‘Tis the season for holiday baking – it’s better with butter

(ARA) – When it comes to whipping up holiday treats, butter is definitely better. You’re gearing up for the season and will be spending lots of quality time with the herd. Spend time with your own family in the kitchen this holiday season and bake up special memories.

Found in almost every pantry, butter’s unique flavor, melting and cooking properties make it a great ingredient for cake and cookie recipes, frostings, candies and more.

Butter has been used for cooking for centuries – according to legend, it originated when a traveler somewhere transported a container of fresh milk and unwittingly churned the cream to butter with each step. As you begin to break out the baking sheets and cookie cutters for the holiday season, here are some tips to ensure your goodies look and taste fabulous straight from the oven:

Baking with butter tips from California happy cows Janice and Diane:

* Most baking recipes call for unsalted butter (also referred to as sweet butter). However, salted and unsalted butter can be substituted for each other if necessary.

* It’s best to use unsalted butter when baking – you will have more control over the flavor since the amount of salt in salted butter varies among brands.

* Many recipes call for a greased pan. Rubbing a stick of butter along the sides and bottom of your baking dish or baking sheet will ensure nothing sticks during removal.

* Read recipes carefully to know what temperature the butter should be for baking. Some recipes call for softened butter or melted butter, while recipes for dough usually call for cold or hard butter for a flakier texture.

* Use only sticks of butter when baking to ensure even measurements. Measuring is easy using the printed measurement on the wrapper:

1/4 pound = 1 stick = 1/2 cup
1 pound = 4 sticks = 2 cups

* Some butter packaging is stamped with a “best used by” date, intended to tell how long the product will be at top eating quality. It can be kept at room temperature for short periods of time, but should be refrigerated to maintain peak flavor.

Did you know that California produces more butter than any other state in the U.S. and exported 555 million pounds in 2008? Look for the Real California Milk seal on packages of butter, which certifies it’s made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.

Cupcakes are one of our favorite treats, and a popular baking trend that has inspired both pastry chefs and home bakers alike. Here is a perfect recipe featuring traditional flavors that everyone is sure to love.

Gingerbread Cupcakes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:
For cupcakes:
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup very hot water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons unsalted California butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

For frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted California butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 small gingerbread-man cookies

Directions:
Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour insides of 12 muffin cups or insert paper liners. Mix molasses, hot water and baking soda together in a large bowl. Cool to room temperature. With an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. In a large bowl, sift together salt, ginger, cinnamon, flour and baking powder. In three additions, alternately add dry ingredients and molasses mixture to butter mixture. Mix thoroughly after each addition to make sure there are no lumps.
Evenly divide batter between cupcake molds. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pans. Cool completely before frosting

Frosting:
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add butter, sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth. If cream cheese is very soft, refrigerate for 30 minutes. With a piping bag, swirl cream cheese frosting on top of each cupcake. (You can also frost them with a table knife or small spatula.) Place a gingerbread-man cookie on top of frosting or wedge the cookie into each cupcake.

For more recipes, visit www.realcaliforniamilk.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Create a festive table-top display with fully decorated Norfolk Island Pines.

(ARA) – From harvest festivals to tailgate football parties, the colorful fall season is in full swing. Crisp air and cooler nights signal the holidays are right around the corner.

If you’re looking for ways to add a festive and unique touch to your home, think live plants. Rather than rummaging through basements and attics for holiday decorations or buying yet another centerpiece, decorating with plants adds long-lasting year-round style and cheer to any home.

“Live plants are a perfect way to add instant holiday style to any home and they’re affordable and eco-friendly,” says Justin W. Hancock, editor of Better Homes and Gardens online (BHG.com).

These “green heroes” also provide oxygen and clean the indoor air as they provide holiday warmth and year-round pleasure.

Make a dramatic holiday display by your fireplace with Norfolk Island Pines.

Here are some tips from the plant pros at Costa Farms to add live plants for holiday charm:

* Enhance your home’s proportions and style.
Whether you live in a traditional stately home or small apartment, live plants add dimension and texture to any space. Long-lasting indoor plants, like the affordable Norfolk Island Pine, fit any lifestyle and decor.

“ Decorating with live plants like the Norfolk Island Pine is a home trend, “says Hancock. “Miniature evergreens work in a container on the mantel, as a centerpiece in the middle of the table or decorated in the kids’ room for fun.”

Small enough for a table-top display or large enough to be a dramatic focal point of any room, they tuck nicely into tight spaces in apartments, dorm rooms, patios or cozy corners. From 14 to 44 inches tall, the Norfolk Island Pines come fully decorated, or ready for your creative touch with mini lights and homemade ornaments.

* Instantly change the atmosphere of any room.
Think of the impact you want to make in your living, family or dining room. The color and the shape of the plants, arranged in simple containers or elaborate planters, can grab attention as a focal point or be an understated accent for larger pieces.

Group Christmas cactus in decorative containers, add candles and ribbon for an instant ornamental display.

“Mini moth orchids are a great choice for people looking for a dramatic centerpiece for their dining room table,” says Hancock. “Their exotic shape and stunning colors enhance any size room.”

Mini orchids are readily available, require easy care, are affordable, and provide months of blooms with little to no effort.

These beauties come in a wide range of colors in both 3-inch and 6-inch pots. Use as a standalone or group them on a seasonal table runner for a striking centerpiece. Add a sprig of greens and voila – you have instant high impact with a low price tag.

* Select plant-friendly locations.
Ever pass by a display of holiday plants and linger over the Christmas cactus? This tropical plant has flattened leaf-like structures with tips of ruffled flowers that range in color from reds and fuchsia to oranges and creams.

“Christmas cactus is a houseplant that looks great during the holidays and will provide years of pleasure,” adds Hancock. “Give it attention and the right location and you can enjoy blooms several times throughout the year.”

Group them in a decorative container and add sprigs of greenery for an instant ornamental display. Place them on your kitchen countertops or windowsills for a cheery touch throughout the holidays and year-round.

* Use color for greater design impact.
Do you have a space you want to accentuate, or do you need to fill a hollow area that is bare and boring? Poinsettias can add a punch of vivid red, white and pink living color for your holidays.

They love bright locations and can liven up any room or space that needs a joyful color accent. And they make a perfect gift.

“Poinsettias, like gingerbread houses, symbolize the holiday season,” says Hancock. “Their bright colors and graceful beauty capture the essence of the holidays.”

This seasonal must-have likes humidity – but don’t over-water. Display them in mono-color groupings for a bold statement or mix them up like living art.

With these simple tips you can enjoy the fall knowing it’s easy to spruce up your home with festive live plants and share the holiday spirit with friends and family. For more information on these holiday plants or to find a retailer near you, visit www.costafarms.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Dried apricots, cherries and raisins simmered in wine and combined with oatmeal bread and pecans.

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 4 1/2 hours (approximately)

10 diced, oatmeal bread slices

1 cup 250 mL white wine

1 large Granny Smith apple

1/2 cup 125 mL chopped, dried apricots

1/2 cup 125 mL golden raisins

2 tbsp 30 mL butter

1 cup 250 mL chopped onion

1 cup 250 mL chopped celery

1/2 cup 125 mL chopped, toasted pecans

1/2 tsp 3 mL salt

1/4 tsp 1 mL coarse black pepper

1 1/2 cups 375 mL chicken broth

1 Butterball Turkey (15 lb/6.8 kg)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F/165°C. Spread bread on bottom of shallow baking pan. Bake until browned (20-30 min) stirring occasionally.

2. Place wine, apples, apricots, cherries and raisins in a saucepan. Bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 min until wine is absorbed. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

3. Melt butter in large skillet. Add onion and celery. Cook and stir for 8 min until tender. Remove from heat.

4. Add fruit mixture, pecans, salt and pepper to skillet and stir.

5. Place mixture in large bowl and add bread and broth.

6. Prepare turkey as per package directions.

7. Place turkey, breast side up, on a flat rack in a shallow baking pan.

8. Fill neck and body cavities with stuffing. Rub turkey with vegetable oil. Place a small piece of foil over skin of neck cavity and over exposed stuffing.

9. Roast for about 4 1/2 hours, or until thermometer reaches a minimum 165°F/75°C in the center of the stuffing and 180°F / 83°C deep in the thigh. Note: Cover lightly with foil after 2 1/2 hours to prevent over cooking the breast.

10. Let turkey stand for 15 minutes before removing stuffing and carving.

Recipe from the Butterball Kitchen   www.butterball.ca

- News Canada

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The vanilla in savory dishes like Creamy Vanilla Sweet Potatoes enhances the vegetables’ inherent flavors rather than concealing their flavors in sweeteners.

Pro chefs and casual cooks alike will soon create confections for the holiday season. The best-loved delicacies will have one of the world’s most popular flavors in common — vanilla, with its heady, aromatic taste combined with sweet, fruity and floral scents.

Americans consume about 1,200 tons of vanilla beans a year. Vanilla is exciting and comforting, sexy and simple all at the same time. But not all vanilla is the same, and it pays to know the different kinds before you begin your seasonal baking.

The flavor is extracted from vanilla beans which are grown in four locations around the world — Madagascar, Indonesia, Mexico and Tahiti.

Madagascar beans are creamy, sweet, smooth and mellow and work well in rich foods and in recipes that call for high heat, like cookies. Madagascar vanilla also works in ice cream and blends well with coffee and in chocolate recipes. Indonesian vanilla is typically a lower quality vanilla which has smoky, woody flavor notes and is often sold in supermarkets and warehouse clubs as just “Pure Vanilla Extract.”

Vanilla was discovered in Mexico, and Mexican beans are spicier and complement chocolate, cinnamon, cloves and other warm spices. Surprisingly, Mexican pure vanilla extract also smoothes out the heat and acidity of tomatoes and chili peppers, which are used in salsas and barbecue sauces. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns consumers to purchase only Mexican pure vanilla that is produced in the United States. Mexican-produced vanilla is often made with coumarin, a toxic substance banned in the U.S.

The fourth kind of bean, Tahitian vanilla, is more delicate and works best in cooler cooked foods like refrigerated and frozen desserts, fruit pies and sauces, smoothies and shakes. Tahitian pure vanilla is known for its aromatic, cherry-like flavor and decorates fruit recipes splendidly.

Confectioners, bakers, chefs of fine restaurants and home cooks make sure they have vanilla like Nielsen-Massey Vanillas on hand to perfect their holiday baking. Nielsen-Massey Vanillas Inc. is known as the producer of the finest vanilla because it uses an exclusive cold extraction process, which slowly draws out the delicate and distinctive flavors of the vanilla beans.

One way to expand your holiday recipe list this year is to use vanilla in savory dishes like Creamy Vanilla Sweet Potatoes, in addition to cakes and cookies. Vanilla helps to enhance the inherent flavors of sweet potatoes, rather than concealing their flavor in sweeteners.

Creamy Vanilla Sweet Potatoes

Serves six

Ingredients:
4 medium sweet potatoes
canola oil
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter softened
1/4 cup real maple syrup
1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
5 strips bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash sweet potatoes and lightly coat skins with canola oil. Pierce each potato several times with a fork, place the potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for one hour or until fork-tender.

Cut the hot potatoes into halves. Scoop the pulp into a mixing bowl, discarding the skins. Beat at medium speed for one minute using an electric mixer. Add cream cheese, butter, syrup, vanilla extract, salt and pepper. Whip until creamy.

Spoon whipped potatoes into six ramekins coated with nonstick cooking spray and top with the bacon. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 F oven for five to eight minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, they may be reheated in a microwave.

Courtesy of ARA content

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Tip: Make sure to prep the skin by cleansing and exfoliating so that skin is smooth-textured and free of residue.

Women often look to red carpet events to get ideas to incorporate the latest trends in fashion and beauty into their holiday look. Unlike celebrities, most of us don’t have access to the stylists and makeup artists usually required to pull off these looks. But with the right beauty tricks and products, looking red-carpet ready at your next holiday party can be easy.

Head makeup artist for the Primetime Emmy Awards, Bruce Grayson, offers these tips and trends for getting that glamorous look for the holidays without spending a fortune.

1) Do Get Glowing
A 2008 Olay Skin Survey found that women rated a bad skin day as the most dreaded personal care crisis, dethroning a bad-hair day. Additionally, a good skin day was found to make women three times more confident. Therefore, it’s no surprise then that your skin can be your hottest accessory. Our favorite celebrities often have a perfect sun-kissed glow and it’s easy to achieve at home to help boost confidence.

The most important factor in achieving an all-over glow is moisturizing and getting even skin tone. Make sure to prep the skin by cleansing and exfoliating so that skin is smooth-textured and free of residue. Then use a product like Olay Definity Color Recapture that moisturizes and provides a hint of sheer, natural color. It also improves skin tone and texture over time by fighting fine lines, wrinkles and discolorations for more luminous skin. The color blends seamlessly with most skin tones and can be enhanced with your favorite blush or bronzer. Make sure to blend into the jaw line and hairline so that it looks natural.

2) Don’t Fear Falsies
When you want to look truly red carpet ready, nothing adds instant glamour like a set of false eyelashes. False eyelashes can be purchased in strips or as individual clusters. Apply a few of the individual clusters to the outside of half of your lid just above your natural lash. It will open up the eyes and make them pop in minutes.

3) Do Get a Stand-Out Smile
Have you ever seen an actress or model without a perfect smile? Your smile can be your most alluring feature if you frame it the right way. Make sure your teeth are a natural shade of white, not yellow or stained. Most celebrities go to their dentists for expensive whitening procedures, but at-home kits like Crest Whitestrips work just as well over time. Also, wear a lip color that compliments your skin tone and makeup. Rich berry colors look great on most women because they compliment the natural hint of berry that already exists in the lips.

4) Don’t Get Match Happy
Bright colored dresses are popular, but remember that your eye makeup shouldn’t necessarily match your outfit. If you’re wearing a bright colored dress, stick to sheer, light colored cosmetics like silver, pearl or gold tones. Shimmery shadows really brighten the eyes and give an overall luminous look. To help eye shadow last for hours, prep the eye with oil-free makeup remover and then blend all over the eyelid, contouring with a slightly darker shade in the crease.

5) Do Avoid Melt-Downs
Whether under bright lights on the red carpet or dancing with your friends during a night on the town, when the night heats up, makeup can melt off. Keeping your prettiness in place can be a challenge, but it’s possible. For starters, skip heavy foundation in hot humid weather and opt for a lighter tinted moisturizer or mineral powder foundation. Then, in the T-zone and any other problem areas, apply a primer that helps tame oil production. Next, consider cream eye shadows and cheek stains that blend into the skin and won’t melt off as quickly as powders. Finally dust a bit of translucent powder over your entire face to lock makeup in place.

For more information about looking red-carpet glamorous, visit www.Olay.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Here are Christmas song games that can be played at office Christmas parties and family Christmas get-togethers and are fun for all ages!

Christmas Song Pictionary

There are so many different Christmas songs out there, that it’s easy to play a challenging Christmas song pictionary game using solely Christmas songs.

To set up the game, write the names of different Christmas songs on strips of paper.  Then, fold the strips and place them in a bowl or basket.  Split the guests up in two teams and then have a member from the first team choose a paper out of the bowl.  He or she then has one minute to draw the song and see if her or his team gets it right.  If not, the opposing team gets one guess.  Whichever team guesses correctly gets a point, if no one can answer then no one gets a point.  Take turns until you’re out of songs (and make sure you have an even number of songs to be fair).

We’ve provided a list of Christmas songs at the bottom of this page to help you get started.

(We did a Halloween version of this game in my office last year and it was loads of fun!)

Christmas Song Trivia

Gather trivia on your favorite Christmas songs to set up a Christmas trivia game.  Then, split your guests up into two teams and take turns asking questions to each team.  Each time a team answers correctly, that team gets a point.  If they cannot answer correctly, the opposing team gets a chance to answer it for the point.

Online Christmas Games

Looking for some online holiday fun?  ElfHQ is our top pick for fun online Christmas games.

List of Christmas Songs

Traditional Christmas Songs
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”
“The First Nowell” (or, The First Noel)
“Joy to the World”
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
“I Wonder As I Wander”
“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”
“Jolly Old Saint Nicholas”
“Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night)”
“We Three Kings of Orient Are”
“What Child Is This”
“Deck the Halls”
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
“The Twelve Days of Christmas”
“Ding Dong Merrily on High”
“Away In a Manger”
“Silent Night”
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
“Jingle Bells”
“Once in Royal David’s City”
“O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)”

Popular Christmas Songs
“The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” – Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
“Winter Wonderland” – Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
“White Christmas” – Irving Berlin
“Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” – Johnny Marks
“Jingle Bell Rock” – Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
“Little Drummer Boy” – Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
“Sleigh Ride” – Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – Edward Pola, George Wyle
“Silver Bells” – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Johnny Marks
“Feliz Navidad” – José Feliciano
“Blue Christmas” – Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
“Frosty the Snowman” – Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
“A Holly Jolly Christmas” – Johnny Marks
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” – Tommie Connor
“Here Comes Santa Claus” (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) – Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
“It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas” – Meredith Willson
“(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” – Bob Allen, Al Stillman
“Carol of the Bells” – Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
“Santa Baby” – Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
“Wonderful Christmastime” – Paul McCartney

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Woodstock, VT, photo courtesy of HGTV.

In case you missed the one-hour special, “Top 10 Christmas Towns”, which premiered on HGTV December 7, never fear. Not only will the show be reairing all month (check your local listing for air times in your area), but also you can find clips right here.

Also, learn how to create down home holiday craft projects and recipes, including corn shuck angels, cowboy Christmas decorations, wassail and German spiced wine.

Below is a list of the towns, along with highlights.

Check out a slideshow with breathtaking photos here.

1.) NEW ORLEANS, LA – French Quarter Christmas
This city mixes spirit and spirituality during this time of year, shaped by the bayou, blues and Creole Christmas tradition. Traditions include fancy cornucopias filled with candy and flowers, like those used in olden days by gentlemen to woo women. Snow machines give youngsters a fun winter wonderland. Finally, some 2,000 locals gather to see candles in front of the St. Louis cathedral in Jackson Square to pray for those lost during Hurricane Katrina and other hardships over the years.

2.) KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE – Christmas by the Sea
Residents incorporate seashells into most of their decorations, especially wreaths. They eat lobster for Christmas dinner, rather than turkey – also Santa comes in a lobster boat every year and Christmas trees are made entirely of lobster traps.

3.) MOUNTAIN VIEW, ARKANSAS – Ozarks Christmas
The locals pay tribute to their centuries-long musical heritage by caroling in the caves, in a huge amphitheater located in Blanchard Spring Caverns, where the sound is incredible! Also they make corn shuck angels (made out of corn husks and string) that hold various musical instruments like fiddle banjos and dulcimers, and a guy whittles spools into ornaments.

4.) NORTH POLE, ALASKA – Alaskan Christmas
Just outside of Anchorage, this town celebrates with a stunning ice-carving competition, when artists have 29 hours to create their work using drills, chisels, hot water and heat. With sculptures ranging from a Santa on a rooftop to snowmen to a girl playing a harp while standing on a chair, this event consistently wows the crowds.

5.) ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA – Scottish Christmas
Residents celebrate the town’s rich Scottish heritage, with an annual Christmas parade complete with bagpipes, dogs and a sea of kilts and tartans. The celebration culminates with the elaborate Holiday Boat Parade and a dazzling light show along the Potomac.

6.) MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN – Vintage Christmas
Just a frozen 20 minute ferry ride from the northern tip of Michigan, this town of only 500 people celebrate Christmas like they did a century ago — people travel only on horse and buggy, since cars have been banned for 100 years. Among the town’s traditions, Santa visits every child to hear their Christmas wish, they have an annual island Christmas bazaar where they sell unique crafts and their decorations are full of lots of green, red and lilacs, which is a special local color.

7.) DURANGO, COLORADO – Old West Christmas
Families use found items from the Old West for ornaments and trimmings, including cowboy boots as stockings, chaps as table runners or bridle bits as garland to wrap around stairwells or railings. They also have a Polar Express which has been around since the late 1880s, where kids show up in PJ’s, and they hop on a locomotive train which rides 30 minutes out of town to the “North Pole,” where Santa is waiting and gives them a little bell.

8.) WOODSTOCK, VERMONT- Medieval-style Christmas
Traditions stem from pagan days, including “wassail weekend” (where they drink apple cider-based drink, with fruits and spices, and alcohol) and a huge Yule Log fire on the village green. The entire town is decked with traditional wreaths and pine garlands throughout.

9.) SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS- Southwestern Christmas
Residents pull out all the stops to make this Christmas memorable, from piñatas and mariachis to riverboats and twinkling trees. Instead of turkey, they make tamales. Some of the traditional Mexican decorations include figurines made from cornhusks wearing colorful dresses. Finally, they stage an annual spirtual and spirited procession, “La Gran Posada,” a moving reenactment of the first Christmas eve.

10.) LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON – Bavarian Village
This former mining and logging town was transformed into an over-the-top Bavarian village 40 years ago, complete with Old World traditions for kids and grown-ups and redesigned architecture. There, they sip traditional Gluvine-spiced wine drinks and kids lead a lantern parade every weekend. During the holidays, this 2,200-person town swells to 50,000. The town even has a gingerbread factory that specializes in high-end holiday houses that they ship all over the world.

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Ice Cream Snowmen

Invite a snowman to the dinner table

The kids will squeal with delight when you surprise them with these edible creations.

Ice Cream Snowmen

4 medium scoops Breyers Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (or your favourite flavour)

8 small scoops Breyers Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (or your favourite flavour)

2 cups shredded or flaked coconut

mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

8 chocolate-dipped candy sticks

4 kiwi slices

4 strawberry halves

Roll ice cream scoops in coconut to coat completely. For each snowman, stack 1 medium and 2 small scoops. Decorate face with chocolate chips. Use colored end of candy stick for nose. Use remainder of candy stick for arms. Place snowmen in freezer to firm up, if necessary.

Place snowmen on dessert plates with rims. Top each with kiwi slice and strawberry half for hat. Scatter remaining coconut on plate for snow. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Visit www.homebasics.ca for many more surprising and fun ice creations.

- News Canada

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HGTV’s “Home For The Holidays” is a new one-hour holiday special premiering on Sunday, November 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.

Here’s what the show has in store for viewers:

· Monica Pedersen (from HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” series) has been building and decorating gingerbread houses with her mom since she was a little girl in Chicago and this year, she creates a one-of-a-kind edible architectural masterpiece that looks like the charming English Tudor inn that her husband’s family runs nearby and where she and her family spend almost every Christmas Eve. This themed gingerbread house has Kit-Kats as logs, red and green Gummy wreaths and English toffee as siding on the house.

· Lisa LaPorta (“Designed to Sell”) surprises her mom with a winter wonderland–in Los Angeles–complete with 15 tons of snow and 10,000 lights strung on the lawn and house – they’re both from Chicago, so both haven’t seen snow in years. Lisa dupes her mom into leaving the house and then completely transforms the exterior in a heart-pumping race against the clock. The results are dazzling.

· Steve Watson (“Don’t Sweat It”) and his girlfriend go on a high-octane motorcycle hunt through the woods in Pasadena, where they hunt for the perfect pine (which they chop down and then plant two new trees in its place). He then hosts a tree-trimming party where his guests bring in ornaments to help deck his house.

· Vern Yip (“Deserving Design”), pictured above, really goes all-out every year, decking the halls of his elegant Atlanta home with two huge Christmas trees in a red, silver, clear and white color scheme and entertaining for eight close friends by creating an incredibly lovely dining room tablescape, complete with centerpiece created from simple square glass vases filled with luscious red cranberries, winter roses and winterberries — and unique personalized placemat tags. The unique and tasteful furniture and accessories and cohesive design plan will make Vern’s house the envy of viewers, but also show them how to achieve these looks themselves.

· Angelo Surmelis (“Rate My Space”) hosts his annual Cookie Exchange party, where he has 100 guests bringing in 12 cookies each and taking 12 cookies home.

· Eric Stromer (“Over Your Head”) gets a little help from his adorable young kids in building a Swedish tradition, a unique three-tiered miniature carousel powered by candles — a tradition passed on from generation to generation. Lots of laughs ensue when the family also jams to some rockin’ Christmas carols, with Eric on guitar and vocals, accompanied by his son banging on the drum kit.

· Kim Myles (“Myles of Style”) keeps a lifelong tradition of checking out fabulous holiday displays with her husband by strapping a homemade holiday wreath to the grill of the car and hopping into a convertible to drive around LA’s famed Candy Cane Lane, an eight-block stretch of Woodland Hills, where dozens of families go all-out on Christmas with hundreds of thousands of lights and decorations.

The fun continues here where people can upload and rate holiday decorations, as well as articles, photo galleries and video from the special.

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Here are a few things that you can do to make sure your celebrations end well.

• Beef up the menu. Serve foods that are rich in proteins since they hasten the absorption of alcohol. Don’t forget the late night snacks too.

• B.Y.O.P.J.S . Bring your own pajamas. Invite guests ahead of time to stay overnight.

• Let’s make a deal. Arrange a set fee with a local cab company to shuttle your guests to and from the party.

• Offer a token gift. Have transit fare or subway tokens available as guests leave for the night.

• Serve Smart D.D. Drinks. Non-alcoholic versions of party favourites are good to have on hand. Not only will your designated drivers thank you, so will those watching their waistlines. Try non-alcoholic ciders, spritzers and low-calorie pilsners that have the full-bodied taste of a quality beer like new Labatt Blue Dealcoholized, available in select grocery and convenience stores across Canada.

More party hosting tips can be found online at www.makeaplan.ca.

- News Canada

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