Use beautiful potted faux Poinsettias and inexpensive crystal vases filled with colorful ornaments, tiny balls, or flat glass marbles as decorations or centerpieces. Check out Home Depot's and Lowe's holiday sections to find some beautiful potted plants and decorations. Reflect light with mirrors placed side-by-side on one entire wall. This makes any small room look larger. Even the smallest apartments can be made quite cozy. Serve a special flavored Holiday Coffee with your dessert. Your personal attention to all the little details can make this holiday season very special for everyone who has the privilege of being in your home for the holidays. You will find many tips, suggestions for gifts, and recipes on this website which are free for everyone to use and enjoy, and many other click-on links to find things that can make entertaining so much easier. Part of the fun is NOT having to do so much work, but getting as much done beforehand as possible, so you can enjoy the festivities as much as your guests.
www.Schwans.com sells a pre-seasoned turkey breast that comes frozen and ready to bake in its own baking bag for 2 hours 30 minutes at 350 degrees, but you must pre-order it in advance of the holidays. It will feed about six people, and is perfect for small family holiday meals. Leftovers makes excellent turkey sandwiches.
HOLIDAY DRESSING
Bake a large pone of buttermilk cornbread. You can find a recipe for cornbread on Cobie's Recipes. The click-on link is on this page. After your cornbread is done, break it completely up, and store in a plastic bag until you need it. Do this a couple days ahead. You can store it in the refrigerator or the freezer. On the day you want to make your dressing, take out the cornbread and place it in a large bowl, add 1 beaten large egg, 4 chopped boiled eggs, 1 Tbsp. celery seeds, 1 cup finely diced onions, 2 Tbsp. sage, salt and pepper to suit your tastes, and enough chicken broth to wet it. Pour this mixture into a large rectangular butter sprayed baking dish, and bake it at 350 degrees for half an hour.
If this sounds like too much dressing for your family meal, just put half of it into another covered freezer baking dish without baking it, and save it for another meal. It can also be put into individual ramekins and baked or frozen for baking later.
Walmart carries a ready-made cornbread dressing in their frozen foods section.
HOLIDAY GRAVY
Use a gravy/fat separator, and separate the fat from the gravy by pouring all the pan drippings into it then out the spout until only the dark brown gravy comes out. You can discard the oily part but save the brown gravy part as it flows out the spout into another container. Take these fat-free drippings leftover from your roasted meat and place them in a skillet, with 3 Tbsp. flour and 3 Tbsp. butter. Mix with a whisk to smooth it all out so there are no lumps. After one minute, add enough chicken broth to make it as thick or thin as you want your gravy to be while stirring and cooking for another four minutes over medium heat. Serve it warm in a lovely clear glass or white porcelain gravy boat with a ladle. If you don't own a gravy boat, use a small pitcher to hold the gravy.
www.kitchencollection.com sells some really nice inexpensive ladles, and www.preparedpantry.com sells some nice white porcelain gravy boats and pitchers.
Try serving Lingonberry Jam from The Prepared Pantry with your turkey or ham instead of cranberry sauce this year. Or make your own Vidalia Onion and Georgia Peach Salsa with the recipe on this page, and serve with the turkey or ham. Buy it ready made at www.Striplings.com. Or try Stripling's Mayhaw Jelly with your meal. Or try serving Georgia Peach Pickles that Striplings General Store sells with your meal.
Vidalia Onions are in season in May and June of each year, and you can order them online if you get put on their email list. There are only 20 counties in Georgia that produce genuine sweet Vidalia Onions, and they sell out fast. To find online Vidalia Onion farms, just do an online search. I highly recommend Stripling's Vidalia Onion Relish. It gets me through all the months I can't get fresh Vidalia Onions. All their products are wonderful! It is absolutely fantastic served on your favorite hot dogs and served as a condiment along with Luck's Pinto or Great Northern Beans, which are the best tasting canned beans you will ever purchase. They even taste better than homemade dried beans you cook for hours. www.HometownFavorites.com sells both Luck's Pinto Beans and Luck's Great Northern Beans. The ones that says Seasoned with Pork are the best tasting.
HOLIDAY CRANBERRY SAUCE
Empty one can Jellied Cranberry Sauce into a covered pot. Add 1 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup dried, diced Fuji apples, 1 tsp. orange zest. 2 Tbsp. Grenadine syrup, the juice squeezed from one Navel orange, 1 tsp. Tajin Fruit Seasoning, 1 individual container of drained Mandarin orange segments, 1/2 cup Spenda, and 1/4 cup dried cherries. Stir well occasionally to mix everything, and cook on medium/low heat until sauce is thickened, approximately 30 minutes. Serve as a condiment with your turkey or ham.
HOLIDAY HAM
Go to your deli and ask them for 1/4-inch slices of Black Forest Ham. Place two slices per person in your roasting pan and top it with pineapple juice to cover all the ham slices. Cover the pan, and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve on a platter with a slice of pineapple with a cherry in the center over each slice of ham. Black Forest Ham is so delicious.
Schwans makes an excellent fully cooked and sliced boneless ham that has hickory smoked flavor but you have to pre-order it online in advance of the holidays at www.schwans.com. It has 22 slices and needs no re-heating or cooking at all. It costs around thirty dollars and will be delivered to your home by a Schwan's delivery man in their big yellow truck with the Schwan's logo on it. They can deliver to all states. You will not be disappointed with Schwan's ham. It is the only one I have ever found that tastes absolutely superb without having to be heated before eating it. You can keep it stored in your home freezer until you need it, so it pays to have one on hand at all times to use as needed. It also makes excellent ham sandwiches. All you need do is thaw it for a couple days or so inside your refrigerator, and serve it on a platter.
I have used a small Smithfield fully cooked boneless hickory ham that was already sliced. I bought it at Kroger but most supermarkets sell them nowadays. It is now a new favorite of mine. All you need do is heat it briefly in your oven, or it can be eaten as is. The taste is so delicious without any bother in preparing it. The slices are just right for making sandwiches later. The price is very reasonable. Smithfield also makes much larger hams. They have a store online where you can order their products.
FRUIT SALAD
Buy a bag of Schwan's Golden Fruit Blend (pineapple, mangoes, peaches, and strawberries) and add any fresh fruits that you want in your fruit salad, such as flaked coconut, papayas, kiwi, bananas, apples, oranges, seedless grapes, red and green cherries, golden raisins, or mini-marshmallows or pecans or any nuts you prefer. Place everything in a clear trifle bowl, keeping it covered and chilled until time to serve. If you want a fruit salad dressing, just use a container of fruit yogurt mixed with a little bit of coconut milk to thin it out. To keep any of your fresh fruit like apples or bananas from turning brown, dip each piece in lemon or lime juice before adding to the fruit salad. At www.davincigourmet.com you can buy Passionfruit Syrup. Add equal parts of it and heavy cream to make an absolutely delicious fruit salad dressing. Whisk together until it is as thick as you want it. On my Miscellaneous Recipes website you can find different recipes for salad dressings.
VIDALIA ONION AND GEORGIA PEACH SALSA
For each person at your dinner, use one individual container Chi-Chi's Salsa and one individual container White House Fruitastics Peach Applesauce. This peach applesauce is the best made, and you can buy it online at www.whitehousefoods.com. To the entire dish, add one finely diced Vidalia sweet onion. You can purchase Vidalia Onion Relish at www.Striplings.com. If you want your salsa chunky, you can also add an individual container of diced peaches to it. Mix well. Keep chilled until time to serve. No cooking is necessary. This goes well with either turkey or ham, or almost any other entree, or you can use it as a dip to serve with either scoop Fritos or round Tostitos. Once you try this recipe, it just might become a favorite to use. It's also delicious to add a package of Schwan's Fruit and Vegetable Salsa (aka Individual Tropical Fruit Smoothie Blend) to this recipe, and serve it with Schwan's Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers as appetizers. You can purchase many delicious appetizers at Schwans online.
HOMEMADE TOSTITOS OR FRITOS
Buy a package of corn tortillas. Fold them in half, cut them with kitchen scissors, then cut them in strips the size you want them, and fry them in small batches in hot vegetable oil, stirring them with a spyder or slotted spoon to make sure both sides get cooked evenly. They cook very quickly, so watch them carefully so they do not burn. Drain them on Viva white paper towels, and season them while warm. Store in a large zippered plastic bag. This way you can control the salt or other seasonings you want to put on them.
CHEESE BALL OR CHEESE LOG
Place two softened bricks of Neuchatel Cream Cheese in a bowl. Add 1 cup finely grated mozzarella cheese, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 Tbsp. dillweed, and 1/2 cup finely diced red or green bell peppers. Mix well. Form mixture into a ball or a log and wrap it in a sheet of long plastic wrap. You can use the plastic wrap to help mold the ball or log to the proper shape. Refrigerate it in the plastic wrap overnight. It is then ready to serve with crackers and a jar of Hot Pepper Jelly to go on top. If you want, you can roll the ball or log in any crushed nuts, but that is your option. Absolutely delicious, and makes a great gift idea. Everyone loves this and it's really quick and easy to make.
QUICK AND EASY HOT PEPPER JELLY
Use a jar of purchased apple jelly, and add 1 tsp. cayenne pepper, mixing well. You can add more or less cayenne to suit how hot you want to make the jelly. If you like, you can also add some red pepper flakes, which will make the pepper jelly even hotter over a period of hours. For red or green color, just add a few drops of food coloring gel to it and mix well. You can also add some finely diced red or green bell peppers if you like.
Reese's makes a good hot pepper jelly that you can find easily in your local supermarket in the jelly section in both red and green jellies.
CHEESE TRUFFLES
16 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
8 oz. shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 tsp. dillweed
1 tsp. chili powder
Assorted Crackers
Mix the cream cheese, shredded cheese, garlic powder and cayenne pepper until well blended. Divide in separate bowls in fourths. Add the roasted red peppers to one fourth, the green onions to one fourth, the dillweed to one fourth, and chili powder to the last fourth. Mix each quarter until well blended. Cover and chill for 3 hours. Shape cheese mixtures into 1-inch balls using a melon baller. Roll your truffles in either finely chopped nuts, finely shredded Cheddar Cheese, paprika, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dillweed, Emeril's Essence, chili powder, taco seasoning, or chopped fresh parsley. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
To Make A Festive Holiday Wreath:
Alternately arrange different flavored cheese truffles in a large circle on a platter to resemble a holiday wreath. Create a decorative bow out of green onion strips or raffia. Use to garnish the wreath.
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
Use a 6 oz. bar of sweet chocolate and a 6 oz. bar of dark chocolate, mincing both bars very fine and place in a glass bowl. You could also use 12 oz. premium chocolate chips instead of the chocolate bars. Heat 1/2 cup heavy cream just to boiling. Remove from heat. Pour it over the chocolate and whisk until shiny and smooth. Add 1 Tbsp. any extract you like (vanilla, rum, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, pineapple, coconut) and 1 Tbsp. brewed coffee, and stir until smooth. Cover and chill for one hour. If you plan on using different extracts, reduce the amount of extract accordingly so the flavor won't be overwhelming when the truffles are eaten. You can always add more but not less, so be sparing with the extracts that are strong. Using a melon baller, scoop out balls of the chocolate. Roll each in either powdered sugar, powdered cocoa, various crushed nuts, jimmies, or candy sprinkles. Keep chilled until time to serve.
You can do another variety of the same recipe using 12 oz. premium white chocolate chips and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Use food coloring to tint the mixture the color you want, and extracts to make it taste like you want. Any of these Truffles would make excellent gifts for the holidays.
FAUX CHAMPAGNE
This tastes just as good as the alcoholic version and with it you will not have a hangover or headache the next morning.
4 cups chilled club soda
4 cups chilled ginger ale
3 cups chilled white grape juice
Mix together in a crystal pitcher and serve in champagne flutes. To make Faux Pink Champagne just add 1/4 cup grenadine syrup to the above recipe.
FESTIVE FUDGE WREATH
Melt a large bag chocolate chips with 1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk and stir until smooth. Add 1 cup chopped nuts. Drain 1 jar each red cherries and green cherries. Lay them out on white paper towels to absorb any moisture. Spray your pan with butter spray. Using a round pan any size you want, place a glass in the middle of the pan to create the hole part in your candy wreath, then pour the chocolate mixture in the pan. Arrange the red and green cherries to resemble holly berries all over the top. Chill to harden. Unmold and place on a round platter to serve.
A springform cake pan works well for this recipe.
HOLIDAY HORS D'OEVRES
Using a strip of mozzarella cheese, and a couple baby spinach or basil leaves, wrap a cherry or grape tomato and secure it with a toothpick. Serve chilled.
PROSCIUTTO BALLS
Using a melon baller or cookie scooper, form melon balls from seeded watermelon, honeydews, cantalope, and casawba. You could also use avocadoes, pineapple chunks, kiwi fruit, or cherry or grape tomatoes. Wrap each ball in a strip of Prosciutto ham and secure it with a toothpick. Halved fresh figs, pitted whole dates, whole red or green seedless grapes also taste great wrapped in Prosciutto ham. You can purchase Prosciutto ham at your store's deli. Strips of Parmagianno Reggiano cheese can be served as appetizers. Black olives stuffed with almond slivers and pimento stuffed green olives make great accompaniment appetizers also. Serve these appetizers on platters and all your holiday guests will be happy campers.
SALSA APPETIZERS
Using a bag of Scoop Tostitos, add a spoonful of Lay's Chunky Salsa to each scoop, then place a couple pitted black olives on each one, and place them on a platter. Serve immediately to your guests. Nothing whets the appetite like salsa and chips.
FESTIVE FINGER SANDWICHES
Soften cream cheese tinted red or green with food coloring paste or gels, then add any ingredients you like for a festive holiday spread for finger sandwich fillings. Suggestions might be: drained crushed pineapple and chopped pecans or pistachios; guacamole dip; chopped red or green fruits; devilled ham; pimento cheese; roasted and chopped red or green bell peppers; sun-dried tomatoes; chopped basil or spinach; pesto dip; diced tomatoes; red onions diced; sliced cucumbers or zuchini; salsa. Remove the crusts off each sandwich, then slice each sandwich into three finger lengths. Allow six finger lengths per guest with at least four varieties of sandwich fillings.
HOLIDAY SOUP
This is my version of a thickened Wonton Soup, and it's absolutely delicious! Because of the colors, it makes a wonderful holiday soup to serve. You could use low sodium chicken broth instead of beef broth if you want. Do NOT use any extra salt in this recipe, as the seasonings, soy sauce, and broth makes it plenty salty.
If you cannot find the Gnocchi in your local store, you can order it online at Vigo Alessi.com. Vigo Gnocchi makes an excellent ready-made substitute for dumplings in any recipe. They come vacuum sealed and dried in a colorful red and yellow package. You normally cook them in boiling water or broth, and when they are done, they float to the top of the pot. Afterwards, you can add any type sauce you want to them. I make chicken and dumplings out of them with a can of undiluted Cream of Chicken Soup added after they are cooked. Or you can add butter, cream, and flour and make a cream sauce for them. Pesto can be added for more sauces. Or use a marinara sauce for another variety.
1 package Gnocchi
2 cans beef broth, low sodium
1 can Campbell's Golden Mushroom Soup
1 jar sliced mushrooms, drained
2 Tbsp. Vidalia Onion Relish
1 jar diced Pimentoes, drained
1 Tbsp. dried chives
1/2 cup frozen English Peas
1/2 cup dried onions
1 cube Knorr cilantro seasoning
1 cube Knorr onion seasoning
1 cube Knorr garlic seasoning
1/2 tsp. True Lime Seasoning
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
Empty the beef broth into a pot. Put the Knorr Seasonings cubes in it. (I recently found these Knorr seasoning cubes in the ethnic foods section of Kroger. They come in chipotle as well.) Add the Gnocchi, stirring well, and bring it to a boil. When all the Gnocchi float to the top, add the remaining ingredients, mixing well and often, with a large spoon. Cook for another ten minutes on low heat, stirring often so it doesn't stick to the bottom of your pot. The Golden Mushroom Soup will make it nice and thick. Serve.
HOLIDAY PUDDINGS
Use Pistachio pudding mix and make according to directions on box. Pour into individual dessert dishes and top with Cool Whip and red maraschino cherries. Chill until time to serve.
Cool Whip comes in chocolate, strawberry, and French vanilla now, so use these during the holidays. You can tint the French Vanilla any color you want with food coloring gel. In a pinch, you can use these as a dessert mousse when placed in individual ramekins.
Use vanilla pudding and tint it red. Add cherry extract or strawberry extract for flavoring. Top with Cool Whip and green maraschino cherries. Chill until time to serve.
Use individual ramekins and fill one side with green pudding and the other half with red pudding. You can use vanilla pudding tinted red or green with food coloring or paste. Chill until time to serve. Just before serving pipe some canned whipped cream around the edges, and garnish with red or green cherries.
CINNAMON-CHERRY-ALMOND BISCOTTI BALLS
In a large bowl place 2-1/2 cups self-rising flour, 1 cup Splenda, 1 Tbsp. cinnamon, 1/2 cup cherry juice, 1/2 cup almond coffee syrup, 1/2 cup chopped cherries, 1/2 stick butter, 1 egg, and 1/2 cup chopped almond slivers. Mix well. If the dough is too stiff just add more cherry juice or almond syrup. You need a stiff dough though. Form small balls. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet, and bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for ten minutes. You can tell when they are ready because they will feel light but you don't want them to brown, just be done inside. Roll each ball in powdered sugar. Serve with a cup of coffee or hot tea. These make excellent gifts.
HOLIDAY BISCOTTI
1/2 cup any chopped nuts
1/2 cup any candied or dried fruit
1/2 cup any chocolate chips
1 stick butter
1 cup Splenda or sugar
2 eggs
2-1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 Tbsp. any pure extract
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs.
Add fruit, nuts, and chips to the flour, and toss to coat them so they won't sink when mixed.
When smooth, add any extract and stir well.
Divide dough in half and shape each half into a log, about 2X14 inches. On a butter sprayed baking sheet, bake logs at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.
Cool for 5 minutes. With a serrated knife slice each log into 1/2-inch thick slices on the diagonal.
Lay the slices flat, then bake for an additional 8 minutes on each side. Store at room temperature in a covered container. These go great with flavored coffees.
FESTIVE HOLIDAY PARFAITS
Make holday parfaits by layering red and green puddings in parfait glasses. Top with Cool Whip and red and green cherries. Chill until time to serve.
FESTIVE HOLIDAY TRIFLE
Make a festive holiday trifle by layering cubed poundcake brushed with green creme de menthe or red grenadine syrups, tinted red and green puddings, red and green cherries, and Cool Whip tinted red or green. Use a clear glass trifle bowl. Chill until time to serve.
FESTIVE MASHED POTATOES
Any white vegetable (potatoes, cauliflower florets, parsnips, button mushrooms, water chestnuts) can be tinted to make it festive for any occasion. Just make your mashed potatoes as usual except while beating them with a mixer add a few drops food coloring to make them any color you want. To make sure there are no lumps, use a potato ricer to mash them.
A tip for mashed potatoes is to use heated milk and butter when whipping them instead of cold milk and butter.
This would make a good Faux Peruvian Blue Mashed Potatoes recipe by adding some red and blue food coloring drops.
How about Twice Baked Cheese Potatoes? Bake potatoes in the oven, one per guest. Slice them in half, lengthwise, when done. Hollow out the insides into a bowl leaving the skins in tact. Proceed to mash the potatoes with heated milk, butter, salt, pepper, real bacon bits, and finely grated cheese. Spoon or pipe this mixture back into the potato skin halves. Place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle tops with more grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese has melted and browned slightly. Serve warm.
MASHED GINGERED CARROTS
I created this recipe when I needed something orange for a holiday meal, but didn't want to use mashed sweet potatoes since I was serving Sweet Potato Pie for dessert. It turned out very delicious and quick to fix.
I opened three cans of sliced carrots, and pureed them in my food processor until smooth. I put them in the food processor one drained can at a time so there wouldn't be any lumps. After I pureed them completely smooth, I added 1 Tbsp. minced fresh gingerroot that comes in a tube in the produce section of your supermarket, and mixed this with 1 stick melted butter. I covered it with plastic wrap and kept it in the refrigerator until the next day. All I had to do was warm it up in the microwave and serve. It tasted so good that I decided it would make an excellent substitute for mashed potatoes with almost any entree.
MASHED SWEET POTATOES
Use canned drained sweet potatoes that are cooked already. Mash them until smooth. Add any seasonings you enjoy, like 1/2 to 1 tsp. cinnamon, sugar or Splenda, or melted butter.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
3 cups cooked sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 stick butter
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup mini-marshmallows
Mix all together and pour into a buttered casserole dish.
Mix together the following ingredients and sprinkle over the top of casserole before baking:
TOPPING:
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 cup chopped nuts
1 stick butter
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 min. Serve hot.
SQUASH CASSEROLE
2 lbs. yellow summer squash, washed and cut
1 cup grated cheese
1 large chopped onion
1 cup crushed Total cereal
1 egg, well beaten
1/2 stick butter
2 Tbsp. bacon bits
1/4 cup milk
Cook squash until tender, then drain off water. Mash the squash. Add all
ingredients except cheese, mixing thoroughly. Pour into a casserole dish
and bake at 350 degrees for 30 min.
During last 10 min. of baking time, add
the grated cheese sprinkled over the top.
Serve hot.
Zucchini could be substituted for the squash or both added for variety.
GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
Empty two drained cans whole green beans into a bowl. Mix in one can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup, 1 Tbsp. It's A Dilly Seasoning, 1/2 cup almond slivers, and one small jar of drained sliced mushrooms. Pour this mixture into a butter sprayed casserole dish. Top with French's Onion Rings that come in a can. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
SWEET POTATO PIE
Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a bowl, beat together with an electric mixer, 3 eggs, 1 large can drained and mashed sweet potatoes, 2 Tbsp. butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract, and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Pour smooth mixture into an unbaked pie crust. Bake for 45 min. or until set. Cool and serve with whipped cream on top of each slice. This can be made ahead and frozen. Just be sure to wrap it good in both plastic wrap and aluminum foil, so it doesn't get freezer burned.
You could also use canned mashed pumpkin instead of sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon.
SWEET POTATO CHIFFON PIE
Use a pre-made graham cracker crust. In a bowl, empty one can sweet potatoes that have been drained. Mash them until smooth. Add 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, and 1/2 cup Splenda. Mix well to combine. Fold in 1 container Cool Whip until blended. Pour mixture into the pie shell, decorate the top with praline pecan halves, and refrigerate until time to serve, or at least four hours.
Praline Pecan Halves can be easily made by placing one stick butter in a skillet and adding two cups light brown sugar, stirring well until dissolved over medium heat. When the mixture is smooth and has cooked for approximately five minutes, add a pound of shelled pecan halves, and stir well to make sure all of them are coated thoroughly. Pour them onto a butter sprayed cookie sheet, and let them cool. Break any apart that might be stuck together. When cool, store them in a large plastic zippered bag. These keep well for a long time.
This same recipe could also be served as a Sweet Potato Mousse by omitting the graham cracker pie crust and serving it in individual ramekins or dishes.
Another version of this recipe is called Sweet Potato and Pineapple Whips. You just add a can of crushed pineapple that has been drained, and serve it in a dessert dish with crumbled Gingersnap Cookies or Praline Pecans on top as a garnish. Pineapple and sweet potatoes are a winning combination.
www.Schwans.com makes a delicious Pumpkin Pie and Autumn Treat Ice Cream for the holidays. They taste almost identical to a sweet potato pie so people who don't like pumpkin will still enjoy both these desserts. Schwans also sells Turkey Medallions in Gravy that are fully cooked, and many vegetables that you can fix quickly. Try their California Blend Vegetables which are carrot, cauliflower, and broccoli. Or try their Mashed Potatoes which come in nuggets and are so quick and easy to prepare. They also have Bread Dough that you can defrost and shape into rolls, let them rise, and bake them. Schwans will deliver to your home every two weeks, and all their products are high quality. Some of their products must be pre-ordered online, so be sure to check out their website at least four weeks in advance of any upcoming holidays. Schwans Foods can make your life so much easier when you have a special dinner to prepare for your family and friends, or save you valuable time shopping in a grocery store at any time. They also carry a lot of easy-to-fix appetizers for the holidays or anytime. You won't be sorry for giving Schwans a try. Their foods are all guaranteed.
PUMPKIN PIE
1 Tbsp. flour
3/4 cup Splenda brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
15 oz. can pureed pumpkin
12 oz. can evaporated nonfat milk
1/2 cup Egg Beaters eggwhites
1 reduced fat graham cracker crust
1 can fat free whipped topping
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine flour, Splenda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl. Add pumpkin, evaporated milk, and Egg Beaters. Mix until well blended and smooth. Pour mixture into the crust. Bake for 1 hour. Add a dollop of whipped topping just before serving.
For people who are on a gluten-free diet, you can use corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, or rice as your side dishes. Check out www.dinewise.com for many gluten-free menu ideas.
PUMPKIN NUT CUPCAKES
2-1/4 cups Bisquick Mix
2 large eggs
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup cooked mashed pumpkin
1 cup Splenda
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped Pepitas
Mix all ingredients. Pour batter into butter sprayed or paper muffin cups in a dozen regular sized muffins pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Frost with orange tinted cream cheese frosting. For garnishes, add a small candy pumpkin to the center of each cupcake after frosting.
For muffins, omit the frosting and candy garnish.
PUMPKIN MOUSSE
2 cups cooked mashed pumpkin
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 cup light brown sugar
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
12 oz. Cool Whip
In a bowl mix the pumpkin, sugar, spice, and vanilla well to combine. Fold in the Cool Whip. Divide mixture between individual dessert ramekins, then chill until time to serve. Just before serving you can add a dollop of Cool Whip to the top of each ramekin if desired for a garnish.
SPICY HOLIDAY POTPOURRI
Use your crockpot to make a fragrant batch of spicy holiday drink that smells like a holiday potpourri. To a large crockpot of hot water add 6 Celestial Seasonings Indian Spice Original teabags, and 6 Constant Comment teabags, or 1 teabag per 8 oz. water. Keep it stirred and simmering on high and your home will smell absolutely wonderful all day long. You can ladle it into mugs for your guests to drink as they arrive. Add more hot water and teabags as needed. The discarded teabags will make your garbage can smell nice. You can buy a beautiful Mikado clear glass teapot at www.eurogrocer.com for $39. plus shipping. Just type teapot in the search box to locate the Mikado (JenAer German made) clear glass teapot once you are on the website.
PARTY SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE:
On my main recipes index webpage, you can find all kinds of free recipes divided into categories where you can find beverages, appetizers, desserts, fondues, vegetables, and entrees, and just about any recipe you could want to have a lovely party. I even have websites that have Mocktail recipes and games to play. Be sure to check them out. With any party, the whole idea is for you to have as much fun as your friends. People will remember your parties when you pay special attention to all the details, and make it a fun time for everyone. My Faux Champagne recipe will let everyone make a special midnight toast without having to worry about designated drivers, and with Mocktails, no one has to worry about someone at your party getting drunk or creating scenes from inebriation. I have a website for Tea Parties with recipes for Finger Sandwiches which would also work for any party. Serving bite-sized finger foods is always welcome at any type party.
MENU SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY:
Tradition says for good luck and prosperity for the coming New Year, you should eat black eyed peas or at least some type of beans, some type of cooked greens, and some type of cooked pork on New Year's Day. I recommend canned Luck's Black Eyed Peas, using the frozen turnips and greens seasoned with some vegetable oil, salt, black pepper, and hot sauce (or you can use frozen collard greens or chopped frozen spinach with minced garlic and butter,) and fry some pork chops battered in self-rising cornmeal, then when golden brown on both sides place them in foil and bake them at 350 degrees for 30 minutes to have the most tender pork chops you have ever eaten, or have some of your leftover baked ham from Christmas, then make a pone of cornbread, and have sliced sweet onions, and iced tea. Serve diced tropical fruit or diced peaches for dessert. You can also buy various greens in cans already cooked for even more convenience but they are not nearly as good. Local bakeries might sell ready-made cornbread muffins for New Year's. The addition of hot sauce, minced garlic, garlic powder or onion powder will always make any kind of cooked greens taste better. You might want to try pulverized dried culinary lavender in greens also for a different taste. Sliced sweet onions are just a raw side dish that Southerners always have with any type beans or greens. The pork could be any type pork you prefer. And any dessert you prefer would be fine. Any drink would be fine as well. Southerners just seem to drink a lot of iced tea with any of their meals. Use seven teabags for a half-gallon tea or twelve teabags for a gallon of tea. Use a cup of Splenda or sugar for either, stirring well to dissolve the sugar in the hot water. Bring cold water to a boil, steeping the teabags for ten minutes, then adding the sugar because sugar will not dissolve properly in cold water, removing the teabags and discarding them, then adding the infusion to your container of cold water. Add ice to your glasses and a slice of lemon, and keep refilling them as needed. That is a true sign of good service and hospitality when your tea glasses are refilled with more tea or ice without asking.
Happy Holidays to all of you!
GIFT IDEAS:
Here are various gift ideas that you can make at home and give to people. They make excellent gifts for everyone. With the economy being like it is worldwide, these type gifts let people know you are thinking of them and their needs, and love them on any day of the year.
www.claxtonfruitcake.com sells individually wrapped slices of Claxton Fruitcake that goes great in gift baskets. You get twenty slices shipped to your home for less than twenty dollars. It is delicious! You can freeze it to enjoy all year round. Try a slice with a hot cup of Chai. You never knew fruitcake could taste so good! You can buy 32 oz. vending machine bags of Instant Oregon Chai at www.discountcoffee.com, without needing a vending machine to use it. Just measure it by the spoonful into your mug of hot water, stir well, and enjoy.
Go to Family Dollar Store and buy their empty holiday cookie tins. You can get a small one for a dollar and a large one for $1.50. Family Dollar sells Vanilla Pirouettes for a dollar a can, as well as holiday cookies in various assortments. Go to Dollar General and buy boxes of Almond Crescents cookies for a dollar a box. Place the cookies of your choice in the cookie tins. I don't know of anyone who doesn't love Almond Crescents or Pirouettes.
You can make up a batch of homemade cookies very easily by using a can of pre-made coconut-pecan frosting and 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, and 1 cup almonds, pecans, and walnuts pulverized in a food processor. Mix all together to form a very stiff dough. No cooking needed at all. Form 48 small balls, and lay them on parchment paper. Roll each ball in pulverized flaked coconut. Let them air dry overnight, and they make perfect gifts in cookie tins.
Why not make a tray of specialty tea bags for that person you know who loves drinking hot tea? You can find the trays at www.discountcoffee.com already made up with 64 tea bags of 8 different flavors in two different varieties.
You can buy a wicker or bamboo tray and make up your own version of the above by putting different flavored teabags in it, stacking them so they can be easily accessed, or adding coffee singles to them, as well as packets of creamer and sugar or Splenda. Everyone loves this kind of gift. Who doesn't love sitting down to a goodie and a cup of coffee or hot tea? Try Walmart, Kmart, Target, Big Lots, or T. J. Maxx for the trays or baskets.
Create a basket of individually wrapped goodies to enjoy. Some suggestions: Nonni's Biscotti, Kraft Caramels, Granola Bars, Claxton's Individually Sliced Fruitcake, Baklava, Honey Buns, assorted candy bars, assorted muffins, assorted cookies in individual packs, or assorted individual cakes.
www.HometownFavorites.com has all kinds of candies to offer, even nostalgic ones from the past. So does www.nutsonline.com and once you order from either of them, you will want to stay a customer because their products are so delicious.
For people who enjoy nuts, send them an assortment of dried fruits and nuts from Nuts Online.
This company sells absolutely delicious dried fruits, candies, and nuts, as well as coffees, teas, spices, etc. You can purchase online gift certificates and they will ship your order to whomever you choose, and they are very prompt in their shipments. Be sure to order some of their Holiday Coconut Dates.
The Prepared Pantry has so many delicious and excellent flours, breads and cookie dough mixes, food colorings, extracts, dried fruits, nuts, variety of baking chips, baking ingredients, syrups, jams, jellies, dips, pestos, sauces, white porcelain dishes, white porcelain strawberry baskets, kitchen tools and gadgets, and all types of pots and pans needed for people who enjoy baking and cooking. Be sure to check this website out for gifts for yourself or your family or friends. This site is one of the best online. Be sure to try some of their Lingonberry Jam, Peach Syrup, and Peach Cobbler Jam. All their products are excellent, and I highly recommend them. They also offer many free articles on cooking and baking as well as free recipes.
Buy a large mason jar with lid, and fill it with all the dry ingredients needed to make something that you consider one of your specialty recipes. Put the recipe on an index card and punch a hole in the corner. String a red ribbon through the hole, and tie the ribbon around the lid. People love it when you give them something they can make quickly that tastes delicious. Ideas could be chili, dried soups, instant iced tea mixes, cookie dough mixes, cake mixes, muffin mixes, bread mixes, or pudding mixes. Don't forget to list any ingredients they will still need to add to finish the recipe.
Make a special gift basket for each person you have to buy a gift for using your knowledge of things that you know they enjoy. Each basket should contain things that they really enjoy or need. For example, if you know someone who loves flavored coffees and teas, put boxes or individual bags of different coffees and teas in it, with a couple mugs, and some of their favorite cookies. Wrap it in Reynold's Tinted Plastic Wrap, and tie a ribbon bow around the top.
If you know a person who needs extra heat in their home, buy them an electric heater or extra blankets from Dollar General store, Family Dollar store, Kmart, or Walmart.
Give Sudoku puzzle books and the new boardgame called Sudoku from Family Dollar store to a person who enjoys these type games. Nothing will bless you as much as helping out some poor person whom you will make happy by giving them a gift when times are hard for everyone.
People who live in nursing homes need personal care items in gift baskets like lotion, bubble bath, cologne, soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, denture tablets, mouthwash, warm throws, sweaters, flannel pajamas, or disposable briefs.
Never forget that some time alone is what is needed most for the person who is doing the caregiving for elderly people in their home. Offer to take the person for at least a couple weeks, or a month would be even better, so the caregiver can take a much-needed break. This can be a priceless gift to a caregiver and could even save their life because the stress can be so much to bear that they die oftentimes before the elderly person does.
A nice inexpensive gift is to put a teabag or coffee single in an envelope with a personal note saying that you would like for the person to whom you are giving it to bring that teabag or coffee single with them to your home at a certain time and date to sit down and enjoy drinking it while talking about their life with you for thirty minutes or an hour of uninterrupted personal time to share. This could become a tradition with your family or friends. Everyone needs someone they can trust to talk with about their personal life who will keep things said in confidence.
How about making a coupon booklet using index cards then stapling them together, and offering coupons that can be redeemed later for things you know that person needs or enjoys? Examples could be for your spouse, a coupon good for winning one argument, a meal of his/her choice, a backrub, a footrub, a full body massage, a bubblebath, a favorite tool he wants, a favorite appliance she wants, his/her choice of a movie, a night of watching all his/her choices on tv, helping with household chores she doesn't enjoy doing, a night of romance, going out dining and dancing, seeing a special movie, having a weekly date night, a day fishing, a day of golf, a tank of gas, helping out at work, a vacation, or any other thing you can think of that he/she might enjoy receiving from you. For your children, you could offer a video game rental or purchase of their choice, a DVD rental or purchase, extra money when needed, an increase in allowance, favorite cologne, a pair of jeans, a shirt, a pair of shoes, time alone for a chat, a meal of their choice, a favorite book, a new boardgame, a new CD, a toy you know they want, or anything they especially might enjoy. Think of unusual things for grownups like sitting for children for them to go out for an evening, or sitting with an elderly person for them if they are caregivers so they can run necessary errands. For the elderly persons you know who still live at home, you might offer going to get groceries for them without charging them for your services, cleaning their house for them, taking out their garbage, or taking them to the doctor and getting their meds for them. You might be surprised at how invaluable those coupons can be to the person you give them. Time offered can be the most valuable commodity for some people who get little or no attention. Kindness costs us little in effort but can be priceless to the people to whom you extend it.
Sam's Club online sells a case of disposable shampoo caps by Comfort Care that invalids can use to keep their hair clean. This would make an excellent gift for any bedridden person. No water is needed with these caps, and they work very well. It only takes a few minutes to do a person's hair this way, and is not messy at all. They can be heated in the microwave for 30 seconds for extra comfort before using them. Then you just put them on the person's head and gently massage their hair for one to two minutes. Remove the cap and dispose of it, then comb the person's hair and blow dry it in their style. So easy!
Don't forget your less fortunate neighbors. Offer them rides to the store if needed, or take out their garbage for them if they are sick, disabled, or elderly, or offer to pick up things they need when you go to the store, cook them an occasional meal, clean their home for them, or babysit for their children. If you stop and think about it, there are so many opportunities to help others who live right around you that will only cost you some effort, time, and gas for your car.
Make an emergency kit for someone you know that could include candles, matches, Sterno fuel, soups, crackers, peanut butter, individual cups of diced fruit, bottled water, batteries, flashlights, first aid kit, extra blankets, thermal underwear, and a battery operated emergency radio.
Offer to pay for someone you know that is sick but can't afford to go to a doctor, and buy their meds for them, so they can get better. You might be surprised at how many people in the USA do not have healthcare coverage and cannot afford to go to a doctor or buy meds.
Buy a three month's subscription to play video games online at Games at Net 4 TV for $15.00 for someone you know online. You can purchase a year's subscription for $50. The owner will send them an email saying they have received a gift subscription from you.
Buy some scratch-off lottery tickets for someone you know who needs money badly, and give them as a gift without expecting anything in return if they win. Just be happy for them.
For an entire family, make a gift basket of a DVD, microwavable popcorn, and a popcorn bowl set. Add boxes of candy, and a large bottle of soft drink for a Family Movie Night at home. Check Dollar General for the popcorn, candy, and DVDs, and Dollar General or Family Dollar for the popcorn bowl set and soft drinks. Use the large popcorn bowl as the holder for the other things, and you won't have to buy a basket for this one. www.KitchenCollection.com sells popcorn holders in different sizes that are very pretty.
Do you know someone who loves to cook? Make them a gift basket of kitchen tools and pans. Add a cookbook, spice rack, or supplies needed for cooking or baking, and you are guaranteed to please. Kitchen tools are just as necessary to a cook as building tools are to a builder.
Buy a Creme Brulee set for that person you know who just adores sweets. Each set comes with a creme brulee mix and four ramekins. You can find these at www.cooking.com or www.kitchencollection.com
Create your own candy collection by using the free no-cooking-needed recipes on my Easy Candy Creams website. Put them on tiny paper candy cups and in a nice box. Give them to people for gifts. Who wouldn't like special custom-made Candy Creams? You could get so good at making them that you could sell them and bring in some extra income.
Make a copy of one of my many free recipe websites and put it in a vinyl three-ring notebook. I suggest Cobie's Recipes as it has a large variety of comfort foods recipes that most everyone would enjoy.
For the person you know who has to live on a tight budget, make them a cookbook copy of Frugal Recipes websites. This would come in handy for college students, elderly people, singles, newlyweds, or large families. Put it in a vinyl three-ring notebook.
People who are romantic or would like to be a romantic cook would enjoy a cookbook copy of my romantic recipes websites. Put it in a vinyl three-ring notebook.
One of my many websites is sure to appeal to someone you know that you have to buy a gift for. Be sure to check all of them out to see which ones would appeal to all the people you know. All it will cost you is the paper and ink to print them and something in which to bind them. The links are at the bottom of this page. This year it's going to be hard on a lot of people who have to buy gifts, so don't feel bad at all. This is what I made these pages for, to help people freely. Most people would definitely appreciate having frugal suggestions and recipes to make their food budget stretch further or ways to make their lives better.
How about that health and nutrition connosieur? Buy them a juicer and some fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy. www.KitchenCollection.com has a nice Hamilton Beach Juicer priced very reasonably.
Buy that budding baker a bread machine with some bread machine mixes from www.PreparedPantry.com, and let them learn to bake bread. Maybe they will give you a homemade loaf in return for being so generous to them? This website sells one for around sixty dollars as well as many different bread mixes. You can also buy a similar bread machine at www.cooking.com and www.kitchencollection.com.
Does your husband like to work in his workshop? Make him a gift basket of tools he has been wanting badly. Maybe he will make you that piece of furniture you have been wanting. A crafter needs the proper tools to create, the same as a cook needs the proper pans and tools in the kitchen to create good recipes.
Know a wannabe artist? Make a gift basket of paints, brushes, and canvases for them. Add a video by Bob Ross on painting a 30-minute picture.
Do you have a vitamin or mineral supplement person you know who can't seem to get enough of them? Give them a gift certificate from www.VitaCost.com. This site has the lowest prices and best products I have found online.
Know someone who likes using Home Remedies? Make them a free copy of my Home Remedies website as a gift.
Know someone who enjoys using Affirmations every day to improve their life? Make them a free copy of one or more of my free Affirmations from my Index of Affirmations as a gift.
Try buying the Plug and Play games that plug into your tv set's AV jacks, instead of the more expensive ones for kids or adults who enjoy video games. To find them just do a search, then compare prices, as some sites are much lower in prices than others. There are a lot of them available this year.
For the person you know who always seems to have a desire to drink too much alcohol or craves sweets, buy them a gift of the supplement L-Glutamate 500 mg, and have them take it three times a day to stop their cravings. You can find it at local pharmacies and at www.vitacost.com. Children and grandchildren of alcoholics will tend to genetically either drink alcohol excessively or crave sweets, so this supplement can help them all tremendously. It could be a gift that saves lives.
Do you know someone very nice who never does things for themselves but is always doing nice things for other people? Turn the tables, and do something especially nice for that person. Show them that other people do notice and appreciate all that they do.
Do you know a budding writer? Buy them pens and journals or notebook paper in a binder, or a laptop if you can afford it, and tell them to write down or type some of their personal stories. Encourage an elderly relative or friend to write down some of the things that have happened to them in their lifetime that others might enjoy reading.
Buy a boardgame like Electronic Monopoly or Scrabble and give to a family to begin a Game Night once a week. It's gifts like this that draws families closer together.
Do you know of a needy family or individuals who are single and have no relatives who won't have a holiday dinner to attend this year? Buy them the supplies needed, and take it to them so they will have a nice dinner. Or invite someone like that you already know well enough to eat with you. You will enjoy your own holiday meal so much more knowing you helped feed others who might have gone without a meal that day. Or you could volunteer to work at an organization locally that feeds people.
Help an elderly person move to a nicer place to live. Help them find a safe and quiet place, then pay for the rental truck to move them, and provide the free manpower needed to do the job efficiently. Some senior citizens cannot pack their own things in boxes or lift anymore. A gift like that can be priceless it is so useful to them.
Haband.com has some adorable warm pajamas that go up to a size 3X, as well as clothes and shoes.
Blair.com sells clothes of all types.
All you need to know is a person's email address to send them a gift certificate online. The website you buy it from will contact them, and there can still remain a sense of anonymity this way, without people having to divulge too much personal information about themselves, until they feel ready to share more with you.
Some excellent websites for shopping online:
www.claxtonfruitcake.com
www.schwans.com
www.discountcoffee.com
www.qvc.com
www.hsn.com
www.haband.com
www.blair.com
www.vitacost.com
www.drugstore.com
www.lakeside.com
www.drleonards.com
www.preparedpantry.com
www.kitchencollection.com
www.cooking.com
www.striplings.com
www.lanesouthernorchards.com
www.netgrocer.com
www.eurogrocer.com
www.hickoryfarms.com
www.figis.com
www.nutsonline.com
www.hometownfavorites.com
www.games.net4tv.com
www.davincigourmet.com
Think about something a person needs or enjoys and go to an appropriate website, then buy a gift certificate, and see how surprised they are to get it. It will warm your heart to know you did something nice for them.
Occasionally, Kroger or other grocery stores will sell gift cards where groceries can be purchased with them, but you actually get 10% more value on these cards than what you pay for them. Check out Customer Service to find out when these type gift cards are available. With groceries getting higher every week, this can save you lots of money, even when you buy them for yourself or your own family members.
Why pay for The Secret when you can get something similar to it free?
Make a gift copy of my totally free course, Change Your Mindset and Change Your Life For Better and give it to anyone you know, including yourself, who could benefit from using it. Ask them to pass it along to someone else when they are done with it. That way they are Paying It Forward for the betterment of mankind. The link to it is at the bottom of this page.
Make free CDs as gifts of any of my many music websites online. A link to my Music Index is at the bottom of this page.
Are you affiliated with someone rich enough to build affordable housing apartments? Suggest to them that they build apartments just for adults who are very clean, quiet, respectful of others' property, and non-smokers. There is a tremendous need for this gift in our world. You would be making people in every city where this is done very happy. Build them, and watch them fill up quickly. People are tired of having noisy neighbors who have no consideration for their needs or feelings or for others' property.
Remember you can use these easy recipes and suggestions all year to make your meals special festive occasions.
ALL MY FREE RECIPES' WEBSITES INDEX
MY SPECIAL OCCASIONS RECIPES AND SUGGESTIONS INDEX