12/21/09

DAILY RECIPE: Old Bay Chicken

3 chicken legs
3 chicken thighs
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Old Bay Seasoning

Rinse chicken. Sprinkle with Old Bay Seasoning until chicken is completely covered on both sides. Pour olive oil and vinegar in skillet, place chicken and cover. Cook 20 minutes over medium heat. Turn chicken over and cook 20 minutes more or until done.

12/18/09

ARTICLE: Santa Websites!

There are lots of great websites that can track Santa, check your child´s naughty or nice rating, give you Santa´s important information and showcase Christmas activities. Here are some that I´ve found: (remember always sit by your child for safe web use)
  • www.claus.com Games to help out Santa, a visit to Santa´s Village where you can check your naughty or nice rating, sing along, get an elf diploma, plan your Christmas party and lots more!
  • www.northpole.com You can write a letter to Santa, and he´ll write back, stories, print out good deed calendars, games, and also stuff for parents, such as recipes, e-cards and wonderful crafts!
  • www.noradsanta.org The greatest Santa tracker. Watch live footage of Santa flying around the world on Christmas Eve. Tune in early Christmas Eve morning to see Santa leaving the North Pole on his journey!

DAILY RECIPE: Greatest Xmas Hot Cocoa

1 envelope hot cocoa mix
1 cup milk
10 mini marshmallows
1 candy cane


Heat milk and dissolve hot cocoa mix according to package directions. Add marshmallows and slip in candy cane as if it were a spoon. Festive to serve and delicious to drink!

TIP OF THE DAY


Keep Christmas cookies in air tight jars in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving. Get all your holiday baking done ahead of time!

12/17/09

ARTICLE: Children´s Christmas Checklist



You probably have all your decorations up, Christmas parties scheduled throughout the next week and checklists galore. Don´t forget an important one, though, your children´s. Here are some things you should not forget:



  • Visit Santa Claus for holiday picture

  • Send letter to Santa Claus (mail, e-mail, helium balloon, or left at the tree for Santa to get)

  • Drive downtown to see holiday lights

  • Read favorite Christmas books (A Visit from St. Nicholas, The Polar Express, The Clown of God, etc.)

  • Watch favorite Christmas movies (The Polar Express, Santa Clause, Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Mickey´s Twice Upon a Christmas, Very Merry Christmas Songs)

  • Sing along to favorite holiday tunes

  • Bake cookies for friends and Santa

  • Attend a local Christmas play or show

  • Visit the biggest tree in town

  • Have a family night with a good book, movie and hot cocoa

DAILY RECIPE: Christmas Apples

6 apples
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
red food coloring (enough to make water deep red)


Peel apples. Place sugar, water and red food coloring in a large pot over low heat. Stir until well combined. Place apples inside and with a large spoon, pour the sugar water on top. Continue to do this until apples are red and a toothpick can easily be inserted. Remove from heat, let cool. You can serve them plain or topped with whipped cream.

TIP OF THE DAY


Place all your holiday storybooks, videos and music on a separate shelf, basket or counter. Throughout the season it´ll be easier to find them for every member of the family.

12/16/09

STORYTIME: Santa´s Stocking -- Final Part


... As soon as they got home, the little girl raced up the stairs to the attic. She searched through many boxes and finally found what she was looking for. She pulled out a huge piece of bright red cloth and different colored sequins. She went back downstairs and, with a pair of scissors, started cutting away. When she was done, she got some glue and continued to work. When she was done, she wrapped her beautiful creation in green wrapping paper and added a beautiful golden bow. She wrote down: FOR SANTA in big black letters on a white card and placed it in the center of the present. She carried the big package to the center of the living room and placed it under the Christmas tree. And now, she thought, for the second part of the present. She ran out and whispered something to the little boy next door, and the older girl across the street. Then she went to the twins in the big house on the corner and to the little girl who lived in the little white house. "Hurry," she shouted, "everyone has to be ready before Santa comes!" Each child went back inside and told the secret to other friends they knew. Some called their relatives on the other side of the globe; they in turn told more and more children. Soon, every child around the planet knew of this very special message, started by the little girl. On Christmas Eve, the little girl went to bed extra early, with a smile on her face, for she knew this year, the wonder of Christmas would fall on Santa.

Later that night, when everyone was asleep, a sleigh landed on top of the girl´s house. Reindeer scraped their hooves, a fat fellow came down the chimney, and started to put some presents from his sack, under the tree. He suddenly stopped as he saw a big green package with a golden bow. "For me?", he whispered, and slowly opened the present. Oh, what a wonderful feeling this was, the expectation of what was inside! As the present was revealed, Santa gasped. It was a beautiful red stocking with colored sequins that spelled SANTA. My very own stocking, he thought, my very first stocking! Inside he found a note: "Santa, you give us all so much joy, this Christmas, it´s your turn, in each house you visit you will find a special something to fill up your stocking. Every child of the world will have a little something for you, pick it up as you visit their houses tonight, and fill up your stocking well. Bring it back with you next year, for surprises will await for you as well. Merry Christmas." Pasted with glue on the back of the note was a picture of him with a little girl, the little girl who lived in this house, the little girl who had organized the most beautiful Christmas present ever. Santa finished his work, took his stocking, and went back up the chimney. In each house he visited that night, he found, pictures, drawings, gadgets and all sorts of suprises from every child. He took each one and put it in his stocking. And as he flew back home on Christmas morning he sent out a very special HO HO HO for his first Christmas stocking!

TIP OF THE DAY


Write down everything you are giving out for Xmas this year, and everything you receive. Save it in your Xmas storage. This way, you´ll be sure you are not repeating presents next year.

12/9/09

STORYTIME: Santa´s Stocking -- Part 3


... All night long, the little girl tossed and turned. What was it Santa Claus wanted? What was his Christmas wish? Early next morning, she got dressed and asked her mother to take her down to see Santa Claus again. "Did you forget to ask for something, dear?", she asked her. The little girl just grinned. The line was not as long as before, so soon it was her turn. The moment he saw her, Santa Claus smiled. "So, you´re back, " he said. "Yep," said the girl, "now, Santa, what would you like for Christmas?" "Well," sighed Santa, "I´ve been doing some thinking, and what I would like is something I can look at for the whole year to remind me of this very special season, and all of the children I visit each year. The rest, I leave up to you." The little girl, smiled at Santa and said, "I know just what to get you! But, I have to get to work, I don´t have much time! Bye, Santa!" "Merry Christmas," called out Santa.


(What do you think she´ll get Santa? Find out tomorrow with more of Santa´s Stocking!)

DAILY RECIPE: Onion Soup

1 onion
3/4 stick butter
3 cups chicken broth
salt
grated cheese (your favorite)

Slice onion very thin. In saucepan, melt butter, add onion. SauteƩ. Add chicken broth and season as needed. Just before serving, top with cheese.

TIP OF THE DAY


When using plastic cups for a birthday party or gathering, keep a marker on hand and label each cup. Everyone can keep tabs on their drink and you won´t go through towers and towers of cups in just one afternoon.

12/8/09

STORYTIME: Santa´s Stocking -- Part 2


... The little girl wondered about this as she slowly got closer and closer to Santa Claus. Now there was only one small boy in front of her, waiting impatiently with his Christmas list firmly held in one hand. Soon it would be her turn and she knew exactly what she was going to do. When Santa´s helper motioned her to come up, she sat on Santa´s lap. "Now," said Santa, "what would you like for Christmas?" The little girl smiled and said, "I want a dollhouse, please. But now I ask you Santa, what would you like for Christmas?" Santa opened up his eyes so wide, for a minute it seemed like they would pop! "What?", he asked. "Yes, every year, you give us all presents, but who fills up your stocking, Santa? That´s why I want to know, what do you want for Christmas?" Santa cleared his throat, "Weeelll, I guess no one had ever asked me that before. I´ll have to think about it." "Well then," said the little girl, "I´ll come back tomorrow..." She hugged Santa good-bye and jumped off his lap.


(More tomorrow for part 3 of Santa´s Stocking)

DAILY RECIPE: Enchiladas


1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

12 corn tortillas

garlic salt, pepper, cumin

3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

3 tomatoes

Oil


Grill chicken until crispy. Place tortilla in hot oil for a couple of seconds. Carefully remove with kitchen clamps and fill with chicken. Roll up and place in a deep pan. Repeat with all tortillas. Blend tomatoes with garlic salt, pepper and cumin. Pour over tortillas, top with cheese. Place in oven or microwave until cheese melts.

12/2/09

STORYTIME: Santa´s Stocking -- Part 1


A long time ago there was a little girl. She was a good little girl, always helping her mother around the house, doing her homework and chores and happy all around. She loved all seasons of the year, but she became especially happy when winter came about because that meant only one thing: Christmas! She loved putting up her Christmas tree, hanging her stocking and baking cookies. She loved the smell of Christmas goods in bakeries and the department store windows beautifully decorated. There was one thing about Christmas that she enjoyed very much, and that was going to the mall to visit Santa Claus. Soon the day came and her mother and father put on her coat and scarf and took her to see that very special fellow. The line was huge! As she patiently waited for her turn a thought came into her mind: Santa Claus gives presents to all the children in the world, but who gives a Christmas present to Santa?


(More tomorrow, come visit us for part 2 of Santa´s Stocking)

DAILY RECIPE: Christmas Cookies

2 sticks butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon almond extract
1 egg
Colored sprinkles


Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add baking powder and flour. Add extracts and egg. Blend well. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill overnight. Roll out dough with rolling pin (use flour if dough is sticky) to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired Christmas shapes. Decorate with sprinkles and bake in 350°F oven for 8 minutes or until golden.

TIP OF THE DAY

Listen to holiday music while in your car. Your entire family will get into the holiday spirit.

12/1/09

DAILY RECIPE: Asparagus with Almonds

1 pkt. asparagus
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1/2 stick butter
salt
1 lemon

Cook asparagus in boiling water until tender. Melt butter in a pan,
add almonds and cook until golden. Add salt and the lemon juice.
Pour over hot asparagus.

TIP OF THE DAY


Keep mushrooms fresh longer in a brown paper bag in the refrigerator. (Much better than a plastic bag !!! )