Happy Holidays!

To anyone who reads this blog, first- I'm sorry. Second thank you for taking time to read this tripe. I am looking forward to taking some time off this holiday season so Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, Happy Kwanza, Happy winter Solstice And a better New Year than the year we just had!

DIY Wrapping

I like to wrap gifts, but chances are if you get a gift from me there will be an element of garbage on it, just to make it look good. That's right- I said garbage!
I make bows (using Jessica's "How about Orange" Tutorial) This year I forewent the used Frito bags and just went with newspaper. The "ribbon" is also from the same batch of newspaper.
NEWSPAPER-

DUCT TAPE-

Now that there are so many different patterns to Duct tape, why wouldn't one find a use for it for wrapping. I wrapped my cousins' boys (whom I lovingly refer to as Huey, Louie and Dewey) with duct tape as the ribbon and a bow made from same said duct tape!
GIFT BAGS-

Sometimes it just calls for a gift bag. I bought these plain Kraft paper bags at Staples, and just apply a stamp to them and  a bow!
PHOTO TAGS-

This year I found these cool photo frame gift tags at the Dollar Tree, so I perused my family's facebook pages for pics and printed them out in Black and white! There are some really good old pics in there!

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS TREES Part Deux

Some more alternative christmas trees for you...
How about RENT A TREE?You pay $30-35 for a living Christmas tree, plud a small deposit, and the tree is planted after the holidays! Sounds like a win -win to me!

Plus some friends of mine whom are temporarily living outside the US, made this alternative-

My friends Kat, Michael and Graham's "Light tree"

Some folks make paper trees:

A Kid's paper tree

Kayla Aimee's Rolled Paper Centerpiece tree

And finally, RecycleArt's Natural driftwood tree

What Christmas Cookie Are You?

While perusing the Farmer's Daughter Christmas Cookie Blogswap, some one posted this "What Christmas Cookie Are You?" survey. I took it and it seems I am a Candy Cane Macaroon  While that sounds good, I am thinking I am more a chocolate chip and milk guy. But whatever... Have Fun!

Chocolate Covered Pork Rinds

1 Bag of Pork Rinds (Chicharrones)
1 bag of Milk Chocolate Chips

White Trash Kitchen is on the air. Now to make a delicious treat for the holidays! This is so simple... I just melted some Milk chocolate chips in a double boiler or whatever method you prefer . (A simple trick- I melt the chocolate in a mini crock pot) When the chocolate is melted I dip the Pork Rinds in the chocolate. Then place the dipped rinds on a tray lined with parchment paper and let cool. Eat and enjoy!!!

More fabulous cookies and such

At Farmer's Daughter!

REBLOG- Kitchen Christmas Wreath

Another Reblog, this time from 12/12/2009, 3 years ago to the day: I got inspired by the late great Ready Made to make a wreath for my kitchen made of a wreath form,a kitchen towel, some yarn, scouring pads and upholstery nails

A wreath for the Kitchen? Why not- a dish towel for a ribbon, holly leaves cut from scouring pads So inspired was I to make this wreath form the Dec/Jan Issue of Ready Made Magazine- I kinda like what I came up with! My berries are actually upholstery nails, and instead of string I wrap heavy yarn around my wreath form.

REBLOG: Homemade Vanilla For Gifts

Rebloged from November 26, 2010- I explore my craft yet chef side and make some home made vanilla for Christmas, as well as homemade vanilla sugar! 

 

I got 7 bottles of home made vanilla out of a 5th of bourbon! I got my small bottles today. So scratch 6 gifts off my list (Yes I have 7 bottles... you think I ain't keeping one?). I am giving these, along with a quart jar of vanilla sugar for gifts this year. Thanks so much to Abbie for this gift idea from her blog

Of course, as always I party with the best:

Some DIY Tree Ornaments

I found some items to turn into ornaments for my tree! Starting with this coffee scented candle in a cup and saucer I found at Dollar Tree, it was small enough to become an ornament!

It originally came in this plastic case with a brown ribbon around it... I took it out, took the candle out (I used a knife and scraped it out) hot glued the saucer to the cup and now have the neat little latte on the tree! I also reused the ribbon to make a hanger for it!

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Then I discovered the little picture frames...One was for a small 2 X 3 inch picture and the other also fit a 2 X 3 was intended as place cards for a wedding, I turned them into photo ornaments by simply placing some small adhesive metallic bows on them. Then I removed the frame back, (the one with the little hinged thingy that lets the frame stand up, cut a new one out of some cardboard.

and drill a small hole in the side for putting a hanging ribbon (or in my case, a pipe cleaner) through.
Then put the pic in, the cardboard I cut, and hot glued it to secure everything.

LYNN'S HOT CINNAMON APPLE CIDER

This is a simple recipe a friend of mine makes at the holidays. Note: Do not use a drip coffee maker. This is meant for a banquet coffee maker or an old school percolator- if you don't have those use a sauce pan.

1-46oz can apple juice
1/3 cup red-hot-cinnamon candies

Place red hots in the basket of a coffee percolator. Pour apple juice in and percolate. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired. If you use a sauce pan start with the apple juice bring to a boil , simmer and put in red hots. Or if you want you can probably use a Crock pot. Set on high with the apple juice in it, add red hots. Whatever method you choose when the red hots melt it is ready!

More fabulous cookies and such

At Farmer's Daughter!

Mellow's Candy Cane Lemons

I learn so much from other bloggers. Like Mellow at "A Life Unprocessed". She showed how to make Candy Cane Lemons. A trick learned at her kids, Odin and Loki's preschool. Anyway she basically does the following:

"Start with one large lemon and one candy cane for each person. First, take the lemon and roll it around, pressing firmly, until it's soft.  The pressing helps to release all the little jewels of lemon juice inside. When the lemon is soft, use the tip of a knife to cut an "X" in the side. This is where the candy cane straw will be inserted- but first, prep the candy cane: simply cut both ends of the candy cane off so that there is just a straight section left, with pourous ends. When ready, insert this into the lemon and suck away. The acids from the juice will hollow out the candy cane, and the candy will sweeten the juice". 

TIPS: Save the cut ends of candy cane to use in baking- I crushed them and put them in meringues that I made.

A Trick I learned: Refrigerate the lemons first. That way the juice sucked through is cold like lemonade.

DIY Gift- Chalkboard Mug

Need a quick DIY gift to give? How about a Chalkboard mug?

1-take a plain white mug- You can build  Green points by buying one at a thrift store or just take one out of the cupboard!

2- wrap with painters' tape, leaving a white square

3- Next take a can of Chalkboard Spray Paint, and slowly spray paint the white square, it may take multiple coats.

4- Let dry overnight. Remove the tape
5- Then "season" the chalkboard- (Run chalk over it using the broadside of a chalkstick.
And there you go- A mug or cup you can change the message on!

Sled Cookies

I saw these on Pininterest, and knew I had to copy it. So easy, two mini candy canes, glued together with a dab of frosting, a mini Milky Way, split in two; a Teddy Graham cracker stuck between both pieces of Milky Way, and glued onto the Candy Canes. Then let dry overnight.

More fabulous cookies and such

At Farmer's Daughter!

From Candle Wreath to Door Wreath

My Wreath

Mom's Wreath

I found some "Candle Wreaths" at Trader Joe's. Not liking to put a flame surrounded by highly flammable pine needles, but liking the size of the wreath, I took them home and made two wreaths - one for me and one for Mom. (I like the smaller size because it fits in the window in my front door, Mom likes it because it doesn't hide her apartment numbers). Anyway I added bows found at Dollar Tree. Two Wreaths for less than the price of one!

Another Alternative Christmas Tree

 was perusing the internet, as I do, and I found this unique Christmas tree made of Driftwood on instructables, made and constructed by mcorbin. And I for one like it. Maybe time to take the dogs down to Seahurst Park for a walk on the beach and collect some driftwood!

Happy Thanksgiving folks!

A joke from my Uncle Art -

Happy Thanksgiving folks!

A young man named John received a parrot named ' Chief ' as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary. Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back; John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, 'I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior. ' John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued,

'May I ask what the turkey did? '

Thanksgiving Movies

I know Thanksgiving is time for family and feasting. But sometimes you gotta watch a movie. So I thought I would give out some of my recomendations:

Home for the Holidays: A thanksgiving tradition round here... It has all the elements of a traditional Thanksgiving- An overbearing mother, a gay brother, a Bitchy sister. Don't know if you would call it a comedy, dramady or drama with many funny scenes- Holly Hunter and Anne Bancroft are amazing, Cynthia Stevenson gives a great performance, And of course with Robert Downey JR you got no complaints. Look for Geraldine Page to give a great comic performance. Highly recommended by me.

Pieces of April is a great thanksgiving movie, with stellar performances by Oliver Platt, Patricia Clarkson and a really good performance by a young Katie Holmes before Tom Cruise killed her very promising career.  This movie is more of a study of family and family roles. Sounds depressing? It isn't. Not the happiest holiday movie, but I don't think it is intended to be,

You think old Rob wouldn't recomend something for the kiddies? Well think again. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving gives you all the old standards of a Charlie Brown TV special- Snoopy and Woodstock, CB, Linus and Lucy and of course fantastic music by Vince Guaraldi. Best thing is you won't have to rent it. According to IMDB it is on ABC Wed, November 21 and again on the 22nd at 8:00PM.

REBLOG- Hunting the Wild Tofurkey

From November 15, 2010- Before the upcoming holiday, I thought this should be looked at again. Come and explore with me while I try my first "TOFURKEY" and was amazed that I actually liked it! 

 For my mother- Ok, Mom. So I bought a ToFurkey. Deal with it. Get over it. I am not swearing off turkey (or chicken, duck or goose) I just thought I would try this TOFURKEY to see if I liked it.

My mom's first reaction was "you're such a bleeding heart". Which pissed me off. Since when is entertaining the idea of not killing a bird for a meal make you a "bleeding heart?" Really, mother? You are the one who raised me to eat different foods and trying other's cultures, not keeping a closed mind. Well anyway I have ranted enough about mother.
So I had this TOFURKEY to cook. It had wild rice stuffing already in it. So I Just followed the directions on the package and roasted it for an hour and a half. I have to say - the texture is meat like and very pleasing; the aroma is very good; my tofurkey roll came stuffed and with gravy- the stuffing was unbelievably tasty, the gravy, as with most "store bought gravies" was a little salty. And best of all Tofurkey passed the "sandwich-ability test" Made a great sandwich the next day! So I would definitely buy it again and I would definitely serve it to guests! And lets talk affordability- I bought a "6 serving" tofurkey, it comes with Stuffing and gravy for under $10 at Trader Joes- that comes to a measly $1.67 per serving!

TASTE- 8 out of 10
Texture- 8 Out of 10
"Sandwich-ability" 8 out of 10
Cost- 9 out of 10
So in short, The TOFURKEY Surpassed my expectations! A few turkeys are breathing a sigh of relief!
Whatsmore? There are tremendous recipes on the inter-webs for some amazing things to so with your Tofurkey, you can deep fry it, use the left overs in a stroganoff. Makes a Meat Free Monday so much more interesting!