Buy Large Women Clothing For Beautiful and Realistic

By Christmas Ideas at Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Find some used carton, coloring materials, scissors, glue, wire, ribbons and other necessary things you'll need. You could also consider recycling old Christmas decorations.

It wasn't too long ago that large women clothing was the most hideous to shop for and wear. The experience of entering a store to find the large women clothing was, first, such a dreaded experience, that we big, full-figured, Rubenesque, or chunky ones would opt for the muumuu grandma sent from Hawaii or the hand-me-down sweat pants and plaid shirt grandpa left us in his will.

The entering of a large women clothing store was up there on the scale of most-dreaded things to do, ever up there with or even over going to the dentist. And even dentists were kinder. The sales clerks were (until somebody got a clue) petite, pretty, and pretty snooty.

Ho Ho Ho - When you are doing your shopping use a calculator to make sure you stay within your Christmas budget.

The would visibly or audibly express their disdain, rolling their eyes or sighing as they had to get off the phone with Johnny Macho to walk us to the special section, obscured way in the back of the store, where very few selections hung tauntingly on a neglected rack.

And our choices were just as appealing. Of the rare selection of large women clothing were the sparkled, spangled, appliquéd t-shirts, ugly skirts with elastic waist-bands that the makers didn't bother to disguise, and sleeveless, tacky-printed smocks. Where in the manual of sizes did it read that large women be-decked themselves in glitter?

Ho Ho Ho - When designing hallways, you could always make a colorful banner that says "Merry Christmas".

Where was it mandates that the only large women clothing to be made and sold would be that WITHOUT sleeves, so we could advertise even further the flapping folds of fat? And of all the styles, designers, and designs, how is it that only an elastic band would do for a waist? Ah, but then a very wise entrepreneurship of a select few caught un that however unfortunately there were a huge number of huge women that wore clothes that didn't flash like a Christmas tree or didn't look like a garden of curtains.

Delta Burke, who went from beauty queen to oversized star for numerous reasons, created a rational line of large women clothing, with pants that had lines and suit jackets that had style. J. Jill, Plus Size, and other markets caught on to the viability of profits in the large women clothing industry.

Ho Ho Ho - Artificial Christmas trees fold up compactly for storage and are easy to transport - unlike a tall real tree that can be a struggle to fit into the car and squeeze through the door.

And one god-awful expensive but beautiful and realistic clothing line was offered in malls across the country: Lane Bryant offered nylons and tights that didn't stop at just below the hips when you put them on, skirts that had a panel waist with buttons running down to the hem and a swirly A-line design that shaped and contoured even the squarest potato body shape.

The suits had darts and plackets. The dresses had a subtlety of color combinations and a simplicity of design--without being akin to a Hefty bag. And so women's rights takes another large step forward... and we are not forced any longer to squash into spikes or spin and swirl with the sparkle of silver daisies or poppies splayed across a size 22 tee.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Crazy Gift For Christmas - More Creative Ideas Please

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com - More Christmas Ideas

Ho Ho Ho - In some colder climates there is a Christmas superstition that says you have to keep a Yule log burning for the 12 days of Christmas. If you let it go out gnome like mischief makers will come down the chimney and cause all kinds of mayhem like riding on the backs of people, braiding tails of horses and making milk sour! The family work hard to maintain the fire in the main room burning day and night.

When I was younger, the concept of time being a crazy gift made little sense to me. I associated the phrase with a whimsical vision of time. The passing of time did not occur to me. The irony of having too much time did not occur to me either. We do not consider the ironic elements of this crazy gift until we reach a certain age. This age is one in which we reflect on our lives.

Ho Ho Ho - Make a pattern of your desired Christmas flower, and then carefully cut it.

Time never goes quickly enough for the young. Children can't wait for Christmas. Summer vacation seems like an eternity away. There is always something to look forward to and time just gets in the way. Growing up seems to be such a long process that the crazy gift of time slips by during the stage of our lives in which we should be savoring each and every second.

We can't wait for our eighteenth birthday. Then the milestone of twenty-one is the decadent goal; that moment that marks our independence and establishes us as adults. We never think of the way that we wish the crazy gift away. We never think about how we watched the clock ticking our crazy gift of time into oblivion as we wish for the classroom bell to mark the end of Algebra class. We grow to wish away our lives in hopes that our work day will end.

Ho Ho Ho - Custom - To prevent quarrelling on Christmas day family members must place their shoes side by side Christmas Eve.

The Kevin Ayers song meant little to me years ago. Today, I understand how the crazy gift of time is an ironic present. Time begins to pass faster and faster as we begin to realize how very precious it is. It seems like just a moment ago, I was saying goodbye to my high school history teacher. The last thing he said to me was, "The rest is just a flash."

As I get older I notice that time has little regard for how sorry I am for wanting it to pass faster. I did not realize the crazy gift granted wishes. Although there is no way to recapture the past, maybe we can begin to savor our moments as they pass.

Ho Ho Ho - Real flowers needs a lot of time for maintenance while fake Christmas flowers do not require such high maintenance.

Many of my memories are closely linked to music. When I hear some songs that were popular years ago, I can remember events surrounding the music very vividly. At least, it seems that way. One song has been on my mind recently and this tune is one of great meaning to me now. I understand the lyrics to "Crazy Gift of Time" by Kevin Ayers so much better than I did years ago.

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Is As Seen On TV Products Perfect?

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Artificial Christmas trees can be reused year after year, saving you money and helping save the environment - some people argue that the land used for growing Christmas trees could be used more productively to produce food. And, as real trees tend to be sold without roots, they end up being thrown out in the new year.

Have you ever wondered about all those "as seen on tv" ads and the claims of those products? Most people I know think that those "as seen on tv" products are all gimmicks. If those products were really legitimate, than why can't I get them at my neighborhood Wal-Mart or some other store?

If they are as fantastic as the TV ad says, why is it that this "as seen on tv" product is only available by calling in an order or going to the products website? I had my own "as seen on tv" experience this Christmas. I was given a gift. Some friends had bought the "as seen on tv" flashlights.

Ho Ho Ho - When designing hallways, you could always make a colorful banner that says "Merry Christmas".

These are the flashlights that never need batteries, can get run over by a car, float in water, are waterproof. In short, they are the miracle you were always waiting for. I must admit, when I saw the TV commercial, I was very skeptical. So when I opened this gift, I really was quite speechless. Was this a joke, or was it for real?

Let me tell you a little about my "as seen on tv" flashlights. They really don't need batteries. You just shake them and the energy from your motion changes into electrical energy and is stored in a capacitor inside the flashlight. Turn the flashlight on, and you have light until the stored energy is used up. If the light starts dimming, shake again a little. Wow! They really are waterproof.

Ho Ho Ho - Christmas is time to celebrate YOU! Uplift yourself with memories of the joys you discovered and successes you achieved over the year. Spend moments in gratitude for these wonderful memories.

They are totally sealed. There is no battery compartment to open up and the light should last for thousands of hours of use. I must confess though, that I haven't yet laid the flashlight on the ground and tried to drive over it. However, the housing of my "as seen on tv" flashlight is very sturdy. I think it just might survive.

My "as seen on tv" product is not perfect. The light doesn't last forever and I don't like to keep shaking just to be able to see. And yet, I have the perfect place for this light in my car. If I am ever stuck in the dark, I can be assured that I will always have some light easily available.

Ho Ho Ho - Gift an afternoon tea - type up a flyer for all the neighbors in your street to come for a Christmas afternoon tea.

I still don't understand why "as seen on tv" products are only available with a phone call or an internet site visit. I do know this, my experience showed that the product really was legitimate and did what was claimed in the TV commercial.

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Free Kitchen Design Tips For Your Christmas

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Who's your best support at Christmas� Santa Claus or you may know him as Saint Nicholas. Think about his qualities - kind, generous, loving, forgiving.

The greatest drawback of our home was the kitchen design. We moved into our home five years ago. We fell in love with the location. We live on a beautiful lake. We loved the master bedroom, which is the upper loft of our A-frame home. The master suite has its own deck over looking the lake, what a wonderful way to wake up each morning.

The cabinets of the kitchen were in good shape, but they were stained a very dark walnut. The walls were covered in floral wall paper with a garden scene border. The kitchen design was set up so cooking was done on one side of the kitchen and food prep and clean up was done on the other side.

The kitchen design did not allow for more than one person to comfortably work in the kitchen. This was a problem for us because we enjoy preparing meals together and I also host a Christmas cookie exchange each year. We did not like the kitchen design; by we also did not want the expense of a major remodeling project.

Ho Ho Ho - Home made gift box - after you take down your Christmas cards, buy a medium sized box from the $2 shop for each family member. Cut the front of the used cards up into small squares and place in a bag or hat.

After we had lived in the house for 6 months we did a face lift on the kitchen. We painted the cabinets off white and purchased new hardware for them. We stripped the wallpaper and the border off and painted the walls yellow. We put in a ceramic backsplash by the sink and stove area. We also put in a new exhaust hood over the cook top. This greatly improved the looks of the room; however the kitchen design still needs some help. There is still limited counter top space to work on.

Now that we have been in the house five years we have adapted to the kitchen design, but we still get frustrated at the cramped quarters, especially when entertaining. No matter what size your kitchen is, it seems that this is the room that guests congregate in.

We try to prepare as much of the meals that we are going to serve our guests ahead of time, but there are always things that need to be done last minute. It is during these last minute preparations that the kitchen design really limits us.

Ho Ho Ho - In some European countries at the end of the Christmas festive meal you must not leave the table until the host gives a signal that the Christmas feast has ended. Then all family and guests rise from the table in unison and leave.

We are now considering a full remodeling project that will improve the kitchen area. We do not have a way of enlarging the space, but the building contractor feels that by rearranging the kitchen design we will be able to accomplish our goal of having a more efficient kitchen area.

Ho Ho Ho - Bedrooms are also part of Christmas decorating activity.

He has suggested moving the stove to the same side as the sink. This will eliminate the back and forth from one side of the kitchen to the other. He has also suggested a portable butcher block that we can roll into the kitchen during food preparation and then store in the entry way off the kitchen when it is not in use. This will give the entry area another surface also.

We begin on the new kitchen design next week. It will be interesting to see if the minor changes we have planned will make a difference.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Get Thank You Cards For All Occasions

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Many people are familiar with the term 'The Twelve Days of Christmas,' but not everyone knows where it originated.

Thank you cards are appropriate for a large number of occasions, from reciving a birthday or Christmas gift to thanking someone for a dinner or concert invitation. An actual, physical thank you card will mean a lot more to your hosts or your gift-givers than a phone call or email will, even if you don't say a whole lot on the card. The card itself doesn't have to be very fancy either; most gift or holiday-card stores sell packs of thank you cards that are quite nice.

Ho Ho Ho - Take your Christmas Dinner budget and make a shopping list.

You don't necessarialy have to go to a specialty stationary store or printmaker to get your thank you cards, though these establishments, without a doubt, make the highest quality cards around. If you do go the custom route your options are almost limitless; embossing, ribbons, wax seals, personalization, or specialty papers and envelopes are all popular options.

Thank you cards are especially helpful if you've been given a gift or invited to an event by someone you don't know particularly well, since your card will imbed yourself in their memory. Being remembered is particularly nice if you're sending the thank you card to a superior or a business investor, since it's always good to be remembered by these sorts of people in the future.

Ho Ho Ho - Take the total of your Christmas expenses and divide it by the total amount of pays until next Christmas.

Before our current era of email and telephones, the humble letter was the only way to communicate over long distances. We now give the letter a certain amount of romanticism since it represents a bygone era.

However, in the past few years we've seen a slight renaissance in letter writing; stationary stores and specialty papermakers have reported that they've seen more people interested in designer papers and wax seals than they've seen in years. It's tough to completely revive letter writing though, since after all, writing an email or dialing up someone on the phone takes a lot less time than it takes to sit down and write a letter.

Though there's a good chance you won't turn off your computer and start writing letters to everyone you know instead of jotting them an email, there is one artifact of the times of letter writing that should find its way back into everyone's life: the simple thank you card.

Ho Ho Ho - Artificial Christmas trees fold up compactly for storage and are easy to transport - unlike a tall real tree that can be a struggle to fit into the car and squeeze through the door.

When writing the thank you card, remember to be both cordial and specific. Be sure to let your reader know why exactly you enjoyed the gift or invitation or what, exactly, you're thankful for.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Xbox 360 - Popular Gaming System As Gifts

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Fast Game Download

It was the fourth most searched for item on the Internet. It was the number one sell-out item on EBay (where it was selling and being auctioned off for prices as high as $5,000 for the new $400 console, says WebPro News' technology and business writer Jason L. Miller). It is fought over, dreamed of, and hurt for its possession. It is the Xbox 360.

The Xbox 360 was second to none this year except last year at this time (Christmastime), when it didn't hit the markets in time for shoppers, and forfeited its number-one status to the ever-popular Sony PlayStation, reports Miller.

Secrets Of Winning The Estate Tax Game. Estate Planning System. Legally Keeps Every Dollar Of Your Wealth In The Family, Instead Of Losing It To The Irs.

But as with the $150 dollar sneakers a few years ago, the Xbox 360 may be too popular (or our culture too covetous):

In Stafford, Virginia, November saw an Electronics Boutique getting robbed at gunpoint not for cash or any of the other valuable technology and gameware, but for two Xbox 360s.

In one unidentified city where lines of desperate shoppers waited to purchase the next delivery of Xboxes, one dweeb who had already purchased his held it out the window of the car he and friends were driving from the store in. The show-off dropped the box and an agile-footed teen swooped in, scooped up the 360 and ran off with his now brand new toy.

Tips! Customer service is always there to help with any shipping, tracking, or game problem that may arise within 24 hours.

Outside of one Walmart, reports blogger soccerbob, three friends of the writer were held up by two armed man, who, he says, "only wanted the Xbox."

And in North Dakota, as Jason Miller also reports, a seventeen-year-old who had been lucky enough to purchase one of the first Xbox 360s fresh off the newly-stocked shelves was punched in the face and robbed of his new gaming platform by two "assailants".

It is now New Year's Eve in the US, and the emailed promotion to "Get what you REALLY wanted" [for Xmas] speaks to the continued popularity of the Xbox 360: the first auction feature has a bid of $700, with a "BUY IT NOW" price of $800. The second photo offers the same at the high bid at $575...and the photo shows a warehouse stack of em. And the third listing has the Xbox 360 going for $1,300.

Tips! Hard-to-Find Games : Many games that we never even knew about were included within their selection. If you want to play a game with little or no popularity, Gottaplay has this covered as well.

Are these the stolen Xboxes now being pawned off for 1 and ½, 2, and 3times the store price? Are these the ones we gullible line-standers waited hours for, only to be turned away empty-handed, as he first ten people in line got the first fifty (to sell on EBay...NOT to give as gifts)?

Are we back to the materialism and greed of pre-9-1-1? Have we misplaced our values again, passed them off onto unknowing children who just want to engage in the ADD activity that is gaming?

Or are we merely very, very fortunate to live in a culture where good art (in good games with good graphics), cutting edge technology as entertainment, and Christmas are limitless sources of pleasure and reward for being good all year, working hard, studying hard, and taking out he trash when Mommy asks the first time?

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Care Packages For Everyone You Loves

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Real flowers needs a lot of time for maintenance while fake Christmas flowers do not require such high maintenance.

My mom used to send care packages every few weeks to me. I absolutely loved receiving them and my roommates were always envious of the fact that my mom took the time to do something so sweet for me. The care packages were always filled with goodies that were inhaled in no time at all.

Ho Ho Ho - Make a pattern of your desired Christmas flower, and then carefully cut it.

She'd send candy bars, cookies, crackers and my favorite granola bars. Every so often she'd put some surprises in the care packages that weren't anything expensive but things that I needed.

She'd send disposable cameras or a pack of new pens or markers.

Sometimes the care packages contained seasonal items like Christmas decorations or new slippers. I loved her care packages. Now that I'm all grown up, I miss getting those familiar care packages.

College students are not the only ones who may be needing care packages. We have many oversea soldiers who could use some necessary items and some things from home. Those soldiers don't have the luxuries of many of the simple things we take for granted.

Ho Ho Ho - Get a picture of your desired Christmas flower. This would at least give you an idea what kind of materials you'll need in creating your own Christmas flower.

Care packages for soldiers can be purchased through organizations such as USO even if you do not have any loved ones currently overseas. Those soldiers are over there defending our country and care packages are excellent ways to thank them for that.

Some of the care packages could contain prepaid calling cards, sunscreen, disposable cameras and toiletries. Many soldiers appreciate when care packages have letters or cards in them letting them know that people are thinking of them even when they are not at home.

Ho Ho Ho - Take the total of your Christmas expenses and divide it by the total amount of pays until next Christmas.

Care packages might also include some favorite snacks or smaller items. I've known some soldiers that have received footballs in their care packages and absolutely loved it. Those recipients have told me how nice it is to be able to throw a football around with some fellow soldiers and relax quite a bit.

Just remember that care packages are always welcomed by people no matter where they are or what they are doing. Fill them with goodies and lots of love.

Ho Ho Ho - When you are doing your shopping use a calculator to make sure you stay within your Christmas budget.

Many moms and dads across the world right now are having empty-nest syndrome. Suddenly, the once noisy household that was bustling with busy schedules and teenagers isn't quite so hectic anymore. Those teenagers have left for college.

Not only do the moms and dads feel a bit lost without their child under the same roof, but the college students can feel homesick as well. One of the best ways to stay in touch with your college student and put a smile on their faces are to send care packages. Those care packages can sometimes mean more than a parent will ever know.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

How to Reduce Holiday Stress?

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Take the total of your Christmas expenses and divide it by the total amount of pays until next Christmas.

Is the holiday season making you stressed? Has Christmas shopping wrapped you up in anxiety? Is the family driving you nuts? The stress of the holiday season comes from being caught in the things that matter the least. Focus on what matters most and you will make this the best Christmas ever.

If you want to reduce holiday stress, you are not alone. On the outside, Christmas is obviously a time of celebration, giving and togetherness. On the inside, however, the way people really feel does not always match the alleged Holiday cheer. So, what can be done about this pervasive stress? Cancel Christmas? Abolish shopping? No certainly not.

You have to learn to stay centered in the midst of chaos. You have to learn to focus on what is deeply important, despite that fact that everyone is running around in a frenzy. You have to learn to find a little "slowness" in the "fastness."

Ho Ho Ho - Prelit Christmas trees come ready decorated, so you can have your tree ready in a matter of minutes, without the need to spend time hanging decorations and untangling last year's light bulbs.

This can be done. You do it by finding the deeper meaning in every interaction, every gift exchange, and every glance into the eyes of a clerk. Take the time to make every moment about giving and about receiving, instead of just building it up for the big day in the future.

Keep your focus on what you are doing now, not how others will react in the future. If you find your mind wandering to the past or to the future, gently tug it back inward. Say: "Come back here mind! You don't need to wander aimlessly!" Christmas is an attitude; it is not a day.

One of the most fun-enhancing attitudes is this: Learn to give more of yourself as you give someone a gift. This means giving with joy and with feeling. It means taking to heart how special this person is in your life. It means giving more importance to the relationship than to the gift. You make Christmas special by making your relationships special. As you give, remember the other person's specialness in your life. This will help reduce holiday stress!

Ho Ho Ho - Artificial Christmas trees fold up compactly for storage and are easy to transport - unlike a tall real tree that can be a struggle to fit into the car and squeeze through the door.

Likewise, remember to make your self feel special also. This is not arrogance; this is just acknowledging who you are. You are a cool and hip individual, correct? Notice your good qualities as much as possible. Slow down, at least momentarily from time to time during all the chaos of Christmas to feel how important you are. That is how you give to yourself.

Ho Ho Ho - Make a pattern of your desired Christmas flower, and then carefully cut it.

Giving to yourself is a stress reducer. When someone gives you a gift, as you receive it, find a way to give more of yourself to yourself. This means giving your self the sentiment of the Holiday cheer, and remembering that you deserve it all. You really do deserve it.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Coffee Grinder as A Great Gift For Christmas

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Real Christmas flowers have the natural scent which adds to their beauty while fake Christmas flowers has to be given scents just for it to smell good.

After all of the gadgets and gizmos that I have added to my kitchen collection over the years, I still feel that my coffee grinder is the best addition I have ever made to my kitchen. As an avid coffee drinker, I use my grinder nearly everyday. For fresher tasting coffee, there is no substitute for freshly ground beans.

I enjoy the act of grinding the beans myself because I feel that it connects me to my food. In today's world in which so many of us eat meals on the go and rarely have time to make good diet choices, it is a pleasant rarity to feel as though you have more than a passing relationship with your sustenance.

Coffee is more than an addiction for me - it is an appreciation that goes back to my childhood. I began drinking coffee years before I probably should have. Having watched my parents brew up and then enjoy coffees with wonderful and enticing aromas, I associated something mature and sophisticated with coffee.

Ho Ho Ho - Christmas is time to celebrate YOU! Uplift yourself with memories of the joys you discovered and successes you achieved over the year. Spend moments in gratitude for these wonderful memories.

Part of my appreciation of coffee is my desire to be a part of the grinding and brewing processes. I like to look at having a cup of coffee as a ritual of sorts much like the tea ceremony scene in Karate Kid. You guys from the eighties will know what I mean.

Household items such as grinders are often overlooked as gift ideas even though they are always appreciated. A coffee grinder makes a great Christmas gift idea in my opinion. A coffee grinder may even fit into a decent sized stocking.

You can find grinders at any major retailer. If your price range is five dollars or fifty dollars, there is something out there for you. I own a modest coffee grinder that I bought at Target for about ten bucks. I have used it regularly for over three years and I have no complaints.

I think that a new coffee grinder or maybe a fancier one alongside a few pounds of flavored premium coffee beans sounds like an absolutely heavenly Christmas gift. I think that gift idea could work for nearly everyone in my family too.

Grinders are a great gift or thoughtful addition to a home. I would recommend them for newlyweds, a housewarming party or even your college freshman. If you want the feel of a personal café in the convenience of your own kitchen, a coffee grinder is a must have!

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Announcements and Invitations For This Occasions

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Bedrooms are also part of Christmas decorating activity.

The most popular announcements and invitations are for baby showers, wedding showers, anniversaries, birthday parties, christenings, and graduations, but there are also a number of special event announcements and invitations to choose from for Kentucky Derby parties, Christmas celebrations and gift exchanges, Halloween costume parties, Mardi Gras, house warmings and other fun gatherings.

Announcements and invitations are needed as a number of occasions arise. A very large selection of announcements and invitations for any type of gathering is available on the internet, and you don't even have to leave the house if you don't want to.

You could visit a local print shop to check out what they have, but you can be assured that the selection will not be as extensive or as affordable as the options offered online. No matter what the occasion or type of gathering you are planning, the selection of announcements and invitations is endless.

Ho Ho Ho - Put in place a strategy that will give you a plan to enjoy your next Christmas. This plan will also run itself without you even thinking about it.

Custom designed and personalized announcements and invitations are quite popular and are very reasonably priced. This is a great way to announce your event in style and everyone invited will take note and be sure to attend! No matter what the occasion, there is a unique announcement or invitation to suit it perfectly.

Many online vendors offer a large selection of paper and related accessories, such as thank you notes, for announcements and invitations to reflect your personal tastes and creativity as well. Photos can also be included in the announcements and invitations of the new baby or person of honor.

Ho Ho Ho - Leave the credit card at home and pay for Christmas with money wherever possible.

Of course, a variety of photos can be used to make your announcements and invitations unique. Pictures of your new home can be included when planning a house warming party too, that way, if not everyone can attend, they will get a peak at your new digs and have your new address and phone number. Special pictures included with your announcements and invitations provide everyone with a keepsake to remember the special occasion for many years to come.

Ho Ho Ho - Custom - To prevent quarrelling on Christmas day family members must place their shoes side by side Christmas Eve.

Online printers have templates available for all occasions, to make your experience fun and effortless. Your creativity and personal touch will make a lasting impression on those who receive your announcements and invitations and will inspire them to check out this option for their next event. With so many choices, you are sure to find the one that catches your eye and make your announcements and invitations truly special.

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

My Christmas Tree Storage Habits For Your Reference

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Keep track of all your Christmas spending. A good way of doing this is by carrying a small notebook and pencil and writing your purchases in it.

I've never given much thought to Christmas tree storage before last year. I have alternated over the years between real and artificial trees. My first husband was allergic to real trees, so we always had artificial.

My first Christmas on my own, I bought an extremely inexpensive Christmas tree to decorate. I had a lot of fun putting icicles all over the tree and making it be exactly what I wanted it to be. That year Christmas tree storage consisted of putting it back into its box.

Ho Ho Ho - Real flowers needs a lot of time for maintenance while fake Christmas flowers do not require such high maintenance.

My father decided that he wanted a pre-lit artificial tree and gave me and my husband the one he had been using previously. This was a good quality artificial, one that would have been far out of my price range had it been new. We used that tree every year following until our divorce. He kept the tree and used the gigantic box it came in as Christmas tree storage.

I did not have a need for Christmas tree storage for the next several years. I used real trees for decorating and did not save the tree until the next year. I liked the smell of the real trees and thought that I would always use them. My second husband and I would get the largest tree that would fit in our home and decorate it together.

Ho Ho Ho - Take your Christmas Gift budget that was allocated in step 1 and divide it by the number of gifts you need to buy. This number will be the maximum you can spend on each gift.

My third husband doesn't really get into the Christmas spirit at all. He refuses to decorate and I think that if I tried to discuss my Christmas tree storage needs with him, he would laugh. I'm also pretty sure he would say no to the purchase. This would be categorized as silly and unneeded.

I think that I could use a better plan for Christmas tree storage. Last year, when I opened the box that my tree was stored in, there were cobwebs inside. I never found a spider, but it made me realize that there had to be a better way.

I've never noticed artificial Christmas tree storage bags before. I guess that I was never looking. I have found them priced as low as nine dollars for the size tree that I use now. I think I may just buy one and just start using it. They look perfect for protecting my artificial tree from bugs and dust.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Different Styles Of Christmas Decor For The Season

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Who's your best support at Christmas� Santa Claus or you may know him as Saint Nicholas. Think about his qualities - kind, generous, loving, forgiving.

I have come to realize that Christmas decor can encompass anything. I have seen so many different types of decorating and love them all. I think that I just love the spirit of the individual that shines through the creativity.

Ho Ho Ho - Take your Christmas Dinner budget and make a shopping list.

I have used many different themes for my Christmas decor over the years. I have had a single color theme several times. I had fun decorating for the Yellow Christmas and also for the Purple Christmas. My kids thought that those years were the most fun.

My mom had a friend when I was in high school that worked as a linguist for the United Nations. I thought he had the coolest job I'd ever heard of. He had a Boxing Day party one year at his house and his Christmas decor was very interesting. His theme was international flags. I was so jealous of all of his adventures.

Ho Ho Ho - Gift an afternoon tea - type up a flyer for all the neighbors in your street to come for a Christmas afternoon tea.

I have a friend that teaches environmental science at the local high school. He had a Christmas party for his friends this year. I don't think I've ever been to his house during the holidays and seen his Christmas decor before. He had an awesome blue nautical theme for his tree and mantel. It looked so serene. He had blue lights up on the outside of his house and an inflatable Santa surfing on his roof.

Ho Ho Ho - While today the Christmas tree is an enduring symbol of the season, it wasn't always a holiday tradition.

I have another friend that has decided to use St. Patrick's Day decorations for her Christmas decor. She has a lot of fun hanging up four leaf clovers and putting Santa hats on leprechauns. She used to tell her kids that being Santa was St. Patrick's other job. Her kids grew up with some very strange notions.

I'm not really very crazy about licensed characters all over my Christmas tree. It is just not my favorite Christmas decor at all. I still remember the Year of the Bob. My son was intent on decorating our whole house one year with Spongebob Squarepants decorations. It was hideous. I had to institute some more guidelines for acceptable Christmas decor after the Year of the Bob.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Yummy Christmas Gifts - Chocolate

By Christmasidea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Real Christmas flowers are costly.

I think that the best Christmas gifts are chocolate. I have had a life long love affair with this tasty treat. I have never had a chocolate that I didn't like.

Ho Ho Ho - Bedrooms are also part of Christmas decorating activity.

I received a lot of Christmas gifts last year, but my favorites were chocolate. My husband was right on the mark when he bought me a tin of Mrs. Fields cookies and brownies. I served them at a tea party I had on Christmas Eve.

I have given my little sister some wonderful chocolate Christmas gifts over the years. She loves chocolate as much as me. Last year, I sent her dessert bars in three flavors: chewy fudge, zesty lemon and raspberry blueberry currant.

My boss appreciates Christmas gifts from employees even though she doesn't celebrate Christmas. She likes chocolate, so I sent her Turtle Bars from Solomon's Gourmet Cookies. She is Jewish and these treats were certified Kosher by the Chicago Rabbinical Council.

Ho Ho Ho - Remember that Christmas is only one day a year. You don't have to spend a weeks worth of grocery money on one day.

I sent my cousins containers of brownies for Christmas gifts year before last. They are still talking about them. Each tin had a pound and a half of brownies that were the richest tasting brownies that they had ever eaten.

Finding exceptional chocolate recipes has been a challenge. I like to order from online companies when I am sending Christmas gifts because they do all of the shipping for me. For people in the same geographical area as me, I like to make chocolate creations in my own kitchen.

Ho Ho Ho - When you are doing your shopping use a calculator to make sure you stay within your Christmas budget.

I have Christmas gifts on my mind starting in late October. I make lists of who I want to give chocolate gifts to and what they might like. I have made biscotti for neighbors a few times and I like the way it comes out.

Biscotto makes great Christmas gifts. A good biscotti recipe is not very sweet and compliments coffee or tea. I have found that chocolate biscotto pleases just about every palate! It seems like most of my friends enjoy biscotti with gourmet coffee.

My sister had a Christmas Day wedding about ten years ago. I decided that one of her Christmas gifts from me was going to be the groom's cake for her wedding. I made her a chocolate cheesecake with molded chocolate roses.

My niece shares my love of chocolate. She gave me a list of Christmas gifts she wanted the year she was ten and I just had to laugh out loud. She had listed twenty different things and half of them were chocolate!

Ho Ho Ho - Artificial Christmas trees fold up compactly for storage and are easy to transport - unlike a tall real tree that can be a struggle to fit into the car and squeeze through the door.

I hosted the family for Christmas dinner last year. After we opened our Christmas gifts, I served a gourmet chocolate mousse for dessert. I had worked perfecting it for the occasion and everyone loved it.

I do think that making extra Christmas gifts comes in handy when you have a lot of visitors during December. I make up a batch of chocolate Christmas candies and have them already wrapped to give to people that drop by. I think that maybe some people just drop by my house during the holidays because they know that they will get some yummy chocolate to eat.

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

My Christmas Cards Joy For You

By ChristmasIdea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - One of the pagan traditions that Christians have incorporated into their Christmas celebration includes hanging mistletoe.

The week after Thanksgiving, the Christmas cards start arriving. I enjoy displaying Christmas cards all throughout December. I pin them to red ribbons and they hang everywhere. The number of Christmas cards I receive usually increases by a couple every year. I currently send out eighty three cards to family and friends and receive about sixty.

I enjoy Christmas cards because they seem to come from all points over the globe. I have made many friends over the years and have been very vigilant to remember to include them all in my mailing of Christmas cards each year. I like to let everyone that has affected me in my life to know that I remember them and care about them.

Ho Ho Ho - Find some used carton, coloring materials, scissors, glue, wire, ribbons and other necessary things you'll need. You could also consider recycling old Christmas decorations.

My favorite Christmas cards are the handmade ones. Those are the only ones that I have ever done anything beyond saving them in a large envelope with all the others from that year. I have taken a few of the super creative Christmas cards and had them framed for display. My favorite handmade Christmas cards come from my niece. The best one featured three sparkling trees and I had it framed.

Ho Ho Ho - Make a pattern of your desired Christmas flower, and then carefully cut it.

I don't dislike any Christmas cards. They are really just a way for friends and family to reach out to one another and let them know that they are still thought of and cared about. I don't usually display the bulk Christmas cards with plain pictures in my living room, though. I'm also not a big fan of overly religious Christmas cards. I do not put the Christmas cards with nativity scenes out in my den.

I think that sparkles and glitter are wonderful additions to Christmas cards. All of the extra embellishments are what makes them so special. In addition to the appearance of the card, I like to send and receive cards with personal notes inside. I am always excited to hear good news from old friends. Christmas cards with included photos also keep me feeling like I am part of my friends' lives.

I encourage my kids to send out their own Christmas cards to their friends. Even if their friends don't reciprocate, yet, someday they will. My kids make their own Christmas cards with white tags and craft items. My daughter prefers using stamps and ink to create Christmas cards. My son prefers to glue lots of small shiny objects to make his masterpieces.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Finding The Right Personalized Christmas Gift

By ChristmasIdea.Blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Real flowers needs a lot of time for maintenance while fake Christmas flowers do not require such high maintenance.

Once you find the best personalized Christmas gift for a certain category of gift recipient, you will be so relieved. I was so happy when I found something that was good for boys or girls from age's two to five. I just could not believe that I had found a personalized Christmas gift for such a large portion of my shopping list.

Kids love puzzles. The best personalized Christmas gift for a kid is a puzzle of their name. The idea is inspired. I will probably break my own arm patting myself on the back for figuring this out, but so be it. I've already given out a dozen of these puzzles and they are always a big hit.

Ho Ho Ho - Many people are familiar with the term 'The Twelve Days of Christmas,' but not everyone knows where it originated.

The best personalized Christmas gift for a family is an ornament with their names inscribed on it. I have made these for my siblings and their families. I have also given a personalized Christmas gift of an ornament to new babies for their first Christmas.

There are many different people you can give a personalized Christmas gift to. I once gave an old boyfriend a personalized Christmas gift of a love poem etched into a Lucite heart. He was bowled over by the gift. We split up not long after that and I wish that I had gotten that Lucite heart back.

Technology has come a long way and it is never more apparent to me than when I am looking for a personalized Christmas gift for someone. I made my mother a pillow with a photograph of my late father on it. I had taken the photo and copied onto fabric. She loved it.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

My Christmas Tree Storage Habits For Your Reference

By ChristmasIdea.blogspot.com

Ho Ho Ho - Real Christmas flowers are costly.

I've never given much thought to Christmas tree storage before last year. I have alternated over the years between real and artificial trees. My first husband was allergic to real trees, so we always had artificial.

My first Christmas on my own, I bought an extremely inexpensive Christmas tree to decorate. I had a lot of fun putting icicles all over the tree and making it be exactly what I wanted it to be. That year Christmas tree storage consisted of putting it back into its box.

My father decided that he wanted a pre-lit artificial tree and gave me and my husband the one he had been using previously. This was a good quality artificial, one that would have been far out of my price range had it been new. We used that tree every year following until our divorce. He kept the tree and used the gigantic box it came in as Christmas tree storage.

Ho Ho Ho - Remember that Christmas is only one day a year. You don't have to spend a weeks worth of grocery money on one day.

I did not have a need for Christmas tree storage for the next several years. I used real trees for decorating and did not save the tree until the next year. I liked the smell of the real trees and thought that I would always use them. My second husband and I would get the largest tree that would fit in our home and decorate it together.

Ho Ho Ho - Add up all your Christmas expenses including gifts, food and any other costs.

My third husband doesn't really get into the Christmas spirit at all. He refuses to decorate and I think that if I tried to discuss my Christmas tree storage needs with him, he would laugh. I'm also pretty sure he would say no to the purchase. This would be categorized as silly and unneeded.

Ho Ho Ho - Leave the credit card at home and pay for Christmas with money wherever possible.

I think that I could use a better plan for Christmas tree storage. Last year, when I opened the box that my tree was stored in, there were cobwebs inside. I never found a spider, but it made me realize that there had to be a better way.

I've never noticed artificial Christmas tree storage bags before. I guess that I was never looking. I have found them priced as low as nine dollars for the size tree that I use now. I think I may just buy one and just start using it. They look perfect for protecting my artificial tree from bugs and dust.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.12 of 12 - Spinach and Mushroom Pancakes

Ho Ho Ho! Whilst you won't find the hype and shopping madness of Western countries, in major cities you'll see lights, trees and Christmas decorations on the streets and in stores. Christmas Day is not even a bank holiday in China, although it is in Hong Kong and Macao.

Christmas recipe serves: 4 calories per serving: 375 preparation time: 1 hour plus standing & soaking cooking time: 1 hour 30 minutes suitable for freezing (pancakes only)

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• white flour, plain 50 g (2 oz)
• wholemeal flour, plain 50 g (2 oz)
• egg, 1
• milk, skimmed 350 ml (12 fl oz)
• salt and pepper
• vegetable stock, 300 ml (10 fl oz)
• mushrooms, dried 25 g (1 oz)
• oil, vegetable 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• spinach, fresh washed 450 g (1 lb) or
• spinach, frozen leaf 350 g (12 oz)
• soft cheese, reduced fat 225 g (8 oz) mushrooms, brown cap 450 g (1 lb)
• spring onions, 1 bunch
• garnish, flat-leaf parsley

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Use a food processor for the batter so mix the egg, a pinch of salt, milk and both flours. Then stand for 30 minutes. Soak the dried mushrooms and stock for 30 minutes.
   Ho Ho Ho! Ask each guest to bring nine and a half dozen of their favorite Christmas goodies with recipe cards of the recipe. Here's how the Goodie Formula works: 9 guests = 9 dozen goodies, plus add an extra dozen for 9 dozen goodies.
2. Coat the base of a non-stick pan with some batter after heating oil in it. Cook until golden brown (usually a couple of minutes), then cook the other side for about 30 seconds. Repeat with the rest of the batter till you have about a dozen or so pancakes.
3. Cook the spinach for a few minutes before allowing to cool, removing the liquid and cutting up. Add the soft cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Cook the chopped onions and brown-cap mushrooms in 15 ml (1 tbsp) of hot oil until light brown in color. Add the stock and mushrooms, and seasoning, then simmer for about 20 minutes or until the mixture is syrup like.
5. Take half of this mixture, make smooth in a processor, then return to the pan.
6. Take the spinach mixture from step 3 and put in an oiled ovenproof dish. Then layer half a dozen pancakes with the mushroom mixture in between along with the remaining spinach mixture. End with the mushroom layer.
   Ho Ho Ho! There are of course your traditional Christmas cookie shapes. These come in the form of candy canes, Santas, stars and just about any kind of shape that you can associate with the Christmas season.
7. Cook until weel browned at gas mark 6 (200 degrees centigrade, 400 F) for about 30 minutes.
8. Serve with flat-leaf parsley garnish.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.11 of 12 - Glazed Pork with Fig Stuffing

Ho Ho Ho! Place Christmas candles everywhere even in the bathroom. Crank up those Christmas tunes and you have a party. Have each guest tell about the creation they have brought to contribute.

Christmas recipe serves: 6 calories per serving: 480 preparationj time: 30 minutes cooking time: 2 hours not suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• loin of pork, boned with skin scored, 1.4 kg (3 lb)
• salt and pepper
• honey, clear 60 ml (4 tbsp)
• mustard powder, 10 ml (2 tsp)
• lemon, grated rind from 1
• garnish, sprigs of rosemary and a few figs

stuffing:

• shallots, 4
• garlic clove, 1
• figs, dried no-soak 225 g (8 oz)
• apple, eating 1
• rosemary, fresh sprigs 2
• butter, 50 g (2 oz)
• lemon, grated rind and juice from 1
• dry sherry, 45 ml (3 tbsp)

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Stuffing preparation: Chopped rosemary, peeled/cored/chopped apple, choppee figs, peeled and crushed garlic, peeled and chopped shallots.
2. Cook the garlic and shallots in butter until golden brown. Add the sherry, lemon rind and juice, rosemary, apple and figs. Stir until softened and most of the liquid reduced.
   Ho Ho Ho! There are a couple of favorite German Christmas Recipes that I make sure to add to our celebrations every year, and I've included variations of them here for you and your family to enjoy this holiday season.
3. Place the cooled stuffing from step 2 along the middle of the salt and pepper seasoned pork loin (skin side down). Roll the piece up and tie up with string at several locations. Cook for 1 hour at gas mark 5 (190 degrees centigrade, 375 F).
4. Near the end of this time, heat together the lemon rind, mustard and honey. After the hour is up, brush this onto the pork and continue the cooking for another 45 minutes, basting every 15 minutes.
5. Serve as carved slices (thick), garnished with rosemary sprigs and a few figs.

Ho Ho Ho! As Christmas Eve is the time when Swedes celebrate Christmas and open their presents this is the most important meal of the holiday.

Heating and serving tips:

• Don't keep food hot for longer than an hour before serving
• Leave roast potatoes open to the atmosphere after cooking, to retain their crispness.
• Remember that it is harder to keep certain foods warm. e.g. root vegetable keep their heat well but spinach and cabbage don't.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.10 of 12 - Lamb with Chestnut and Tomato Relish

Ho Ho Ho! Making a delicious Fruit cake is just one out of many many mouth watering Christmas recipes that you can make. If you browse the internet you will find all sorts of ideas that you can put to use.

Christmas recipe serves: 6 calories per serving: 450 preparation time: 15 minutes cooking time: 20 minutes not suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• chestnuts, peeled cooked, 175 g (6 oz)
• tomatoes, cherry 75 g (3 oz)
• bacon, rindless streaky, 175 g (6 oz)
• lamb, 3 racks trimmed, 900 g (2 lb)
• garlic, 3 cloves
• pepper
• olive oil, 100 ml (4 fl oz)
• parsley, finely chopped fresh, 60 ml (4 tbsp)
• caster sugar, 10 ml (2 tsp)
• balsamic vinegar, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• garnish, flat leaf parsley

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Rub the lamb with garlic and finely coat with pepper. Cut the tomatoes in half and the chestnuts into rough pieces.
   Ho Ho Ho! Religion and faith plays an important part in the Christmas festivities, with families attending mass together and watching the Pope appear on his famous balcony on Christmas Day.
2. Cook the lamb racks, having placed the bacon on top, at gas mark 9 (240 degrees centigrade, 475 F) for about 20 minutes or for about 30 minutes for well done.
3. For the relish; mix balsamic vinegar, sugar, parsley and the remaining garlic (peeled and crushed) with the olive oil. Then add the cherry tomatoes and chestnuts.
4. To complete the relish add the liquid from step 2 to the step 4 product.
5. Serve the lamb in six pieces wity the relish, garnished with parsley.

Note: You can replace the chestnuts with frozen or canned variety.

Heating and serving tips:

• Don't keep food hot for longer than an hour before serving
• Leave roast potatoes open to the atmosphere after cooking, to retain their crispness.
• Remember that it is harder to keep certain foods warm. e.g. root vegetable keep their heat well but spinach and cabbage don't.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

Ho Ho Ho! Why not try this very easy fruit cake which doesn't take a great deal of time to prepare and tastes absolutely mouth watering. This is traditional recipe for Christmas time and will always be well received by your guests.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.9 of 12 - Duck with Cardamom Sauce

Ho Ho Ho! Whilst you won't find the hype and shopping madness of Western countries, in major cities you'll see lights, trees and Christmas decorations on the streets and in stores. Christmas Day is not even a bank holiday in China, although it is in Hong Kong and Macao.

Christmas recipe serves: 6 calories per serving: 400 preparation time: 15 minutes cooking time: 2hours 30 minutes suitable for freezing after step 3.

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• duck legs, 6, about 2 kg (4.5 lb)
• onions, 350 g (12 oz)
• root ginger, fresh, 5 cm piece, (2 inch)
• butter, 125 g (4 oz)
• caster sugar, 15 ml (1 tbsp)
• green cardomom pods, 8 whole
• chicken stock, 1.7 litres (3 pints)
• ginger wine, 300 ml (10 fl oz)
• dry white wine, 150 ml (5 fl oz)
• salt and pepper
• orange juice, 45 ml (3 tbsp)
• lemon juice, 15 ml (1 tbsp)
• oil, 5 ml (1 tbsp)
• sea salt, coarse 10 ml (2 tsp)
• garnish, coarse fresh coriander

Ho Ho Ho! You can vary this basic dough to make a wide variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon.

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Simmer the duck legs gently in a large pan of boiling water for about 2 hours.
2. To prepare the sauce, fry peeled, chopped onions in 50 g (2 oz) of the butter for about 10 minutes or soft. Add peeled and grated ginger, with the sugar and csardomom seeds from one pod. Cook until the color of the mixture turns dark golden brown.
3. Add the stock and boil until the volume is reduced by half. Reduce by half again till syrup like after adding the white wine and dry ginger. Add salt and pepper and orange juice to taste.
4. Stir in 25 g (1 oz) of the butter into the sauce at boiling point. Separate the onions from the liquid and combine with the rest of the butter. Keep.
   Ho Ho Ho! Then you have your not so traditional Christmas cookies. This is where people get to be a little more creative and yet still add that Christmas touch.
5. Remove excess water from the duck and put over a roasting tin on a rack. Brush the duck with oil and sprinkle with salt and the remaining cardomom seeds.
6. Roast until the skin is very crisp. About 20 to 25 minutes at gas mark 8. (230 degrees centigrade, 450 F). Add the reheated butter and onion and serve the food with heated cardomom sauce. Garnish with coriander.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.8 of 12 - Christmas Pheasant

Ho Ho Ho! Why not try this very easy fruit cake which doesn't take a great deal of time to prepare and tastes absolutely mouth watering. This is traditional recipe for Christmas time and will always be well received by your guests.

Christmas recipe serves: 6 calories per serving: 490 preparation time: 30 minutes cooking time: 2 hours 15 minutes suitable for freezing (after step 4)

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• shallots or small onions, 225 g (8oz)
• streaky bacon, rindless 225 g (8 oz)
• pheasants, oven ready, brace
• salt and pepper
• oil, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• butter, 50 g (2 oz)
• garlic cloves, 2
• Madeira, 300 ml (10 fl oz)
• beef stock, 600 ml (1 pint)
• thyme, fresh (sprig) or dried (pinch)
• bay leaves, 2
• juniper berries, 6
• orange, pared rind and juice from 1
• recurrant jelly, 90 (ml) (6 tbsp)
• chestnuts, peeled 225 g (8 oz), canned, frozen or vacuum-packed)
• garnish, thyme (fresh)
  Ho Ho Ho! Christmas Goodie Swap is the perfect way to begin your holiday festivities. Make it special from the start and create a free email invitation from the Internet

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Remove the backbone and knuckles from the pheasants and cut into four pieces each. Season with salt and pepper. Cut up some bacon and peel the shallots.
2. Brown the shallots and bacon in the butter and oil and put to one side. Add the pheasant, two pieces at a time and fry until golden. Then reome the pheasant and put to one side.
3. Add crushed garlic to the casserole dish along with the stock, thyme, juniper berries, bay leaves, the pared orange rind and half the Madeira. Heat to boiling and add the pheasant. Cover and cook at gas mark 3 (170 degrees centigrade, 325 F) for 60 minutes.
4. Add the redcurrant jelly, bacon and shallots. Cook for an additional 45 minutes or until the pheasant is tender.
5. Prepare the marinade by soaking the cranberries and chestnuts in the remaing Madeira and orange juice for 30 minutes.
6. From the casserole, remove the bacon, vegetables and pheasant and keep warm. Reduce the remaining liquid till it is syrup like. Add the marinade from step 5 and simmer for 5 minutes more.
7. To serve, season and pour the sauce over the pheasant, bacon and vegetables. Garnish with fresh thyme.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.7 of 12 - Garlic Poussins and Kumquats

Ho Ho Ho! Making a delicious Fruit cake is just one out of many many mouth watering Christmas recipes that you can make. If you browse the internet you will find all sorts of ideas that you can put to use.

Christmas recipe Serves: 6 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour Calories per serving: 580 Not suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• poussins, 3, about 700 g (1.5 lb) each
• salt and pepper
• kumquats, 225 g (8 oz)
• garlic cloves, 16
• olive oil, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• unsalted butter, 25 g (1 oz)
• bay leaves, 2 vdry cider, 450 ml (15 fl oz)
• apple juice, 200 ml (7 fl oz)
• double cream, 200 ml (7 fl oz)
• garnish, thyme sprigs

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Cook the unpeeled garlic cloves in salted boiling water for about 5 minutes. Then cool and peel. Cut the kumquats in half. Split the poussins in half along the breast bone, having removed the backbone. Use about 10 ml (2 tsp) of salt to cover the skin side.
2. Cook the poussin pieces skin side down in hot butter until golden brown. Take out of the pan and replace with the garlic and kumquats, cooking in the hot pan until a golden color. Put the poussins back, add bay leaves and cover.
3. Now cook the poussins fully at gas mark 6 (200 degrees centigrade, 400 F) for about 35 minutes. Take everything out of the dish except 6 cloves, cover and keep warm.
4. Make a paste by crushing the remaining garlic and add apple juice and cider. Heat to boiling and continue till syrup like.
5. Add the cream and season with salt and pepper. Heat to boiling again and simmer for about a minute. Put the food back that you removed in step 3 and cook for about two ot three minutes.
6. Garnish with thyme sprigs and serve.

Ho Ho Ho! Place Christmas candles everywhere even in the bathroom. Crank up those Christmas tunes and you have a party. Have each guest tell about the creation they have brought to contribute.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes No.6 of 12 - Turkey and Mango Curry

Ho Ho Ho! There are of course your traditional Christmas cookie shapes. These come in the form of candy canes, Santas, stars and just about any kind of shape that you can associate with the Christmas season.

Christmas recipe serves: 4 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Calories per serving: 640 Not suitable for freezing.

Christmas Recipe Ingredients:

• Onion, 175 g (6 oz)
• Green pepper, 125 g (4 oz)
• Garlic clove, 1
• Turkey, cooked 225 g (8 oz)
• Mango, 1 fresh or mango pieces 400 g (14 oz)
• Oil, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• Lemon grass, chopped 15 ml (1 tbsp)
• Green Thai Curry Paste or Mild Indian curry paste, 20 ml (4 tsp)
• Coconut milk, 450 ml (15 fl oz)
• Salt and pepper
• Double cream, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• Coriander (optional), chopped fresh 45 ml (3 tbsp)

Christmas Recipe Instructions:

1. Make strips of turkey, chopped and deseeded pepper, peeled and crushed garlic, pelled and chopped onion.
2. Make chunks of mango flesh having peeled and removed the stone. If using tinned, remove the liquid.
3. Combine lemon grass, green pepper, onion, garlic and add to heated oil. Stir whilst cooking for about 5 minutes. Put in curry paste and continue for a couple more minutes.
4. Add the coconut milk and heat to boiling point, simmering for about five minutes. Throw in the mango and cooked turkey, add salt and pepper to taste and boil for about two minutes.
5. Prior to serving, add double cream and garnish with fresh coriander.

Ho Ho Ho! Ask each guest to bring nine and a half dozen of their favorite Christmas goodies with recipe cards of the recipe. Here's how the Goodie Formula works: 9 guests = 9 dozen goodies, plus add an extra dozen for 9 dozen goodies.

General Heating & Serving Food Tips:

• Don't keep food hot for more than an hour before serving
• Cover food that could dry out, with cling film or a clean cloth
• Keep roast potatoes uncovered so they remain crisp and dry
• Remember that it is harder to keep vegetables such as spinach and cabbage warm compared to root vegetables.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.5 of 12 - Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry

Ho Ho Ho! Why not try this very easy fruit cake which doesn't take a great deal of time to prepare and tastes absolutely mouth watering. This is traditional recipe for Christmas time and will always be well received by your guests.

Christmas recipe serves: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Calories per serving: 875 Suitable for freezing after step 3.

The Complete Christmas Collection. Christmas Recipes, Crafts and Kids Activities.

Christmas Recipe Ingredients:

• Sherry or balsamic vinegar, 15 ml (1 tbsp)
• Caster Sugar, 10 ml (2 tsp)
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil, 120 ml (8 tbsp)
• Cranberries, fresh or frozen 50 g (2 oz)
• Celery, 125 g (4 oz)
• Walnuts, toasted 50 g (2 oz)
• Turkey, roasted meat 450 g (1 lb)
• Garlic cloves, 2
• Olive oil, 15 ml (1 tbsp)
• Fennel seeds (optional), 10 ml (2 tsp)
• Oregano, dried 10 ml (2 tsp)
• Cranberry sauce, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• Breadcrumbs, fresh 125 g (4 oz)
• Eggs, 2
• Parmesan cheese, freshly grated 50 g (2 oz)
• Oil
• Green salad

Christmas Recipe Instructions:

1. Chop the turkey, walnuts and celery into small pieces. Crush peeled garlic. Cook the oregano, fennel seeds, garlic and celery in oil for about five minutes. Then add the cranberry sauce. leave to cool.
2. Add salt and pepper to the vinegar and sugar, mix in the oil and cranberries. Heat to boiling, cook for 1 minute and leave to cool.
3. Combine salt and pepper, parmesan cheese, walnuts, eggs, breadcrumbs, celery mixture and turkey. Split into twelve golf-sized meatballs.
4. Deep-fat fry the meatballs until golden brown (about 4 minutes). Place them on kitchen towel paper to soak up the oil and serve onto green salad sprinkled with cranberry dressing from step 1.

Ho Ho Ho! On Christmas Eve it is traditional to eat fish dishes; certainly, no meat is eaten on Christmas Eve. Panettone, a traditionally light Milanese cake, also plays a part in this meal but can be eaten at any time with family and friends during the holiday season.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.4 of 12 - Seafood Paella

Ho Ho Ho! Serve piping hot on the Christmas table with Swedish mustard (senap).

Christmas recipe serves: 12 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes Calories per serving: 605 Not suitable for freezing

Christmas Recipe Ingredients:

• Onions or shallot: 225 g (8 oz)
• Celery, 125 g (4 oz)
• Garlic cloves, 3
• Fish stock, 1.1 litres (2 pints)
• White wine, 300 ml (10 fl oz)
• Saffron, 1.25 ml (quarter tsp)
• Bay leaf, 1
• Fish fillets, skinless, cod, salmon, haddock 450 g (1 lb)
• Rice, wild 125 g (4 oz)
• Olive oil, 50 ml (2 fl oz)
• Rice, long-grain, 350 g (12 oz)
• Salt and pepper
• Butter, 25 g (1 oz)
• Mushrooms, wild in oil, drained 280 g jar
• Mushrooms, brown-cap 125 g (4 oz)
• Watercress, 2 bunches
• Prawns, King, peeled, cooked 500 g ( 1 lb)

Christmas Recipe Instructions:

1. Crush peeled garlic, chop the celery and the onions. Combine the fish, bay leaf, wine, saffron and stock. Heat till biling and stand for 10 minutes. Sieve off the fish and keep the liquid. Fork the fish into large pieces.
   Ho Ho Ho! Whilst you won't find the hype and shopping madness of Western countries, in major cities you'll see lights, trees and Christmas decorations on the streets and in stores. Christmas Day is not even a bank holiday in China, although it is in Hong Kong and Macao.
2. Prepare cooked wild rice in salted boiling water. About 40 minutes. Remove from the liquid and keep.
3. At the same time, cook the garlic, celery and onions in the oil until soft. Add long-grain rice, heating for a couple of minutes before introducing the stock and bringing to the boil. Add seasoning and cook with a lid on at 200 degrees centigrade (400 F) for about 30 minutes.
4. Cook all the mushrooms in butter for about 2 minutes. Take out the mushrooms, add the watercross and stir for about two minutes, till floppy.
5. Mix the prawns, fish, watercress, mushrooms and wild rice into the long-grain rice. Season to taste and warm in oven for another minute.
   Ho Ho Ho! Although traditional children had to wait until January 6th, more families are allowing them to open their presents on Christmas Day. However, there are more celebrations to come.
6. Then serve.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.3 of 12 - Smoked Haddock & Spinach Fishcakes

Ho Ho Ho! Ask each guest to bring nine and a half dozen of their favorite Christmas goodies with recipe cards of the recipe. Here's how the Goodie Formula works: 9 guests = 9 dozen goodies, plus add an extra dozen for 9 dozen goodies.

Christmas Recipe Serves: 8 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Calories per serving: 605 Suitable for freezing (after step 4)

Christmas Recipe Ingredients:

• Breadcrumbs, fresh 75 g (3 oz)
• Semi-skimmed milk, 150 ml (5 fl oz)
• Haddock, smoked or fresh 250 g (9 oz)
• Potatoes, 250 g (9 oz)
• salt and pepper
• Spinach, washed 225 g (8 oz)
• Egg, 1 beaten
• Lemon wedges
• Cream, fresh half-fat 400 ml (12 fl oz)
• Lemon, juice and rind from 1
• Chives, fresh chopped 60 ml (4 tbsp)
• Garnish: Fried garlic slices, fresh basil leaves

Ho Ho Ho! As Christmas Eve is the time when Swedes celebrate Christmas and open their presents this is the most important meal of the holiday.

Christmas Recipe Instructions:

1. Simmer the fish and milk for about 10 minutes. Separate the fish flesh from the bones and skin. Keep the milk. Make some lightly toasted breadcrumbs.
2. Boil even sized peeled potatoes in salted water for about 15 minutes or until soft. Drain and dry at a low heat for a few minutes before mashing with the kept milk.
3. Remove the liquid from briefly cooked spinach (2 to 3 minutes), cut up and combine with the fish and potato. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Make eight fishcakes with the mixture, brush with beaten egg and coat with the previouly prepared breadcrumbs.
5. Cook the fishcakes for 20 to 25 minutes at 200 degress centigrade (400 F) until hot in the middle.
6. For the sauce combine the cream and lemon rind, heating softly. Add salt and pepper, chives and lemon juice.
7. To present: Pour the sauce over the fish. Add lemon wedges and garnish with chives.

Ho Ho Ho! There are a couple of favorite German Christmas Recipes that I make sure to add to our celebrations every year, and I've included variations of them here for you and your family to enjoy this holiday season.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.2 of 12 - Plaice with Tomato and Caper

Ho Ho Ho! Have a simple and festive centerpiece -- a small, live, Christmas tree (the smell is so awesome) and decorate with miniature cookie cutters. (You can find the cookie cutters at a lot of dollar stores in a package!) Make special tent cards to write the name of each type of goodie and place the tent cards in front of each plate of goodies (these would be the goodies your guests bring to swap).

Christmas Recipe Serves: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Calories per serving: 340 Not suitable for freezing

Christmas Recipe Ingredients:

• Plaice fillets, 8 (550 g, 1.25 lb)
• Black Olive Paste, 75 g (5 tbsp)
• Dry white wine, 150 ml (5 fl oz)
• Tomatoes, 1 large or 2 small
• Black olives, 25 g (1 oz)
• Capers, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• Lemon juice, 60 ml (4 tbsp)
• Lemon rind, half a lemon
• Olive oil, 60 ml (4 tbsp)
• Salt and pepper

Christmas Recipe Instructions:

1. Remove the plaice skin and put black olive paste on the smoother side. Then roll up the fish.
   Ho Ho Ho! Although traditional children had to wait until January 6th, more families are allowing them to open their presents on Christmas Day. However, there are more celebrations to come.

2. Combine the fish and wine. Then simmer until just cooked (about 10 minutes). Next, separate the fish from the liquid and keep warm on the serving dish.

3. Cut the tomatoes open and remove the seeds. Cut into small pieces. Slice the black olives finely.

4. Mix the capers, lemon juice, lemon rind, olive oil, salt and pepper, and the cooked liquid from step 2 (60 ml, 4 tbsp). Add the seedless tomatoes and sliced olives from step 3. Then pour over the fish and you are nearly done.

5. Garnish with fried garlic slices and basil leaves.

General Heating & Serving Food Tips:

• Don't keep food hot for more than an hour before serving
• Cover food that could dry out, with cling film or a clean cloth
• Keep roast potatoes uncovered so they remain crisp and dry
• Remember that it is harder to keep vegetables such as spinach and cabbage warm compared to root vegetables.

Ho Ho Ho! There are of course your traditional Christmas cookie shapes. These come in the form of candy canes, Santas, stars and just about any kind of shape that you can associate with the Christmas season.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and

webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net