Innholdsfortegnelse for Celebrate Christmas 2009 i Southern Lady

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. More than anyone else I know, I love white twinkling lights on the tree. For me, there is something magical about them. Every year all the trees in Mountain Brook Village—very close to my home—are illuminated with white lights. I never grow tired of walking through this enchanting place, and I never cease to marvel at the dazzling lights and the magical glow they create. I love to celebrate Christmas with my usual traditions, but I’m always looking for new ways to have fun, too. A favorite thing I did a couple of years ago was to wrap my gifts in a different way. I wrapped every one in the same paper, and if you’ve never done that, I can tell you…

Eggnog Makes 10 servings 2 1/4 cups whole milk, divided 2/3 cup half-and-half 3/4 cup sugar 6 large eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 3/4 cup bourbon Garnish: cinnamon stick, ground nutmeg In a large saucepan, whisk together milk, half-and-half, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Bring just to a boil over mediumhigh heat, whisking constantly until thickened. Immediately pour into a serving bowl. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg. Cover, and chill until ready to serve. Stir in bourbon. Serve with a cinnamon stick and a sprinkle of nutmeg, if desired. Eggnog (nonalcoholic version) Makes 10 servings 3 1/4 cups whole milk, divided 2/3 cup half-and-half 3/4 cup sugar 6 large eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt…

Need a reason to celebrate? December 12 marks National Poinsettia Day in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, a Southern plantation owner and the man who introduced the native Mexican plant to the United States in the 1820s. We’ve incorporated one of the season’s favorite flowers with one of the season’s favorite treats—decorated sugar cookies! ’Tis the season for homemade, so here’s a quick-and-easy way to create your own. Poinsettia Cookies Makes about 2 dozen 1 (16.5-ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough 2 egg whites 2 teaspoons lemon juice 4 cups confectioners’ sugar Red food coloring paste Green food coloring paste Yellow food coloring paste Slice and bake cookies according to package directions. Let cool completely on a wire rack. In a large bowl, beat egg whites and lemon juice at…

Ray Jordan didn’t start out decorating Christmas trees; in fact, he didn’t start as a florist. His first venture into the world of business was banking. But after 12 years, he started working in a flower shop, and one thing led to another. In January 2004 he and friend Janet Jackson opened their own shop. And because Ray and Janet were buds, Janet’s young son suggested the name FlowerBuds, a great play on words. Ray and Janet keep busy year-round with weddings, averaging two a weekend, but Christmas is when life truly becomes hectic. Ray has been decorating trees for individuals and their families for over 20 years. During this time, he has acquired a wealth of knowledge on how and how not to decorate a tree. So before you…

Cover cake, Edgar’s Bakery Party Picks Page 10—cupcakes, Dreamcakes Seasonal Delights Page 12—cake, Edgar’s Bakery Sing the Songs of Christmas Page 19—candles and plates, Hobby Lobby; ribbon, May Arts Holiday Bowl Page 22—bowling pin cookie cutter, Copper Gifts; luster food color spray, Country Kitchen SweetArt; sanding sugars and holly sugar decorations, Fancy Flours Celebration of Light Page 50—blue glasses in two sizes, blue and white glass candleholders, Pier 1; blue place mats, silver chargers, white napkins, blue candleholders in fishbowl vases, white serving pieces, World Market; red clear wineglasses, HomeGoods; fishbowl vases, Davis Wholesale Jingle Mingle Page 66—invitation, Mary Virginia Baugh Page 67—tinsel trees, Hobby Lobby; champagne flutes, white appetizer plates with glass holder, Pottery Barn; round red tray, Target Page 69—Pearled Star Platter, Mariposa Page 70-71—mini glass martini glasses,…

Ho! Ho! Ho! Roll on over There’s no time to spare— We’re going bowling, And we want you there! Dinner & Bowling with the Wrights Sunday December 13th 6:30–10:00 p.m. The Strike Zone 656 Riverside Drive Regrets: 555-9837 For this bowl game, you won’t need footballs and pads. Our Holiday Bowl party includes a tasty dinner and a trip to your local bowling alley for an evening of fun. Include guests of all ages, and divide them into teams for a friendly competition. An old bowling pin makes a great prize to present to the winning team. If you decide to make the party an annual affair, ask the winners to save the trophy to present to next year’s winning team. Menu Mexican Cornbread White Christmas Chili Bowling Pin Cookies…

Little is known about Saint Nicholas except that he served as the bishop of Myra (in what is now Turkey) from the late third century until his death around A.D. 340. Over time, legends about his generosity, his courageous defense of the faith, and his miraculous interventions on behalf of distressed sailors and children multiplied. The best-known story of Nicholas’s generosity is that of the poor man who had three daughters and no money for their dowries. Without dowries, the daughters couldn’t marry and would be forced into prostitution. Nicholas secretly tossed three bags of gold through their open window, and the bags landed in stockings or shoes that had been set out by the fire to dry. From this legend the custom grew in northern Europe of children putting…

1 Trees You can put up an artificial tree whenever your heart desires, but wait to put up a fresh tree until after the first of December or even the second week of the month. Any earlier than that and you’ll be covered in pine needles, fresh trees dry out so quickly. 2 Plans Plan a special time to decorate your tree, and gather family or friends to help. Play carols, serve eggnog—establish it as a tradition. If time is an issue, decide what you want done, and set aside another day to finish. 3 Wires Wire the tree in place. Save yourself the heartache of cherished ornaments breaking because the tree falls. If the tree is close to a stair rail or molding, attach a wire to the tree…

Christmas is an exciting time for children, so why not set a fun table decorated just for them? A large red tablecloth covers the table, and four pieces of fabric are gathered in the center and then draped over the table to create four place settings. A miniature tree and beautifully wrapped presents are the centerpieces, and brightly colored ribbons and raffia add a bit of whimsy. Help your kids count down the days until Christmas using this homemade Advent calendar. What you will need: 5 squares of corkboard 9 pieces of felt Number and letter stencils 24 miniature ornaments Spray glue Pushpins White paint pen 1 large star ornament 1. Cut pieces of felt to desired size. Spray one side of the corkboard with glue, and apply felt to…

Peppermint Cake Whether you create one layer of this exquisite cake for the family or three layers for the company holiday party, the flavor and display will tempt—and satisfy—your guests’ sweet tooth. This cake was created for us by one of our favorite local bakeries, but if you choose to make it yourself, follow our simple recipe. We started with a classic boxed mix, added our own twist, and decorated with peppermint candy sticks. For a different look, you could decorate with crushed peppermint candies—a bit kinder on the pocketbook. Bottom Layer 2 (10-inch) cake rounds Makes 35 servings 2 (18.25-ounce) boxes white cake mix with pudding 2 1/2 cups whole buttermilk 1/2 cup butter, melted 4 large eggs 1 teaspoon peppermint extract White Icing Garnish: 59 peppermint sticks, red…

For one month every winter, the municipal park in Ogden’s downtown historic district becomes a storybook village of 65 snow-covered cottages. Outlined in twinkling lights, each playhouse-size structure is completely decorated inside with a festive scene, and lighted trees and stationary displays fill the spaces between the little buildings. The village is the heart of what has become an ever more elaborate Christmas festival that starts the Saturday after Thanksgiving and continues through January 1. Santa’s Castle stands in front of the amphitheater at the center of Municipal Gardens park, and Santa sits on his throne five nights a week (until December 24) to receive children. In the amphitheater, local choirs and dance groups perform nightly while Santa is in residence. On weekdays, Mrs. Claus guides groups of preschool and…

A traditional feast to celebrate Hanukkah Known as the Festival of Lights, the Jewish holiday Hanukkah is eight days of celebration and food. The annual festivities commemorate the recapture of the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem by the Jewish people more than 21 centuries ago. They found only a single jar of oil to light the temple’s eternal flame that miraculously burned for eight full days. To honor those eight days, one candle is lit each day, and families gather to play dreidel (a gambling game played with a spinning top) and to share gelt (gifts of money). Traditionally, foods fried or baked in olive oil are eaten to honor the oil miracle. Potato pancakes, referred to as latkes, are lightly fried and served as a side dish. Sugar-dusted and…

Menu Loaded Hash Brown Casserole Lacquered Bacon Breakfast Pizzas Fruit Salad with Cinnamon Simple Syrup Cranberry Apple Walnut Bread Skillet Eggs Florentine Cherry Pineapple Cheer There’s something about Christmas morning that fills a home with joy. Whether it be the excitement of kids bounding down the staircase to see what goodies await or simply the contentment of gathering around the fireplace as the winter chill lingers outdoors, it is a wonderful time of togetherness. Greet the day with delicious fare to celebrate this glorious season. The smell of bread baking and the sound of bacon sizzling invite family to a buffet set with a classic brunch menu. Delicious Prosecco mimosas and a citrus fruit salad garnished with cinnamon begin the festive brunch, while delectable cheesy hash brown casserole and rich…

Mary Engelbreit thinks about Christmas all year long. As a designer of greeting cards, ornaments, gift wrap, and home accents like teapots and pillows, it’s her job to evoke the cozy spirit of the holiday. Not to mention, she has produced two children’s books on the subject: The Night Before Christmas and A Merry Little Christmas, both illustrated in her instantly recognizable nostalgic style. So when it’s time for this internationally known artist to throw her annual December bash for her business associates, she has a head start on decorating ideas. Chockablock with flea-market furniture, collectibles, and framed artwork, the loftlike office space is straight out of a Mary Engelbreit drawing. “There is a lot of red already in the color scheme,” says Mary. “So just by hanging a wreath…

Kathryn Gage designs a Christmas card that can turn into an ornament once it arrives at its destination. Go to hoffmanmedia.com/celebrate to download the image, and follow the instructions Kathryn shares here. create... a 3-D holiday card• •ornament in one! simple how-tos: 1. Download the images by going to hoffmanmedia.com/ celebrate. Add your family name to the tree under the words happy holidays (see photo). 2. Print two color copies of tree artwork onto card stock. 3. Using a craft knife and straight edge, cut out tree shapes. 4. Use craft glue to adhere fronts to backs. 5. Carefully trim along dotted lines. 6. Use a hole punch at top of largest tree shape, then weave in a thin strip of colorful ribbon. (We like red gingham microcheck.) 7. Slide…

Candy canes and ribbon candy, gumdrops and lollipops dance through our holiday season today just as they did in Clement Moore’s story The Night Before Christmas. For a fun family project, we’ve gathered Styrofoam cones of different heights and a variety of candies to create a candy land. Use our icing recipe as your glue, and decorate to your heart’s content. And if you sneak a few bites while decorating, we’ll never tell. Royal Icing 3 large egg whites at room temperature 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 16 ounces confectioners’ sugar Candies Marshmallows of various sizes Lollipops Beat egg whites until fluffy. Add cream of tartar and confectioners’ sugar. Continue beating until icing becomes thick. Frost a section of a Styrofoam cone, and apply candies. Hold candies until they seem…

Make your gifts stand out above the rest this season with wrapping paper in bright colors and imaginative designs by Pikku, Paper Source, Midori, and Caskata. For a festive flair, add bows made of coordinating ribbon. This array of ribbons in seasonal colors by Offray, Midori, and May Arts adds a touch of whimsy. Personalize presents with stickers from Red Stamp, left and top left, with your family name and a holiday message. Felt gift tags by Twinkle, above, have a removable card, so the tag can be reused. Letterpress tags, top right, by Small Square Design, tie onto any package, while oversize card stock designed by Anna Griffin, right, is wrapped with green satin ribbon. Get creative with ribbon by combining colors and textures, weaving on the corners of…