FC is looking for your best Christmas/Holiday Tips & Tricks!

[ajrsmom]

Originally Posted by cau

We have a few customs special to my family.
1. We have an Advent calendar in the shape of a tree with 25 pockets in it. I put some coins and a few candies but mainly fill it with slips of paper with things like worth 1 job done by mom, your favorite dinner, popcorn and Christmas movie night, no electronics tonight , decorate sweatshirts tonight , go see the Christmas lights tonight etc.
2. Everyday of Advent we do a good deed or go out of your way to say something nice to an enemy, at dinner we discuss what we did and give encouragement to continue
3. All our ornaments are either homemade or given as gifts.
4. I make a movie of our Christmas pictures every year

You've given me some great ideas to add to our "Countdown to Christmas" Calendar!! Thank you!!

Love the idea of making a movie of the family pictures!

[ajrsmom]

Originally Posted by RobertaD

Great idea Tami, I have several containers of candle that didn't burn all the wax but there is no wick left.

Roberta

Thank you! I was going to go out and buy new candles for Christmas but then I decided to try it to see if the scent would be as strong if I melted it this way. I believe that its even better this way.

[ajrsmom]

Originally Posted by fish3711

We have a Christmas Tree Tradition in my family. It is one I created for my kids, it wasn't one I grew up with. We all go to pick out our tree. Once we've picked it out and brought it home we all choose a name for it and write it on a slip of paper. Then we draw one name out and that is the tree's name. When we decorate it I make home made cookies and hot chocolate. And I insist on playing Christmas music. I used to tell my kids the christmas music is what kept the tree alive thru the holidays, LOL but they are much too old to believe that now... I like that the children who have moved out carry on these traditions in their own homes now.

Felicia

Love your family traditions! I believe that listening to Christmas music makes Christmas come alive when we are home!

[RobertaD]

We have carried on a tradition that DH's family did which is putting up the tree the first day in December that is snows. We have custard after the tree is up and turn all the lights off in the house and listen to Christmas music while watching the tree and eating our custard.

Roberta

[ajrsmom]

Originally Posted by RobertaD

We have carried on a tradition that DH's family did which is putting up the tree the first day in December that is snows. We have custard after the tree is up and turn all the lights off in the house and listen to Christmas music while watching the tree and eating our custard.

Roberta

Does it always snow early in Dec? Have you ever had a year that it didn't snow? That's a great tradition! Do you have a special custard recipe that you would share?

[ajrsmom]

Here's a tip for a stocking stuffer: Throughout the year Target runs special deals where if you buy a certain number of specific items or just specific items mentioned, they give you a $5.00 gift card. I've recently earned 2 of the $5. cards so I'm going to stick them into my kids' stockings. They love getting gift cards from just about anywhere.

[RobertaD]

No some years we didn't put the tree up until the 20th of Dec! Pretty much now as long as it has snowed we will put the tree up when we have time, the kids couldn't handle waiting.

I use the recipe that was DH's Grandmother's.
Baked Custard
10 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 T vanilla
1/2 t salt
6 cups milk (original was half & half)
nutmeg to sprinkle on top

preheat oven to 350f. Bake in a shallow glass pan coated with butter. Beat eggs in a large bowl on high for 1 min. Add salt & sugar, beat 1 min more, add milk & vanilla beat on low until blended. The more you beat it the smoother texture it gets so if you like it lumping don't over blend.

Bake 1 hour or until silver knife inserted in center comes out clean, cool. Chill if desired.

Roberta

[ajrsmom]

Originally Posted by RobertaD

No some years we didn't put the tree up until the 20th of Dec! Pretty much now as long as it has snowed we will put the tree up when we have time, the kids couldn't handle waiting.

I use the recipe that was DH's Grandmother's.
Baked Custard
10 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 T vanilla
1/2 t salt
6 cups milk (original was half & half)
nutmeg to sprinkle on top

preheat oven to 350f. Bake in a shallow glass pan coated with butter. Beat eggs in a large bowl on high for 1 min. Add salt & sugar, beat 1 min more, add milk & vanilla beat on low until blended. The more you beat it the smoother texture it gets so if you like it lumping don't over blend.

Bake 1 hour or until silver knife inserted in center comes out clean, cool. Chill if desired.

Roberta

Thanks Roberta! I can't say that I remember ever tasting homemade custard. Is it like pudding? I would love this but my dh prefers choc. Can I add cocoa or chocolate to it?

[Cooked]

One tip I find oh so helpful if you have pets or small children, put your unbreakable ornaments on the bottom part of the tree, they won't break when little hands or tails knock them off.

[Sweet Magnolia]

I used to make homemade hot chocolate while we were putting the tree up and decorating it. I always let the kids help decorate, no matter the size or age they were. It they piled too many up in one spot I simply moved them around on the tree after they went to sleep, they never noticed. We also read the story of the birth of the Christ child and The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.


I also make a real Caramel Pie
1 1/3 Cup sugar(divided)
1 Can evaporated milk
4 large eggs, separated
4 Tablespoons flour
4 Tablespoons margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla

1 pre-baked pie crust
Bake pie crust as directed on package, let cool.

Mix 1 Cup sugar & 4 Tablespoons flour stir well, add 4 egg yolks, mix well, add 1 can evaporated milk and mix well. Cook on stovetop until it begins to get hot. Stir very frequently.

Put 1/3 Cup sugar in a heavy cast iron skillet and melt to a medium caramel color then pour into the mixture cooking on stovetop stirring constantly as you are pouring.

When mixture in boiler on stovetop is thick, add 4 Tablespoons margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla, stir till the margarine is melted. Pour into cooked and cooled pie crust.

Meringue
4 large egg whites
1/3 Cup of sugar

Beat egg whites until slightly stiff, add sugar slowly, continue beating until stiff. Top pie with meringue and bake at 350*F until golden brown.


I seldom get the chance to share this recipe, people just call me to make them one or two.LOL
Hugs, Paula