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Cooking a Christmas Ham: Simple Video on How To!

Christine — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:28:33 +0000

Christmas Ham

I will be doing my Christmas shopping tomorrow, which includes the Christmas ham. I have to mention that it is a good idea to NOT buy a fully cooked ham. I have made that mistake before, and it sucked. This year, I’m thinking of making either a pineapple and clove ham, or one with brown sugar or one with a mustard glaze? I just don’t know! There are so many delicious pork options, it is hard to choose. However, I do like this video although, I’m not sure where to buy that pineapple mango juice. Oh, well the great thing about cooking is improvising! Merry Christmas!

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Senior Citizen Flash Mob

Christine — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:10:08 +0000

Senior Citizen Flash Mob

Seniors love Christmas too, and here is a sweet video of a Flash Mob in Lawrence, KS. It appears to be in a Target, and these older people are having a lot of good-natured fun. It melts my heart, and I hope everyone out there remembers their grandparents, parents, and older family members this holiday season!

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How to make your holiday traditions your own

Christine — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:52:11 +0000

How to make your holiday traditions your own

(ARA) – Traditions help keep people connected through the years for generations. A special experience or gift-giving ritual often creates the foundation for celebrating the holidays. But what happens when those traditions no longer work? Circumstances, budgets and tastes change, requiring a fresh look at new ways to celebrate the holiday season.

Shaking up holiday traditions is on the minds of many this year, according to a recent Bing survey. In fact, a major life change – such as marriage or a new baby – is the most popular reason, with a change in financial situation coming in a close second. No matter your reasoning, you can easily evolve your traditions into something that works for your entire family. For example, try switching up the holiday menu by swapping the traditional day-long cooking marathon for a night out. Or incorporate a family volunteer outing into your holiday plans, such as working at the local food bank.

With a little creativity, you can revamp the way you celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, and Bing’s lifestyle expert, Karin Muskopf, offers tips for how you can do just that.

* Give in a new way. Giving and receiving gifts has long been a beloved holiday tradition, but what if you took all that energy and money, and spent it on shared experiences with your friends and family instead? According to the survey, most 18 to 34 year olds (91 percent) say they’d rather spend money on enjoying experiences together than traditional gift giving.

“At my house, we’ve completely downsized our gift-giving traditions,” says Muskopf. “Instead of large, expensive gifts, we hold a family meeting and decide as a group what sorts of fun activities we want to do together. Whether it’s a trip, a holiday play or a fun class, we show our appreciation for each other by spending quality time together.”

To follow suit, try planning a day to do something together with friends and family – volunteer, enjoy a winter sport or host a festive dinner party. Taking a trip with loved ones is another special way to celebrate the season – a tradition that 37 percent of respondents would choose if they had their way. Hop on a plane, hit the road, or plan a cozy stay-cation and never leave your couch.

If your family loves the tradition of giving gifts, add a special touch by personalizing what you give. Bing Shopping makes it easy to find all your holiday gifting needs – try personalizing a photo calendar or an engraved picture frame to preserve special memories and give a treasured keepsake. Whatever you do, remember it’s all about making the season merry.

* Create lasting memories. The holidays are always a busy time, and it can be tricky to get everyone together on one specific day.

“To me, it’s less important what day of the year it is, and it’s more about being together with good food and lots of laughs,” says Muskopf.

If you can’t get everyone together at the same time, consider several mini-celebrations throughout the season. Or, host an “Eve Before the Eve” party and celebrate your holiday one day early.

* Make memories with a new tradition. “Our annual holiday party has turned into a highly anticipated event – Pie Night,” Muskopf says. “Each guest bakes his/her own pie to bring to the party for a taste test. Everyone samples a piece of each pie, and we award the ‘Most Delicious,’ ‘Most Festive’ and ‘Most Fattening’ titles in a hilarious ceremony.”

Movie marathons or video game tournaments are also fun for those winter nights when you can’t bear to go outside and face the cold. “There’s something so cozy about staying in and huddling around the living room while the snow falls outside,” Muskopf says. “We started an annual holiday Xbox tournament that lets everyone – from the kids to the grandparents – get involved. Bing on Xbox makes it easy to see all the entertainment options, so our holiday living room nights are never boring.”

For more ideas and inspiration on tweaking old traditions, creating new ones and making this holiday all your own, go to www.Bing.com.

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My Husband’s Favorite Christmas Movie – Scrooged

Christine — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:54:10 +0000

Bill Murray in Scrooged!

I love Bill Murray – he is all time comedic genius and makes me crack up just looking at him. When I married my husband he introduced me to his favorite Christmas movie, Scrooged.

Scrooged is a 1988 American comedy film, a modernization of Charles Dickens’ novella, A Christmas Carol. The film was produced and directed by Richard Donner, and the cinematography was by Michael Chapman. The screenplay was written by Mitch Glazer and Michael O’Donoghue. The original music score was composed by Danny Elfman.

The cast includes: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, Bobcat Goldthwait, John Forsythe, Carol Kane, David Johansen, John Houseman, and Robert Mitchum. Murray’s real-life brothers, Brian, John, and Joel also appear in the film, which is a fun little fact! I just found this out by researching the movie and cannot wait to tell my husband.

The film was marketed with references to the film Ghostbusters which had been a great success four years earlier. In the USA, the tagline for Scrooged was, “Bill Murray is back among the ghosts, only this time, it’s three against one.” I also find it funny, that the music in the trailer is the same music from The Goonies. Oh, how I truly miss the 80′s!

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Outdoor décor essentials for creating a winter wonderland

Christine — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:03:53 +0000

Outdoor décor essentials for creating a winter wonderland

(NC)—While holiday decorating often begins with the Christmas tree, it doesn’t have to end there. As the importance of outdoor living space has increased, so too has the variety of holiday décor options.

Lights

Outdoor lights will help make your home the most festive house on the block.

Insider Tip:A good rule of thumb is 100 lights for every foot and a half of tree or shrub you want to cover. Of course, if you love lights, add more.

After you know how many lights you need, your biggest decision is the type of bulbs to use:

LED lights are the newer option for outdoor decorating. They give off brilliant white light and remain cool to the touch, even after hours of use. Thanks to unbreakable plastic bulb covers in various shapes and colours, you’re sure to find a light that suits your style and needs. LEDs are up to 80 percent more energy efficient and last thousands of hours longer than comparable incandescent bulbs, saving you money.

Specialty lights are good for decorating certain areas of the house:

Shooting icicle lights or snowflake lights give the front of the house a magical look. Stand-alone shapes such as Lowe’s LED gumdrop tree and other mini trees, in addition to holiday-themed signs and figures, can be great additions to open spots in garden beds, lawns and porches.

Yard Art

For those wanting more than traditional lights, the options are endless. Let your personality shine through with the many inflatable and animated characters such as, the tinsel dog or velvet gecko available at Lowe’s. For a more sophisticated look, try tree or snowflake pathway markers that help illuminate walkways and create a welcoming ambience.

Insider Tip: The more multifunctional, the better. Go for larger sizes, lights, sounds, movement. The intent of inflatables is to provide grand entertainment.

Natural Beauty

Live potted evergreen trees flanking the front entrance are inviting and a great way to add a different look to the exterior of your home. Tie the look together with a live wreath adorning the front door and draping the railing with fresh greenery. Add personal touches to the greenery by incorporating pinecones, berries, ribbon or burlap.

Insider Tip: Natural and rustic decorating themes are popular, creating a holiday garden feel. Natural elements add earthy elegance: think natural greenery from rosemary or Norfolk pine, with a pop of colour by red poinsettia plants and amaryllis flowers.

www.newscanada.com

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Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Christine — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:59:05 +0000

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Sometimes old cartoons scare me. They’re kind of weird… but entertaining. The original Rudolph was such a masterpiece, and truly you have to love it. Sadly, I just don’t think there is anything like this being made today. It seems like they took so much time and care to make animated shows back in the “old day”. Anyways, here is a cute clip of Rudolph & the Misfits.

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Jingle Cats Silent Night!

Christine — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:31:09 +0000

Jingle Cats!

This is a super silly and fun little video for all you Christmas & cat-loving people out there. I know my sister, who is a total cat-lover is going to crack up watching this one! By the way, my Shih Tzu, Bella, got very upset with me for watching this one! The video must use real cat meows, as she was quite curious about this one!

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“You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out”

Christine — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:11:15 +0000

A Christmas Story

When you hear “you’ll shoot your eye out” doesn’t it just scream CHRISTMAS TIME. I cannot think of a more iconic Christmas movie then A Christmas Story! Ralphie, bullies, Ovaltine, a Christmas tree, a cuss word, a duck, and a whole lot of fun make this movie so memorable.

Having grown up, well at least my formative years, in the 80′s, I remember watching this movie via a repeating marathon on the TNT station. It started to play on Christmas eve and repeated over and over all the way through Christmas.

In case you have been living under a rock somewhere and never experienced the joy of A Christmas Story, here is a clip to get your Christmas spirit going! Happy Holidays!

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Jingle shells: How PEI mussels feed the holiday crowd

Christine — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:10:38 +0000

Jingle shells: How PEI mussels feed the holiday crowd

(ARA) – The holidays are upon us once more and along with office parties and caroling, the season also brings the joy of entertaining and feeding a crowd at home. While it may sometimes seem daunting to feed larger numbers of friends and family that may grace your home, the Canadian Mussel Industry Council has some delicious meal ideas for serving to all of your loved ones this season.

Fresh Prince Edward Island mussels are a tasty choice for feeding a crowd at this time of year. Nothing could be simpler than putting on a 10-pound bag of mussels to steam – they are delicious and they’ll impress even your most discerning guests. There’s something about the flavor and hearty nature of mussels that really hits the festive spot perfectly.

Why not try mussels with sundried tomatoes to feed the crowd at your next holiday gathering? This is a meal that will easily feed 12 as an appetizer or six as a main course, but yet it’s quick to prepare and serve. You can have this meal on the table in 15 minutes, perfect for those occasions when guests arrive unannounced.

Fresh mussels will keep for several days in the refrigerator, so you can buy them in advance and be ready for those evenings when you can expect a few guests. The great thing about these recipes is that they can easily be doubled up, or more, so that when a real crowd is on hand you’re able to ensure no one leaves hungry.

While it’s likely a crowd will arrive on your doorstep all at once, over the holidays you can also expect that people will arrive in waves, coming and going throughout an evening. To feed a smaller crowd that trickles in and out it’s even easier to be prepared.

A recipe for marinated mussels is perfect for this situation. Designed to feed eight as an appetizer, this recipe can easily be doubled, but better yet you can make it in advance and leave it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it to your guests. Make them ahead and impress the whole night through. It doesn’t get any better than that.

The Canadian Mussel Industry Council website at www.discovermussels.com is home to recipes to entertain your friends and family throughout the holiday and the whole year through.

Mussels with sundried tomatoes
Number of servings: 6
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
6 pounds fresh PEI mussels
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 green onions, light green and white part only, thinly sliced
1 fennel bulb, fronds removed, outer layer removed, bulb thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 cup thinly sliced sundried tomatoes
1 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup capers, drained and rinsed
juice and zest of 1 lemon
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
handful fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions
Rinse fresh PEI mussels in tap water. Tap any mussels that are still open and discard any that do not close after being rinsed and tapped. Set aside. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add green onions, fennel and garlic and saute, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften. Add sundried tomatoes and stir well to coat. Add wine and mussels, stir gently, then cover. Leave mussels to steam for 5-7 minutes, until mussels are open. Discard any mussels that are not open. Remove mussels with a slotted spoon and set aside in a serving bowl. To the vegetables add cream, capers, lemon juice and zest, sea salt and black pepper, to taste. Give this a good stir and then pour over the mussels. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Marinated mussels

Number of servings: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

6 pounds fresh PEI mussels
1 bay leaf
1 cup white wine
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small hot pepper, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup shallots or green onions, chopped
1 small red pepper, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced

Marinade
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup olive oil
1 dash black pepper

Instructions
Rinse fresh PEI mussels in tap water. Tap any mussels that are still open and discard any that do not close after being rinsed and tapped. Set aside. Place all ingredients (not the marinade ingredients) in a large sauce pan with a lid and steam for 5 to 7 minutes until fresh blue mussels are steamed open (about 3 minutes). Remove mussels, discarding any that do not open. When cool, shuck mussels and place meats in a large serving dish. Combine above marinade ingredients in an air-tight container and shake vigorously to blend. Pour over fresh blue mussels. Refrigerate until ready to use.

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Nigella Lawson Makes a Chocolate Cherry Trifle

Christine — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:17:02 +0000

Nigella Lawson

I have to say I have a girl crush on Nigella Lawson. She is amazing. She loves food and the way she describes it is so luscious. The quick video is another one on how to make a Christmas trifle. I love the combination of chocolate and cherry, and more specifically Black Forest. I think this Christmas I’m going to make a Black Forest trifle. Watch this video and drool all over the place!

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