.jpg)
FROM ME AND MY FAMILY TO ALL MY READERS AND THEIR FAMILIES,
MERRY CHRISTMAS
GRANDMA LOY
10 Fun Ways To Wrap A Gift
So I'm sure most of you have already got your shopping done, your presents wrapped, and are sitting back enjoying a cup of hot cocoa while your children play nicely at your feet. Not happening? Yea, not here either. I think I finally have all my shopping done, but I forgot to buy tape, so I'll be wrapping as fast today as possible.
At least this is one way not to have my kids guessing their gifts already. Usually, we have presents under the tree for days ahead of time, and the kids have figured out what they are getting by shaking and rattling the boxes. I've had to resort to a few tricks over the years to keep them from guessing. Most of the time, I don't add any names to the gifts. Instead, I'll choose a color or theme wrapping paper for each child and wrap all their gifts that way. Then, as we are opening presents, I'll let them know their color. It adds a little to the excitement.
1. Use fun fabric like this Pinterest picture from Unknown.
2. Decorate with fun tape like this Washi Tape Wrapping paper by Poppytalk.
3.Let your kids get in the fun with this Purposed Kids Art Wrapping Paper by Martha Stewart.
4. Give a double gift with a new ornament like this Rick Rack and Ornament Decoration by Parenting.
5. Use fun stickers like this Mustache Gift Wrap by Fred Flare.
6. Use a little bit of nature for a big flare like this Cheap and Chic Gift Wrap by HGTV.
7. Use brown paper and alphabet stamps like this Simple Gift Wrap by the Haystack Needle.
8. Use family pictures for a unique, personal wrap like this Family Photo Gift Wrap by Sweet Paul.
9. Wrap your gift in money like this $20 Bill Wrap from Giftypedia.
10. Use a Pop Top Can like this Cool Wrapping Idea from Happy Hooligans.
Teresa’s Tropical Bars
Today's Saturday sweet will be the last post of 2012 for cookie recipes that use the Holiday Cookie Mix. I do have more recipes but have decided to save them for 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats 2013.
I named this recipe Teresa’s Tropical Bars to honor my friend and coworker. She is my taste tester and cooking muse. When I take something for her to try, she will make a comment like, “I wonder what it would be like if?”. I am then off and running with whatever she suggested to see what would happen.
When I took the Salted Mixed Nut Bars for her to sample, she wondered what the cookie might be like with white chocolate chips and coconut. I then began to think about a cookie with other tropical things besides coconut.
The result is this recipe which features a shortbread-like crust with a toffee topping embedded with dried pineapple and papaya, broken banana chips, coconut, chopped macadamia nuts and almonds. A tribute to the tropics.
I give a range for the cookie mix because, if I am using the last of the mix, I usually just use the amount that I have, although I would not use less than the 2 1/2 cups. Use of a larger amount of mix will just make the crust thicker.
I used a package of dried pineapple and papaya that I found at the Dollar Tree. It measured about 3/4 c. chopped.
Teresa’s Tropical Bars
2 1/2 to 3 c. Holiday Cookie Mix
1 pkg (11 oz.) white chocolate chips
1 c. light corn syrup
1/4 c. butter
2 T. water
1/2 t. coconut extract (opt.)
3/4 c. of a combination of chopped dried pineapple and papaya
1/2 c. broken dried banana chips
1/2 c. coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1 c. flaked coconut
Measure cookie mix into a foil-lined 10x13-inch jelly roll pan. Pat out to cover the bottom evenly. Bake at 350 degrees 10 minutes or till light golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle pineapple, papaya, banana chips and nuts over crust evenly. Sprinkle coconut over the top. Set aside. Place white chocolate chips, corn syrup, butter and water in a medium sauce pan. Cook and stir over medium heat, melting chips and butter and bringing to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in coconut extract if using. Quickly pour over mixture in jelly roll pan, spreading as evenly as possible. Return to oven and bake 10-12 minutes. Place pan on rack to cool. Cut into 48 bars.
Linking to these great parties:
Weekend Potluck
Strut Your Stuff
I'm Lovin' It
Weekend Bloggy Reading
Saturday Nite Special
Friday Finds
Today, I am back to sharing recipes posted by bloggers who attend Online Blogcon. I am having such a good time going through this list and discovering lots of new blogs.
Jesuis Almentageuse
These wonderful looking confections are made of sweetened condensed milk, cocoa, and a little butter with some sprinkles on the top. A great last-minute sweets idea.
.jpg)
Candy Girl
I think this is going to be the next new pork tenderloin recipe I try. Recipes for one-dish meals are so great to have. However, I must tell you to go check out the recipe for Pecan Pie Cheesecake!
The Freshman Cook
This is a recipe idea I had not seen. Dried apricots are my favorite dried fruit. This would be a wonderful gift paired with some homemade crackers.
The Domestic Rebel
With four different mint/peppermint candies, this must be the ultimate mint lovers treat. My mouth loves this blog, my hips not so much.
Kitchen Meets Girl
I don't drink coffee, but I think this would be a great gift for someone who does. Ashley also suggests using it with cocoa or pouring it over oatmeal. Sounds like a fantastic idea.
As always the photos were taken by and are the property of the owners of the respective blogs represented.
As always the photos were taken by and are the property of the owners of the respective blogs represented.
That is going to conclude my Friday Finds for 2012, but I look forward to finding many more in 2013. I am linking up to Friday Favorite Finds over at Finding Joy in My Kitchen.
DIY Santa Cookie Plate
You all know by now how much I LOVE to make custom plates for each holiday. Back here when I first showed you the idea on my Personalized Back to School Plates, I could only imagine where this new obsession would take me. I now have plates for all types of holidays and themes and it makes setting the table so much fun for my kids.
While I have made a few Cookie plates for friends this Christmas, I haven't made any for our family. I'll be honest, with all the kids' activities, working full time, and all the other responsibilities of the season, there just hasn't been a lot of time.
So when I saw these amazing DIY Santa Plates by Rachel at Sun Scholars, I knew I'd found my next plate project! I love the idea of using a dessert plate and saving these through the years as your Christmas treat plates. What a wonderful tradition to start. I can only imagine years from now when the kids are grown with kids of their own, being able to eat off these memories.
UPDATE: We made these plates last night...at first I had to force the family to join me, but after a few moments, even Drama Queen and The Perfectionist were having a good time, and the plates turned out wonderful. This is DEFINITELY a new family tradition!
Chocolate Graham Marshmallow Drops
This is my favorite no-bake cookie/candy/confection whatever you want to call it. I must confess that I posted the non-chocolate version last year as part of 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats 2011.
In that post I said to make a chocolate version simply use chocolate graham crackers. That certainly works. However chocolate graham crackers are not that easy to find in my area any more; and if found, are usually the brand names ones which are more expensive.
When chocolate and marshmallows were the ingredients for December’s Improv Challenge, hosted by Kristen from Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker, I decided to develop a chocolate version using regular graham crackers and cocoa. So today, I present Chocolate Graham Marshmallow Drops.
As I said in my original post the recipe came from Better Homes and Gardens magazine many, many years ago, and I have never seen it anyway else since.
I takes about six double graham crackers to make the 1 1/4 cups. Be sure that the eggs are at room temperature. Place them in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes if you did not remember to remove them from the refrigerator.
Chocolate Graham Marshmallow Drops
adapted from Better Homes and Gardens magazine
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sugar
2 T. cocoa
2 well beaten eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 c. mini Marshmallows
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. flaked coconut
In heavy saucepan, melt butter. Stir in sugar and cocoa and mix until well combines. Remove from heat. Add well beaten eggs slowly, stirring constantly. Return to heat; cook and stir over medium heat till mixture is thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat; let stand 25 minutes at room temperature, stirring once or twice. Add vanilla and stir. Add graham cracker crumbs and mix well. Blend in marshmallows, nuts, and coconut. Drop from teaspoon onto waxed paper. Let set. Makes 3 1/2 doz.
January's Improv Challenge is bananas and nutmeg. If you would like to join in next year for this fun link up, you can get all the details on Kristen's Improve Page. You are not committed to participate every month.
Linking to Improv Challenge
Last Minute Neighbor Gift Ideas and Printable
Christmas is right around the corner.
I'm super impressed with those of you who are already done and are sitting back sipping your hot cocoa laughing at me the rest of us right now. If you're anything like me, you are scrambling around trying to finish gifts for teachers, classmates, neighbors, and friends (who didn't get a cookie plate.)
I thought I would throw together a list of last minute gift ideas to help us.
The great thing behind this list is that you can use items that you may already have around the house, or can easily find at the local store, to finish these off. Add a fun tag, and BOOM! you're done.
Plus, I'm sharing a page of free printable tags that you can add to a plate of sweets about 3/4 of the way down. Hopefully that will make things a little easier on you!
100 Grand: Here's hoping you have a Rich & Wonderful Christmas.
Almond Joy: You bring such joy to my life.
Angel: We hope you have a heavenly Christmas.
Apples: If friends (teachers, neighbors...) were like apples, I'd pick you
Bananas: If I could choose my friend, and I searched the whole world through, I'd simply go bananas trying to find a better friend than you! You're the best of the bunch.
Basket of Bath items: When you feel like a basket case, take a break and slow your pace.
Berries: You're the berry best friend around.
Book: I'll book you as my friend any day.
Bubblegum: May your holidays bubble over with fun.
Candle: You light up my world.
CD: Just a note to let you know you're the best friend ever.
Chips/Salsa: You're one hot friend.
Chocolate Covered Cherries: Wishing you a very cherry Christmas.
Color Crayons: You color my world with sweetness.
Colored Candies: May your days be colorful and filled with joy.
Cookie Dough: Everyone needs a little extra dough for Christmas.
Gum: By gum, you're a great friend.
Gummy Bears: I cannot bear to think what life (school, the neighborhood) would be like without you.
Gummy Dinosaurs: You're dino-mite!
Hand Lotion: A life richly blessed is one touched by a friend like you.
Hostess Treats: Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas from the Ding Dongs next door.
Hot cocoa: You warm my heart.
Ice Cream & Scoop: Here's the scoop, you're the best friend around.
Jolly Rancher: Hope you have a holly, jolly Christmas.
Juice Pitcher filled with Candy Canes: We pitcher you raising a little cane during the holidays.
M&Ms: Wishing you a Most Merry Christmas.
Mints: I mint to tell you how much I appreciate you.
Muffins: You're getting muffin for Christmas.
Notepad: You're a noteworthy friend.
Nutter Butter Cookies: There's nutter butter friend around.
Orange Sticks: I'll stick with you any day.
Pears: You and me make a perfect pear.
Pens/ Pencils: You have the write stuff.
Pizza: Warm up to a wonderful holiday season topped with Christmas cheer.
Plant: Thanks for helping our neighborhood grow.
Popcorn: May your holidays be poppin.
Puzzle: We go to pieces thinking where we'd be without you.
Rice Krispie Treat: You put the Snap! Crackle! and Pop! into our friendship.
Rocky Road: You make the rocky road of life so much better.
Ruler: You measure up with us.
Seeds: The seeds of our friendship will last a lifetime.
Soda: You make my day sparkle.
Soft batch cookies: I have a soft spot for you.
Soup Mix: You're a super friend.
Swedish Fish: Here's fishing you a Merry Christmas.
Tea: Life is full of simple pleasures, and you're one of them.
Tootsie Rolls: Rolling by with Christmas wishes.
Tray of Goodies: We tray-sure your Friendship.
Twizzlers: Twiz the season to be Jolly.
Whoppers: HHope you have a whopper of a Christmas.
Wisk filled with Hershey Kisses: We wisk you a merry Christmas