UEEN AFFEINE’S ASTLE ISPATCH

Christmas can be the warmest and happiest season of the year for many people, even though time always seems at a premium. The holidays are also when creating decorations and presents is most fun and fulfilling and appreciated by those receiving the lovingly made gifts. These crafts are ones that come from the heart. Sometimes they become heirlooms to be passed from one generation to the next.

Crafting is a wonderful way to escape crowded shopping malls and the mad race to find that "perfect" gift. It can become an excellent teaching tool for your children. That special quality time that you look for to bond closer to your children can be used during crafting time.

Christmas Craft Ideas:
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/chri...tmas_crafts.htm

Here is a listing on that page of some of the crafts that you can view.

Clay Pot Reindeer Candy Holders Sparkling Snowflake Ornaments
Beaded Glitter Napkin Rings Hands and Feet Reindeer
Craft Spoon Christmas Tree Snowman Pin or Magnet
Easy Tree Ornament Glitter Star Window Stickers
Candy Cane Reindeer Gift Box Ornaments
Pine Cone Tree Holiday Penguin Pal
Christmas Wreath Beaded Tree Ornaments
Reindeer Antlers Candy Cane Mouse
Sparkling Snowball Jingle Bell Door Hanger

I will be putting a lot of crafts for you to do on the castle in the upcoming weeks. So please view often for many different types of ornaments, crafts and homemade gifts.

FOR THE KIDS
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/crafts.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/

http://www.imagitek.com/xmas/crafts/

Santa Claus is really excited you've come to visit!
Santa Claus has the Village full of new fun this year for both kids and parents. Check your Naughty or Nice rating on the new Nice-O-Meter™. Visit the new Toy Workshop to choose your personal Elf Buddy and see the most incredible Toy Making Machine yet. At Santa's House, see him playing basketball and having snowball fights on the The Santa Show. You can even listen to original Claus.com Christmas songs and see a fully animated cartoon!

http://www.claus.com/village.php

CHRISTMAS SONGS, PRAYERS AND PLAYS
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/songs.html

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD
http://www.caslt.org/research/christmas4.htm

EASY SUPPER

For those days you know you’re going to be short on time, try some crock pot cooking.  Toss it together the night before and keep in the fridge overnight or put it all together that morning.  Either way, let it cook all day and it’s ready to eat when you are.

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken

http://health.webmd.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/hqeC0L7Voq0Dt40skE0EK

Pork Roast With Spicy Maple Glaze

http://health.webmd.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/hqeC0L7Voq0Dt40skE0EK

Beef Bourguignon

This is a light version of the French classic.

http://health.webmd.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/hqeC0L7Voq0Dt40skE0EK

GIVE A GIFT OF FOOD

Simple Christmas Food Gifts

http://email.lhj.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBDGQ0MY6bp0Me0H6Cd0GK&email=702466896

Christmas Candy Recipes

http://email.lhj.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBDGQ0MY6bp0Me0H6Ce0GL&email=702466896

Simply Homemade Food Gifts

http://email.lhj.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBDGQ0MY6bp0Me0H6Cg0GN&email=702466896

HEALTHY TREATS TO GIVE

Carrot-Oatmeal Cookies

Packed with flavor and vitamins, these cookies are delicious with hot apple cider after an afternoon playing in the snow.

What you need:  

▪  nonstick vegetable spray
▪  1/3 cup canola oil
▪  1/3 cup brown sugar
▪  1/3 cup molasses
▪  2 egg whites
▪  1 cup all-purpose flour
▪  1/2 tsp. baking powder
▪  1/2 tsp. baking soda
▪  1/4 tsp. nutmeg
▪  1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
▪  1/4 tsp. cinnamon
▪  1 cup grated carrots
▪  1 1/4 cups instant oatmeal
▪  1/2 cup golden raisins (optional)
▪  walnuts (up to 1/2 cup; optional)What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Coat 2 cookie sheets with nonstick vegetable spray and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, beat together oil, brown sugar, molasses, and egg whites.

4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, dry milk, and cinnamon.

5. Add the dry mixture to the oil mixture.

6. Add the remaining ingredients to the flour and oil mixture.

7. Mix well with a whisk or let kids crumble together the ingredients with clean hands.

8. Drop rounded teaspoons of the dough onto the cookie sheets,

9. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.

10. Remove the cookies, cool, and serve. Or freeze to serve later.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Sweet Potato Chips

These are a good alternative to greasy, high-sodium chips when your child wants a snack while watching television or playing video games.

What you need:

·       nonstick vegetable spray

·       2 medium sweet potatoes

·       2 tsp. vegetable oil

·       1 tsp. sugar

·       1/2 tsp. cinnamon

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Coat cookie sheets with nonstick vegetable spray and set aside.

3. Wash and skin potatoes.

4. Cut potatoes into thin slices

5. Gently rub a little bit of oil onto the potato slices as you place them in a bowl. Toss with your hands to distribute the oil.

6. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

7. Toss again.

8. Spread the slices on the baking sheets and cook for 20 minutes.

9. Turn chips and bake another 5 minutes or until slightly crisp.

10. Cool and serve.

Salsa

Heat things up with a little south-of-the-border flavor. You'll need to do most of the chopping, but kids can dish out the salsa to spice up meals and snacks.

What you need:

• 2 ripe tomatoes

• 1 ripe kiwi

• 1/2 onion

• 1/2 green pepper

• 1 stalk of celery

• 1/2 jalapeno (minced)

• handful of minced cilantro (optional)

• small can of black beans (drained)

• salt to taste

What to do:

1. Wash and dry all the vegetables.

2. Chop the tomatoes, kiwi, onion, and pepper into very fine cubes.

3. Mix in the remaining ingredients.

Use to top quesadillas, tacos, chips, potatoes, and pretzels.

THINGS KIDS CAN HELP YOU MAKE

Very Easy Banana Pancakes

What you need:

• 2 cups pancake mix

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup milk

• 1 mashed, ripe banana

• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil or butter for greasing

What to do:
1. Mash bananas with hand masher. Tip: Have your child use the masher inside a low-sided plastic container (about the size of a sandwich) or a 9" x 9" baking pan. This helps your child's aim and visual focusing skills. You can hold the sides of the container as she mashes with both hands.

2. Measure the baking mix and the milk, and mix together.

3. Crack the eggs into the mixture. Tip: Use a cup and saucer as a simple egg- cracking device. Gently hold the egg within your child's hand, and guide her to crack the egg on the edge of the cup. Open the egg together and watch it fall into the cup. The saucer is there to catch any "oopsies" that miss the cup!

4. Beat the egg into the batter, using a wire whisk or hand beater, until well blended. Tip: Hold the bowl for your child as she stirs the whisk around and around. Sing a little song together (such as "All Around the Mulberry Bush") as she stirs. This will help you to be sure to stir long enough.

5. Dip ?-cup scoop in batter, and drop onto a warm, lightly greased (with butter or oil) frying pan or griddle. Tip: If possible, use an electric frying pan on a low, sturdy table. It is easier and safer for your child to reach and use. Explain that the sides will get hot.

6. When the edges are dry, turn the pancakes, and cook them until they are light golden brown. Tip: Use a grill spatula with an extra-long handle. This will keep your child's hands away from the edge of the pan.

Easy Marbleized Brownies

What you need:

For brownies:

• 1 package brownie mix (19.8 oz.)

• 2 tbsp. water

• ? cup canola oil

• 2 eggs

For swirl:

• 3 oz. whipped cream cheese

• 2 tbsp. butter (softened)

• ? cup sugar

• 1 egg

• 1? tbsp. flour

• 1 tsp. vanilla

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

2. Grease bottom of a 13" x 9" pan.

3. Cream 2 tbsp. butter with cream cheese in a medium bowl until soft. Gradually add ? cup sugar, creaming until light and fluffy. Tip: Creaming can be difficult for the best of bakers. Be sure your ingredients are at room temperature. Have your child use a large, flat fork to cream the butter with the cream cheese while you gradually add the sugar. Then trade jobs!

4. Beat in 1 egg, 1? tbsp. flour, and 1 tsp. vanilla at medium speed until smooth. Set aside.

5. Combine the brownie mix, water, oil, and 2 eggs in a large bowl. Beat for fifty strokes with a wooden spoon. Tip: It's fun to count the strokes together. Count along with your child if she can't count that high.

6. Spread half of the brownie batter into the greased pan.

7. Drop spoonfuls of the swirl mixture onto the brownie batter.

8. Spoon the remaining brownie batter over filling.

9. Pull a knife through the batter in wide curves, turn pan, and repeat for a marbled effect. Tip: Demonstrate an "S" curve in the air with your finger. Make one swipe through the batter to show your child how to marbleize. Then hold the pan as she moves the table knife in "S" curves through the batter. Try moving side to side and bottom to top.

10. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Super-Delicious Sugar Cookies

What you need:

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1? cups confectioners' sugar

• 1 egg

• 2 tsp. vanilla

• 2? cups flour

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. cream of tartar

What to do:

1. You can also use refrigerated sugar cookie dough — roll out, and cut with cutters.

2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (using an electric mixer on low speed.) Tip: Hold the bowl steady, and invite your child to hold the beater with two hands, making small circular motions. Tell her to always keep the beater firmly down on the bottom of the bowl.

3. Add egg and vanilla, and continue to mix until smooth.

4. Combine flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar in a small bowl, and slowly mix into butter mixture.

5. Gather dough into a ball, press into a disk shape, and wrap in plastic. Chill dough for an hour.

6. Preheat oven to 375° F.

7. On a lightly floured surface, roll to approximately 1/8" thickness. Tip: The trick to using a rolling pin is to roll and press at the same time. Have your child first practice rolling with both hands on a dry board to get the feel of the back-and-forth motion. Then show how to press down while rolling. Your child can try practicing on play dough or clay a few days ahead of time.

8. Use winter-themed cookie cutters to create shapes. Tip: Often the problem with little hands and cookie cutters is that kids don't press down hard enough to cut through the dough. Suggest to your child that she use both hands and lean into the cutter to make a deep cut. (Again, a low work surface helps.)

9. Bake on a greased baking sheet until light brown (8 to 10 minutes). Remove cookies and place on a baking rack to cool. Tip: Have your child use a spatula to lift the cookies off the board and onto the cookie sheet.

Royal Icing

Royal icing is perfect for holiday cookies you want to serve or give as gifts — the icing dries hard so you can stack and/or freeze your cookies ahead of time.

The recipe for the icing is very simple. The trick is the consistency. If the icing seems too thin, add more sugar. If it is too thick, add more corn syrup or water. The goal is to create icing that is easy to paint or squeeze onto the cookies.

It is essential that the cookies be completely cool before icing them. Try making a two-day cookie event with your child. Make the batter, roll, cut, and bake one day. Ice and decorate the next day.

What you need:

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

• 2 tsp. milk

• 2 tsp. light corn syrup

• food coloring

What to do:

1. In a small bowl, stir together the confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth.

2. Add the corn syrup, and mix well. If the icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.

3. Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to the desired intensity. Tip: Remember that the icing dries quickly. Make small amounts at a time, and keep the container covered. You can use clean, small yogurt containers to hold the separate icing colors. Cut a hole or slit in the cover to stick the brush through.

4. Paint the icing on cookies with brushes. Tip: New watercolor brushes are easiest for your child to use when painting the icing.

5. Colored sprinkles or sugar can be added while the icing is still wet to create a textured appearance. Tip: Your child can sprinkle on decorations using colored sugars or sprinkles that are placed in clean spice containers with shaker tops.

Boost Your Energy for the Holidays

·       10 Fatigue Fighters  

·       FREE! Stress Busters Newsletter  

·       6 Energy-Boosting Foods  

·       7 Secrets of High-Energy People  

·       Do You Have Enough "Me" Time?  

·       Saying No Gracefully  

·       8 Tips for More Joy, Less Stress  

Reduce Holiday Stress

Family tension, strained gift budgets, holiday entertaining -- tips for surviving holiday stress.

Holiday In-Law Handling Tips 

http://email.lhj.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBDTu0SEvMM0Dmi0H6dP0Gy&email=1060250392

A Stress-Less Season  

http://email.lhj.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBDTu0SEvMM0Dmi0H6dQ0Gz&email=1060250392

How to Give Christmas Gifts Without Overspending

http://email.lhj.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBDTu0SEvMM0Dmi0H6dR0G1&email=1060250392

Quiz: Find the Perfect Present  

http://email.lhj.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBDTu0SEvMM0Dmi0H6dS0G2&email=1060250392

Naughty and Nice Holiday Foods  

 http://www.webmd.com/solutions/healthy-holidays/holiday-food

10 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

http://www.webmd.com/solutions/healthy-holidays/diet 

How to Keep Holidays Healthy and Happy    http://www.webmd.com/solutions/healthy-holidays/fitness 

Holiday Recipes Makeover   

http://www.webmd.com/solutions/healthy-holidays/makeovers 

Hot and Healthy Holiday Drinks  

http://www.webmd.com/solutions/healthy-holidays/drinks

Courtesy http://www.webmd.com ; http://www.lhj.com

ADDICTING FUN!!!!!!!!!!

From http://www.bhg.com is Trim-a-Tree, their newest online design tool where you can create Christmas tree looks and print them out on a color printer.  Or do like I do and just decorate trees all day!

http://email.lhj.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nBDTu0SEvMM0Dmi0H6dd0GK&email=1060250392

“You'll enjoy playing with garlands, ornaments, bows, and more. Try turning the lights on and off and don't miss the "Decorate for Me" feature where you can drag ornament sets onto the tree for a super-quick look at styles. Trim-a-Tree Tip: You can color and resize most ornaments to get just the right look and scale for the tree.”

MISHEARD CHRISTMAS SONG LYRICS

Deck the Halls

Deck the halls with Buddy Holly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our day of peril,

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yulbie Forest,
Fa la la la la la, la la la.
Strike the heart, enjoy the florist,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Deck the halls with bells of jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

A Christmas Prayer

By Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father, 
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world. 
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing 
which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. 

May the Christmas morning 
make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, 
for Jesus' sake.

Amen.