I found this great article by the Associated Press’ Laura Jofre on how to bring your kids in on your New Year’s Eve Celebration. She has some GREAT ideas and tips!
Click Here to read Laura Jofre’s article!
Month: December 2012
The Perfect Cup of Coffee
Click Here To Find The Keurig K-Cup Elite Brewer.
Article: The Best Presents Money Can’t Buy
I love finding articles that are wonderful to read, and this one by The Wall Street Journal’s Demetria Gallegos hit close to home. As a parent who struggles to bring meaning to the holidays (beyond the whole “perfect present” quest) for her girls, this article moved me. I hope you will enjoy it, too.
Click Here to Read to read Demetria Gallegos’ article.
What to Freeze?
Oven Space-Saving Recipes for Holiday Side Dishes
Most of us don’t have double ovens in our kitchen, so cooking the holiday dinner and all the side dishes becomes a juggling act for space in the oven. How do you manage it all? Crockpot to the Rescue!
Check out this roundup of great crockpot side dish ideas and recipes. With so many options, you may find your next holiday meal tradition!
Pinterest – Here is a link to some GREAT Pinterest recipes. Click Here to view!
Food.com – This great site has wonderful crockpot side dish ideas. Click here to view!
MomsWhoThink.com – They have pages and pages of crockpot ideas. Click here to view!
These are just a few websites that offer some great ideas. Have fun this holiday season and keep it SIMPLE!
Simple Holiday Survival: Easy Gift Wrapping Ideas!
Best Tool in The Kitchen – Immersion Blender
Simple Holiday Survival Recipe: Peppermint Bark
Another favorite of Simple Solutions Diva, Peppermint Bark is an easy candy to make at the holidays! This recipe uses dark chocolate chips, but you can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate, if you prefer.
Ingredients:
Two 10 oz. bags of Nestle Dark Chocolate Chips
Two 12 oz bags of Nestle White Chocolate Chips
3 tsp. canola oil – divided
1 tsp. peppermint extract – divided
25 candy canes or peppermint candies, crushed
Directions:
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine dark chocolate chips, 1 1/2 tsp. canola oil, and 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract, and microwave according to chocolate chip package directions (approx. 2.5 minutes on 70% power – stirring every 30 seconds until smooth).
Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and pour warm chocolate chip mixture into pan, spreading mixture to the edges. Refrigerate until hardened, approx. 1 hour.
Once dark chocolate layer is hardened, begin second layer. In clean, microwave-safe bowl, combine white chocolate chips, 1 1/2 tsp. canola oil, and 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract, and microwave according to chocolate chip package directions (approx. 2.5 minutes on 70% power – stirring every 30 seconds until smooth).
Pour white chocolate mixture over hardened dark chocolate mixture, quickly spreading mixture to the edges. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies over top of mixture, and gently press candies into mixture. Refrigerate until it is hardened.
Break into small pieces and store in air-tight containers. Enjoy!
Simple Holiday Survival: Peppermint Bark
Simple Solutions Diva’s Favorite Homemade Treat – Reindeer Crunch
One of my favorite holiday homemade food gifts is Reindeer Crunch! My sister-in-law gave this as a gift (thanks Debbie!) to us years ago, and it has become a staple as teacher gifts, hostess gifts, and more during the holidays. Best of all, kids can get involved — or in my case, as teenagers, they take over the job!
You can alter the recipe based on your preferences. We replace the almond and peanut M&M’s with regular M&Ms when giving as gifts, out of concern for allergies.
Here is the recipe as given to me! Enjoy!
Reindeer Crunch Recipe
Ingredients:
3 Cups Each of the Following:
- Cheerios
- Corn Chex
- Wheat Chex
- Rice Chex
- Small knot pretzels
1/2 bag Plain Holiday M&M’s, Large Bag (19.20 oz.bag)
1/2 bag Almond Holiday M&M’s, Large Bag
1/2 bag Peanut M&M’s, large Bag
1 1/2 bag Nestle White Chocolate Chips
Directions:
Mix all ingredients (except white chocolate chips) in a large bowl. Melt chocolate chips according to package directions (To make it easy with kids, I use microwave directions). Pour melted chocolate chips over the mixture, and gently mix together until all is well coated. Spread on wax paper to dry. Break into smaller pieces and enjoy!
Be sure to store in airtight containers, or ziplock bags.
You can re-name the above mixture based on the holiday: Cupid’s Food, Bunny Food, Uncle Sam Mix, Goblin Food!