HOLIDAY GIFTS, GAMES & GOODIES!

[DANA]

Do you have a favorite holiday recipe that you would love to share? How about any special Christmas games or homemade Christmas gifts that everyone loves? Let's start sharing our favorite holiday gifts, games & goodie idea's!

If you need to bring something delicious to serve to a Christmas party or to a family gathering, here is a Mexican dip that is a HUGE hit with my family & friends. Everyone loves it!

Here is what you need and how to prepare it:

1 lb ground beef - Fry in pan, until brown
1 can of Black Olives - Drain can & slice olives
1 large Philly Cream Cheese - Allow to soften a bit
1 bag shredded cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you want!)
2 cans Hormel Chili with beans & beef (You may choose another brand of chili, but in Pittsburgh, PA this is a winner!)
1-2 large bag of tortilla chips
Option: Seasoning may be used if you like, such as garlic, salt & pepper. Also, feel free to add fried onions and/or peppers to recipe.

After ground beef is cooked, drain any excess grease. All your ingredients, except the tortilla chips, will be layered one on top of the other inside the casserole dish.

Use a casserole dish to first layer the bottom of dish with softened Philly Cream Cheese. Then place the cooked ground meat on top of the Philly Cream Cheese. Pour the two cans of Hormel Chili on top of the cooked ground beef. Layer the top evenly with your choice of shredded cheese. Last, add the sliced black olives on the top of the shredded cheese.

Now place the casserole dish into the center of the oven for at least 30 to 40 minutes on 350 degrees.

Once it is cooked, it is ready to serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

[designergrl]

Home made gifts are the best!here are some I have given: I used to have a pecan tree in front of a house I used to live in.Pecans are expensive, but I had a free source here!Whether you buy or find them, lay a layer of them on a cookie sheet, set oven to 300 degrees.Oh but first put pecans in bowl and rizzle(barely) your favorite flavored oil, that one might use as a bread dip, season with Mrs.Dash and cook for say 15 minutes.Let them cool.Put bunches of these roasted tasty pecans in recycled cans,coffee tins, those green plastic containers that you get mini tomatoes in....wrap pecans in tissue wrapping paper, or newspaper, decorate container and wa-la!Easy peasy tasty gift.

I often dry any flowers I may get thruout the year, even bunches I might pick, put a rubber band around them and hang them up.Around early December I will take them all down for the year(they have done their "job"...made my home look cozy) and use buds, leaves even chop stems up in tiny pieces, use a few drops of your fav essential oil, add to a container that you are recycling, dress up(wrap in gauze maybe ?tie up with ribbon and you have a gift basket of potpourri !

Or use the same principal in utilizing creative gift containers and fill with something that pertains to your reciever's personality; it could be ingredients for a soup, cookies, candle making, dog lover etc... A Spa gift is great, get trial size lotions , shampoos, loofas, amybe even a contmeporary or vintage ":trashy novel' to add...use your imagination.Go wild!

To me this shows I care enough to take the time and effort to do this.can be done all in one night watching tv, after you have been gathering incgredients throughout year or months.

[DANA]

disignergrl, I LOVE your idea's for homemade gifts! That is so cool that you had a pecan tree in front of your house where you used to live. I love pecans and my mom makes an awesome homemade pecan pie!

Here is a tasty recipe for making SPICED TOASTED ALMONDS:

2 Cups raw almonds
1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger

!) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Toss almonds with olive oil, maple sugar, salt, cinnamon and ginger, until evenly coated. Spread evenly on a sheet pan.

3) Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until aromatic and slightly browned. You will know they are done when you can smell them. Almonds will become crispy as they cool.

4) OPTION: With 2 cups of toasted almonds, add 1 tablespoon of dark chocolate chips, 1/4 dried cherries or cranberries and 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds.

Use designergrl's idea of placing Spiced Toasted Almonds into a coffee tin, decorative container or in a festive looking material & tie a matching ribbon around it to give this away as a Christmas gift.

[Michelle MacGregor]

I love the idea of all of the ingredients to make a soup like dried beans, veggies, spices, noodles - just add chicken broth...in a pretty canning jar or even "famous pancake" recipe ingredients in a jar, just add egg, oil and water or milk...instant "grandma's homemade pancakes"

I knit like I said before, but I like simple easy scarved in decadent yarn...or I saw this one somewhere, a recipe for a produce bag that is best made out of cheap nylon yarn because it can hold a lot of weight.

[DANA]

Michelle,

I have seen the country canning jars (are they called mason jars?) in which all the ingredients for homemade cookies are inside. There is a cute country fabric on top of the lid with a bow. I like your pancake idea or the soup idea, too! This could be a great idea for kids to give to their school teacher's for Christmas!

[Michelle MacGregor]

Yeah, I think the canning jars are mason jars or the brand name "Ball" jars...but that makes me giggle so I didn't put that on there! I have seen ingredients for beer bread, just add bread too>

[DANA]

Michelle,

Which yarn do you consider decadent yarn? My mom used to crochet scarves a few years ago and she would take me to the shop to pick out which type of yarn that I wanted. I love the super soft and pretty yarn, especially with sparkles or glitter for fun!

[Michelle MacGregor]

Oh, decadent yarns...mmmm...I am more of a natural fiber girl, I do love soft and beautiful. I made this scarf last Christmas for my sister in law made out of this super soft DK weight baby alpaca in a slightly toned lavender. I wish I had taken a photo. Baby alpaca is actually my most favorite as far as how it looks. It is super soft and fuzzy...mmm...I also just love cotton. I know that cotton scarves are not the most popular, but I have bought this deep, deep red organic cotton in a chevron pattern. I also made these baby blankets with this color-grown organic heavy organic cotton. The blankets were a basket knit with double strands....so it is so heavy and wonderful and super soft!

I guess I judge decadence by cost. But some yarns make me really itchy like a straight forward wool or even a merino...so I don't like those as much or even cashmere...too scritchy.

Ooh...silk blends make me want to cry with pleasure....mmmm...god I wish I had more time to knit right now. I am so busy with school that I rarely sit and knit and watch TV like I love to!

[Michelle MacGregor]

Oh god and I didn't even mention bamboo...so so soft...

Here is a great website: http://fabulousyarn.com/bluesky_babyalpaca.shtml.

Man, I need to go knit!

[Miss K]

Green bean bake...canned french green beans (do NOT ruin it with fresh green beans!), cream of mushroom soup, a lil' bit of milk, a splash of worcestershire sauce or soy sauce, salt and pepper, and top with FRIED onions, the canned kind. It's so disgusting and delicious...bake at 350 for like 30 minutes....GOOD TIMES....

[DANA]

Hey, Miss K, I make this every single year for Thanksgiving! It has become a tradition in which my family expects this on Thanksgiving Day so I make it year after year.

I do not think that my recipe called for worcestershire sauce or soy sauce, but it would be something new to add this year! For individuals who love cheese and eat cheese, after you bake the casserole in the oven for at least 20-30 minutes on 350 degrees, you could sprinkle your favorite shredded cheese right on top of the fried onions. My family loved this and I thought it taste good, too!

[DANA]

Oh, yeah, by the way, last night I was motivated to try my recipe from up above called SPICED TOASTED ALMONDS. I followed the directions and it tasted good, but I personally thought that it should have been sweeter or that I should have added MORE maple syrup.

If anyone has a better way to make this, please share because I love spiced toasted almonds and I want mine to turn out better!