CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT (I'm copying Cheri!)

I was just visiting my friend Cheri's blog and she had the sweetest tradition!  Her grandmother started it, and I'm going to steal the idea and make it "our" family tradition too! LOL   You really should go visit her blog, It's So Very Cheri and read it!   On Christmas Eve, they answer "CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT" if you call.  If you've been "got" then you have to give the person who said CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT a small token.  She said, like a pack of gum, or something inexpensive.   She said that family members call each other trying to be the first to say "CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT".  So fun, don't you think?  Go read it, because I can't tell it better than the originator!  LOL

PS, my answering machinE always answers my house phone, but if anybody calls my cell phone....Game on!!!  LOL

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!!!

Christmas Greetings!

Have a wonderfully merry Christmas, and please, don't forget the reason behind the season.

,

I just had to share this site!

My hubby just forwarded this site to me.  It is hilarious.  I've been sitting here for 20 minutes typing in Christmas songs.   It's so funny.  And, for grins - type in a NON-Christmas song and listen to them!!
I tried to copy a pic for you to see but can't right click it, so just go here.  It's so fun!   http://www.sundog.net/carolofthechins/flash/card.swf

Craft - What I did with wooden eggs

I made two quick-n-easy crafts from those little half wooden eggs.  The package called 'em  "split robin egg"
Here they are: 

For the angel:  Just a little paint and either wing wood findings, or two small hearts (I've used both, this one was made with the wooden wings but I couldn't find 'em when I made the other batch, and the two small hearts worked just fine!  For her "hair", I just took a few strings of yard, tied them in a knot and hot glued the knot to the top of the egg and fayed it a bit.  You can tell the painting of her "outfit" and face is not elaborate.  You can do this!  If you feel more comfortable doing it on paper first, go ahead.  I think if you study the pic, you'll get an idea or personalize it anyway you want.

For the snowman's hat, I just used some scrap material, but I have used a child's sock .  Just cut a tube.  You don't even have to sew the tube, you can glue a seam and hot glue a pin back to the back and you're done.  Tie it close to the top.  Really quick (except for the drying time for the paint, it's a matter of minutes!)  Make a homemade card and punch a couple of holes in it to pin it to the card with the appropriate sentiment from you and you've got a super quickie gifty!   

I used to make pins to give to the doctors I worked for at Christmas and the card said "Your annual token tacky Christmas pin".  One doctor actually would call ahead the first week in December, and ask what day I was giving out the token pins.  (He said he would never call them "tacky"   LOL!)

Freezer Foods Friday Continuing on the theme of Cookies

I thought I'd continue with the cookies theme I posted last week, but instead of a recipe, I'd give some information on freezing cookies.  Just in case you got way more cookies than you can possibly eat right now from all the cookie exchanges, or you were over-zealous in the kitchen making up cookie mixes!  LOL

Freezing unbaked cookie dough

Most cookie doughs freeze extremely well and can be kept frozen for up to 4 or 6 weeks. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the dough will absorb any odd odors present in your freezer if it's not properly wrapped and sealed. To prevent this smell-sponge effect-as well as freezer burn-wrap the dough securely twice. It's also a very good idea to write the type of cookie dough and the date it was frozen on the outside of the package. When you are ready to bake simply let the dough defrost in the refrigerator. This will take several hours, so plan ahead. The cookie doughs that freeze best are shortbreads, chocolate chip, peanut butter, refrigerator, sugar, and brownies, just to name a few. The types of cookie doughs that do not freeze well are cake-like cookies and cookies that have a very liquidy batter, such as madeleines and tuiles.

Freezing already baked cookies

Freezing baked cookies is a great way to preserve their freshness. Baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 3 or 4 weeks. As with freezing cookie dough, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you don't want your cookies to absorb any odors. I double-bag 'em.  i.e., use those gold old ziplocs, and use the "freezer" kind.  Oh and write the date and the type of cookie on the outside of the package. When you are ready to eat your frozen cookies, just let them come to room temperature, or, for you impatient types, pop them in the microwave on high for about 30 seconds. (Times will differ depending on the size of cookie you're defrosting.) I still haven't come across a baked cookie that doesn't freeze well. So feel free to freeze loads of assorted cookies to keep yourself supplied with yummy goodies, any time.

So, does anyone else have any good tips, or recipes for making ahead?  If so, jump in!

My ornament exchange wrap-up

Remember I promised to tell you about the ornament exchange?  Bet ya thought I'd forgotten, eh?   Nah.  I just came down with a nasty cold, which went into my chest, and turned into bronchitis... yada yada yada...  But I'm much better now and can sit down and funnel through the pics.     I also promised to tell you how I do my ornament exchange too, right?  Well, here's the back of the invitation which explains to the guest what they need to do...

( I "think" if you click on that it'll enlarge for ya)  The "brown bag" part is the fun part!  When they RSVP, I give them a brown (kraft) gift bag.  This is for their brown bag lunch...with a catch!   They must DECORATE the bag!   And the bag they came with is NOT the bag they get.   As with the ornaments, they are to put a tag on it with the "From" filled in, but leaving the "To" blank.   As they arrive, the "to" is filled in with a number, and that corresponding number goes into a basket.  We draw numbers to see who gets what lunch.   Everyone votes on the lunch bags, and while they're eating I (actually this year it was my sister and a cousin!) tally up the votes. 

As they come in I take their picture with their bag (I tried to get everyone, but missed some folks!)

You might notice there is someone in the pics twice,  that's because she painted both sides of her bag.  When someone said "Karen, I didn't know you painted".  She said that she didn't either but had just picked it up recently.  Wow!  Pretty good, eh?

All the "brown bags" are placed on the counter with the other snacks and sweets I had prepared for them.

after the votes had been turned in (I use lots of index cards at my party! LOL) and they have chosen their number, they go pick up their respective lunch bag and "chow down".

Oh, the ornaments are all wrapped and on the coffee table.  We do the ornament exchange "chinese exchange" or whatever you call it.   Everyone gets a number (yet some more index cards used! LOL) and you can take someone else's away, or chose yours off the table.   (I took my sister's away from her!!!)

(I don't know what was going on here, obviously they weren't paying attention to me! LOL) There was another group standing off to the side and it must've been interesting!

I also read a "pass the present" story, where you're supposed to pass the present to the left or to the right...or across..  whatever direction is read in the story.  It's funny to see how confused we can all get.

And the winners of the decorated lunch bags are announced.  We had first, second and third place.

And the grand finale is when I give them all their favors...and guess what?!?  This year, I FORGOT to pass them out!   So there's a big wicker basket underneath the Friendship Tree with 19 wrapped favors!  LOL

Guess I'll be running errands for some time!

Hope you enjoyed the ornament exchange wrap-up!  I love hosting it each year.  I tried having it at night one year and it just wasn't the same.   I'm not sure if I'll switch it up in the future or not.  I guess it's a "to be continued" . 

Christmas Goodies Recipe Exchange Party!

It's time to Party!

Do you have a favorite recipe you always bring out around the holidays?  It doesn't have to be just sweets.  I love a good dip! It could even be a mac-n-cheese recipe you're famous for!   Ooooh, and what could be better than prizes?!?  Cheri, from It's So Very Cheri has written four different e-books that she has graciously offered to give to four lucky participants!  (If you're one of the lucky four, you will need to visit her blog and pick out what book you'd like).   While there, take a look around her blog.  It's filled with beautiful things, and great how-to's!  Her blog is one my favorite haunts!

 I have some recipes to post from some ladies who don't have a blog and I will come back in the morning and do that, but for now I am opening up Mr. McLinkey to everyone.  Please take the button and link back here so we can all come visit your blog to see your dish you are so famous for!  Tell everybody!  The more the merrier and the more recipes we can try out on our families, and upcoming holiday parties the better!

Please put the button and direct folks to the party and then come back here and link up  your post.  If you link up and see that your link isn't here, please check that you have linked to my blog for the party.  If you haven't, your link won't appear here, but if you have and still don't see your link, please, re-enter!  We want everyone to be able to come to your blog to visit you!