Happy Holidays

Changing my tree look this year, any one got any cool ideas for deco of Christmas tree. Love the homespun country or lodge look. Thank you for your help.

Can you use a sewing needle and a glue gun? lots of handmade ornament ideas out there that don’t even need a pattern.

Fabric yo-yos sewn together for a wreath or garland, f’rinstance. Ornaments made by tracing around cookie cutters and buttonhole-stitching them together using embroidery floss (which costs a quarter a skein at most hobby shops) with a little batting to plump out the middle.

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Small "ocho de dios" made with craft sticks and leftover yarn. Pompom animals (bugs & stuff, there’s a link below).

Beads made of long strips cut from shiny colored magazine pages, wound tightly into rolls and glued down, strung together to make a garland or dangles.

Snowflakes cut from stiff paper or cardboard and sprinkled with glitter.

Tags: decorating the Christmas tree, log home, ornaments

If you have any quick and yummy recipes for sides, I would appreciate those as well. No fancy stuff please, my guy is all about the meat, potatoes and cheese. Thanks!!!

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For the ham, bake it in an oven bag. You won’t be dissapointed.

Tags: baked ham, good recipes

My son, my mom & I will be having dinner without the rest of the family this year to stop the fighting. We’re tired of turkey, ham & enchilada casserole (aka stacked enchiladas) dinners. Does anyone have any other ideas?

I hear what you are saying!
I decided to do something different this year as well.

I am making an asst. of different Spanish Tapas (small appetizer portions) and serving Spanish Wine.

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There are so many easy tapa recipes online.

You can do the same thing with Italian food.
Serve Italian Salad, cheeses, meats, and a main dish of chicken marsala.
Serve some great Italian wine.

Just think outside of the box and have a great time 🙂

Merry Christmas

Tags: christmas dinner ideas, italian food, spanish tapas

Make your Christmas dishes memorable. Learn how to make traditional figgy pudding from scratch in this free how-to instructional video clip on classic Christmas cooking.

Expert: Louis Ortiz
Bio: Louis Ortiz is a professional chef instructor at a culinary institute. He has been working in the culinary industry for 10 years.

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Filmmaker: Emily Thomas

Duration : 0:9:4

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Tags: christmas, classic, cooking, food, free, how, recipes, season, to, tradition, videos, xmas

Learn how to make an easy Christmas cookie vanilla icing recipe in this free holiday dessert video.

Expert: Brandon Sarkis
Bio: Brandon Sarkis has been a professional chef for more than 12 years, and he has worked in Austin, Texas, Columbus, Ohio, and Atlanta, Ga.
Filmmaker: brandon sarkis

Duration : 0:2:38

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Tags: christmas, cookies, decorate, decorated, dessert, easy, food, how, make, recipe, soft, sugar, tips, to, treats, videos, xmas

Im making a poster with many ideas of how to interestly decorate tree,room and lawn in christmas feeling.10pts to one who posts more ^^

Wow this is an tall order but I will try to help you out.For the tree you can pop popcorn and get some lifesavers that come in different colors or some cranberries and then you take a needle and string the popcorn on a string and then alternate which ever you choose to use,such as the life savers or cranberries,I’ve done this several time and when I’m done with it I hang it out in the yard on another tree so the birds and squirrels have a feast.You can also bake cookies from home made and cut them out from x-mas cookie cutters and poke a hole in them and then tie a thin ribbon on them and hang them from a tree.As far as your lawn goes,I like to get some empty boxes and wrap them up in different papers to make it look like x-mas presents in the yard.I also like to buy some of those big Styrofoam candy canes and stick them in the ground,I have also made suckers this way and bought the Styrofoam from a craft store and then I paint a design on them and buy some wooden dowels and shove them through the Styrofoam.You can also make peppermints this way too.Just paint on the red design.Some people like to use bows to decorate their x-mas trees too,they just add a little more color,I’ve also wrapped up really small boxes with some shiny foil x-mas paper and put them in the tree like little presents.Hope this is of some help and I’ve given you some ideas.

Tags: candy canes, christmas lawn decorations, cranberries, popcorn

My mother-in-law is on a VERY low sodium diet. She will be coming to my house for a Christmas dinner on Saturday and I need some recipe suggestions! One for lasagna would be great but any would be appreciated!! Thanks!

Eggplant (Aubergine) Lasagna

4 servings 1¼ hours 20 min prep

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 teaspoons olive oil
500 g eggplants, sliced lengthwise, unpeeled about 5mm thick (or 17.6 oz)
1 (440 g) can tomato puree (or 15.5 oz )
1 (440 g) can tomatoes, drained and chopped (or 15.5 oz)
1 tablespoon finely chopped oregano
1 tablespoon chopped basil
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Preheat the griller.
Combine the lemon juice and olive oil and brush it on the eggplant slices.
Lay them in a single layer on a nonstick baking tray and grill both sides for about 3 minutes each or until golden brown.
Preheat the oven to 180C degrees.
In a bowl combine the tomato puree, tomatoes, oregano, basil, cayenne pepper and garlic.
In another bowl combine the parmesan and breadcrumbs.
Spoon one third of the tomato mixture into the base of a lasagne or casserole dish.
Sprinkle with one third of the breadcrumb mixture and cover with a layer of eggplant.
Spread half the ricotta cheese over the eggplant and continue to layer in the same order, ending with the breadcrumb mixture (in my case hopefully).
Scatter the mozzarella cheese over the top and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Serve with salad and crusty bread.

Tags: low sodium christmas dinner recipes

I’m hosting Xmas dinner here with family, and husbands parents. I am looking for some neat ideas to decorate the dinner table.

For Example: I made candy cane reindeers, Im thinking of putting one in everyones wine glass/cup.

Have you ever seen an apple and pinapple tree? It is , I think, originally from Williamsburg VA and makes a wonderful centerpiece. Find a cone shaped piece of wood and put nails all over it about 2 " apart. Be sure and put a long one on the top. Just pop your apples from the bottom to the top making sure the smaller apples are at the top. Place a whole pineapple that is of suitable size on the nails at the top. Fill in between the apples with either boxwood or pine. It smells as good as it looks.

Tags: apples, candy cane reindeer, christmas dinner table decorations, pine cones

any theme or colors welcome

Make your own ornaments. They can be passed down to your kids and your kids kids. Also add fake snow, it always makes a tree look its best. Use a strand of white lights and a few strands of color lights and plenty of garland.

Tags: christmas lights, christmas ornaments, christmas tree decorations, garland

Eggnog Pound Cake
2 tablespoons softened butter or margarine, about
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 (18 1/2 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups purchased eggnog
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
2 tablespoons rum or 1/4 teaspoon rum flavoring
Generously grease a 10-inch tube or bundt pan with the softened butter; press almonds on sides and bottom of pan; set aside. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, nutmeg, eggs, eggnog, the melted butter and the rum. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy (about 4 minutes at medium speed) or beat about 450 strokes with a wooden spoon; pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in a 350° oven for 45 to 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes; then invert cake onto a rack to cool completely.

****A crowd pleaser!!

Cheeseball
11 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces Cheese Whiz
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup grated yellow cheese or colby or cheddar cheese
chopped nuts
Mix cream cheese and cheese whiz together and blend well.
Then add worchestershire sauce, garlic powder, and grated cheese. Blend in well. Form ball and then roll into chopped nuts. Then chill your ball till you want it served.

Eggnog Berry Punch
1 (12 ounce) can raspberry-cranberry frozen juice concentrate, thawed
1 quart eggnog, chilled
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 ounces 7-Up soda or Sprite, chilled
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Stir together the cranberry-raspberry juice, eggnog, and vanilla extract in a serving bowl, then stir in the 7-Up or Sprite. Fold in the whipped cream (you can use a couple cups of whipped cream from a can as a substitution).
Sprinkle with ground nutmeg.

***Another crowd pleaser!!

Tags: appetizers, cheeseball, christmad potluck, eggnog berry punch, eggnog pound cake

I am making Christmas dinner this year ( my first time ) for about 20 people. I’m looking for some good ideas…..main dishes, side dishes, whatever…..
Thanks~

Okay sweetie I have been cooking hoildays dinners for about 4 years now roughly. I am a good cook so I have been told every year I love to change it up but sometimes the traditionals have to stay. So I love doing brown sugar ham just buy the ham at the grocery store and clean the ham with washing it off. Add brown sugar all over it and patt it good. Also can add a can of pineapple juice and let that cook. I always fix a chesse pie and have some stove top stuffing cause it is the easiest and more and mroe people love it I just cook it with broth instead of water gives it that home cooked flaver. This year as far as sides I am doing racheal rays smashed potatoes. And a green bean casserole. And then some corn casserole. And I think I am also going to do a tuna noodle casserole it is easy and good. And then yest rolls I do make them from scratch cause it just tates. Good as long as u go with ure heart. And do what is from ure heart. Then it shouldnt really matter. And as u do it u will get better with every year. Hope this helps you sweetie

Tags: christmas dinner ideas

Cheese Ball Recipe, A Great Appetizer: This is the Ultimate Cheese Ball Recipe. It’s as beautiful as it is delicious. People will rave at your next party. This recipe uses a few different types of cheeses, but it’s as simple as any recipe. Serve this cheese ball with crackers and it will be a big hit at your next party. Its a perfect appetizer at holiday and Christmas parties or even as a Christmas dinner recipe. Enjoy Rita’s Ultimate Cheese Ball.

Duration : 0:6:4

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Tags: appetizer, appetizerscheeses, ball, cheese, entertaining, heikenfeld, party, rita, snack

Using his Triple Beater Hand Mixer, available from Amazon, http://tinyurl.com/AWTbyBreville and Comet,http://tinyurl.com/comethandmixer, Antony shows how to make a delicious alternative dessert for those who are not keen on traditional pudding. This film will also teach you the tricks of the trade for how to roll a perfect pavlova raspberry roulade.

Duration : 0:8:53

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Tags: alternative christmas pudding, antony worrall thompson, breville, christmas pavlova recipes, christmas pud, dessert, recipe

I want to know how to decorate my room for christmas. We already have a real christmas tree and everything, but i want to decorate just MY room! Anyways, i love penguins so yeah. 🙂

you can wrap empty boxes with wrapping paper and put them in your room ad decorations, or get a small Christmas tree and decorate it, or little ornaments your parents arnt using you can take over. you can put lights up in your room. use your imagination and you can crate anything.

Tags: christmas tree decorating ideas, inexpensive christmas decorations, real christmas tree

Thanks!

What are you serving? What do you already have?

If you are serving turkey or ham or prime rib…

It’s WONDERFUL to roast veggies. Take baby carrots (the real ones), zuchini, baby asparagus, green beans and toss very lightly in a little olive oil, salt and pepper and spread on a baking sheet (lay down aluminum foil first….easier to clean up). All root vegetables wrok well too (carrots, potatoes, turnips, parsnips, etc). Just cut everything to a similar size so they cook at the same time. Roast at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes and see if they are to your liking….cook a little longer if needed. You can serve on a platter with your meal (even good at room temperature)

I also love to make mashed butternut squash. Peel a butternut squash and cut into one inch pieces. Steam for 25 minutes or until soft and easy to mash. Then mash with a little butter and a sprinkle of kosher salt. Add maple syrup if you want them sweet, not savory. Yum!

Tags: christmas recipes

I am looking for something different than the whole, exchange gifts, karaoke. Great ideas, but would like to WOW my coworkers. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Have a costume contest. Who ever shows up at the party with the most decked out Christmas outfit wins a prize. Play a Christmas movie trivia game. Christmas pictionary…umm hmm, a dinner murder mystery game would be fun too!

Tags: christmas dinner, christmas dinner party, christmas games

I like to stick to the traditional red and green. I do the tree in white lights, red balls, red bows then red and green table covers and garland around the house. I also have tiny tree that I decorate the same. I like to replace normal things with Christmas things too…like place mats, pillows, napkin holders, candles, pictures, centerpieces…everything. Christmas only comes once a year so I make the most of it. The dollar stores usually have great stuff for really cheap. Have fun!

Tags: candles, centerpieces, christmas decorating ideas, napkin holders, pictures

Learn the right cooking utensils to make green bean casserole for Christmas in this free cooking video.

Expert: Jael Baez
Bio: Jael Baez has been cooking for seven years for her family. She comes from a long line of cooks in her family. Many of her recipes are original and made from scratch.
Filmmaker: Francisco Baez

Duration : 0:1:11

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Tags: bean, casserole, christmas, cream, free, french, green, mushroom, of, onion, recipe, toppings, Video

http://www.rhodesbread.com/recipes/view/1797
Elegant Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls are easy to make with Rhodes shaped roll recipes. Shape & bake a variety to impress your holiday guests!

Duration : 0:4:16

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Tags: Bake-N-Serv, Bread, christmas, dinner, Dough, food, recipe, Rhodes, Rolls, shaped, Thanksgiving

My version of Cookies n’ Cream fudge! 🙂

Stay tuned for more Christmas crafts and recipes!

Duration : 0:4:16

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Tags: christmas, cookies, cream, fudge, Oreos, recipe