Prepare For A Cookie Baking Christmas Season

Cookie baking is one of the holiday season's most fun traditions. To get the most out of your cookie baking, here's a few tips:

* Cookie cutters - You should have a set of Christmas themed cookie cutters. Made of metal or plastic, you can find them at any grocery store or even dollar stores.* Sugars - You'll want to have at least 1 bag each of white sugar, brown sugar and powdered sugar.* Decorations - Sprinkles, nonpareils, candies, kisses, hard candies, cinnamon candies etc. Whatever your recipe calls for or whatever you like, get a bag or two.Always preheat your oven, it should be one of the first things you do. Also, doublecheck that you have set the right temperature. When placing the dough on the cookie sheets, try to make every cookie a uniform size. You can even use a measuring cup, spoon or ice cream scoop so you can get the same size cookie, this is important for proper and even baking. Keep a close eye on the first batch to test the doneness and adjust the temperature and baking time if needed, as every oven tends to be different. During baking, try and rotate the cookie sheets, turn them around and switch racks for more even cooking. Once one batch of cookies is done and you have removed the cookies from it, let the cookie sheet cool for a minute or two before placing the next batch of dough on it, this keeps the dough from spreading too much due to the heat from the last batch. You'll want to leave the cookies on the baking sheet for a minute or so before removing them to lessen the chance of breakage when you remove them.* Eggs & Butter - A dozen large eggs and a pound or two of salted butter.* Cookie sheets - You'll want to have at least 2 so you can be baking one batch while you are preparing another batch on another sheet.* Cooling rack - To cool your cookies properly, you'll need a cookie rack. Usually made of metal, you might need several depending on how many batches of cookies you will be making.* Oils - Some recipes call for vegetable oil, canola oil works great.* Mixing devices - Make sure you have several sizes of spoons on hand. You'll want a couple large wood spoons as well as some smaller mixing spoons.Supplies* Frosting tools - If you will be decorating your cookies, you might want to pick up a pastry bag as well as several pastry tips so you can make great looking designs with your frosting.* Spatula - To remove the cookies from the sheet, you'll need a spatula. A plastic one will work best and won't scratch your nonstick surface like a metal spatula would.Cookie Baking TipsLastly, store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.You'll need some basic supplies to bake cookies. Make sure that you have the following on hand:* Flour - Pick up a bag of all purpose flour.IngredientsSome basic ingredients you should have:* Mixing bowls - You'll want a set of sturdy mixing bowls. Metal or plastic will work fine. Have at least one small, one medium and a couple larger sized bowls.* Measuring devices - You'll want a Pyrex glass cup for wet ingredients such as oil and water. You'll also want to have a set of plastic measuring cups for dry ingredients such as flour, sugar and chocolate chips and a set of measuring spoons ranging for things like baking soda, baking powder, salt and vanilla.

Lastly, store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

Better Back to School Lunches and Munches

(Family Features) Making sure kids get balanced and nutritious school lunches and after-school snacks doesn't have to be hard. In fact, it can be fun.

If your child leaves most of his or her sandwich behind, use cookie cutters to create a favorite shape such as an airplane, car, star or heart. The fun shape might encourage your child to finish the entire sandwich. A colorful selection of food and different texture adds appeal -- carrot sticks and green grapes for color, whole wheat pretzels and crackers for crunch. Put a surprise in your child's lunch: a sticker, a note of encouragement, or a small toy. Children love the do-it-yourself aspect of building their own pizza or making their own cracker stack. You can make the experience fun and healthier by cubing Boar's Head meats and cheeses and putting them in a bag along with some low-salt crackers. Roll Boar's Head meats and cheeses for dipping into condiments -- it will make a hungry child happy and keep them satisfied until dinner time.Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.comSpread cream cheese on one side of tortilla. Place turkey slices evenly over tortilla, then add spinach leaves and sliced apple. Roll tortilla tightly, tucking ingredients as you roll. Slice wrap in half diagonally and serve.

Turkey Kabobs
Servings: 12 2 slices Boar's Head Ovengold® Turkey Breast, sliced ¼-inch thick
2 slices Boar's Head Yellow Cheddar Cheese, sliced ¼-inch thick
12 grapes, white seedless Toothpicks, long

Cut turkey and cheese into cubes. Place a cube of turkey on a toothpick, followed by a cube of cheese and then a grape. Repeat with remaining items. Arrange on a plate and serve.

NOTE: Instead of toothpicks, try using pretzel sticks instead.Parents can ensure kids get a lunch that's good for them -- and that they'll eat -- by making it themselves with products they trust. All Boar's Head Brand® deli meats and cheeses are gluten free, and there are dozens of lower sodium and heart-healthy options to choose from, as well. No matter what your health priority, you can rest assured your family is in good hands with Boar's Head.About Family Features Editorial Syndicate This and other food and lifestyle content can be found at www.editors.familyfeatures.com . Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for use in print and online publications. Register with no obligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features, accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web content solutions.Here are some simple tips from Boar's Head for lunches and munches kids will love:Another fun idea is to start a family food album where you and your kids keep track of the foods that provide nourishment and the ones that offer little or no nutritional value. Have your kids cut photos of food and nutrition labels making note of those foods that are considered healthy and those that are not. Your kids will learn about healthy eating and enjoy fun arts and crafts projects, too.Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1699538

Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.com

Going Halfway Around the World: How to Make German Cookies

I absolutely loved experimenting with foreign recipes, especially dessert recipes, when I was in high school. One of my favorite ones to make is German Cookies. I first learned of it after I'd tried a recipe for German Crumble Cake.

Pour the Vanilla Extract onto the flour and sprinkle sugar on top. Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter them on the flour. Crack the eggs and pour the yolks into the dent.Grease a cookie sheet and place cookie dough shapes on top. Put the oven on 350 degrees Farenheit (ovens may vary) and back for 10 minutes or until golden brown.Let them cool. Any leftovers should be kept covered so they will last.Take a sifter, a rolling pin, a baking board, and cookie cutters (optional). Sift the flour onto the baking board. Make a dent in the middle of the flour.And there you have it! You've just made delicious German Cookies!German Cookies

• 4 cups of flour
• 3/4 cups of sugar
• 2 sticks of butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
  

German Cookies is also a real 'hands on' recipe that contains a hefty bit of butter. Hope you enjoy!Mix all ingredients by hand, and smooth the dough flat about a half centimenter thick with the rolling pin. Engrave the dough with cookie cutters or roll and flatten into circle shapes.

And there you have it! You've just made delicious German Cookies!

Author: Kori Puckett

Birthday Party Recipes - 5 Tips For The Perfect Princess Party Menu

You're ready... your princess has invited the belles of the ball to the finest Princess Birthday Party of the year. You've purchased decorations, planned a few games and have some lovely take home gifts for your guests. Now it's time to plan the finest menu for your royal princess and her court. Let's make it so fabulous that the girls will remember this day when they're planning their future daughter's parties and one that will make your princess throw her hands around your neck and say, "Oh mom! You're the best ever!"

2. Presentation is everything. Think about it, mom. A peanut butter sandwich is nice, but, make that sandwich and cut it with petite cookie cutters into various princessly shapes and you have something spectacular. Even just cutting the sandwiches with a glass into a circle and then cutting the circles in half would work. Display them nicely on a glass plate with some red grapes or flowers and it's no longer just a boring sandwich but a delicacy that's a delight to look at AND eat.1. Keep it simple. The last thing you need on a busy day is for you to be running around like crazy trying to make cherries flamb� or tiramisu with cr�me fraise. However, with a little creative planning, you can make something spectacular and still be able to take photos of the lovely girls eating your birthday dainties. There are SO many recipes available at your fingertips that are not only delicious but easy to make with items you probably have in the house or can pick up in your local grocery store at minimal cost (another key!). One of my favorite recipe sites for quick recipes is http://www.freequickrecipes.com, or you can just punch a name of a recipe into your google search box and hundreds of recipes will pop up. Just keep it simple!The perfect, stress free Princess party menu is within reach, Mom. Just keep it simple, fancy, tasty and pink! Write out a checklist and you're all set for the finest party menu for your princess and her royal maidens.3. Throw the "no sugar" rule out the window. Ok, I'll get hate mail for this one but c'mon mom! Your princess only has the bash of the century once a year, so break the rules a little and provide something sweet to eat. Balance it out with a lower sugar drink and other dainties that aren't sugar laden.5. Work with a timeline and schedule for the day of the party. A checklist of what you'll be serving and when you need to pull it out of the freezer or fridge, what goes where, etc., and how long each thing takes will insure that you won't forget any of the details and insure that you won't go to open the fridge for a late night snack after your princess is in dream land and see the strawberries that you meant to put in the royal goblets.What follows are 5 tips for you in creating the menu of the decade for your princess birthday party.

The perfect, stress free Princess party menu is within reach, Mom. Just keep it simple, fancy, tasty and pink! Write out a checklist and you're all set for the finest party menu for your princess and her royal maidens.

Author: Annette Yen

Frugal Scrapbooking Ideas and Paper Crafting Supplies

Scrapbooking supplies are not cheap. The cost for colorful paper and card stock, stickers, embellishments, and adhesives can really add up. If you are looking for frugal scrapbooking ideas to help cut back on these expenses, keep reading. By using discarded items you find around the house, you will save money and recycle things that would otherwise end up in the landfills.

A Christmas centerpiece can be dressed up in various ways. You can dress up a simple centerpiece through an arrangement of flowers in a short crystal vase or placing a long cloth centerpiece with a plastic centerpiece tray loaded with an assortment of greeneries, plastic flower petals, added with Christmas ornaments, figurines, candies, and sweets.pinch of saltIf sewing is another one of your hobbies, you already know that fabric and ribbon scraps are the perfect complement to your paper crafting projects. Many of these fabric and ribbon scraps are too small for sewing, yet are the perfect size for accenting handmade cards and more. Ask your friends and family members that sew to keep a ziploc handy to collect their scraps. Instead of throwing them out, they can give them to you!With a little imagination and creative thinking, you will surely find even more common household goods that you can use for frugal scrapbooking ideas. Keep an inexpensive container handy, and as you come across odds and ends that could find a second life in one of your projects, place it in the container until you find a use for it.2. Wallpaper RemnantsA gift basket is fun to dress up and even more fun to give. What you need to do is look for a basket or a Christmas-themed container and put a few things in it. Some things that you could place inside the gift basket can be a sleek vase with a single flower on it, for instance an orange Gerbera daisy, a rose, or lily. You can also add some items like a Christmas dvd movie, a Christmas book, Christmas decors, Christmas cookie cutters, or sweet treats. First put together the bud vase in the container with the use of floral clay. If you use a wicker basket, use some cheerful Christmas tissue paper or other beautiful paper to line it. Organize the items in the basket so it would look nice and appealing. This would make a brilliant gift for a coworker, a teacher, a brother or a sister, or your parents.3. Gift Wrap1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla1/2 cup brown sugar5. Office Supplies

With a little imagination and creative thinking, you will surely find even more common household goods that you can use for frugal scrapbooking ideas. Keep an inexpensive container handy, and as you come across odds and ends that could find a second life in one of your projects, place it in the container until you find a use for it.

Author: Dawn Hall

Flower Arrangement as Gift Ideas For Christmas

Flowers are considered an exceptional and special present to give during Christmas. There is a wide range of flower arrangements available for purchase online if you don�t feel like putting one up together on your own. Anybody can do these simple arrangements if you follow my lead of simple instructions. The floral design selections for Christmas are almost infinite. A Christmas-themed centerpiece, a little arrangement on a Christmas mug or an ornamental container, a gift basket, a candle ring, and vase arrangements, would be a perfect present to give to a friend or family member.

To make the cookies mix the ingredients well and then roll out to � inch thickness and use cookie cutters. Or make small balls out of them and roll the balls in nuts or coconut. Place on a greased cookie sheet and then flatten lightly with the bottom of a glassYou could also create a nice and special arrangement for any vase of any sizes, the bigger the vase, the more flowers and greens will have to be used. Since its Christmas time, using red, white and if available, green flowers (such as green button mums), would surely make up a sensible theme. Furthermore, it is advisable to select from a variety of greenery, try not to stick on a particular one to avoid a dull look. Placing a red rose in a bud vase with a few baby's breath and cedar adds a wonderful accent to the arrangement. Dark red alstroemerias are also a nice touch-up.1 bag chocolate kiss candies, unwrapped (7 ounces)

A Christmas centerpiece can be dressed up in various ways. You can dress up a simple centerpiece through an arrangement of flowers in a short crystal vase or placing a long cloth centerpiece with a plastic centerpiece tray loaded with an assortment of greeneries, plastic flower petals, added with Christmas ornaments, figurines, candies, and sweets.

Author: Melanie Smith

Delicious Christmas Cookies Recipe

Keep your kidsbusy during Christmas break baking cookies to give as Christmas gifts. Below are some common Christmas cookies that aren�t too hard to make and are great for Christmas sharing.

1/2 teaspoon vanillaUse an electric mixer and beat the butter at medium speed until creamy. Then add sugar and flour, vanilla and almond extract, blending well. Chill the dough for 2 � hours then form it into small balls and roll them in the nuts. Place the balls on a lightly greased cookie sheet then make an indentation with your thumb and fill it with jam. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes until firm and light brown on bottom. Bake at 300�.Shortbread cookies are classics that will melt in your mouth. You can roll the dough out and use Christmas shaped cookie cutters or simple roll the cookies into balls and then roll the balls in a festive topping like crushed almonds or coconut. These cookies are easy and fun to make.You�ll need the following:powdered sugarMany wallpaper remnants are as beautiful as the pricey papers in the scrapbooking stores. Make regular stops at your local paint and wallcovering stores, get to know the staff, and ask them to call you when they have discontinued sample books that they are discarding. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that these samples are not acid-free. Although they may not be suitable for your scrapbook pages, they are the perfect touch for handmade cards and other paper crafting projects.Think of all the beautiful gift wrap that ends up in the landfill. Instead of throwing it away, recycle it. At birthday parties and other special occasions, check with the guest of honor to find out if he or she has any plans to use the gift wrap after unwrapping presents. If they plan to throw it away, you should be able to collect a good assortment of gift wrap paper that can be used for your frugal paper crafting projects.Thumbprint CookieIf you have a die cut machine capable of cutting chipboard, such as the Cricut Expression, don't buy chipboard at the craft store. Instead, use cereal boxes. Once you adhere colorful paper to the cereal box die cuts, no one will ever guess it came from your pantry! If you do not have a die cut machine, you can use cookie cutters instead, to cut the box and paper into the desired shapes.Many of the products in the scrapbooking aisle are simply embellished office supplies. Office supplies, however, are much cheaper, and can be jazzed up with very little effort. For example, paper fasteners are basically the same thing as the colorful brads that are used for scrapbooking. Paint them with inexpensive acrylic paints to coordinate with the your layouts.These fun cookies have a chocolate kiss treat inside!1/2 cup granulated sugar1 teaspoon almond extract2 cups flourBake at 300� F. for around 20 to 25 minutes.1. Cereal BoxesThe recipe above makes about 2 to 3 dozen cookies.1 3/4 cups flour2 teaspoons vanilla3/4 cup granulated sugar4. Fabric and Ribbon ScrapsChopped nutsSecret Kiss Cookie1/2 pound unsalted butterJamThis is a colorful and fun cookie that kids love to make with a thumbprint.2 1/2 cups flour � add more if dough is too thinShortbread Cookies

Use an electric mixer and beat the butter at medium speed until creamy. Then add sugar and flour, vanilla and almond extract, blending well. Chill the dough for 2 � hours then form it into small balls and roll them in the nuts. Place the balls on a lightly greased cookie sheet then make an indentation with your thumb and fill it with jam. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes until firm and light brown on bottom. Bake at 300�.

Author: Marianne Jackson