Make a Handprint Santa!

Put your personal stamp on holiday greetings this year with this handprint design.

Materials:

1. Red craft paper
   
2. Glue stick
   
3. Plain notecard or card stock
   
4. Tempura paints
5. Paper plates
6. Googly eyes
   

Instructions:

1. Cut Santa-hat shapes (minus the pom-poms and white trim) from the craft paper, then glue one onto each card. Glue a pair of googly eyes a fingertip's width below each hat.
2. Pour white tempera paint onto one paper plate, and a dollop each of red, black, and pink (mix some red and white) onto another. Stamp white handprint beards, then use fingertips to stamp the trim on the hats, and a nose, mouth, and cheeks on each face.

{This post is an excerpt from "Crafty Cards: Handprint Santa" as published in FamilyFun Magazine}

Easy as Pie!

Disguised as a certain pumpkin-flavored dessert, this oversize sugar cookie will add a whimsical touch to your Thanksgiving table.

Ingredients:

1. 2/3 of a 16.5 ounce roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough
2. 3/4 cup orange frosting
3. Pecans, halved crosswise
4. Whipped Cream

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly dust a sheet of parchment paper and a rolling pin with flour.  On the paper, roll out the dough into a 9.5 to 10 inch circle. 
   
2. Place a 9-inch pie pan on top and trim away the dough's edges.  Transfer the dough round, on the paper, to a cookie sheet and bake it until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes (do not overbake).  Let it cool 1 minute, then carefully transfer it, still on the paper, to a rack to cool completely.
3. Cover the cookie to its edges with the frosting and press the pecan pieces in place to form the crust.  Slice the cookie as you would a pie and serve with whipped cream.
   

{This post is an excerpt from "Treat of the Month: Easy as Pie!" as published in FamilyFun Magazine}

3 Ways With Canned Cranberry Sauce!

Perk up Thanksgiving's must-have sidekick with these flavorful, easy stir-ins:

Start With a Can (16 oz.) of Whole or Jellied Cranberry Sauce...

1. Pumpkin-Apple: Stir in one cup diced Granny Smith apple, 2 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp pumpkin pie sauce.
2. Ginger-Grapefruit: Stir in one small ruby grapefruit, peeled and white pith removed, cut into sections, then cut into chunks; 1/4 cup finely diced red onion and 1 tsp grated ginger.  Garnish with toasted sliced almonds.
3. Orange-Cilantro: Stir in one small navel orange, peeled and white pith removed, thinly sliced; 1 minced jalapeno pepper and 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro.  Garnish with cilantro leaves.

{This post is an excerpt from "Eat Well Test Kitchen" by Jackie Plant as published in Woman's Day magazine}

Making Spirits Bright with Christmas Punch!

In the 17th century, employees of the British East India Company discovered punch, a beguiling combination of spirits, water, lemon, sugar and spices that became synonymous with good cheer and festive celebrations all over Europe.  Here, pomegranate and lemon sharpen the sunny New World flavor of cranberries.

Directions:

Combine 2 cups chilled pomegranate juice, 1 cup chilled cranberry juice, 8 ounces (1 cup) vodka, 8 ounces (1 cup) Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur, 1 cup chilled club soda, 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 6 lemons), and 1/2 cup simple syrup (marthastewart.com) in a punch bowl.  Fill glasses with cranberries frozen in ice cubes, and serve.  Garnish with lemon slices if desired.  Serves 12 to 16.

{This post is an excerpt from "Making Spirits Bright" as published in Martha Stewart Living magazine}

How to Wrap Everything: Part III!

Clever ways to create the prettiest packaging for gifts of any size and shape.

1. Treasure Hunt: When a present is too large or unwieldy to be wrapped, you can still heighten the suspense by offering a written clue, or even organizing a scavenger hunt.  The recipient of this envelope might think she's getting a gift card - only to discover a shiny new bike in the garage.

   But wait, there`s more! »

How to Wrap Everything:  Part I!

Clever ways to create the prettiest packaging for gifts of any size and shape.

1. Pleasing Paper Bag: Slipping an item into a paper bag is one of the most basic ways to wrap anything.  Start with a colorful lunch sack, and dress it up with a band of patterned paper.  (Trim the papers with the pinking blade on a rotary cutter, and attach with double-sided tape.)  Then run the top through a sewing machine set on a decorative or zigzag stitch.  Use the technique on gift tags, too.

   But wait, there`s more! »