, “We’re listening to your Christmas CD as we’re decorating our tree!”  It took 3 years to write and record the songs on this CD, and hearing that friends are enjoying it is one of my FAVORITE THINGS!

3.  "Peppermint Puppy Chow” recipe. I make this each year at Christmastime and the whole family devours it!  I like to use crushed “soft” candy cane puffs instead of candy canes, and I add some drops of doTERRA peppermint oil to the mix.  Best made with a helper due to working with melted chocolate that will cool quickly!

Ingredients:

10 cups Rice Chex cereal (my preference is using Chocolate Chex, available in most stores) poured into large bowl

2 -12 oz bags of white chocolate chips

1 bag of peppermint candy cane puffs, crushed in ziplock bag

1 - 1/2 cups powdered sugar (in large bowl with lid or paper bag for shaking)

5-10 drops of doTERRA peppermint oil (or other food-safe oil)

How to Make:

1.Have all ingredients ready before beginning, as working with melted chocolate means working quickly!

2. Melt morsels in double boiler, stirring constantly until creamy.  Add peppermint oil.

3. Pour over Rice Chex in bowl, while your helper quickly stirs and coats as much of the cereal as possible while you are pouring, also adding the crushed peppermint. Work quickly!

4. While cereal is still warm with the melted morsels and crushed peppermint mixture, pour it all into the powdered sugar bowl or bag, and SHAKE-SHAKE-SHAKE!

5. When it’s all well coated with powdered sugar, it’s DONE!  Enjoy!