Getting It All Done

With all that "needs" to get done this time of year - clean the house, decorate, shop, entertain, wrap presents, attend school/church functions - it's a wonder more people don't go into system overload and simply cancel the month of December! But that is not possible nor truly desired. By prioritizing what actually matters to you and your family this season, December can get back to being a rather blissful month.
Planning does alleviate the stress of a month that is typically packed with fun events, obligations and extra chores. If you are a procrastinator or a bit unorganized, there is still hope! By making a quick list of things that are vital to you and yours to enjoy you are on the right track to conquering the stress that can accompany this festive season. If you are hosting this year but do not enjoy cooking, call everyone who is attending and assign them a dish to bring. This takes the onus off of you to create the entire spread and the guests have the option of making their requested course or going to the grocer's to pick it up pre-made. You, too, could go to the grocer's and order a turkey or ham dinner and all of the trimmings to serve to your guests. Simply pick the meal up the day before the holiday and your work, sans heating up, is complete! This is a costlier option, but your time and sanity is worth the extra bit of money you'd end up spending.
Is decorating the evergreen in your home putting you in a bad mood? Quickly call in the friends and family you actually adore and invite them over for pizza and beer, your treat, as long as they promise not to leave until your boughs are decked. Have the lights and boxes out and ready to go and you get lost in the kitchen putting pizza on paper plates and pouring beers into pilsners while they get frustrated with the lights that don't all work and the ornament that refuses to hang properly. Before they leave your tree should be complete and all you have to do is take out the trash and recyclables and stow the Christmas tree boxes for the end of the month... when you'll invite a crew of different friends and family to disassemble this masterpiece while you order Chinese take-out!
Hate to shop but have a list longer than Santa's? Decide on one gift that everyone on the list could enjoy - flashlight, food, game, book - and buy it in multiples. If the store offers gift-wrapping and you detest that chore, pay the extra amount and you are not only finished shopping, but your gifts are beautifully presented as well. If you still have a ton to buy, refer to my "gift" blogs, including this week's "stocking stuffer" guide. At least you aren't going to the stores empty-handed!
Are you sifting through five invitations for the same Saturday night in December? And Sunday there are six more? Take a deep breath and close your eyes. Open them again and be ruthless. Which events are the ones you selfishly want to attend? For the rest, pick up the phone or whip off an email stating you cannot make it but thank you for thinking of you. If it is an "obligatory" event - office party, school concert, church function - consider going as you'll probably truly enjoy yourself and be glad you went. But, if you are putting your foot down, just bow out gracefully, even if it entails a lie, "my child (parent, I) is sick and I cannot take him/her out right now" Yes, it is awful to lie, but, let's face it, this is December, kids are often sick and get sick at the last moment. This one is okay... according to me, anyway.
December and Christmas ought to be filled with people and events you want in your life. As a whole, we get too involved with things that are not contingent to our happiness. Sometimes "getting it all done" is impossible. Getting what you want to and need to get done becomes tolerable when you decide with your family what will make December and Christmas memorable and fun.

Holiday Foods - Cookies

For many, Christmas cookies are in integral part of the Christmas season and celebration. People make several different varieties and batches of traditional favorites, new recipes, and seasonal delights. From the ever popular chocolate chip cookies to the beautiful and creative Christmas cut-outs, cookies are a delicious and much anticipated part of any Christmas table. This year, let's put our collective Christmas cookie recipes out there to broaden our repertoire and fill our cookie plates.
Before we begin the recipe swap, remember that cookies are not just a supplement to a dessert buffet or a snack; they are tasty, attractive, and important enough to be the sole offering for dessert. In our home cookies are the only dessert offered on Christmas Eve and several nights leading up to Christmas. Pies are reserved for Christmas night, and, in my home, perhaps a cake for my father's Christmas birthday (although he much prefers a fantastic cheese danish! Okay, Dad, this year I'll try to accommodate you!)
What is your cookie creation you are most proud? Is it a long family favorite? Something new you got from a magazine last year? Is the process to make the cookies laborious or quite simple? Do you "bake from scratch" or take help from a tube of dough and "doctor it up"? Do you make one or two kinds or whip up no less than seven different batches of Christmas cookies? If you are not the baker, but you are a champion consumer of Christmas cookies, what are your favorites? Do any of you rely on store bought items to make or round out your  Christmas cookie platters? Do you add Christmas candies, i.e. fudge, toffee, etc., to add to your cookie plate? Whereas many of us have the tried and true recipes that work, it would be lovely to be able to have some new ones that are proven to choose. So, please leave a comment listing one of your favorite cookie/candy recipes or ideas that help you entertain for the sweet part of your meal. Be it slice and bake cookies, microwave fudge, Rice Krispie Treats, or homemade pecan sandies, put a tidbit down for us to share.
My staples are the following:

Nestles' Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

The recipe can be found on the bag of semi-sweet morsels that Nestles' sells. It is the original recipe developed by Ruth Wakefield who owned an inn, The Toll House Inn. Upon starting a batch of chocolate cookies she had often made for her guests, Mrs. Wakefield discovered she was out of baker's chocolate. She found and substituted in Nestles' semi-sweet chocolate, breaking the pieces into her bowl figuring it would melt and turn her dough into chocolate. Instead, the chocolate held its shape yielding the ooey gooey chocolate chip cookie! This is a standby for me year round, but my children (and my big brothers) request these cookies during the Christmas holidays annually. I follow the recipe and make these from scratch - totally worth it!

Sugar Cut-Out Cookies

There are myriad recipes for the simple yet tasty sugar cookie. I have never used the same one consistently and now, due to time constraints, most often use one of the offerings at the grocery store. I have used the tube doughs which instruct adding flour to stiffen the dough for rolling out and punching out the dough with cutters, and a boxed mix that is also simple and yields delightful cookie dough. To me, the sugar cookie is made to decorate so I try not to take too much time in the making of the dough/cookie. I am much happier having the cookies cut out and baked so my children and I can get to the decorating. We use frosting, sprinkles, and our imaginations to make these ornament-worthy cookies. We do all of the traditional shapes for Christmas (bells, Santas, trees, and stars) but this year we are adding some new characters my boys received for their birthdays this summer - Star Wars characters! We will add Yoda, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and Storm Troopers to our mix of Christmas regulars. It's cool, it goes with the Star Wars garland that hangs in the kitchen!

One Bowl Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

This recipe keeps my husband loyal to me and my cookie plate all season long! As simple as it is, this fudge packs amazing taste and texture and is thankfully easy to make more as we tend to run out of it a lot!

2 packages (8 squares each) Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter

Microwave chocolate and milk in large microwavable bowl on HIGH 2 to 3 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring halfway through heating time. Stir until chocolate is completely melted.
Stir in vanilla. Spread in greased 8-inch square pan. Drop 1/2 cup peanut butter  by teaspoonfuls on top of fudge. Swirl with knife to marbleize. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares.
Makes 4 dozen

Chocolate-dipped Pretzel Rods

This year I tried an entirely new recipe in the hopes that I could not only add this to my Christmas cookie offerings, but also dress the items up for gift-giving. I luckily stumbled on to an easy and lip-smackingly pleasing concoction.

1 package chocolate melts (sold at craft stores and Wal*Mart)
1 container tall pretzel rods
Various containers sprinkles, crushed candy canes, and/or cookies

Line large baking sheets with waxed paper. Set out bowls of sprinkles, candies, and/or crushed cookie bits. Microwave chocolate disks according to package. Dip pretzel rod in melted chocolate using a spoon to help coat the majority of the rod but being careful to leave the top plain to use as a handle. Once thoroughly coated let the excess drip off into the chocolate bowl so as not to waste the chocolate. Using a spoon, shake the sprinkles, candies, and/or crushed cookie pieces onto chocolate sides of the pretzel rod. Once covered to your liking gently place the rods on the waxed paper to dry. Continue until you run out of chocolate. If chocolate gets hardened before you are finished simply put back into the microwave for a few seconds. Once the chocolate-dipped pretzel rods have air dried, package in cellophane bags for gift-giving or stack in a tin or box that is air tight for storage. I do not know how long these last time-wise before they "go bad" as they haven't lasted that long here - they keep getting eaten! I am giving these as bus driver and teacher gifts, as part of gift baskets, and in stockings. They will also be part of my Christmas cookie platter.

In addition to the confections I make in my own kitchen, I always supplement with cookies from my friends (thank you Gretchen!) and store-bought treasures like Reeses' peanut butter trees, Lindt truffles, and red and green M&Ms.

I look forward to reading your recipes, ideas, and stories. Until then...

Gifts - Stocking Stuffers

When it comes to stocking stuffers I have no qualms calling myself an expert. My research, as I call it, is extensive, spans decades, and quite possibly may culminate in  a doctoral thesis if institutions of higher learning allow people to earn one for this discipline. I am a self-proclaimed authority on how to stuff someone's Christmas stocking. The possibilities are vast and this list will be broken down and even revisited.

I do believe I can always learn something new, even in this department. If you have ideas, suggestions, and success stories you'd like to share/impart, please do so. If you are looking for some good ideas, for young, old, and anyone in between, please follow along. You may just want to print the entire blog before you go out to shop!

I want to begin by explaining that the most reasonable way to overstuff a Christmas stocking is to begin acquiring items all year long. Whereas it is too late to do that now (Christmas is eighteen days away), it is a good idea to keep that in mind starting December 26th! There is still much to do, and still stay well within a budget, to stuff Christmas stockings.

For Anyone:
Candy, especially chocolates - foil wrapped Santas, reindeer, Angels, and snowman look festive, but large bars of the recipients' favorite candy bars are also nice treats; don't forget gold-foil-wrapped chocolate coins, this recalls the gifts given in stockings drying by the fire by the true St. Nicholas in 3rd Century Myra
Gum, mints - Whether you choose a single pack or go for a value-sized amount, nothing is better than fresh breath
Nuts - healthy snacks that are sometimes overlooked; throw in a working Nutcracker if the nuts aren't shelled!
Lottery tickets - one or several, the $1 scratch off kind are a fun little bit of excitement Christmas morning to see if you won something
Mittens, gloves - for anyone living in colder climes, these items are necessities and, if bright, warm, and new, make getting "bundled up" more tolerable
Small picture frames - bonus points if you add a picture
Other gourmet foods - jellies, mustards, cookies, chocolate covered anything, cereal in small boxes, hot sauce, Rice Krispie treats, fudge, summer sausage, etc.
Best selling novel - paperback versions should be rather reasonable, especially if it was a best seller from a previous year
Christmas ornaments - find something that fits the person's personality, hobby, vocation, etc. Or just pick the cutest Santa/Snowman/Angel out there
An orange in the toe - or clementine or grapefruit; this is a traditional addition to the stocking
A box of thank you notecards - everyone should write thank you notes. Everyone.

For Babies:
Baby Tylenol and Baby Motrin - store brands are fine, but one of each for the upcoming cold and flu season; no parent wants to be out in the middle of the night when a baby spikes a fever!
Rattles - with lights, color, etc. Just make sure the sound is not annoying to baby or parents
Bibs - try to get thirsty, easy to wash, large versions that really protect clothing
Mirrors - for the crib; safety mirrors set in crib toys, etc. are fascinating to babies
Socks - there are such adorable versions out there, just make sure to get the correct size

For Children:
Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars - in our family we look for real models of cool cars and these great items, still well made, are often on sale this time of year for less than a dollar ($.77 just this week where I shop)! They are also neat 'fantasy' models
Silly Bandz - whatever the brand name of these ridiculous colorful and shaped rubber band bracelets, they are now priced far less than a year ago. I bought four packages for $1 Although banned in many schools, some children still enjoy wearing them during the weekends/free time. They are harmless and an interesting novelty
Lego Minifigures - introduced this year in a single non-see-through package, these items (about $1.99) are mysteries; you get one of 12 different designs and you don't know what you get until you open them. If other kids in the neighborhood get them, let the trading begin if duplicates occur!
Barbie/American Girl/ Build-a-Bear outfits - if the young lady or man in your life has one of these (are all of these) toys, than a new outfit is most certainly appreciated; the same holds true for accessories for these toys
Magic tricks - depending on age, get your child a single or several magic tricks and bring out a new side to his/her personality
classic books - Little Golden books, Judy Blume, Roald Dahl, AA Milne, EB White, Beatrix Potter, etc.

For Teens:
iTunes gift cards - let's face it, I want one, why wouldn't a teen enjoy this kind of music/media buying power?!
Diary/journal - encourage him/her to write his/her innermost thoughts; a lot less expensive than therapy!
Pens/pencils - students ALWAYS need these supplies, just try to make some of them fun with novelty looks
Tee shirt - from their favorite store at the mall
Wallet - with some cash or a  gift card inside; teens want to be independent and want their own buying power
Their own set of keys to the family car - you're on your own with this one!
Popular teen novel - go online, ask the town librarian, ask your kid's friends privately to find out what would be well recieved

For Young Adults (College-aged or Newly on One's Own):
A roll, or several, of quarters to do laundry at the laundry mat - priceless
Handkerchiefs - embroidered with an initial or design; the sign of a true lady or gentleman
Gift cards - restaurant gift cards are a nice way to "treat" the person who may not have much money to go out
Grooming kits - manicure sets, travel-sized necessities
Big tins of popcorn, pretzels, etc. - staples to keep these people going long after the tree is taken down
A classic board game - a great way to entertain and start their own collections
A proper deck of cards (2 in one container) - for Bridge, Hearts, or Poker (or every game in between)
Poker chips - if they don't own them, now they do!

For Parents - with young kids at home all the way through to "empty nesters":
Homemade gift certificates for babysitting - parents want to get out, they just cannot always afford to, baby-sitting service is invaluable!
Movie gift cards - force them to get out and see the latest blockbuster or Academy Award nominated film
Restaurant gift cards- even a small denomination is a great way to honor mom and dad and get them to treat themselves to a night out
Pictures of you, their kid - and your siblings if you have any; in frames or without if they have hundreds lying around
Gas gift cards - especially if you always borrow the car and leave the tank empty
Netflix subscription - for the parents who haven't seen a movie in months (years) b/c of raising the kids
Refrigerator magnets - strong ones that hold construction paper masterpieces, the monthly school calendar, or anything else requiring attention; bonus points if the magnets are from cool places that have been visited by you or them
Holiday pins, earrings, and other jewelry - moms may like having these items to spice up their holiday wardrobe allowing them to leave the Christmas sweater in the dresser.
Some item with pictures - ornament, mug, tee shirt, notepad; these items can be made with personal pictures from places like Snapfish and WalMart

For Grandparents:
Flashlight with batteries - lightweight but bright, for when they have to navigate to the restroom while visiting you or any other travels they may be going
Pictures of the grandkids - any way, on anything, as many as can be gathered
A digital camera - if they've never updated or if theirs is older technology; get a sleek, lightweight, and higher mega pixel version; yes, it's expensive, but they're worth it! Go in on it with mom and dad and your siblings. If  it's just you, give what you can comfortably afford
A coupon for a day out with you - time with you is the best gift
A coupon for a meal(s) with you - you cook and spend some quality time


I have many more suggestions so I'll continue this topic another day. Look for bargains at your local Dollar Store, craft stores like Michael's or AC Moore, and discount stores like WalMart and Target. Scour your favorite stores at the mall (or their favorite stores) and look at the sale racks for merchandise at deep discounts. Don't forget craft shows, school and church bazaars, or the consignment shops. Army surplus stores are also great places to look. You are limited by your imagination and budget.  A little planning, a pile of ideas, and a desire to stuff those Christmas stockings to the top is all you need to succeed.

Good luck! More ideas to follow in the days to come...

Christmas Cards

They arrived this weekend and our sitting on the desk waiting to be attended. There are over 100 of them and our smiling faces are anxious to make their destination. "They" are our annual picture Christmas cards. Each year we take a picture, this year several, and upload it to the photo store which in turn sends us our faces with a Christmas greeting. Some say this custom is out-dated and expensive, but this is yet another tradition that I hold dear and would not think about ending.
As is evident I embrace technology, live a rather candid life online, and prefer email and Facebook far more than the phone when it comes to daily communication. However, I feel sending an actual card in an envelope with a Christmas stamp affixed to it is a beautiful way to wish our friends and family a Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Holiday Season. I am enthralled each and every time I go to my mailbox in December and find a new batch of Christmas cards waiting for me to open. I am delighted when some of those cards include a quick note in a written hand and entertained when a Christmas letter is enclosed. When my list consisted of less than 30 people I used to hand write my greetings with a note, different for each person. A couple of times, after the birth of my first two children, I attempted, with positive results, a one page Christmas letter. In recent years I'm sad to report that our mailings have simply been the photo card with the stamped closing and no personalized touch. This year, with my renewed vigor in writing I hope to craft another Christmas letter that will be funny, informative, and not nauseating!
Life has become so fast-paced, impersonal, and hurried. Although it is a novelty to received a "virtual Christmas card" or a quick email greeting for the holidays, I still ache to see my Christmas card basket fill up as December draws to a close. I want to see my friends' kids in their holiday finery, read about their vacations, and know that, if even for just a few moments, they thought about me and my family and found us worthy of the greeting.
So, a poll. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you do the boxed cards, pick out individual cards at the card store, or do photo cards? Do you include a hand written note? A Christmas letter? Do you enjoy receiving Christmas cards this time of year or do you think this tradition is corny and wasteful? Let me know what you think. In the meantime, I'm getting to work on my Christmas letter!

Friday Music Blog

Another Friday another music blog. I think the only thing we like better than food is music! Well, maybe not the only thing, but you know what I mean!

Today's topic revolves around the holiday season we are nestled - Christmas! What are your favorite Christmas songs, including the artist's version, that you must listen each season? Which ones make you smile, tear-up, feel romantic, make you laugh, feel like a child, and/or make you feel giddy? Which songs make you feel like you must own the music, must listen to the music constantly, or must share the music? If you feel one or several of these things when you listen to Christmas music, please list the songs (and the artisit's version!).

This week marks the end of Week 12. I am compiling myriad topics in my notebook to explore in the days, weeks, and months to come. Just as an aside, I do all of my writing (composing) at the computer some time between 4:30a-6:00a. I do not have these blogs "pre-written" and then upload one each morning at this hour. I am writing "off the cuff" utilizing only some notes from my notebook once in a while. Although there is nothing wrong with doing that, I just wanted you all to know that these blogs tend to flow forth, even at this ungodly hour!

As I am each and every week, I am so very thankful that you are here reading my work. I take pride in these blogs, personal as they are, and am honored you read them. I adore receiving your comments, and am once again encouraged to continue on this journey set into motion. I am wholly excited to enjoy this holiday season and then begin an entirely new year, especially if I have all of you with me!

Best to you and wishing you all a continued happy holiday season!

Please join me throughout the weekend to check the progress of this Friday Music Blog and then join me on Monday for another week of entirely new blogs. There will be a lot more about gifts, the holidays, FOOD, and, of course, another FMB to cap the week. Until then... looking forward to reading your favorite Christmas songs!

Christmas Parties

'Tis the Season! One of the great joys of the holiday season is throwing or attending Christmas parties. Be it a brunch, cocktail party, tree-trimming event, or formal dinner, people tend to entertain more this time of year than the rest of the year combined. It is a festive atmosphere, the house looks dressed to the nines, and people want to connect having time off and a reason to celebrate. If you have never, time to host your own party! At the very least, attend one!
Too often I hear people state that they are miserable they have to attend their work Christmas party. What a shame. It used to be a terrific gesture on the part of the bosses to cease work for the afternoon or to block off an evening and celebrate. Think back to any version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Fezziwig's Christmas Party is always a wondrous scene. In today's economy Christmas work parties have been scaled back, but many are still having some special event - drinks instead of lunch, workers only instead of family included - to mark the end of the year and the joy of the season. This is an event not to be missed! Get involved. If there is a gift exchange, participate! Stick to your budget, buy the best your money can afford, and proudly place it for the exchange. Perhaps your business is hosting a toy drive wherein the people buy a toy that fits the personality of someone at your place of work and that person gets to open the toy. Once it is revealed then it goes to Toys For Tots. This is creative and still charitable!
Friends having a party? Attend and get excited about it! Dress in your Christmas finery - leave the black in your closet, whip out something bright, cheerful, and colorful. Bring a hostess gift, perhaps a great new Christmas album, homemade comfection or appetizer, or new Christmas ornament; something for the kids in the house, a Christmas coloring book and crayons, a new game, or tall chocolate Santa, and a great mood. This is Christmas so act like it! Your friends have cleaned, decorated, and opened their home, so show up ready to have a great time!
Never hosted before? Well, this is your year! Issue an invitation to as many people you can comfortably stuff... I mean fit into your home. Deck your halls, don your 'gay apparel' and just have fun. No one cares if you are a gourmet cook, if your house passes the "white glove test" or if your tree isn't Martha Stewart perfect, they just are thrilled to have somewhere fun to go over the holidays. Offer a potluck if you are a terrible cook. Offer your space and the drinks and have everyone invited bring something - no one will mind! Play games of Christmas trivia, Name That Christmas Carol, and Christmas Bingo. Have prizes (raid your best Dollar Store for this). Tell everyone in advance to bring one wrapped gift for an exchange. Set an appropriate dollar amount. Once everyone is gathered give each person a number (say 1-8 if you have 8 people total). Number one gets to choose a wrapped gift and open it. Number two can either pick a wrapped gift from the pile that is left or steal Number one's gift. This goes on all the way through to Number 8. This game is loads of fun and keeps the guests laughing the entire time! Make sure you make a "no gag gifts" rule so everyone winds up with a good gift.
Christmas can be a joyous, festive, and relaxing time if we allow it to be. I know, first hand, how sad, depressing, stressful, and frustrating it can be, but by countering those emotions and stresses with events meant to uplift you the holiday season can be rather enjoyable. Collecting toys, money, and food for charity can be the focus of your party and that helps everyone feel useful during the holidays and takes the focus off of our own personal problems. Spreading holiday cheer and "walking the walk" also helps alleviate stress and sadness. Isolating magnifies problems, but socializing actually has so many positive benefits that 'partying' is good for you! Keep alcohol at bay (a natural depressant that does NOT make you feel better) and concentrate on the best part of the Christmas season.

My husband and I host a lot of engagements over the holidays. We are starting this weekend. I can't wait to get this holiday started, see my friends, and welcome the Christmas season into my home. I hope if you throw a party and/ or attend one, you'll simply enjoy yourself!

Holiday Food - Appetizers

It's December 1st! Wishing all of you who celebrate a very Happy Chanukah! Wishing others a joyous Advent season! Today's focus is food. With the many parties, get-togethers, and holiday functions, food plays a central role in the celebrations we enjoy. For those comfortable in the kitchen this makes the holidays all the more wonderful. But for others being asked to "bring your favorite appetizer" makes them break out into a cold sweat.  Whether you are hosting or being hosted and need to bring something with you, here are a few suggestions that are easy, easier, and easiest! Enjoy!

Many years ago Hallmark used to give out free booklets filled with planning calendar and stickers for the holiday season, gift ideas, and recipes during their Holiday Open House weekend in November. Being a Christmas fanatic I would get my copy, pour over it, and put it away at the end of the season so I'd have it many years later. The recipe I am sharing is from one of those Hallmark Holiday Planners and dates to 1992.

Artichoke Spread

3 14-ounce cans artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup parmesan cheese
2 T Dijon mustard
1 t paprika

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients. Spoon mixture into buttered ovenproof serving dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned and bubbly. Serve with crusty french bread slices.


I used this recipe countless times and had rousing success each time I served it. It is not a low calorie, figure friendly spread, but it is rich and sinful and a little goes a long way. There are probably ways to lighten it up - perhaps substitute Greek yogurt for the mayo - but for sharing, this is a crowd pleaser! Serve the bread, your favorite crackers, and even fresh raw veggies.

Cocktail Wieners

1 pkg. Lil' Smokies cocktail franks
1 pkg. refrigerated crescent rolls such as Pillsbury

Preheat oven to temperature given on the crescent roll package. Unwrap the crescent rolls and using a sharp knife cut smaller triangles of dough to fit around individual frank; the base of the triangle place the frank and roll the dough around frank up to the point. It should be wrapped enough to have dough around all of the frank except the two ends peaking out. Place wrapped frank on a nonstick cookie sheet. Repeat for all the franks in the package. Bake at recommended temperature on the package of crescent rolls (375 degrees I believe) until the franks are sizzling and the dough turns golden brown, approximately 12 minutes. I highly recommend doing at least two packages of each as this is such a popular appetizer they will be gone before you know it! Serve with your favorite condiments - mustards, ketchup, etc.


Too difficult for those of you who can't or won't step foot in your kitchen? Fine! Try the following help from the grocery store:

Hummus

Search the grocers for a tub of hummus in a favor that is pleasing to you. Hummus is chick peas (garbanzo beans) mashed up with olive oil and seasonings. It is healthy and delicious and comes in a wide variety of flavors. Pick up a couple and keep on hand this holiday season. The items to serve with this are pita chips, also available at your grocer or simple to make at home, and raw veggies. Put out a bowl of olives to accompany and you have yourself a mini Mediterranean feast!

Chex Mix

Do not overlook this wonderful snack mix that has been popular for generations. Although recipes for this are plentiful, the store bought versions are scrumptious, easy, and perpetually on sale this time of year. Treat yourself, your host, and/or your guests to this party staple. There are so many varieties at the store - from spicy to chocolate, from sweet to original - that you can serve it all season and never tire of it!

Holiday Punch

If, like me, you prefer to have an alcohol-free holiday, this punch is ideal! It is festive, delicious, and so pretty. The children will love it and so will the adults. Even if wine, beer, and spirits are a part of your celebrations, it is important to offer an alcohol free choice for those designated drivers. This punch delivers and packs a vitamin C punch keeping colds at bay!

1 64 fluid ounce bottle cran-raspberry juice, such as Ocean Spray brand (I use the Light version)
1 2 liter bottle ginger ale (I use diet)
orange juice (I use Tropicana No Pulp, Calcium + Vitamin D)
1 container rainbow sherbet
1 pkg. frozen raspberries

In a large punch bowl (dig yours out, borrow one, or break down and buy one, they aren't too expensive and something you'll use again and again) fill 2/3rds of the way up with the chilled cran-raspberry juice.  Next add chilled ginger ale to add sparkle - not the whole amount, just about 10-12 ounces, reserving the rest to continue adding as the punch needs replenishing. Add a splash of orange juice, enough to chance the color of the punch to look a bit like sunset. Scoop balls of sherbet into the bowl gently so the sherbet floats. Lastly, add the frozen raspberries to garnish, floating freely among the mixture. Make sure a ladle fits into the punch bowl without overflowing the punch! The amounts are all approximate - you must eyeball each batch. As the cups are filled start making more as this is a well-received concoction and empty cups will be looking to refill shortly!
For you adventurous types, use an old jell-o mold (for jell-o salads), fill with cran-raspberry juice and some frozen raspberries and set in the freezer until firm. Before making the punch, run a bit of warm water on the bottom side of the mold out of the freezer and loosen the frozen juice.  Have the punch bowl right near the sink because once the juice unleashes from the mold you need to get it directly into the punch bowl. This "ice ring" made from the juice in your punch keeps the punch cold and doesn't dilute it like a real ice ring would. The juice simply melts into the punch making... more punch! Keep several bottles of the juice, ginger ale, and containers of sherbet and frozen berries around because you will make this Christmas punch a lot! Of course a sparkling wine can be used in place of the ginger ale,  or Sprite or 7 Up can be used in lieu of the ginger ale, it is all a matter of your taste buds.

Have some tried and true recipes to share to make appetizer entertaining fast, simple and delicious? Please add them to the comments. It you try any of these recipes this season, please let me know if you and your guests/friends liked them.

Wishing you a festive December!! Join me tomorrow for more to make your season merry and bright!