| |
| |
|
holidaysareforever.org
|
|
|
|
Use H-O-L-L-Y to Beat Christmas Cooking Stress
What does holly, that untidy traditional greenery you just have to festoon your house with every year, have to do with not tearing your hair out before it's even Thanksgiving? Plenty. You can use H-O-L-L-Y to help you get organized. 1. H: Help How many times have you tried to do the perfect turkey all by yourself just so your mother-in-law would be impressed? Here's a reality check: (a) If your mother-in-law is any kind of a real woman, she remembers that her mother-in-law put the exact same pressure on her, and (b) if she's the kind of person who complains because the cranberries come from a can, she's the kind of person who complains anyway and would be unhappy if she couldn't try to make you look like an incompetent nitwit, and how a woman like that could raise your wonderful husband is beyond everyone. If that husband is such a great guy, get him in the kitchen. Sit down and plan what the two of you really want---he might not want a six-course dinner, which is fine, because you don't either. Get the kids involved. By now some of them are at that stage where they want to show off what they can do "all by myself," and you know that even though you hate your daughter's taste in music, she did make killer stuffing last Thanksgiving. And your son makes a great omelet for Christmas morning. Then there's your sister who loves to chat, so put her to work while you listen to her endless monologue. Electronic help is great too---use a PDA or the family computer to keep a list of recipes and ingredients. There are many great, sometimes free, computer programs available. 2. O: Oh-No Let's face it. You'll make mistakes. The sugar cookies will burn. You can always "eat" your mistakes and try again---just don't try a new recipe for the first time Christmas Day. In fact, plan for your mistakes. That's right. Most of us spend so much time agonizing over avoiding mistakes we forget that they are going to happen anyway, and not necessarily at our hands. So your best girlfriend Susan brought over deviled ham instead of double chocolate cake...there's a reason we have bakeries, right? Just cheerfully accept the mistake and move on. People can get over a slightly too well-done roast, but they will be downright uncomfortable if you spend the entire dinner moaning about it. 3. L: Love You know Christmas is the season of love, and you can have as much fun with take-out pizza as you can with an elegant dinner if the company is right. One sure way to recapture love is to bake cookies together. There's nothing like the sight of kids rolling dough and decorating their works of art. 4. L: Let It Be Sorry for the Paul McCartney overtones, but once you have your plan in place, stick to it---that doesn't mean you can't compromise slightly. Agonizing over turkey versus tofu causes you to lose your appetite, and is as harmful to your cooking as disorganization. Sticking to a decision and keeping your plan, no matter what everyone else thinks, gives you peace of mind. 5. Y: You Remember that there will be stress around the holidays, but that your mind can choose not to give in. You can choose to refuse another beer because "I'm frazzled" or avoid inviting people you really can't stand just because your mind thinks you have an obligation to be popular and kill yourself feeding 25 people. You can throw snowballs, or, if you live in California, go throw some water on the wildfires...just take your mind off your cooking. You'll rediscover just why it is you're cooking and what you love about Christmas. So that's your H-O-L-L-Y for a happy holiday. And when all else fails, there's chocolate. Kristin Johnson is co-author of the "enthusiastically recommended" Midwest Book Review pick, Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Holidays - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The History And Origin Of Valentines Day The oldest Valentine card still in existence was sent in 1415 by Charles Duke of Orleans, at the time a prisoner in the Tower of London, to his wife. The Duke's Valentine's card is now preserved and displayed in the British Museum. 5 Most Popular Styles of Christmas Ornaments Traditionally Christmas ornaments were bulbs of all the same color which were placed randomly throughout your Christmas tree. Over the past few decades, Christmas ornaments have developed into elaborate pieces of art which are delicately planned out and placed throughout the Christmas tree. Christmas Gifts For Dog Lovers Let's admit it, the US and UK are both countries of dog lovers, and dog owners love to indulge their dogs like children. You only have to listen to a dog owner call out to their dog, playing in the park or field, to realise how devoted they can be. Great Games for Your Halloween Party If you're having a Halloween party you need to play some games! Whether it's to fill the time before the food is ready or to keep the kids occupied before their parents collect them, here are some ghoulish games to play.1) Pin the Wart on the Witch's Nose: Draw or photocopy up a big picture of a witch; get lumps of green play-dough, blindfold each child and let them put a green wart on the witch's face. Tis The Season I was listening to one of my favorite radio talk programs today. The topic of the hour was "do you feel burdened by Christmas?" Much to my amazement the host, and the majority of his guests, spent the better part of an hour whining and moaning about the burdensome nature of the holiday season. EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Everwonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequentmultiple births, are long time symbols of fertility.According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, akathe Easter Hare, represented the new life duringthe Spring season. Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas Now that the biggest shopping season of the year is in full swing it might be a good time to create a holiday budget. I'm sure there are lots of names on your list, but hopefully you can find gifts that won't put a big dent in your pocketbook. Romance on a Budget Valentine's Day is often synonymous with lush velvety looking redroses and spending big bucks on your sweetie. You're blinded byadvertisements touting the latest luxury jewelry, over-priced flowers, and exquisite five star dining. Gift of the Month Clubs: The Lazy Mans Guide to Gift Giving If you are like me and are a very lousy shopper and always end up getting everyone the wrong gift at Christmas time, think about a Gift-of-the-Month Club. G. St. Patricks Day Quotations "It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody. Valentines Day - A Guide for Men Did you know that after Christmas, Valentine's Day is the biggest retail holiday? That means a variety of things for you the consumer, but mostly it means the market is saturated with a plethora of heart-shaped, cutesy, not so worth it products. I have a philosophy?one that is not always popular?but here it goes. Magical Plants of Christmas Most of the plants we associate with the holiday season are from Europe or the Mediterranean. We know the holly, ivy, mistletoe, christmas rose, rosemary, hawthorn, bay and of course, evergreens while the New World is represented in Christmas legend by the poinsettia. A Dash of Cinnamon, A Pinch of the Past, A Smidgen of the Future Close your eyes and remember December, the smell of cinnamon in your mother's or grandmother's kitchen and the warm scent of dough baking in the oven. Imagine opening the oven door and, with assistance, taking out the heated cookie sheet. 7 Tips on Giving Chocolates to Your Valentine Every year millions of people exchange chocolates on February 14th for Valentine's Day. This trend has grown very popular in recent times, especially with the rise of quality chocolates (. 5 Ways to Lose Those Holiday Blues What a great time of year! It's a time to be thankful for what we have and enjoy all the festivities that mark a renewal of our hope and faith in the "system" that will carry us toward a bright new year.Right? So if this is such a wonderful season, how come so many of us wind up in Yucksville? It may have something to do with losing our rational map about the time we made the turn at the Grotto of the Great Pumpkin. Taking Back Christmas John Grisham wrote a book called SKIPPING CHRISTMAS. Amazon. Valentines Day! The Sweet and Romantic Holiday When I think of Valentines Day I think of Chocolates and Flowers. Others might think of a more romantic subject too. Mothers Day Love Letter - The Best Way to Express Your Gratitude and Appreciation for Mom! Abraham Lincoln said - "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother"Wow! That is a worthy compliment to give mom this Mother's Day!Mothers are the source of our beginning and are always there for us, whether we realize it or not. Could that be one of the reasons why most of us take our mothers for granted?We just expect her to be there. Decorate for Christmas It's your home/your apartment and you want to make it a special sanctuary this Christmas. How can you create a special place for your family and you? Well, we already have our centerpiece?see November's issue Decorate for Thanksgiving. Holiday Spending: How to Keep Your Personal Information Safe Holiday spending can be a wonderful time. We shop for our loved ones, friends, co-workers, and associates.
|
|
Powered By: Free Work At Home Business Opportunity! |
| © 2006 |
![[أربيك]](http://www.holidaysareforever.org/websitetranslator/images/flag_ar.gif){kind=small}
