Baskets Overflowing With Good Cheer!

Often the best way to package good cheer is in a basket.... to tote to a neighbor's house, to hand off to a favorite teacher, to present to your hostess at that yearly, jolly, Christmas party, or simply a fun way to give a cherished friend or family member that perfect gift.

Extending Your Dining Table for the Holidays

When the holidays come around and the decision is made as to who will be hosting the big dinner, panic may set in when you discover you will be the hostess and you realize there is not enough room at your existing dining table to sit 10 – 12 family and friends.   Do you have a buffet style dinner or do you try to be a little creative with your seating plan in order to accommodate the traditional family style meal?  Here are some tips on how to tackle your seating dilemma that can be used for any large holiday gathering.

5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Christmas Savings Now!

It's September 1. Yes, it's the perfect time to talk about Christmas savings and early shopping!

Why? Because Christmas is only 115 days away, and you can start preparing for it now! Too many people wait until December to buy gifts. With no money saved, countless people turn to credit cards in a panic and end up paying for Christmas well into the new year. Not the best approach.

Make-Ahead Christmas Morning Cherry & Almond Sweet Rolls

While Christmas morning's main event is usually under the tree, a big holiday family breakfast around the table can add to the magic of the morning as well. And I don't know about the rest of America, but waking up to a yummy breakfast on Christmas morning is a tradition all across the South. However, the last thing most of us want to think about is spending hours in the kitchen on the most anticipated morning of the year! So what's a Texas gal to do? Serve breakfast dishes you can prepare on Christmas Eve and simply pop'em in the oven come Christmas Morning! These sweet rolls can be found on our table along with an ample-sized bowl of fresh fruit, scrambled eggs and some sort of breakfast meat — and I'm a happy girl.

30 Easy Homemade Christmas Candy Recipes

Everyone loves a homemade gift, especially if that gift is edible and sweet like the following Christmas candy recipes from myself and a few other bloggers. Choose from easy recipes for fudge, chocolate bark, pralines, marshmallows, and more, and give this holiday season a personal touch that can't be beat.

MY FAVORITE THINGS - DECEMBER

The definition of “joy” is widely subjective, but most people would agree that the end of the year holds a special place in their lives. Whether it's because of family and fudge, or snow angels and holiday parties, December is a joyous time. For me, it really is the "most wonderful time of the year". I find joy in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping - yes it's true - and hot chocolate in front of the fire after that long day at the mall, the sound of Santas on the corner as they ring their bells and call out "Merry Christmas" to those who pass by and mistletoe hung where you can see. Bright Christmas lights, whimsical department store windows, cookie decorating parties and the smell of fresh cut evergreens at the local tree lot. Quaint Christmas carolers, the look of my breath as it hangs in the cold December air and if we're really lucky, the crunch of snow under our boots on Christmas Day. What's NOT to love about December? It means family. It means giving. And most of all it means the Christ child. The Son of God was born of a virgin, sent to us as THE gift of Salvation. Love came down, bringing all of mankind our ultimate JOY! What a truly remarkable time of year to celebrate His coming! This is my definition of December joy, what's yours?

If you'd like the individual links to my favorite things, you can find them here.

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas 2014 Schedule

It's that time of year again. The 2014 Holiday Season is upon us, can you believe it? The older I get the faster time flies. It seems like I just took down our 2013 Christmas decorations. 

Has anyone watched a Christmas movie or television program yet? Well, I have! The Hallmark Channel started playing Christmas movies 24/7 on October 31. Yes, on Halloween. And yes, I watched one as soon as they started running them that night.

As much as I love watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel—and will continue to do so—I have a fondness for the Christmas movies and shows that the ABC Family Channel starts running on December 1. The ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas not only schedules fun family movies but those awesome Christmas cartoons we all grew up on. Rudolph, the Grinch and Frosty, I love them all!

Get your Christmas shopping finished early and celebrate the season with some much needed downtime—sitting in front of the fire with your kids, a cup of hot chocolate and a bowl of popcorn watching a family favorite Christmas movie! Enjoy the season my sweet friends!

ROLO Pretzel Delights

I'm sure that this little recipe is nothing new to some of you. But, if you haven't tried it before, then stop what you're doing and run out and buy a bag of Rolo candy. These are so simple and delicious. They're the perfect treat for your Christmas cookie and candy tray this year. Our family has been making these for years. They are my Daddy's favorites and they're always a hit!! Throw a few of these into your next outgoing cookie tin. Your friends and family will thank you.

CHRISTMAS BONBONS

CHRISTMAS BONBONS

This candy reminds me of Almond Joys. With the added Maraschino cherries, it takes this Christmas candy over the top. Beloved by all of my family and friends, it is the most requested candy I make during the holidays. 
I hope your loved ones enjoy as well!

MAKES 5 -6 DOZEN BONBONS

Viewfinder Christmas!

Looking for a unique way to say Merry Christmas? This year, instead of sending out the normal Christmas card, send a custom reel and viewer! How awesome is this? 

With the ability to create custom, unique, and awe-inspiring reels with your very own photographs, a 3-D View-Master and photo reel makes a rare Christmas card anyone would love. If not for a special Christmas card, you can also use your photos to make a reel for everything from one-of-a-kind gifts, weddings, keepsakes, special announcements, portfolios, school projects, and more.

The Best Gifts For Globetrotters

You may not be able to give the gift of exotic trips to all of the special people in your lives this holiday season. But helping them savor travel memories and plan for a future trip is definitely in the budget. I've put together a list of globe-trotting goods for this holiday season, none priced at more than $110. It includes innovations everything from hi-tech waterproof Bluetooth speakers to ultralight bags that convert from backpacks to duffels.

4-in-1 Adapter

This handy Lego-like tool snaps together four plugs and one adapter to power up gadgets in 150 countries. The red, blue, yellow, and green components correspond to a color-coded map to help you quickly determine the parts needed based on your destination. This is a real find! Flight 001; $25.00.

Successfully Mailing Christmas Cookies

Nothing says MERRY CHRISTMAS like a batch of freshly baked cookies. Follow these simple steps for a successful delivery every time.

Pick the right kind of cookie.

Cookies that have a crunchy or hard texture such as biscotti, spritz and Mexican wedding cakes are excellent choices for mail delivery. They tend to be sturdy, so breakage is less of an issue. Cookies that have a slightly chewy texture, like Snickerdoodles and chocolate chip also ship well. However, cookies having ingredients like baking bits or caramel should not be sent to warm climates as they may melt.

EVERYTHING Christmas Cookies

I do believe cookies must have been invented JUST for Christmas - they are the perfect bite-size gift for friends, neighbors and teachers! They can put a smile on the face of  the 'Scrooge-iest' of Christmas comers & goers and brighten up the day of many a harried holiday shopper. 

This recipe comes to you via Southern Living, but somewhere it took a few turns in my own personal kitchen. I like to add dried cherries and Dove dark chocolate chunks to my cookies - which make the most decadent Christmas cookie of all time. Another of my favorite combos is white chocolate chunks, chopped apricots, macadamia nuts with an added teaspoon or two of grated orange peel - it's wondrous too! 

These jewels package well and hold up beautifully in the mail, making shipping to friends from afar an added plus. With all this in mind, add what ya like, leave out the rest and come up with your own made-to-order Christmas cookie! ENJOY!

EVERYTHING Christmas Cookies

This recipe yields a huge batch of cookies giving you the opportunity to make a variety of flavors - so get inventive! These are the best cookies you'll make OR eat this holiday season! 

Makes 8 Dozen

INGREDIENTS 

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 cups sweetened coconut flakes
• 2 cups chopped pecans
• 2 cups dried fruit of your choice, optional; cherries, cranberries, golden raisins, currant

WHAT TO DO

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
• In a second bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth. Add the sugar and brown sugar and beat for another 2 minutes. 
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla. 
• Stir in the flour mixture, blending until just combined. 
• Add the chips, oats, coconut, and pecans and stir until fully incorporated.
• Drop by rounded tablespoon onto an baking sheet covered with Silpat or parchment paper, making sure to allow plenty of room between cookies. 
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set and golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 1-2 minutes before placing on a cooling rack.

Once, as I was in the frenzied days of holiday baking, I cooked my toffee a tad bit too long - it wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best either. Ever the saver, I broke it up into small pieces and threw a couple of cupfuls into this cookie batter along with my dark chocolate, cherries and other yummy ingredients. They were SO good! Mr. P asks yearly when will I be making such a repeat 'mistake'! Happy Holiday Baking My Friends - make a few of your own mistakes, they just may turn out to be the best thing to come from your kitchen!

ENJOY!

 ~THE DOMESTIC CURATOR~

RONDA

Holiday Gift Guide For The Home Cook

Those who love to cook can't ever have too many kitchen gadgets and accessories, so I've been working hard to find the most stylish gifts for those who love to spend time in the kitchen. Do you have a friend or family member who would pick a shopping spree at Williams-Sonoma over a shopping spree at Prada any day of the week? Someone who would rather watch Top Chef over Modern Family when given the remote on a Wednesday night? Below you'll find suggestions for great kitchen-themed presents perfect for the home cook. From fun aprons to durable mixers to out of this world Meyer Lemon Infused Olive Oil, you can find it here with easy to follow links for uncomplicated Christmas shopping! ENJOY!

Macaroon Maker Apron
Fresh First Course Apron
Tramontina Porcelain Covered Cast Iron Gourmet Cookware
Breville Toastie Sandwich Maker
Ceramic Mixing Bowls
Williams-Sonoma Thermo-Clad™ Stainless-Steel Sauté Pan
Cuisinart Stainless-Steel Food Chopper
Set of 8 Stainless Styell Measuring Cups
Zeroll Original Tubmate Ice Cream Spade
Glass Salt Cellar with Lid
Pourfect Whisk-A-Bowl
Large Seasoning Sticks
Painted Amaryllis Butter Dish
KitchenAid Gourmet Measuring Spoons
Candy Thermometer
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron 6 Quart Dutch Oven
Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust
Red Sur La Table Italian Garlic Cellars
Lemon Verbena Bar Kitchen Hand Soap
Toscana Comfort Mat in Caramel 
French Jacquard Dish Cloths
Lucero Crushed Meyer Lemon Certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Antony Joseph Coloured Rings Cutting Board
Five Piece Colorful Kitchen Gadget Set
Giuseppe Giusti Three Gold Medal Balsamic Vinegar
French Tapered Rolling Pin
Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor Chopper Grinder
Norpro Ceramic Pie Bird
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale
Cuisinart HM-50 Power Advantage 5-Speed Hand Mixer
Microplane Premium Classic Green Fine Grater Zester

If you STILL can't decide on a gift for the cook in your life why not try the KITCHEN GADGET OF THE MONTH CLUB. Your loved one will receive, via mail, a different kitchen gadget every month for an entire year - brilliant right???

~THE DOMESTIC CURATOR~

RONDA

WHIMSICAL GUMDROP CHRISTMAS TREES & CRAFTS

I made my very first gumdrop Christmas craft while I was still in high school. My sister was away at college and I decided she needed a gumdrop wreath to hang on the door of her dorm room. The wreath was a huge hit with the girls in her dorm, but alas the wreath was too heavy and WOULD NOT hang from her door. No nails were ALLOWED on dorm room walls!

RED VELVET BROWNIES

'Tis the season to satisfy your sweet tooth, right? From candy to cookies to cakes, everyone has their favorite Christmas sweet. It's no stretch to say that my family LOVES Red Velvet Cake. It's the most requested cake in our family. 

There's nothing more festive than ending your Christmas dinner with a beautiful and stately Red Velvet Cake. This year I have decided to shake things up a bit and make Red Velvet Brownies instead of cake. Sacrilege! I know. I will keep you posted on how this goes over with the family. Fingers crossed. Red velvet brownies are a bite-size version of the classic cake we all love so well. Top it with cream cheese frosting and you've got yourself the ultimate holiday dessert! This already sounds like the kind of thing that will be calling me at night!

Outdoor Christmas Decorating Tips

Want to make the exterior of your home just as classically welcoming with holiday cheer as your interior? Look to the award-winning landscaping firm 'Mariani Landscape' for tips on giving your home’s landscape a festive, timeless look you’ll love.

Versatile Chocolate Chip Cookies, Baking Tips and Ideas

Last night Mr.P and I were ALONE! It was sheer heaven. What did we do? We baked cookies by candle and twinkle lights. With our favorite Christmas tunes playing on the stereo and just the right lighting we had an absolutely wonderful time in the kitchen. I would highly recommend this to anyone in need of a little Christmastime romance with your sweetie.

I keep this cookie dough in the freezer, most of the time.

Meet my trusty 'cookie' scoop. 

It makes perfectly-sized cookies, consistent every time!

COZY CHRISTMAS JAMMIE'S

Christmas pajamas, a holiday tradition I love, probably because they remind me of snuggly kiddos all clean and warm from their baths, cuddles by the fire and happy smiles as they open gifts.

However finding the perfect Christmas Eve Jammie's for your family can be a bit of a challenge especially if you are looking for a particular color, a style that works for boys and girls, in a range of sizes and reasonably priced. No one wants to spend a small fortune on PJ's, specifically during the Christmas season. Personally, I try to keep ours priced under $15-$20 a pair. Here's what I have found this year. ENJOY!

TAE-BO ANYONE? The Art of Making Bows

A few year ago, a friend called me up asking if I knew how to tae-bo. 'No,' I replied, 'I have never tae-bo-ed before'. She asked again, 'tae-bo? You've never tae-bo-ed before'? Again I said, 'No, no can't say as I have....have you'?