Helpful Tips

In search of a dessert recipe for the Christmas holiday? Not only is this festive mix great for pleasing a crowd, it's also a perfect party favor, teacher gift or potluck dessert. Snowflake Mix Prep Time: 10 minutes        Cool Time: 1-hour        Yield: 16 cups Ingredients 3 cups bite-size rice square cereal 3 cups bite-size corn square cereal 1 cup small pretzel twists or sticks 1 cup honey-roasted … [Read more...]

Crostini is one of the easiest things you can make in your kitchen and the sky's the limit in terms of what you top them with. The word literally means “little toasts” and it doesn’t get much more complicated than a slather of butter and a short journey in the oven. Roasted Balsamic Cranberry and Brie Crostini Total Time: 25 minutes        Yields: 12 Crostini Ingredients 2 Tablespoons butter, melted 2 … [Read more...]

Christmas is a time for family, joy, and fun! Here are a few ways to maximize family time during the holiday season: Start a new Christmas Tradition Make a quick switch from everyday to holiday by swapping out your throw pillows. It’s an inexpensive and easy way to redecorate a room and change your look for the Christmas season. Start an annual holiday tradition of taking family members to pick out a Christmas … [Read more...]

If you love to be crafty and do-it-yourself projects, we've got some great ideas that will help dress up your home for the holidays! Peppermint Christmas Tree This sweet Christmas tree was made with a Styrofoam cone, onto which peppermints were glued. Displayed on pillar candlesticks, they would make great table or mantle decorations. Mix it Up! Have a certain color theme you want to match? Substitute the … [Read more...]

Looking for some ideas to add some glitz and glamor to your home for the Hanukkah season? Embellish your Mantel to Shimmer and Shine This mantel proves that all the pieces don't have to match in order to achieve an overall stunning design. Mixing winter white hydrangea's with silver, gold, and mercury-glass to create a truly timeless look. Item #1: Target.com                Item #2: Walmart.com Item #3: … [Read more...]

Trying to find ways to get the entire family excited and ready for Hanukkah? Check out these fun crafts that kids of all ages will enjoy! Star-Punched Paper Hurricanes Hurricane vases and votive candle holders are wrapped in star-punched paper - an easy way to spread warmth throughout your home or office spaces. Allow the kids to embellish the wrapping and get … [Read more...]

Fried foods are a highlight of Hanukkah meals, especially foods fried in olive oil. Both are a nod to the holiday, which celebrates a lamp in a destroyed Jerusalem temple that burned for eight days on very little oil. This recipe is based on a preparation that originated in Rome’s Jewish ghetto. Fried Baby Artichokes Total Time: 50 minutes        Servings: 10 Ingredients 20 baby artichokes (about 4 ounces … [Read more...]

Rugelach, doughnuts and cookies – oh, my! There are many delicious recipes that end your Hanukkah meal in the traditional way or with a sweet twist. I for one am obsessed with cupcakes. They are easy to eat, already portioned out so I don’t overindulge…and they are just adorable! Cupcakes have always been popular, but in the early 2000’s, gourmet cupcakes started exploding in terms of popularity. And today, the … [Read more...]

Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family and those you love. What better way to celebrate than by gathering everyone together for these fun activities and crafts? We are Grateful Message Board As family or guests arrive, have them write what they are thankful for and pin it up. This frame was constructed using a linen-covered foam core and an old frame. Cut paper leaves from books or scrapbook paper in … [Read more...]

Serve this quick Thanksgiving bite as an appetizer to effortlessly work in some fish before the traditionally meat-focused meal. Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites Prep/Total Time: 10 minutes                       Yields: 40 Bites Ingredients 2 English Cucumbers, peeled and cut into 1″ rounds 1 pound smoked salmon, cut into bite-sized pieces (1) 8-ounce package cream cheese softened 3 … [Read more...]

This holiday Pumpkin Fudge recipe brings the taste of the season with pumpkin, white chocolate, and marshmallow. Pumpkin Fudge Prep Time: 10 minutes       Cook Time: 12 minutes       Total Time: 2.5 hours Ingredients 1½ cups of sugar 2/3 cups of evaporated milk ½ cup of pumpkin puree 2 tablespoons of butter 1 teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice 12 ounces of white chocolate chips 2 cups of … [Read more...]

Looking for some easy ways to spruce up your home for Thanksgiving? Check out this easy decorating idea, as well as a fun way to set the table for kids of all ages. Pumpkin and Gourd Filled Lanterns Here’s a quick and easy way to dress up your outside spaces or even brighten a dining room table. You can even pair this with a smaller lantern illuminating an unscented pillar candle to add some light and … [Read more...]