25 Christmas Ideas from Recipes, Decorations and Activities to Help Inspire You and Not Feel Overwhelmed this Christmas Season
I have to confess that every December I would let myself get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. Instead of being joyful, I was burning the Christmas candle at both ends. No more! This year I have drawn a line in the sand with my peppermint stick and am going to celebrate Christmas each and every day. I hope that these ideas will inspire some of your own and that you will join me in savoring this most special of all holidays.
1. Don’t let the added demands of the holiday season steal your joy
2. Ask someone you admire for a recipe
3. Volunteer to help others
4. Purchase a real Christmas tree, chop down your own tree (this is an event in itself) or purchase a real tree to plant later.
5. Do something you have thought about and talked about but have never done. (Attend a concert, look at Christmas windows, go see a Christmas lighted display, etc.)
6. Go to church. There are a wide variety of times and services during this time of the year
Recipes Aren’t Just About Casseroles, Cookies or Cakes – Recipes are Legacies
We are in the process of losing an entire generation. Every time we get together with my husband’s family, usually over a meal, there is mention of, “Mother’s chocolate chip cookies,” or “Mother’s onion rings.” Their mother died over twenty-five years ago.
As we were eating our Thanksgiving dinner I asked who had their mother’s recipes. I received a lot of blank stares as the conversation came to a screeching halt. My sister-in-law said she had the cookie recipe. No one else knew what happened to the others.
That made me think about how recipes are legacies. Recipes can keep the memory of someone around long after they are gone.
Turkey Recipe – Casserole – Quick, Easy, Delicious
This casserole is my version of the classic Turkey Tetrazzini. I just made this last night and it turned out to be delicious. My husband and son can vouch for me because they cleaned their plates! After cooking a 22 pound turkey, I had a lot of leftovers. Most of these ingredients I had on hand, so I dashed to a corner market to pick up what fresh ingredients I needed.
I know that looking at all of these words looks like a time-consuming read – but this was truly quick to make. After looking through other casserole recipes, each one included cooking the casserole for another 30 minutes after assembling all of the ingredients. This only takes 3 minutes under the broiler after it’s assembled.
Overcoming Fear of How to Cook a Turkey – Everything you Need to Know about Preparing the Perfect Turkey – Fear no More!
If you are afraid of cooking a turkey, you’ve come to the right place. I describe everything you need to know to cook the perfect turkey.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. We all get to pause and give thanks and I get to cook a turkey! Cooking a turkey is one of my favorite meals of all because the outcome is so dramatic and the preparation and cooking is so easy!
After cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving and or Christmas for the last – gasp - 30 years, I would say that I qualify as a turkey expert. So, I was shocked when my best friend, Denise, confessed to me today that she had never cooked a turkey! We have been friends for 33 years. I shouted in disbelief, “You’ve never cooked a turkey!” She told me that the act of cooking a turkey was too intimidating for her – she was afraid.
Now, my friend Denise exudes confidence and blazed a trail in media sales a decade before I did. So, I began to think if Denise was afraid of cooking a turkey, others had to be afraid also.
Don’t fear! Cooking a turkey represents one of the greatest (and easiest) joys of cooking! There is always a fear factor in doing anything new. Here’s a quick step-by-step process to cooking a turkey. This has been fool-proof for me. Even if you have cooked turkeys before, I’ve included some many forgotten details which are worth noting.
The First Day of Spring! – Gentlemen Start Your Gas Grills!
Spring brings more daylight, warmer weather and the start of barbeque season! One of my favorite things to do is enjoy my backyard and grill outside. When I was younger, my favorite time of year used to be the fall. Growing up in Missouri, I have to say that I love all of the seasons, really. But as I get older, there is something about spring that makes it my new favorite season. I can’t help but be filled with new hope and promise with the appearance of daffodils, crocuses and trees budding and blooming everywhere.
If you have a man in your life who normally doesn’t cook, grilling is the perfect way to get them involved. There’s something about men and fire! I have an image of Tim Allen in my head from the 90’s series Home Improvement, hearing his signature, “Oh, Oh, Oh – Ar, Ar, Ar,” Neanderthal noises any time he was around a tool or machinery!
