Imagine…everything you need in one place.

A Holiday Handbook !

Instead of jotting important notes on backs of envelopes and clipping out ideas then losing them in a pile of paper your Holiday Handbook will be the one place to keep everything together and organized.

You’ll need:

·        One 1″ three-ring binder

·        Lined paper for notes and lists

·        Three holes punched folders

·        Sticky notes

·        Zipper pencil pouch

Yes, you can start even if you do not have all the items on the list. Grab a file folder and start collecting the items, when you get the binder transfer the items.

I use this to start collecting recipes and decorating ideas. I personally have 2.

One for Thanksgiving dinner and the other one for Christmas.
My tastes change from Christmas to Christmas for decorating and trying out recipes so I started making these about three years ago and it’s interesting to look back.

I’m thinking of starting a Halloween book this year. How about Easter? Fourth of July? etc.

Enjoy.

 
Gordon Ramsay: Cook with me Videos show Ramsay demonstrating how to master 56 recipes including the proper way to chop chiles, caramelize sugar and zest lemons. ($7.99)

 
Jamie Oliver: JAmies recipes build on a free basic app ( which offers 13 recipes) with addional sets, like 10-minute mealsm and classi comfort foo. Each includes step by step photos for 10 to 20 recipes (1.99 per set).

 
Nigella Lawson: Nigella Quick collection a smart voice controlled feature keeps sticky hands off the touch screen as you work your way through th70 creations. (7.99)

 
Tyler Florence: In addition to searching the colossal 500 dishes by ingredients or category, users can email Florence and his team for personalized advice. (4.99).

 
Mario Batali: Handy countdown clocks pop up thorugh out the 63 recipes. Whenever you need to saute or simmer for a specified number of minutes. (9.99)

Simplify and Savor the Holidays

This is the time every year that I start using my Holiday Handbook on a daily basis to keep my thoughts, lists and paperwork organized.

I've set up my handbook in a three ring binder. My dividers are notes/lists, christmas, recipes,thanksgiving, recipes and storage.

This is the perfect place to make a few quick notes. I make a note what went right and what you'd like to repeat (and not repeat) next Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Did I have enough food? Too much food? What did I forget? What recipes were a hit? Which should never be made again? How did the turkey turn out? How did I set the table? How was the traffic? Did I time things well? I also take photos of the table setting jsut to remember.

And most importantly I make notes about what and where I stored items I willl need again a year from now; because I am forever putting stuff away and then forget where I put it. Especially items that I only uses for the holidays I store in the attic and the attic trolls hide away on me. 

I hope this can help you for your holiday planning year afeter year.

Just as an aside, I also have a separate looseleaf that holds all my holiday recipes. Those I made and loved and then a separate section of those I would like to try. these usually are magazine cut outs that I find I want to try. So when I feel the urge to try something I go into this binder.

Pumpkin Carving is not only fun, but can easily produce something tasty! Choosing a good pumpkin is similar to choosing fruit at a supermarket. Choose one that is visually appealing and free from bruises, cuts and soft spots. Of course, a pumpkin with a flat side is key to a good design. Don’t forget: your pumpkin needs a stem, otherwise, sticking a candle in gets tricky!

Want to recycle your pumpkin's core?  Try toasted pumpkin seeds for a delicious, easy and nutritious snack!

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Separate the pumpkin seeds from the stringy core of the pumpkin. Rinse the seeds.
3. In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a half tablespoon of salt for every cup of water (more if you like your seeds saltier). Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.
4. Spread about a tablespoon of olive oil over the bottom of a roasting pan. Spread the seeds out over the roasting pan, all in one layer. Bake on the top rack until the seeds begin to brown, 10-20 minutes. When browned to your satisfaction, remove from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack. Let the seeds cool all the way down before eating. Either crack to remove the inner seed or just eat whole.

From SimplyRecipes.com

Shivering Bats Shades

Create spooky shadows with this decorative idea.

1. Find a picture of a bat that can be cut out as a template.
2. Trace the template onto black construction paper, enough times to evenly cover the inside of the lamp shade.
3. Using double sided tape, place the bats on the inside of a lamp shade. Translucent white paper lampshades work best.

From MarthaStewart.com

Freaky Witches Fingers 

These fingers will look so real, you might have to close your eyes to eat them!

Ingredients: 1 cup softened butter, 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp almond extract, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, ¾ cup whole almonds (skinned), 1 (.75 ounce) tube of red decorating gel

1. Combine butter, sugar, egg, almond extract and vanilla extract in bowl and beat together with an electric mixer.
2. Gradually add flour, baking powder, and salt until it has a dough-like texture.
3. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
5. Remove dough. Scoop 1 heaping tsp. at a time onto waxed paper. Using waxed paper, roll the dough into thin finger-like shapes.
6. Press an almond into one end of each finger to look like a fingernail. Squeeze and pinch the front and center of the cookies to look like knuckles. Arrange on baking sheets.
7. Bake in oven until golden in color. (20-25 minutes)
8. Let cool. Remove almonds and squeeze a tiny amount of red gel where the almond was. Replace the almond back in place to make gel look like oozing blood.

(Makes 60 servings)
From AllRecipes.com