Holidays & More...

“Spooky” Halloween Punch Recipes

2010-10-27T10:39:00.001-05:00

Everyone enjoys a good party with family and friends when there is tasty food involved as well as some delectable drinks to be had. Halloween is a time a year when people can let loose by dressing up in a silly outfit or a frightening one, so why not let them get in the mood with some of these Halloween-inspired beverages.

Italian Fruit Punch

For those of your friends who like to drink, a great choice is the Italian Fruit Punch, which is a fast and easy drink to prepare for awaiting guests. The combination of Limoncello, Maraschino liqueur, orange juice, sparkling water, and ice will have your guests living it up in no time.

Ingredients

* 2 cups orange juice
* 2 cups sparkling water
* ½ cup of Maraschino liqueur
* ½ cup Limoncello
* Ice
* Black licorice sticks for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher with ice and stir. Place in a martini glass and garnish with a black licorice for a vibrant and festive Halloween drink.

Pomegranate Mojito with Vanilla Sugar

Need something for those Mojito fans at your party? Well take a look at this recipe which will satisfy any blood-hungry guest.

Ingredients

* ¼ cup pomegranate juice
* 2 ounces of white rum
* 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar (see below)
* 4 ounces of club soda
* Cracked Ice
* 6 Sprigs of fresh mint

In a cocktail shaker, combine all the ingredients minus the mint and shake. Mull the mint in the bottom of a cocktail glass, then strain the pomegranate mixture into the glass with the mint and serve.

Making the vanilla sugar is simple; with a large airtight container handy, cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise and then crosswise. Take 2 cups of sugar and place on the bottom of the container, then add the vanilla bean quarters and finally add another 2 cups of sugar onto the vanilla beans and close tightly. It is important to keep the sugar in a cool, dark area and to shake twice daily to distribute the vanilla essence. The vanilla bean and sugar mixture is good for up to 3 weeks. Remember to replace the sugar as it is used.

Vampire Blood Drink

Not everyone at your party will be drinking alcohol. You need some drinks for the adults who do not drink and for the children. Vampire Blood Drink is very easy to make and will have the kids begging for more.

Ingredients

* 1 gallon cranberry juice
* 1 gallon orange juice
* 1 cup of raspberry sorbet
* 1 quart of seltzer
* Ice

With a big punch bowl handy, add cranberry juice, orange juice, seltzer, and softened raspberry sorbet. Mix well so that the sorbet disappears into the mixture.

Ghoulade

This drink is a green “ghoulade” and it steps away from the traditional red beverages.

Ingredients

* 2 (6-ounce) cans limeade, frozen concentrate, thawed
* 3 cups lemon-lime soda
* 3 1/2 cups green sports drink (either Gatorade or PowerAde)
* Green food coloring
* Ice
* Whipped cream, for topping
* Candy sticks or sipping straw

In a pitcher combine the limeade, soda, and sports drink, then add green food coloring to desired green color and stir. Add ice and then pour into glasses for a fun green not red Halloween drink. Lastly fill a piping bag with whipped cream and top each glass and then add a straw or a candy stick.

To liven up the party with some props, fill service gloves with colored water and tie the ends in a knot and freeze for 12 to 24 hours. When frozen, cut the gloves off the ice and place in the bowl for a ghoulish fun prop.

No matter who is at your party, one or all of these drinks will have your guests anxious to be on the party list for next year. Enjoy Halloween safely and happily.

How to Throw a Halloween Party for Adults

2010-10-11T18:16:00.001-05:00

Everyone enjoys a good Halloween party but when it comes down to it bad food, drinks, or a lame theme can be a deal breaker. So in order to get your guests excited about your next Halloween party, be sure to impress them with these few simple tricks that will have them coming back year after year.

When people arrive at a party they generally are looking to eat, drink, and be merry, so make it a point to have good food at your party. Themed food ideas will have your guests in shock and awe when they arrive. Imagine the squealing of disgust and intrigue when your guests discover a bowl of worms on the table ready for eating. With a little gelatin, food coloring and flexible straws, you can make these worms yourself.

If you are looking for laughter, include a kitty litter cake recipe that will have your guest wondering if they should try it or not. The pure amazement or in some cases befuddlement will have guests enjoying the food that you have put together. Browse around online for some spirited recipes to enliven your party.

A fun Halloween party needs a theme, and it can be just about anything the mind can come up with. However, if you happen to be stumped, take a look at these ideas and get the ball rolling. How about a “helliday” theme party? If you are wondering what “helliday” is, think about having guest arrive as dead Easter Bunnies, or an evil Santa Claus, even better how about a cannibalistic Thanksgiving dinner. People may never look at cranberry sauce the same ever again.

The next theme would involve a meeting of the ancient rivals of good and evil. Have some guests arrive as angels, cupid and other heavenly figures while others come as the ruffian counterparts such as the devil himself or his demon companions. Want to see what happens when good and evil mix? Add specific areas in your home that are either wonderfully good or despicably evil and sit back and enjoy the show.

If you like comic books, the next theme is simple and very entertaining. Bright colors and fun costumes will populate this Halloween party for ages as you find Batman, Superman, and a variety of other heroes and villains gallivanting around your home. Let the fun continue with games that will involve a test of strength, such as a tug-of-war match pitting heavyweights such as the Hulk and Thor versus the Flash and your buddy who thought it would be funny to come as Wonder Woman.

If you are looking for something a little more laid back, try a haunted mansion party. Southern cuisine, Old South costumes, creepy Halloween-themed music, and scary décor will have the guests enjoying a party with a more relaxed atmosphere.

On the other hand, if you want a lively, music-thumping kind of party, try a vampire nightclub theme. Rent or buy fog machines, black lights, and have guest arrive in vampire-themed costumes. Rent a DJ or make a disc that will let the music play all night long for a party that is best for guests who love to boogie down.

Halloween parties are a great way to gather up family and friends in a setting that is relaxed and fun. The food is simple and the themes are limitless. The only thing holding you back from a great Halloween party is the desire to have one. So go out there and knock their socks off this year when you throw your rocking Halloween party.

Using Fall Photos for Scrapbooking

2010-09-17T15:01:00.000-05:00

Many Scrapbookers use the changing seasons as ways to find ideas for their albums. The shapes and colors of the falling leaves, harvest crops and blooming flowers provide lots of great ideas that you can incorporate into your scrapbooks.

Here are a few of the ways you can work the season into the various elements of your page.

Colors

Orange is a color that's certainly not hard to find during the fall season. You can fin it on pumpkins, falling leaves, and many fall flowers. It's symbolic of Halloween, and is also used in many Thanksgiving decorations.

Yellow can also be found in lots of fall items. These two colors can be used as backgrounds in some layouts, but in most cases they're best used for embellishments and borders unless they are muted.

Brown is another favorite fall color. It is associated with Thanksgiving turkey, pinecones, and more. Brown makes a good background color, because it will not draw attention away from the photos.
Titles

Adding the feel of the falll season into your pages extends to your page titles as well. Whatever your tone, be it serious or whimsical, you can find inspiration for your page titles in the beauty that surrounds you.

"Leaf" and "leaves" can be used to work into puns for your titles. "The Apple fo My Eye" can be used to make a page about one special person. Good title ideas can also come from Harvest themes and autumn colors.

Embellishments

No scrapbook is complete without embellishments, and there are plenty of great ideas from nature in the fall. Brightly colored leaves and leaf motifs look great in a scrapbook. It's best not to use real leaves in your pages as they just do not stand up to time very well, even when they are carefully preserved.

Die cuts, brads and stickers of Pumpkins or squash are perfect for a harvest theme. Apple, pear and berry items can also work great as embellishments. You can find all sorts of stamps and die cuts to choose from for Halloween and Thanksgiving themes.

Photos

Photos are the most important things in any scrapbook. While using things like colors, titles and embellishments to create a fall atmosphere for your pages, capturing the season in your photos is the best way to make your scrapbook truly memorable.

You can add a touch of autumm to your scrapbook by taking pictures outdoors when possible. Take some candid shots of your kids jumping into a leaf pile. Or how about a picture of your little one with the biggest pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. These are memories that are sure to be cherished for years to come, and that's what scrapbooking is all about.

Link Love to my Entrecard Top Droppers for May!

2010-06-01T18:40:00.000-05:00

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The True Meaning of Memorial Day

2010-05-30T21:33:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day Craft Ideas

2010-05-05T17:43:00.000-05:00

When Mother's Day rolls around, kids want to show their moms just how special they are. Store-bought gifts and cards are nice, but they lack that personal touch. Something made just for Mom has much more sentimental value, and kids don't have to spend much money (if any) on it.

Even toddlers can make Mother's Day crafts with a little help. Here's a sampling of things kids can make for Mom.

Framed Photos

Every mother loves to look at pictures of her kids. So why not pick out a favorite picture or yourself with Mom and create a beautiful frame for it? There are many ways you can go about making photo frames.

One of the cheapest and simplest ways to make a picture frame is to cut one out of paper. Construction paper, card stock and thick scrapbooking paper are good choices. Or, if you want to make the frame even sturdier, use corrugated cardboard. Just make sure the opening in the middle is large enough to show the part of the photo you want to display, and make the frame any shape you like. Decorate with paint, glitter and stickers. Add a magnet to the back for easy display on the refrigerator.

You can also make frames out of craft sticks. Just glue the ends of four sticks together to make a square, and decorate with markers or paint. Or if you prefer, buy a plain photo frame and decorate it as you please.

Candle Holders

It's easy to make a lovely candleholder out of a small jar. Larger baby food jars work well for tealights and votives. Pint jars can hold votives or small pillar candles.

To decorate, use tissue paper. Mix equal parts white glue and water, and stick the paper onto the outside of the jar, stopping below the rim. Use pieces of different colors to create a stained glass look. Cut some shapes out of the paper if you like, arrange them in a pretty pattern, and glue on top of the larger pieces. Coat with the glue mixture to seal, and let dry.

Bath Salts

Want to help Mom pamper herself on her special day? Make her some homemade bath salts. They will help her relax and leave her skin feeling great.

Just mix 3 cups of Epsom salts, 2 cups of baking soda, and 1 cup of table salt. Add about twenty drops of a fragrant essential oil. Lavender, sandalwood and chamomile are good choices. Mix thoroughly. Present the bath salts to Mom in a pretty jar tied with a ribbon.

Decorative Flowerpot

Moms adore flowers. Creating a unique flowerpot with a plant you've grown for her is sure to bring a smile to her face.

Small unglazed terra cotta flowerpots are easy to paint on. Use acrylic paint to make a pretty scene or design. If you don't have a flowerpot, a styrofoam cup will do. You can decorate it with markers, glitter glue and stickers. When your creation is dry, fill it with potting soil and plant a few seeds. Try to do this a week or two before Mother's Day so the plant will have time to start growing. Don't forget to give it plenty of sun and water.

Mom is sure to appreciate these simple yet thoughtful crafts. They will give her fond Mother's Day memories for years to come!

Gifts from the Heart – How to Make Inexpensive but Memorable Mother’s Day Presents

2010-04-30T14:38:00.002-05:00

Are you trying to think of unique ways for you and your children to say “I love you!” to the women in their lives? Concentrate on gifts from the heart. Then learn how to make inexpensive but memorable Mother’s Day presents any mother will love.

When you’re trying to be frugal during any holiday, home-made gifts can’t be beat. They are the perfect gift because you know Mom will love them simply because her child made them. And most home-made gifts are inexpensive to make. They’re sure to be special to the moms in your life.

Gifts that are like a frozen moment in time are surely to be memorable. Create any number of gifts using the handprint or footprint of the children. Mom will be delighted with these gifts.

Mother's Day T-Shirt: Find a plain t-shirt in Mom’s favorite color and washable fabric paints. The children can place their hands or feet in the paint and then onto the shirt. Write “My mom is covered in hands of love” or “My children walk all over me” with the names, ages, and date the shirts were made. Be sure to follow the directions to make the paint permanent.

Crafts Classes for Children to make Gifts: Crafts stores often have classes for children leading up to Mother’s Day. Take the children to one of these sessions and they can make a great gift Mom will enjoy. Some of the classes provide everything for free, including an expert to teach and help the children. Others require you pay a small fee to cover the cost of materials.

Painted Flower Pots for Mother's Day: Gifts with flowers are also a hit with moms. Purchase a terracotta flower pot for each child. Allow them to paint it however they like. When the paint has dried, help them plant some of Mom’s favorite flowers. Of course, if Mom doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty, she may enjoy planting the seeds or seedlings in the pot with her child.

Photo Collage for Mother's Day: Take some photographs of the children during various times of the day and night. Then create a collage with the photos. Be sure to write down the children’s ages and the date it’s to be given so Mom will be able to think back to how the children were when they were younger. If you can get it laminated at an office supply store or printer, this will protect the photos for years to come.

Jewelery Craft for Mother's Day: Have the children pick out some pretty beads from the craft department or a craft store. Since there are so many beads to choose from, they may have a hard time. You may want to limit them to a specific number since beads can be expensive depending upon the type. Get the string and clasps while you’re there. Then let the children make Mom a one-of-a-kind bead necklace.

Mother’s Day gifts don’t have to be elaborate or expensive for mom to cherish them. If they are gifts from the heart made by the hands of her own children, Mom will adore them. Use some of these ideas and then learn how to make inexpensive but memorable Mother’s Day gifts this year.

Anna Jarvis – the “Creator” of Mother’s Day

2010-04-28T18:08:00.000-05:00

Moms in the United States have been honored on Mother’s Day for over 100 years thanks to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, considered to be the “creator” of Mother’s Day. However, the holiday in the United States isn’t actually the invention of Anna Jarvis. Julia Ward Howe first established Mother’s Day in 1870 but it didn’t really catch on. Enter Anna Jarvis and her attempt to honor her mother, and all mothers, beginning in 1908.

Anna Jarvis was born in West Virginia in 1864 to Ann Marie and Granville Jarvis. She was one of eleven children. The Jarvis family moved from Webster to Grafton when Anna was an infant. She grew up and attended Augusta Female Academy where she earned her teaching credentials.

As a child, Anna often heard her mother pray that God would lead someone to found a memorial mother’s day to commemorate a mother’s “matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life.” It seems the words twelve-year-old Anna heard struck a chord within her and at her mother’s graveside in 1905, Anna Jarvis promised to work toward achieving that prayer.

After trying to honor her mother’s wishes, Jarvis found that adult children were not very forthcoming in honoring their own mothers. This made her more resolute in establishing Mother’s Day because she longed to see this trend become a thing of the past. By 1907, Jarvis began aggressively campaigning for the establishment of a national Mother’s Day. It started in her own church where she passed out white carnations to all of the mothers of Andrews Methodist Church. By 1908 the holiday was also celebrated in Philadelphia, where Anna had moved.

The push to establish a national holiday to honor mothers took off as Jarvis’ supporters began writing letters and Jarvis herself spoke on many occasions. By 1909, forty-five states were observing Mother’s Day by giving mothers white carnations, which Jarvis said represented the purity of a mother’s heart. The holiday continued to increase in popularity until President Woodrow Wilson formally announced the second Sunday in May as a national holiday.

In the end, however, the holiday that was meant to encourage children to spend time with their mother and make her feel special actually turned out very differently. Jarvis became disillusioned with the commercialization of the holiday that she had worked so hard to make a reality.

Anna Jarvis died in 1948 at the age of 84. Her birthplace in Webster, West Virginia stands as a memorial to the ‘mother’ of Mother’s Day. It’s ironic that after spending so much time helping to establish the holiday, she wished she’d never created it.

Mother’s Day is still a commercial holiday, but perhaps Anna Jarvis’ efforts weren’t totally in vain. Mother’s Day is celebrated throughout the United States and around the world to honor mothers everywhere.

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-21T23:48:00.000-05:00

What’s In Your Easter Basket?

2010-03-30T13:25:00.003-05:00

10 All Time Favorite Candies!

Every candy lover has a favorite. It could be a yummy chocolate anything or maybe even a fruit flavored something but one thing is for sure: If you are giving an Easter basket this year then you probably have an idea of what favorite candies you will be searching for up and down the aisles at your local store.

However, if you haven’t yet thought about what to put in your Easter baskets (and even if you have) then we’ve compiled a list of 10 all time favorites for your consideration.

Jelly Beans – Whether or not you actually eat them, with approximately 14 billion sold each year, you probably expect them in your Easter basket. An Easter candy staple since the 1930’s, these fruit flavored sugary beans now come in almost any flavor imaginable thanks to the Jelly Belly Company.

Chocolate Bunnies – If you love chocolate, then you love your chocolate bunnies. Solid, hollow, milk or dark – ears or feet first – all that matters to you is there is one located somewhere in your Easter basket. A chocolate bunny is chocolate –‘nough said.

Peeps – A marshmallow confection in a rainbow of pastel colors for spring, Peeps is an Easter basket mainstay. Take your pick – yellow, pink, lavender, blue & green ; bunnies, chicks, tulips, eggs in orange cream or you can decorate your own and a personal favorite –a yellow chick inside a chocolate egg (yep, I said chocolate).

Chocolate Candy Bars – Your favorite every day candy bar just became your favorite Easter candy bar all dressed up for the holiday. Virtually anything the Nestle, Mars or Cadbury companies make is put on offer for Easter. Kit Kat does bunny ears while Snickers, Almond Joy & Milky Way all offer egg shaped confections.

Cadbury Crème Eggs – Hershey’s manufactures & sells Cadbury in the US but reserves sales of the Crème & Caramel Eggs only for the Easter season. If you’re not familiar with the crème eggs, they are a yummy concoction of a thick milk chocolate shell with white & yellow fondant cream inside mimicking the egg white & yolk. They are a sticky sweet treat for the season.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg – What more do you have to say. There’s peanut butter in the chocolate and chocolate in the peanut butter – like the old advertisement says. Made by the Hershey company and slightly larger than a regular peanut butter cup the Reese’s peanut butter egg never fails to impress. Make sure to put in more than one.

Robin Eggs –Tasty, egg shaped, malted milk candy in a pastel colored candy coating Robin Eggs are a nifty treat for your taste buds. Several companies make similar candies and some even have great flavors like strawberry milkshake. They are sometimes packed in tiny egg cartons to add to the Easter theme.

Pez – Each year Pez comes out with a new Easter themed dispenser for their timeless candy. This would be a perfect addition the your favorite collector’s Easter basket.

M & M's – Along with themed dispensers, M & M candies put on their Easter best for the season. They even offer personalized candy if you order from their website so put on your favorite bunny suit and upload that photo to create your Easter candy surprise.

SweeTart Eggs – Shaped like chicks, ducks, bunnies & eggs, SweeTarts are just like you remember from your childhood. Slightly sweet – a little tart and if you eat too many you just might get sick. They haven’t forgotten chocolate lovers either. If you look really hard you just might be able to find a hollow chocolate egg with SweeTart candy inside.

Now that you have a few ideas of what to put inside your Easter basket you just have to decide what shape your basket will take and if you’ll use plastic or edible Easter grass. Yep, there is such a thing.

St Patrick's Day "Green Clover" Pie Recipe

2010-03-17T14:58:00.002-05:00

Top this pie with some whipped topping and crushed green peppermint candies for a perfect ending to your St. Patrick's Day meal.

Ingredients:

1 qt. vanilla ice cream, softened
1 (12 oz.) can frozen limeade, thawed
2 drops green food coloring
1 (6 oz.) graham cracker pie crust

Directions:

Place the softened ice cream in a large mixing bowl.
Pour the limeade in with the ice cream.
Add the food coloring using more if you want a darker green color.
Use an electric mixer on medium speed and beat the mixture until well combined.
Spoon the mixture evenly into the pie crust.
Cover and freeze until firm between 2 and 4 hours.
Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes before cutting.

Serves: 8

How to Make a St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun

2010-03-17T14:50:00.001-05:00

Faith and begorra! St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. To liven up your home, teach the children how to make a St. Patrick’s Day leprechaun. Not only will it brighten your home, it will also give the wee ones a chance to enjoy hands-on crafts.

Many people associate the leprechaun with Ireland, but don’t realize there are crafts which allow children to make them. In fact, with items found around the home, your child can make more than one leprechaun. And who knows, if you find leprechauns you may also find a pot of gold!

You may be able to find many of these things around your home. For those you can’t find, they’re relatively inexpensive or you can find and print some things off of the internet.

Here’s what your child will need:

* Toilet paper rolls (enough for each leprechaun your child wants to make)
* Paper in various colors (black, green, white, yellow)
* Crayons
* Scissors
* Glue
* Brown chenille stems (may also be called pipe cleaners)
* Green craft foam
* Printer to print templates or other items off the internet

Begin by searching the internet for leprechaun crafts at websites like DLTK-holidays.com or jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts which will provide templates for various parts of the leprechaun body for this type of craft.

If you don’t have access to a colored printer, your child will most likely enjoy coloring the areas where color is needed. No matter which type of craft your child is making, the toilet paper tube will need to be covered. This can be done by using a template or measuring the length of the tube and adding half inch extra on both ends. Be sure the paper or green craft foam is long enough to fully cover the paper tube and then glue it down in place. Bend the extra over the edge of the tube and glue it to ensure the paper won’t come off.

Cut out the head, hat, ears, feet, and arms. If the paper these have been printed on is flimsy, your child may want to glue them to an index card to give them extra stability. Then glue the pieces to the covered paper tube. The leprechaun is ready to stand guard over a pot of gold or whatever else your child chooses.

If your child prefers, they can use many of the same ideas using craft foam. Draw a circle around the tube and another one about half an inch larger. This will be the brim for the hat. The center of the circles can be the top of the hat.

Wrap brown chenille stems around a pencil to create spirals which can be glued to the tube. Leave enough room for a face. Either paint the face onto the tube or use one of the templates found. Draw the detail (eyes, mouth and nose) onto the face as well as any other details such as the hands, arms, belt, or a flower in the pocket. Let your child look at pictures of leprechauns to give them an idea of what they should look like.

Once your child learns how to make a St. Patrick’s Day leprechaun, they can use the same basic ideas to make similar crafts for other holidays. Remember, however, since these are made of paper, you’ll want to store them in a box to protect them if your child chooses to keep them. Enjoy the leprechaun and hopefully you’ll find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Cookies and Icing Recipe

2010-03-10T22:17:00.004-06:00

Shamrock Cookies

Ice with green icing and serve at your St Patrick’s Day Party.

Ingredients:

½ cup shortening
½ cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 eggs, beaten
½ tsp salt
5 cups flour
¼ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350ºF.

Mix shortening and sugar until creamy using an electric mixer. Add the eggs and combine well. Stir in milk, vanilla and salt. Then carefully mix in the flour. Work the dough with your hands for a minute.

Flour a rolling pin and roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Use more flour if needed if dough sticks to your rolling pin.

With a shamrock cookie cutter, cut out the cookies and place them on a greased baking sheet. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the cookies turn golden brown.

Shamrock Cookies Icing

Ingredients:

3 cups powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla
10 drops green food coloring
¼ cup margarine
5 tbsp milk
¼ tsp salt

Instructions:

Place the powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl. With a mixing spoon, work the margarine into the sugar, then add salt and vanilla. Stir in the milk slowly while stirring continuously. The icing should be soft and smooth. Add the food coloring, combine well and spread onto your shamrock cookies.

Party Ideas for St. Patrick’s Day

2010-03-09T10:03:00.001-06:00

Come March 17, you can expect to see nearly everyone wearing the color green. Why, you may ask. It’s St. Patrick’s Day, of course! To help you celebrate the day, here are some St. Patrick’s Day party ideas you may want to use.

Obviously, you’ll want to set aside St. Patrick’s Day for your party, if possible. If March 17 is on a weekday, you may want to have your party either the Saturday before or after so as many people as possible can attend. If you make the party during the evening, you may want to celebrate on the exact day.

Celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day began as early as 1737 in the United States; the first parade was celebrated in 1762 in New York City. Since that time, those of Irish descent and non-Irish descent have celebrated the holiday in a variety of ways. Some cities, such as Chicago, Illinois and Savannah, Georgia, dye their rivers green in honor of the day.

Why is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated on March 17th each year rather than another day? It is said that the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, died on this date in either 460 or 493 A.D. Although not much is known about the life of St. Patrick and he has not been officially canonized, he is thought of as being very important for Roman Catholics the world over. You don’t have to be Irish or Roman Catholic to celebrate, however.

Maybe you can’t travel to Ireland to celebrate St. Paddy’s day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the things they enjoy there. Make a Blarney Stone out of papier-mâché or Styrofoam; finding a large rock would also work. Since those able to kiss the Blarney Stone are supposedly given the gift of eloquent speech, you may want to see if that legend is true.

Create your own pot o’ gold filled with chocolate covered in golden foil. Have a child dress up as a leprechaun and guard the pot. Suggest they ask people wanting candy to sing a verse of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” “Danny Boy,” or another Irish song.

Decorate your home with shamrocks, rainbows, gold or orange and green flags. Prepare St. Patrick’s Day games or activities for children to enjoy while the grown-ups chat. Plan to have Irish music playing in the background to help with the ambiance.

Of course, you’ll want to offer up Irish or at least green cuisine. This could be as simple as using food coloring to dye various dishes such as cupcakes with green icing, green grapes, or chips with guacamole. You could actually prepare corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, or Shepherd’s Pie. Offer green-dyed beverages as well.

There are so many things you can do when trying to come up with St. Patrick’s Day party ideas. You can use some of the ideas above, but you can also look on the internet to come up with others. The thing you want to remember is make the party fun for all and keep those Irish eyes smiling until next year’s party.

Leprechaun Cheese and Onion Dip Recipe

2010-03-08T20:05:00.003-06:00

Serve this dip with pretzels, cubes of bread or rye rounds and watch it disappear quickly.

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz.) jar Cheese Whiz
1/3 C beer * see note below
1/2 C onion, finely chopped

Directions:

Melt the Cheese Whiz in the microwave as directed on the jar label.
Place the melted cheese in a serving bowl.
Stir in the beer until well combined.
Fold the chopped onions into the cheese mixture.
Serve at room temperature or on a warming plate.

Serves: 16

Note: Use non-acoholic beer if serving to children

Valentine’s Day Breakfast Ideas for Your Loved Ones

2010-02-11T10:59:00.001-06:00

Valentine's Day is a special day. It goes without saying that we show our love to those in our lives throughout the year but on that day we like to do something extra special. Start off the morning with a breakfast that screams, “I love you.”

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides us with the nutrition we need to make it until lunch time without passing out. There are plenty of suggestions for Valentine’s Day breakfast meals that kids can make for parents or one spouse can make for the other (women do make breakfast for their husbands, too).

Let’s start with casseroles. These are man-friendly breakfast dishes that don’t require too many steps. Most casseroles can be put together ahead of time and baked on demand in the morning.

Most breakfast casseroles contain eggs. They hold the entire meal together. If your sweetie doesn’t like them or doesn’t eat them, you can choose something else to make. Some popular add-ins for casseroles include: sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, chopped peppers, chopped onions, ham, and cheese. Yum!

How about breakfast in bed? We’ve all heard about it and probably thought it was some type of urban legend, but it does happen and Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion. Keep it simple so there’s room on the tray for a rose or a beautiful card.

The centerpiece of that breakfast place can be pancakes or French toast. Metal cookie cutters are placed in the pan and batter poured in to make heart-shaped pancakes. For French toast, it’s easier to cook the toast and then use the heart-shaped cutter to create your loving masterpiece.

Some people don’t like to eat too much in the morning. For them, try a simple breakfast of fruit and toast. Cube their favorite fruit and top with yogurt. Some toast and jam adds substance to the meal. This is a Valentine’s breakfast that would satisfy that vegetarian in your life.

The season is still winter when Valentine’s Day rolls around. If it happens to be a particularly cold morning where you are, try a bit of hot cereal like oatmeal or cream of wheat for that special day. Use honey or syrup to drizzle a sweet “I love you” on the top.

Valentine’s Day is that time when we show the folks we love an extra special good time. This year, start with an invigorating meal that comes from the heart to show them how we feel.

Groundhog Day Fun Facts

2010-02-02T15:00:00.000-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

It’s doubtful whether anyone would have thought, during the first official Groundhog Day in 1886, that over 100 years later people would still be focusing their attention on a little critter on February 2 each year. It is on that date that Punxsutawney Phil tells the nation if there will be six more weeks of winter or not.

Many people don’t realize Groundhog Day has its origin in Germany. Tradition there claims that a badger or hedgehog would predict the coming of spring. If the animal saw its shadow on Candlemas, winter weather would continue. German settlers moved to the United States and continued the tradition. However, since there weren’t hedgehogs or badgers where they lived, they chose the groundhog as the weather prognosticator.

* Phil, the groundhog everyone looks to, has a long name: "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary." This name was given to a groundhog in 1887 by the "Punxsutawney Groundhog Club."

* Phil lives in the Punxsutawney Library for the remainder of the year, but each year as Groundhog Day nears, he’s taken from his home at Gobbler’s Knob. He is then placed in a heated burrow until he makes his appearance at 7:25 a.m. on Groundhog day each year.

* In 1993 the movie “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray, was released. The movie, filmed in Woodstock, Illinois because Punxsutawney is in a rural area which made it difficult to use for filming.

* For those unable to make the annual trek to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, each year’s ceremony is broadcast on major television stations. It can also be seen on the big screen at Times Square, New York City.

* Groundhogs hibernate each year and generally come out of hibernation between the first and second weeks of February. Experts say the animal comes out of hibernation due to the increased number of daylight hours.

* In the wild, groundhogs live about six to eight years. Phil, however, is said to be given a magical drink every year which enables him to live seven more years. Having said that, members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club claim Punxsutawney Phil is over 120 years old.

* Although Punxsutawney Phil is said to be the official Groundhog Day weather predictor, other groundhogs are found around the world. These include General Beauregard Lee, Peewee the Woodchuck, Wiarton Willie, Shubenacadie Sam, Stanten Island Chuck, and Dunkirk Dave.

* Each year tens of thousands of people make their way to Punxsutawney to learn first-hand whether winter will continue for six more weeks.

* In over 100 years of predicting the coming of spring, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, seen no shadow 14 times, with 9 years where there was no record.

Is Punxsutawney Phil, or any of the other groundhogs around the world, accurate in predicting the arrival of spring? That’s up for debate. One thing is for sure, however, when it comes to Groundhog Day, these fun facts can make the day more enjoyable for all who celebrate.

December's Top 10 Entrecard Droppers

2010-01-01T22:04:00.000-06:00

Thank you to the December Top 10 Entrecard Droppers!

My gypsygoods - Life, creative moments, saving money, nature, eco-friendly tips. Supporting & promoting the handmade community.

Cooking Japanese Style - Here's a blog about Japanese Cooking, Recipes, and Japanese Foods.

my kids are my world - This is a blog about her life as a wife and mother of three.

We live to tell God's Amazing Grace - This blog is about everyday's event, making online friends, website reviews, sharing thoughts and tips.

Hearts Make Families - After hysterectomy, life begins. I will talk about: my loving husband, my two adopted children from step parent and foster care, my first husband who has passed, family issues, parenting tips, tips from work, and anything else that might befall me.

Online Social Networking - Thought provoking articles on a wide range of social media, web marketing and PR strategies.

Mother by Design - Encouragement from a Christian perspective for mothers of all ages, and especially for those who are homeschooling and/or have several children.

Blog Tipz - A collection of blogging news, resources, and tips to help you improve your blog.

a site for women - A site for women - interests include shopping, fashion, woman's health, parenting, recipes, & family.

Entrecard Tips - A blog covering tips, resources, and more on how to grow your Entrecard traffic and become a more efficient user.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer "Holly Jolly Christmas"

2009-12-13T03:27:00.005-06:00

Recommended: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

How To Make Felt Christmas Stockings

2009-12-08T13:15:00.001-06:00

The Christmas stocking is a holiday staple for families with children. Kids love to get up on Christmas morning and see what kinds of goodies Santa has left them! Small stockings are also great for decoration, and they're ideal for holding small gifts to give to your friends and family.

Making felt stockings is very easy, and it's a great family project.

Here's how to do it:

What You Need

* Felt
* Cardboard or card stock
* Marker
* Scissors
* Straight pins
* Needle and thread
* White faux fur and other embellishments

Instructions

Draw a stocking shape of the desired size on a piece of cardboard or card stock. Cut out.
Place the cardboard shape on the felt, trace around it, and cut out. Make two pieces for each stocking.
If you want to sew buttons, fabric or other embellishments on the stocking, it will be much easier to do so before you sew it together. Just make sure to sew them onto the side that will be facing outward.
Pin the pieces of felt together, wrong sides facing out, and sew around the edges with a sewing machine or by hand. Be sure not to sew the top closed.
Turn the stocking inside out so that the seams are now on the inside. Decorate the outside using fabric paint, glitter, beads, or anything else you like. Sew a strip of faux fur to the top if desired.
Cut a strip of felt an inch or so wide and 3 or 4 inches long. Fold it in half to make a loop and sew it to the top left corner of the stocking.

Letting the kids decorate their own stockings gives them an opportunity to express themselves. They could add charms that reflect their interests and hobbies, make pictures with beads, or use finger paint to add handprints. Tubes of fabric paint or glitter glue make it easy for them to write messages to Santa and add their names.

Scraps of holiday fabric are great for adding a decorative touch to stockings. You could cut out shapes such as Christmas trees, angels, or reindeer and sew or glue them to the front of the stocking. If you want a different look, you could even use a sturdy fabric such as canvas instead of felt to make the body of the stocking.

Making and decorating your own Christmas stockings is lots of fun, and it's very inexpensive. Whether you're making them to hang on the tree, fill with gifts for friends, or place on the mantle for Santa to stuff, it's a wonderful way to get the family creative together during the holidays.

Recommended products:

Creating "To Die For" Christmas Sweets

2009-12-02T23:47:00.007-06:00

What is the one thing everyone enjoys at Christmas time? Arguably it could be sweets. There is nothing like a cookie, slice of cake or gum drop around the holidays. Here are some tips to make sure that those delectable morsels are just as tasty as their sugarplum visions.

Working with Chocolate

When you create a recipe that calls for chocolate, it is so easy to go wrong here. Instead of using the store-bought chocolate syrup, make your own. Buy the chocolate bricks and melt them yourself. Keep the heat under the saucepan low so that the chocolate doesn’t burn while it melts.

Dark chocolate is the new healthy chocolate for the 21st century. It is full of antioxidants and great taste. Use it for decorating cakes, cookies, breads and pies. Use some of that melted chocolate in a plastic bag to pipe out all sorts of cool designs onto wax paper. Once they cool, you can carefully place them on any dessert that you wish.

Butter

The rest of the year, this word gets sneer and jeers, but at Christmas, it is spot on. There is no substitute for using regular butter in your dessert recipes. Well, there is but it won’t give you the same taste or texture in your sweets. To compensate, eat a little less of each dessert, but by all means taste them all.

When working with margarine, part of it is water. It says that on the box. Water evaporates when baking and can partially dry out your recipes. Butter is also creamier when softened and whipped. It keeps your cakes, breads, cupcakes and cookies moist like they need to be. Unless the recipe calls for stiff butter, let it come to room temperature on the counter before using.

Fruit

Apple pies, peach cobblers and blueberry blintzes are all great during the holidays. Fruit can be expensive since most of your choices are out of season. If you can’t find fresh at a reasonable price, opt for frozen choices. It’s as close to fresh as you can get.

If you keep your fruit in the fridge to prolong freshness, make sure that you allow them to come to room temperature before using them in delicious dessert recipes. Fruit will juice better when warm. Scalding fruits with removable skins helps the skin to peel off easier so you don’t have to ruin the look of the fruit doing it the hard way.

Here are just a few tips for creating those desserts your family will love all holiday long. Christmas is the one time of year that they don’t want you to skimp on flavor or presentation.

Affiliate Disclosure

2009-11-30T20:39:00.000-06:00

This policy is valid from 01 Dec 2009

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact ejcooksey@ejcooksey.com.

You should assume that the Admin of this site has an affiliate connection to the products and/or services mentioned or reviewed on this site and may be compensated if you purchase a product from an affiliate link.

You should always perform due diligence before buying products or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas sung by Johnny Mathis

2009-11-22T21:11:00.001-06:00

Create a Fun, Festive and Inexpensive 4th of July Party

2009-07-02T12:00:00.003-05:00

Independence Day is probably the easiest Holiday to decorate for, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Who wouldn’t mind saving a bit of moola right now?

Decorating Ideas:

• You can usually find red, white or blue paper table clothes this time of year at fairly reasonable prices. Using blue for the table cloth, add white napkins and red paper plates for a festive red, white and blue table. Blue plastic wear on the white napkins and red plastic cups add a nice touch.

• Make a centerpiece using a blue vase of red and white carnations, then add some flags. Give the flags to your guests after your meal is served.

Food Ideas:

1. White corn on the cob served in a red or blue glass bowl.
2. Blue tortilla chips served with red salsa and sour cream.
3. Sliced red tomatoes served with slices of mozzarella.
4. Red pepper slices served with a blue cheese dip on the side.
5. Blue Jell-O with raspberries and topped with whipped cream.
6. Star shaped sugar cookies with white frosting and red and blue sprinkles.
7. A large clear, glass bowl of mixed blueberries and strawberries accompanied by a bowl of whipped cream.

Beverages:

Sweet Summer Tea (I know it’s not red, white and blue, but it’s so American)

Red, White and Blue Freezee:

Mix together in a blender

1 cup whipping cream
½ cup frozen blueberries
1 tsp. lemon juice
sugar to taste
Top with a few strawberries.

4th of July Punch:

Blend together:

6 cups of orange juice
20 oz. frozen strawberries in syrup
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail

Add 3 cups ginger ale at serving time. Makes 18 servings

Now for some other ways to make your 4th of July party sparkle (pun intended).

• Stick some lit sparklers in a dish when serving it.
• Watch a movie like the National Treasure or some other movie that portrays the beginning of our nation.
• Have patriotic songs playing in the background, like the National Anthem, America the Beautiful and so on.
• Dress in red, white and blue.
• Wear some of those funny star shaped sunglasses.
• Decorate a door or window with Uncle Sam.
• Be sure to hang an American flag if you have one.

Fun, Festive Food Ideas for the 4th of July

2009-06-27T11:21:00.005-05:00

Looking for some great food ideas for the 4th of July? You’ve come to the right spot! Below are some ideas you can use to make your 4th of July celebration fun and festive with food!

Flag Cake

1. Make a 13x9 cake using your favorite cake recipe (can be from a box mix too, any flavor)
2. Frost with white frosting (cream cheese or vanilla)
3. Use blueberries to make the stars of the flag in the upper left corner
4. Use strawberries to make the red stripes on the flag
5. For added spark (pun intended) add a few sparklers!

Red, White and Blue Cupcakes

1. Make your favorite flavor cupcakes
2. Divide white frosting into thirds. Color 1/3 with red food coloring and 1/3 with blue food coloring.
3. Frost each cupcake, alternating colors.
4. You can make little flags on each cupcake using the red, white and blue frosting.
5. Get little flags or sparklers to stick in the center of each cupcake

Need some ideas for lunch or dinner? Try these easy to make, yet fun food ideas!

Red, White and Blue Potato Salad – Use new red potatoes, white baby potatoes and blue or purple potatoes in your favorite potato salad recipe. (Leave the skins on the red and blue potatoes.)

Grilled Hamburgers with Bacon – Mix hamburger with chopped onion and Worcetershire sauce, form 1 inch thick patties and wrap each patty with a slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick. Grill on each side about 5 to 7 minutes. Top with your favorite burger toppings.

Festive Steak Fajitas – Using grilled skirt steak, red and yellow bell peppers, onions and your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, fold together in a warmed tortilla. A colorful main course that can be served with guacamole, refried beans and Spanish rice!

Faux Fried Chicken – It looks like fried chicken, but it’s baked-healthy and delicious! Dip pat-dried chicken drumsticks in a mixture of buttermilk and your favorite seasonings and roll each of them in a crushed Cornflakes cereal mixed with Parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is done. Serve with your favorite side dishes like corn on the cob and mashed potatoes! Great summertime meal, perfect for a Fourth of July celebration!

Here are a couple of festive, cool desserts or treats you can serve on the fourth. These are sure to please family and guests of all ages!

Frosted Fireworks – Using red and blue flavored beverages, such as Kool-aid or Gatorade, pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Place some red, blue and clear cubes in a festive dessert glass and pour seltzer (flavored if you prefer) over the colored ice cubes. Toss in a little flag for added festiveness.

Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad – Toss diced apples, strawberries and blueberries into a mixture of honey, lime juice and fresh, chopped mint. Serve as a side dish with any entrée or use as a topping over vanilla ice cream.

These ideas will make for a festive, fun and colorful addition to any 4th of July Celebration.

Red, White and Blue Food Ideas

Are you planning a smashing 4th of July party, but don’t want to serve the traditional burgers or chicken? Here are some simple, yet very festive food ideas using red, white and blue. Use a combination of the following food ideas to create a red, white and blue 4th of July Feast.

Red Foods

Main Course: New Mexico Style Red Enchiladas

Brown some ground beef, drain. In a large skillet, combine a large can of red enchilada sauce and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. In a separate skillet warm tortillas until just flexible. Then dip each tortilla in the enchilada sauce. Next, make layers starting with a dipped tortilla then add a couple of spoonfuls of meat, a couple of spoonfuls of the enchilada sauce. Top with shredded cheese. Repeat, making as many layers as you‘d like, but a good amount is usually 3. Top it all off with a fried egg and serve with a dinner roll. (Trust me!)

Salad: Summer Tomato Salad

Using not-too-ripe, coarsely chopped tomatoes and cherry tomatoes combine with chopped basil and parsley leaves. Drizzle Extra Virgin Olive Oil and toss.

Appetizer: 4th of July Apples

Combine an 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese, 3 tbs. butter-softened, ½ cup of crumbled blue cheese, ½ cup chopped walnuts. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Core and cut apples into eighths and sprinkle with lemon juice. Use a butter knife to apply spread to apples.

Blue Foods

Main Course: Blue Catfish Fillets

Dip catfish fillets (patted almost dry) in ¾ cup blue cornmeal with finely chopped jalapeno pepper, 2 cloves of garlic and ½ tsp. salt. Heat one inch of oil in large skillet and fry the fillets until brown on each side and the fish begins to flake inside. Serve salsa, or lemon or lime wedges.

Salad: Blue Potato Salad

Using ½ lb. Peruvian fingerlings (blue potatoes), boil until soft, but not mushy. Gently mix in 2 tbsp. grainy mustard, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, 3 thinly sliced celery stalks, 2 tbsp. minced flat leaf parsley and 2 sliced green onions. Makes 8 servings.

Appetizer: Blue Cheese Ball

Using 3 (3-oz each) pkgs. cream cheese, 1 (4-oz) pkg. blue cheese, crumbled,1 jar Kraft Old English cheese spread, 1 small onion, grated finely, 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, Mix all together. Form into two balls, medium size then wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Roll in chopped nuts. Serve with Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

Dessert: Blue Ice Cream

Scoop vanilla ice cream into a parfait bowl or other clear dessert cup. Add some blueberry syrup, fresh blueberries, another scoop of ice cream, some more blueberry syrup and top with whipped cream.

White Foods

Main course: Pork Steak in Mushroom Sauce

You can make this in the oven or in a crock pot. I prefer the crock pot because the pork comes out so tender! Place 6 to 8 boneless pork steak in crock pot; let cook for 2 hours on high. Add 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 2 cans of cream of celery soup and cook for 2 more hours on high. To bake in the oven, place the pork steak in a 13x9 glass baking dish, top with the cans of soup and cover with aluminum foil. Bake on 350F for an hour to an hour ½. Top with shredded cheese, if desired.

Salad: White Pineapple Salad

Drain 1 large can pineapple and reserve juice; add enough water to the juice to make 2 cups. Heat to a boil and add Jello, mix until dissolved. Chill until thick as syrup. Mash 2-8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese and add to Jello mixture. Mix well with mixer. Add ½ pt. whipped cream and 1 cup crushed nuts, mix well. Pour into a 9x 12 dish and chill well.

Appetizer: White Pizza Bagel Bites

Using 1 pkg. frozen bagel bites, place on cookie sheet, cut side up. Sprinkle with garlic powder and bake until lightly toasted. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, sliced olives and chopped green pepper. Bake for 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted.

Dessert: All American Cup Cakes

Make cupcakes using your favorite recipe, top with white frosting. Make a flag on each one using blueberries for the stars and red licorice pieces for the stripes.