1. Carefully twist cookies apart; set aside the halves with cream filling. Save plain halves for another use.
2. In a microwave or saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stirring until smooth. Holding each cherry by the stem, dip in the melted chocolate, then press onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss. Place on the cream filling of cookie, with cherry stem extending beyond cookie edge.
3. For ears, place the slivered almonds between the cherry and the kiss. Refrigerate until set. With green gel, pipe holly leaves on the cream. With red gel, pipe holly berries between leaves and pipe eyes on each chocolate kiss. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
* These are easy to make and super cute. Kids will like to help.
A very popular song at Christmas time in Norway is the Musevisa (The Mouse Song). The words were written in 1946 by Alf Prøysen. The tune is a traditional Norwegian folk tune. It tells the story of some mice getting ready for Christmas and the Mother and Father mice warning their children to stay away from mouse traps! It became popular very quickly and is now as popular as ever in Norway.
Musevisa (The Mouse Song) English Translation
When nights are getting longer, and lakes will freeze to ice;
Father Mouse warns strongly about a foul device:
"If we avoid the mouse trap, we will have naught to fear.
We'll all be celebrating, at Christmas time this year."
Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo.
A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2)
Mother Mouse is cleaning, each ceiling and each wall.
She wants a home that's cosy, when Yuletide snowflakes will fall.
A grubby home at Christmas, would be a great disgrace.
So young ones dance a Polka, their tails sweep out the place.
Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo.
A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2)
And finally the evening, the youngsters all await.
They know they'll have permission to stay up very late.
A toe-less boot is spruced up with nails that they have found.
And then some flimsy cobwebs which they can drape around.
Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo.
A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2)
Father Mouse now tells them that they should form a ring.
"Let's dance around this old boot and hear our Granny sing.
Each mouse should use its right paw, to take its neighbour's tail.
Then listen as Old Granny sings a lovely Fairy tale."
Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo.
A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2)
They have for Christmas dinner, grilled Arctic halibut
And then an old tradition, they share a hazel nut.
There's sticky candy paper. A spicy Yuletide Ham.
They all can savour its bouquet and taste some apple jam.
Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo.
A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2)
Old Granny's Christmas Present is a brand-new rocking chair.
A hollowed-out potato which her kin have gnawed with flair.
Now Granny starts her singing, the youngsters sing along.
They always love to join her in their favourite Christmas song.
Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo.
A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2)
Old Granny's getting tired, soon comes the early dawn.
As morning is approaching she cannot help but yawn:
"Christmas is a lot of fun for each and every mouse.
Be careful of the mouse-traps in this trap infested house!"
Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo.
A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2)
The Father Mouse says, gravely, "It's time to take a nap.
Just dream about the Yuletide and not that awful trap."
While Father Mouse is keeping watch, the children try to sleep.
They hum some Christmas carol instead of counting sheep.
Heyday and howdy and toodeladdeloo.
A Merry Christmas season is good for me and you. (x2)
You can hear the song sung by clicking the button below.