Saturday, January 15, 2011

Christmas Candy Canes

Have you ever wondered why the candy cane is red and white as a favorite for Christmas?

We believe that the candy cane was invented in reality is as quiet as a tool for children? It 's true. Just like kids today, had children in 1670 in Germany trouble sitting attentively through the sanctuary. Then, a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, came up with a plan so that the children quiet and happy. It took a well-known candy, a sugarbent stick and a head to that of a shepherd's crook. gave the children during the Christmas holiday church. The service was as quiet as they had in the past!

candy canes quickly became a tradition - at first usually reserved for religious ceremonies Christmas theme, but eventually found their way among the other sweets on the Christmas tree in the family.

For many years candy canes were all white. In 1920, a man ofThe name of Bob McCormack began making candy with its red stripes symbolize the blood of Jesus shed for us. At first Bob painted his candy canes for the family and friends each year by hand. That changed when his brother-in-law, a Catholic priest named Gregory Keller, invented a process machine, the automatic generation of sugar cane in 1950.

Today, when you eat candy cane Christmas on one, we can think of symbols Christ, who has the same form as pastor-staff and remind us that the angels, the birth of Jesus to shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem was known. It also reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd! White reminds us that Jesus lived a pure and clean life. The red stripe represents the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

Enjoy cookies with your children how to teach their icons in the candy cane.

Candy> Cookie Dog
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 egg
1 1 / 2 teaspoon almond extract
OR 3 / 4 teaspoon peppermint flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1 / 2 cups flour, all purpose cleaner
1 teaspoon salt
1 / 2 cup crushed peppermint candy
1 / 2 cup white sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 F. butter, sugar, egg and flavorings thoroughly. Flour and salt, mix well. Form into a disc and wrap with plastic wrap, refrigerate atat least 2 hours or until easy to handle.

Roll into 4 inch strips, and tin. The curve from the top down to form handle or cane. Bake 9 minutes. While still hot, remove pan and coat with candy and sugar mixture. Pasta can be divided in half and stained with 2.1 teaspoon red food coloring, if desired. Roll each color into strips side by side, together with gentle pressure and rotation as a rope.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Great Craft Ideas for holidays for children

I'm sure your kids are as excited as I have about the upcoming holidays. Every year I take the time to make a special holiday crafts with my children. Here are two that we enjoyed in the past.

Holidays on the cake

You will need: tray heavy or light cardboard, a cake, film, lots of white frosting, a pencil and scissors, 3 large marshmallows, small, round, colorful candies, a small candy cane, 3 cone (sugar) cones ice cream, a solidcandy canes>, Life Savers candies and gums (especially yellow and green), small plastic figures of people (optional).

Find a large tray or cover a heavy piece of cardboard with a sheet. They have a big cake on the plate instead. Let your child draw and cut a circle of corrugated board line about 1 / 3 the size of the pie. Cover with foil, shiny side up in the middle of the cake. This is a holiday at the lake. Help your child around the lake and frost sides of cake purchased or homemade white frosting. Make wavy looks like snow. Place a few spots of glaze on the "lake".

Use 3 large marshmallows to make a snowman. They can be glued together with icing. Use small candies for eyes, mouth and buttons. Give it a candy to hold. Set in the vicinity of one end of the cake.

Frost 3 cones with green icing. Place them upside down at the other end of the cake for the trees.

Straight sets,candy canes> (monochrome) are the life savers (basic) and the dispersion around the cake for lighting. Place gumdrops on top for yellow lights. Use gumdrops for green bushes.

Add plastic figures of people in the snow on the lake.

Enjoy your holiday crafts!

North Pole Christmas Tree Ornament

You need (for each ornament), a spatula, red and white craft paint, masking tape (1 cm wide), small foam brush, or a heavy white cardboardblank ballots, a black felt pen, red and green cardboard, glue, a small amount of red thread, white, green or black, scissors and a pencil.

Paint the tongue depressor to know. Allow to dry. Place the strips of tape left on the strip shows white tongue depressor. Paint the red stripes. Allow to dry. Remove the tape. Glue the ends hang a piece of wire (3) for the upper back of the tongue with the ornament.

Draw a rectangle (1 1 / 2 "3") onBox with a pointed end. Cut out. Neat write to the North Pole. Track the words with black marker. Stick the label on the tongue about 1 / 3 of the way down. Draw 3 circles of red berries on red construction paper and two green leaves on green construction paper and cut out. Adhesive to sign under the North Pole to look like holly.

Your North Pole Christmas tree ornament is complete!

Take some 'time this year to make a special Christmas or HolidayCraft with your child!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Two Candy recipes suitable for diabetics

have diabetes, but they want candy? - Are you one of the biggest adjustments for me when I was diagnosed as diabetes type 2 was, in a word candy for all those who know with my site and writings, are my sweet weakness. I could skip the meal, just to get to the dessert table and it would be nothing to me one bit. I soon discovered that "sugar free" desserts cost little more than normal and sweet at times was not very good. This does not mean all"Sugar Free" candy is not good, there are some really delicious - and expensive. So I started with some of my favorite recipes and candy alternatives have come up with something good. Here are some of my favorites to share with you.

STRAWBERRY FUDGE BALLS

1 package (8 ounces) light cream cheese softened

6 oz sugar-free chocolate chips, melted

3 / 4 cup vanilla wafer cookies without sugar or butter cookies, crushed into crumbs

1 / 4 cup sugar-freeStrawberry Jam, seedless or tense

Finely chopped almonds level and / or cocoa powder for rolling

Add the melted chocolate with the cream cheese softened and stir until blended. Stir in cookie crumbs and preserves. Chill overnight. Remove from refrigerator and roll into balls 1 inch. Roll balls in chopped almonds and / or cocoa.

TEXAS cowpat CANDY

1 stick of butter

2 cups Equal Sugar-Lite

1 / 4 cup cocoa

1 / 2 cup low-fatMilk

1 / 3 cup creamy peanut butter

3 cups quick cooking oats

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a saucepan combine butter 2 QT, Equal, cocoa and milk. Cook to a boil over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture begins. Cooking for two whole minutes, stirring frequently. Remove mixture from heat and add vanilla and peanut butter. Stir until peanut butter melts. Add the oats and stir until all the oats are covered. Drop by teaspoon on wax paper or lightly greased cookieArch Cool place is so full of candy.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Mothers and grandmothers - Festive Holiday Drinks for the Elves

Please do the children of the holiday table!

I saw a little 'face Muchkin vacation last fall, when she realized that was presented to "the children's table." I do it the focal point of my decor, and I recommend the same.

Here are some recipes for the drinks party for the little elves in your life. Software selection and decorating party. Everyone can drink with cream, you put sprinkles on top, candied fruits, cinnamon candies, Christmas "picks", drizzle with (alcoholic)Creme de menthe for color, shaved chocolate, candy. Kiss. Tie a red ribbon with an evergreen branch to the punch ladle, surround the base with green and sugared cranberries ornaments or toys.
When it is hot, the sugar cane stick in a cinnamon stick or candy, garnish with dollop with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles, cinnamon candies, icing sugar, add a holiday "pick", stick a sparkler in each cup and light at the time of presentation.

If it is cold use, is decoratedIce cubes - freeze cranberries, tiny ornaments, mint, something festive and non-toxic in small cubes and add at presentation. (Remember that holly berries and all parts of the mistletoe are poisonous), or freeze the same things to form in an ice cream. You can enjoy ice rings for punch for kids - into ornaments, cherries, green is set, all you can make hygienic-enough and not poisonous!

What about you to serve, serving to recall party, and the type ofHoliday name!

1. Nana's Nog

3 cups milk

'N' a half a glass half

3 T. sugar

Place in blender with ice and frappe. Consider food coloring and candy sprinkles. Serves 4.

2. Christmas Mint Punch

1 1 / 2 c water

10 ounces of mint jelly

3 c pineapple juice, chilled

1 / 2 cup lemon juice

64 oz Sprite

1 qt lime sherbet

In the pot of water and mint jelly, cook and stir to dissolve gelatin. Cool. In large bowl,Combine gelatin and juice mix. Just before serving, add lime sherbet and Sprite.

3. Trim the Tree Cider Punch

1 gallon apple cider

12 whole cloves

2 large apples (Granny Smith, Rome Beauty), peeled, left in the entire

2 cinnamon sticks

Grated nutmeg

Pour cider into large pot. Insert 6 cloves into each apple. Add apples and cinnamon to the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer over low heat 1 hour to allow very little flavor. (Canbe prepared 1 day ahead of us. Cover and refrigerate. Keep warm over low heat before using.) Punch ladle hot cider into cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve.

Source Bon Appétit, December 1995

4. Snow Punch Man

Mix a pint of ice cream - vanilla, mint, mint, with a little 'milk to thin. Scoop would Snowcone cups or other festive. Disposable Tableware Christmas is for little fairies!
Variation: In green creme de menthe flavor,Non-alcoholic.

5. Spicy Cranberry Punch

1 / 2 cup red cinnamon candies

4 C. water

8 C. Cranberry juice cocktail, chilled

6 ounces frozen limeade concentrate may be

6 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate

In small skillet, melt the candy in cold water. A serving time, combine sweet liquids and fruit juices in punch bowl. Stir to dissolve. Makes 18, 5-ounce cups.

6. Wassail Bowl

whole cloves

1 large orange

2 QTS. Apple juice orCider

3 T. lemon juice

4 cinnamon sticks

Oven to 350 Place the cloves in orange. Place in shallow baking pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Orange Pierce in several places with a fork.

In saucepan, combine apple and lemon juice, cinnamon and orange baked. Cover and simmer over low heat, 30 min. Remove sticks and orange. Pour into a heatproof bowl. If desired, float the orange into the bowl. Serve [secure] hot. F 16, 4 oz portions.

7.Cranberry Kids "Champagne"

Combine 2 chilled 750-ml. Bottles of alcoholic sparkling cider cocktail with 1 cup of cranberry juice or to taste.

8. Eleven warmest

first qt Vanilla Ice Cream

3 sticks margarine

1 box brown sugar

Nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice

Combine and keep in the freezer. Just before serving, 1 heaping tablespoon T. put in a cup, pour hot water (to taste) and heat.

9. Santa Red Punch

4 cups water

3 cups sugar

2 small packagesRed Jello

l large can pineapple juice

1 bottle of almond extract

Serves 25-30.

10. Evergreen Punch

2 pkgs. sugar-free lemon-lime Koolaid

2 cups sugar

2 QTS. Water

1, 46-ounces of pineapple juice

1 quart ginger ale

Dissolve sugar and Koolaid. Add the pineapple juice and cold. Add ginger ale at serving time. Well, even if they freeze for a while 'until it's unclear. Then call the great saint. Need 36th

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

An informative guide for topiaries

Topiary is the art of sculpting shrubs to create clear shapes and designs. Topiary has performed all over the world from the West to the Far East. Creating topiary forms takes time and patience and the will to achieve the look of topiary cutting and maintenance of the same softening and keep it safe from the elements. Topiary can take in a variety of shapes, geometric forms are made by the incredibly bizarreDrawings. There is virtually no limit to what can be done.

This form of art used in sub-rule of shrubs and bushes. These plants are evergreen, grow smaller leaves and needles in dense foliage. are the most common species of shrubs used to living forms topiary tree, laurel, boxwood, holly, myrtle, privet, yew e. Driving the growth of the plant and in turn create clean lines, a form is often used cage. This method is much faster than the traditional formEducation.

Topiary forms are often made in the form of an animal. Bring gardens to give them a natural look and an almost magical quality. life-size topiary elephants and even the dinosaurs were created for places such as the reasons for museums, theme parks and royal gardens. holiday themes are often used when creating forms of topiary. For example, a form of topiary Santa in his sleigh with eight reindeer, a giant candy cane, or perhapsalso the crib at Christmas time to see the world in areas with warmer climates during the holiday season.

The same could be done with the heart during Valentine's Day or a giant Easter Bunny in the season of spring break. Crosses of different shapes and sizes are a common sight in the gardens of some churches. The most common types of topiary frames, however, are those who are in basic shapes such as spheres, columns, cones and other geometric designs.Carefully planned series of topiary can be used to build bridges and develop exterior corridors and maze garden.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

A Way Home

It 'was a week before Christmas and Elizabeth decided to take a trip to find the holiday lights. Not far from home to home was a residential area known as Candy Cane Lane. Driving through Candy Cane Lane was a family tradition and we rarely missed one since the children were young.

Their three children had grown up with their children, Elizabeth and eager to spend Christmas with his eldest son and his family.Elizabeth children were there, as if all her grandchildren.

It 'been a cold night and put on her coat and scarf as Elizabeth, Dandy, he spent a little Miniature Pinscher her, barking and dancing on their hind legs. He grabbed the dressing room warm jacket Dandy's. Panting and smiling, he waited until he was dressed and as soon as Elizabeth snapped a leash, was ready - front legs running in place. "Go!" Elizabeth said with a smile.

In 30 minutes Elizabethwas the first to pull out with bright colors and animated characters. With only the tail light on Elizabeth was driving slowly, joining the crowd of adults and children looked around in awe. Notice how their children is never tired of taking this hard, she smiled with love. After losing her husband had been alone, but he had his faith, love of friends from her church and Dandy, his constant companion.

The face looked out little red dog, his warmBreath fogging the lower half of the page. Elizabeth turned on the defroster clearing windows, blowing hot air around the two of them. "So beautiful!" he thought. She turned on the radio and Christmas is the joyous tone for the scenes around them.

Within half an hour, Elizabeth turned on the lights and pulled on the highway, they would take home. Fog led by an empty field is applied to the road. The thick gray around the car and spun Elizabethfound it increasingly difficult to see anything behind the windshield. They slowed down and pulled up, hoping to have clarified the road. He closed the door and switched off the engine. With a prayer, asking God to keep them safe until the fog enough to drive for them.

Dandy barked excitedly, his body trembling beside her. The YIP had caught his keen awake. "What time was it?" he wondered. Dandy has continued to bark, looking out the window of the passenger side, then back to homebehind them. Elizabeth stiffened. "Is there anybody out there?" She whispered. Elizabeth heard a knock and he was wagging his tail happily Dandy's. He looked into the night - everything was a dark void.

It was cold. Elizabeth's feet were frozen from the cold, and she trembled in spite of his heavy coat. Dandy sighed and was silent.

'It is too cold for you to stay here, Elizabeth. " His voice was reassuring. "Turn the machine on. I'll see you return home safely."

He was dreaming?They did not know. What has happened makes no sense. But if it's a dream to follow what was bad?

He started the car and turned on the headlights. Fog enveloped the ground on both sides of the road, but the road was clear before her. "Oh, yes, that would be a dream," said this dandy, until you hit the road.

She drove in the driveway, turned in the car, opened the door and got out. He could see the faint glow of their porch light, butthat was all. Fog was again supported the night.

"I do not know how you did it!" said the voice in his dream. Dandy scratched his leg. Elizabeth turned and take the Dandy, shot him out of the car. Before the porch, he said, "How can I thank you?"

"I wish a Happy Birthday, Elizabeth," he said.

"Is that all?" she said, puzzled.

"Just ..."

Her knees almost buckled. "... Happy Birthday Jesus!" gasped with. Vibrate

"Thank you so much ..." as an afterthought, "in remembrance of me."

~ * ~

The unique holiday, birthday - Merry Christmas!

~***~***~

Copyright 2006 Kathy Harris Pippig

I wish you the merriest Christmas and hope to celebrate the reason we remember these very special holidays!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Scrapbooking Ideas - Simple Ideas for Christmas Scrapbook

Losing ideas for your scrapbook scrapbooking Christmas? Tired of repeating the same layout each year for your album? It 's a real shame if you make a look at all your pictures and your Christmas album last year, and you always think the same kind of guest book, do it all again. Make your guest book fun and easy with these unique Christmas scrapbooking ideas.

To create a seasonal flights around your photos and an easier way, frames, garland wrap around the pictureforms the framework. Use two colors - red and green - for a really festive look. Select Christmas pimped frame cuts the mistletoe, or a candy cane appearance.

In addition to using the ring as a framework that would be another idea would be to crop images or pictures at Christmas catalogs, which usually come in the mail. Instead, throw it out as soon as you see them, scroll down and ignore some of the very expensive tag. If you can not afford the item,outstanding for the article in paper form, at least you'll be able to use them for good old fashioned scrapbooking. Use these images for the background layout or as embellishments.

Remember all those gifts your family? While most of the shells can not be used due to recklessness or unpacking the gifts may have come in paper bags, there is always a matter of a gift you can use - the gift tag with your name on it. Photo Frame with a collage of your gift tag, or simply create a boundaryHelp Gift Tags.