THE GIFT OF LISTENING
But you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your responses, no second-guessing. Just listen
THE GIFT OF AFFECTION
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, and pats on the back. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for your family and dose friends.
THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER
Clip and share cartoons and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”
THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE
It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT
A simple and sincere, “You look great in red,” “You did a super job,” or “That was wonderful,” can make someone’s day.
THE GIFT OF A FAVOR
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE
There are times when you want nothing more than to be left alone. Be sensitive to that same need in others and give the gift of solitude when it seems needed.
THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION
The easiest way to feel good is to offer a kind word to someone. Really, just a cheery “Hello,” or “How are you?”
can go a long way.
From the 2001 Farmers' Almanac.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Christmas Traditions
The Christmas Tree In the middle ages, the Paradise tree, an evergreen hung with red apples, was the symbol of the feast of Adam and Eve held on December 24th. When I was looking into taditions I found a custom from Denmark that I liked. The family would an elaborate procession that would march around the house until they arrived at the room where the Christmas tree had miraculously appeared decorated with apples. They then told the account of Adam and Eve all the way down to the birth of Christ. The first recorded reference to the Christmas tree dates back to the 16th century. In Strasbourg, Germany (now part of France), families both rich and poor decorated fir trees with colored paper, fruits and sweets. Martin Luther is credited with the introduction of the Christmas tree to the holiday celebration. It is believed that he was walking on Christmas Eve and was so moved by the starlit sky he took a fir tree home and attached candles to its branches to remind children of the heavens. In Victorian times the Germans decorated their Christmas trees with sweetmeats and fruits which couldn't be eaten until the tree was taken down after Twelfth Night- a joyful climax to the season for children. Christmas Cards The custom of sending Christmas cards started in Britain in 1840 when the first 'Penny Post' public postal deliveries began. (Helped by the new railway system, the public postal service was the 19th century's communication revolution, just as email is for us today.) As printing methods improved, Christmas cards were produced in large numbers from about 1860. They became even more popular in Britain when a card could be posted in an unsealed envelope for one half-penny - half the price of an ordinary letter. Hanging A Stocking The idea of hanging stockings out on Christmas Eve is believed to have come from Amsterdam, where children leave out their shoes on St. Nicholas's Eve in hopes that he will fill them with goodies. But where did the people of Amsterdam get the idea? Perhaps from St. Nicholas himself. One of the most popular stories surrounding the saint concerns his generosity to the three daughters of a poor family. It seems the daughters were of marriageable age, but could not marry because they had no dowry. Nicholas heard of their plight and set out to help them. In the middle of the night, Nicholas threw bags of gold coins down the girls' chimney. The bags landed in the girls' stockings, which they had hung out to dry.
Holiday's on a Shoestring
Farmer’s Almanac 2010
Don’t let the downturn in the economy cast a “bah, humbug” on your holiday plans this year. Holiday entertaining doesn’t have to be expensive. With a little creativity, you can throw a fantastic party without breaking the bank. After all, it’s the company of your family and friends that matters, so check out these tips, then go ahead and start spreading the holiday cheer!
Make your own invitations. Store-bought invitations can be pricey, so why not jump on the computer and design and print your own customized invites? Or even better, go totally paperless and send electronic invitations.
Classic decorations. Simple greenery and ribbons are always festive. For added atmosphere and elegance, place votive candles inside wine glasses. Pinecones or tree ornaments in a crystal vase or bowl make a beautiful table centerpiece.
Borrow instead of buy. If you are short on items such as dinnerware or table linens, borrow what you need from a friend or family member instead of shelling out money at the store.
Keep it small. If the budget is tight, consider hosting a small party with just your closest friends.
Brunch. Brunch can be a less-expensive and a more unique holiday hosting idea. A menu of quiche and various fruits is simple and won’t empty the pocketbook.
Open house. Invite guests to drop by at their convenience during afternoon party hours. Light hors d’oeuvres will be plenty for guests during this time of day.
Go potluck. Ask guests to bring their favorite dish. Most people enjoy sharing their specialties, and it is a great way to cut costs.
Host a movie night. Rent your favorite holiday classic, and invite your friends over for a casual evening in front of the TV. Prepare simple appetizers, or have guests bring their favorite finger foods. And don’t forget the popcorn and hot chocolate!
Dessert party. Hosting a dinner can be expensive, so why not plan a dessert party? Set up an ice cream sundae bar. Or have guests bring their favorite goodies along with the recipe to share. You could even whip up a batch of cookie dough and let guests bake and decorate sugar cookies. Use your imagination
Don’t let the downturn in the economy cast a “bah, humbug” on your holiday plans this year. Holiday entertaining doesn’t have to be expensive. With a little creativity, you can throw a fantastic party without breaking the bank. After all, it’s the company of your family and friends that matters, so check out these tips, then go ahead and start spreading the holiday cheer!
Make your own invitations. Store-bought invitations can be pricey, so why not jump on the computer and design and print your own customized invites? Or even better, go totally paperless and send electronic invitations.
Classic decorations. Simple greenery and ribbons are always festive. For added atmosphere and elegance, place votive candles inside wine glasses. Pinecones or tree ornaments in a crystal vase or bowl make a beautiful table centerpiece.
Borrow instead of buy. If you are short on items such as dinnerware or table linens, borrow what you need from a friend or family member instead of shelling out money at the store.
Keep it small. If the budget is tight, consider hosting a small party with just your closest friends.
Brunch. Brunch can be a less-expensive and a more unique holiday hosting idea. A menu of quiche and various fruits is simple and won’t empty the pocketbook.
Open house. Invite guests to drop by at their convenience during afternoon party hours. Light hors d’oeuvres will be plenty for guests during this time of day.
Go potluck. Ask guests to bring their favorite dish. Most people enjoy sharing their specialties, and it is a great way to cut costs.
Host a movie night. Rent your favorite holiday classic, and invite your friends over for a casual evening in front of the TV. Prepare simple appetizers, or have guests bring their favorite finger foods. And don’t forget the popcorn and hot chocolate!
Dessert party. Hosting a dinner can be expensive, so why not plan a dessert party? Set up an ice cream sundae bar. Or have guests bring their favorite goodies along with the recipe to share. You could even whip up a batch of cookie dough and let guests bake and decorate sugar cookies. Use your imagination
Celebration Amid Scarcity
Pioneer Christmas - Celebration Amid Scarcity
Even as they struggled for sufficient food and shelter, the Mormon pioneers took time their first year in the Valley to celebrate Christmas and staged Christmas dinners that ranged from boiled rabbit to splendid spreads. The settlers also set aside time for contemplation and celebration at the close of the year.
Some of the story of the first Mormon Christmas holiday celebration in Utah (in 1847) is well known and reflects the deprivation and discomfort of pioneer life. Elizabeth Huffaker, who participated in that first Christmas celebration as a child, recalled that temporal needs overshadowed the holiday festivities. “We all worked as usual that day,” she remembered. “The men gathered sage brush, and some even plowed, for though it had snowed, the ground was soft and the plows were used nearly the entire day.”
On the following day, Sunday, a large meeting was held around the flagpole at the center of the fort. Children played and the group sang “Come, Come, Ye Saints.” Huffaker’s Christmas dinner consisted of boiled rabbit and bread. Despite spending the holiday in unfamiliar and straitened circumstances, Huffaker concluded that “in the sense of perfect peace and good will I never had a happier Christmas in all my life.
Young Elizabeth Huffaker may have captured the way most Mormons in the Valley spent their First Christmas, but there were some who celebrated more festively. According to the diary of Eliza R. Snow, a flurry of holiday activities began before Christmas and extended through the New Year….Christmas Day found Eliza at a party hosted by Lorenzo Young. At least a dozen guests “freely & sociably partook of the good things of the earth,” including a “splendid dinner.”
Another pioneer Christmas party was a social for the little girls of the camp, hosted by Clara Decker Young. The week between Christmas and New Year’s found women gathering at the Willis home, where President John Smith taught and blessed them; other Saints assembled to hear Parley P. Pratt give a discourse titled “The Velocity of the Motion of Bodies When Surrounded by a Refined Element.
Brother Brigham’s Mammoth Sleigh
As in so many other things, Brother Brigham’s 1865 celebration set the pace, according to the Deseret News: “Among the ‘sleigh items’ of the times, we noticed President Young and a number of the male members of his family, with a few friends, out sleigh driving on Monday, in that mammoth sleigh, with some others of a smaller calibre in the wake.”
Pioneer Santa
Other poignant and humorous scenes filled Mormon homes on Christmas morning. On one Christmas Eve in pioneer Ephraim, two young girls excitedly tacked their woolen stockings to the front of their family fireplace. Scurrying off to bed, both girls had visions of the next morning, when, if Santa Claus had made it to Ephraim on his travels throughout the world, they would reach into their stockings and find a glorious mug.
When morning arrived, one sister anxiously poked into her stocking and pulled out the much anticipated mug. Hot on her sister’s heels, the other pioneer girl peered inside her own stocking and, much to her chagrin, found only an apple and a fried cake. Dejected, she blurted out disgustedly, “Such darn partiality.” Bowed, but unbroken, the second sister managed to find the bottom of her stocking, where she discovered her own mug “and was so happy she forgave Santa Claus.” [vi]
Richard Ian Kimball is an Assistant Professor of History at BYU. He earned a B.A. in American Studies from BYU and an M.A. and Ph.D in History from Purdue University.
Others of that era also dealt with harsh circumstances with resilience and even good spirits.
Out, for those in the Old West, far away from the more civilized life of the east, pioneers, cowboys, explorers, and mountain men, usually celebrated Christmas with homemade gifts and humble fare.
Christmas for many in the Old West was a difficult time. For those on the prairies, they were often barraged with terrible blizzards and savage December winds. For mountain men, forced away from their mining activities long before Christmas, in fear of the blinding winter storms and freezing cold, the holidays were often meager. But, to these strong pioneers, Christmas would not be forgotten, be it ever so humble.
Determined to bring the spirit of Christmas alive on the American frontier, soldiers could be heard caroling at their remote outposts, the smell of venison roasting over an open hearth wafted upon the winds of the open prairie, and these hardy pioneers looked forward to the chance to forget their hard everyday lives to focus on the holiday.
Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote of the preparations for Christmas on the Kansas Prairie: "Ma was busy all day long, cooking good things for Christmas. She baked salt-rising bread and r'n'Injun bread, and Swedish crackers, and huge pan of baked beans, with salt pork and molasses. She baked vinegar pies and dried-apple pies, and filled a big jar with cookies, and she let Laura and Mary lick the cake spoon. “That very Christmas, Laura Ingalls was delighted to find a shiny new tin cup, a peppermint candy, a heart shaped cake, and a brand new penny in her stocking. For in those days, these four small gifts in her stocking were a wealth of gifts to the young girl.
Though perhaps modest, these hardy pioneers made every attempt to decorate their homes for the holidays with whatever natural materials looked attractive at the bleakest time of year, such as evergreens, pinecones, holly, nuts, and berries.
For some, there might even be a Christmas tree, gaily decorated with bits of ribbon, yarn, berries, popcorn or paper strings, and homemade decorations. Some of these home made decorations were often figures or dolls made of straw or yarn. Cookie dough ornaments and gingerbread men were also popular. In other places, wood was simply to scarce to “waste” on a tree, if one could be found at all. Other pioneer homes were simply too small to make room for a tree.
At the very least, almost every home would make the holiday a time of feasting -- bringing out preserved fruits and vegetables, fresh game if possible, and for those that could afford it, maybe even beef or a ham. Many women began to bake for the holiday weeks ahead of time, leaving the plum pudding to age in the pot until Christmas dinner.
Even as they struggled for sufficient food and shelter, the Mormon pioneers took time their first year in the Valley to celebrate Christmas and staged Christmas dinners that ranged from boiled rabbit to splendid spreads. The settlers also set aside time for contemplation and celebration at the close of the year.
Some of the story of the first Mormon Christmas holiday celebration in Utah (in 1847) is well known and reflects the deprivation and discomfort of pioneer life. Elizabeth Huffaker, who participated in that first Christmas celebration as a child, recalled that temporal needs overshadowed the holiday festivities. “We all worked as usual that day,” she remembered. “The men gathered sage brush, and some even plowed, for though it had snowed, the ground was soft and the plows were used nearly the entire day.”
On the following day, Sunday, a large meeting was held around the flagpole at the center of the fort. Children played and the group sang “Come, Come, Ye Saints.” Huffaker’s Christmas dinner consisted of boiled rabbit and bread. Despite spending the holiday in unfamiliar and straitened circumstances, Huffaker concluded that “in the sense of perfect peace and good will I never had a happier Christmas in all my life.
Young Elizabeth Huffaker may have captured the way most Mormons in the Valley spent their First Christmas, but there were some who celebrated more festively. According to the diary of Eliza R. Snow, a flurry of holiday activities began before Christmas and extended through the New Year….Christmas Day found Eliza at a party hosted by Lorenzo Young. At least a dozen guests “freely & sociably partook of the good things of the earth,” including a “splendid dinner.”
Another pioneer Christmas party was a social for the little girls of the camp, hosted by Clara Decker Young. The week between Christmas and New Year’s found women gathering at the Willis home, where President John Smith taught and blessed them; other Saints assembled to hear Parley P. Pratt give a discourse titled “The Velocity of the Motion of Bodies When Surrounded by a Refined Element.
Brother Brigham’s Mammoth Sleigh
As in so many other things, Brother Brigham’s 1865 celebration set the pace, according to the Deseret News: “Among the ‘sleigh items’ of the times, we noticed President Young and a number of the male members of his family, with a few friends, out sleigh driving on Monday, in that mammoth sleigh, with some others of a smaller calibre in the wake.”
Pioneer Santa
Other poignant and humorous scenes filled Mormon homes on Christmas morning. On one Christmas Eve in pioneer Ephraim, two young girls excitedly tacked their woolen stockings to the front of their family fireplace. Scurrying off to bed, both girls had visions of the next morning, when, if Santa Claus had made it to Ephraim on his travels throughout the world, they would reach into their stockings and find a glorious mug.
When morning arrived, one sister anxiously poked into her stocking and pulled out the much anticipated mug. Hot on her sister’s heels, the other pioneer girl peered inside her own stocking and, much to her chagrin, found only an apple and a fried cake. Dejected, she blurted out disgustedly, “Such darn partiality.” Bowed, but unbroken, the second sister managed to find the bottom of her stocking, where she discovered her own mug “and was so happy she forgave Santa Claus.” [vi]
Richard Ian Kimball is an Assistant Professor of History at BYU. He earned a B.A. in American Studies from BYU and an M.A. and Ph.D in History from Purdue University.
Others of that era also dealt with harsh circumstances with resilience and even good spirits.
Out, for those in the Old West, far away from the more civilized life of the east, pioneers, cowboys, explorers, and mountain men, usually celebrated Christmas with homemade gifts and humble fare.
Christmas for many in the Old West was a difficult time. For those on the prairies, they were often barraged with terrible blizzards and savage December winds. For mountain men, forced away from their mining activities long before Christmas, in fear of the blinding winter storms and freezing cold, the holidays were often meager. But, to these strong pioneers, Christmas would not be forgotten, be it ever so humble.
Determined to bring the spirit of Christmas alive on the American frontier, soldiers could be heard caroling at their remote outposts, the smell of venison roasting over an open hearth wafted upon the winds of the open prairie, and these hardy pioneers looked forward to the chance to forget their hard everyday lives to focus on the holiday.
Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote of the preparations for Christmas on the Kansas Prairie: "Ma was busy all day long, cooking good things for Christmas. She baked salt-rising bread and r'n'Injun bread, and Swedish crackers, and huge pan of baked beans, with salt pork and molasses. She baked vinegar pies and dried-apple pies, and filled a big jar with cookies, and she let Laura and Mary lick the cake spoon. “That very Christmas, Laura Ingalls was delighted to find a shiny new tin cup, a peppermint candy, a heart shaped cake, and a brand new penny in her stocking. For in those days, these four small gifts in her stocking were a wealth of gifts to the young girl.
Though perhaps modest, these hardy pioneers made every attempt to decorate their homes for the holidays with whatever natural materials looked attractive at the bleakest time of year, such as evergreens, pinecones, holly, nuts, and berries.
For some, there might even be a Christmas tree, gaily decorated with bits of ribbon, yarn, berries, popcorn or paper strings, and homemade decorations. Some of these home made decorations were often figures or dolls made of straw or yarn. Cookie dough ornaments and gingerbread men were also popular. In other places, wood was simply to scarce to “waste” on a tree, if one could be found at all. Other pioneer homes were simply too small to make room for a tree.
At the very least, almost every home would make the holiday a time of feasting -- bringing out preserved fruits and vegetables, fresh game if possible, and for those that could afford it, maybe even beef or a ham. Many women began to bake for the holiday weeks ahead of time, leaving the plum pudding to age in the pot until Christmas dinner.
Holiday Decoration Safety Tips
Holiday Decoration Safety Tips
CPSC-611 A publication of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Trees
Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection.
A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness, remember:
A fresh tree is green.
Fresh needles are hard to pull from branches.
When bent between your fingers, fresh needles do not break.
The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin.
When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that tree is too dry.
Place tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Heated rooms dry trees out rapidly, creating fire hazards.
Cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption. Trim away branches as necessary to set tree trunk in the base of a sturdy, water-holding stand with wide spread feet. Keep the stand filled with water while the tree is indoors.
Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. Use thin guy-wires to secure a large tree to walls or ceiling. These wires are almost invisible.
“Snow”
Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled. To avoid injury, read container labels; follow directions carefully.
Lights
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the label from an independent testing laboratory.
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house, walls or other firm support to protect from wind damage.
Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a fire.
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.
The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and any person touching a branch could be electrocuted! To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside a tree, never fastened onto it!
Keep “bubbling” lights away from children. These lights with their bright colors and bubbling movement can tempt curious children to break candle-shaped glass, which can cut, and attempt to drink liquid, which contains a hazardous chemical.
Candles
Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens.
Always use non-flammable holders.
Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper.
Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.
Trimmings
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials.
Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass “angel hair” to avoid irritation to eyes and skin.
Choose tinsel or artificial icicles or plastic or non-leaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
In homes with small children, take special care to:
Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.
Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children. Pieces could be swallowed or inhaled.
Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food. A child could eat them!
Fires
Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that flue is open.
Keep a screen before the fireplace all the time a fire is burning.
Use care with “fire salts” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals which can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if eaten. Keep away from children.
Paper
When making paper decorations, look for materials labeled non-combustible or flame-resistant.
Never place trimming near open flames or electrical connections.
Remove all wrapping papers from tree and fireplace areas immediately after presents are opened.
Do not burn papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
General Rules for
Holiday Safety
Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of the reach of children.
Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.
Make an emergency plan to use if a fire breaks out anywhere in the home. See that each family member knows what to do. PRACTICE THE PLAN!
Avoid wearing loose flowing clothes—particularly long, open sleeves—near open flames - such as those of a fireplace, stove, or candlelit table.
Never burn candles near evergreens. Burning evergreens in the fireplace can also be hazardous. When dry, greens burn like tinder. Flames can flare out of control, and send sparks flying into a room, or up the chimney to ignite creosote deposits.
Plan for safety. Remember, there is no substitute for common sense. Look for and eliminate potential danger spots near candles, fireplaces, trees, and/or electrical connections.
CPSC-611 A publication of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Trees
Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection.
A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness, remember:
A fresh tree is green.
Fresh needles are hard to pull from branches.
When bent between your fingers, fresh needles do not break.
The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin.
When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that tree is too dry.
Place tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Heated rooms dry trees out rapidly, creating fire hazards.
Cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption. Trim away branches as necessary to set tree trunk in the base of a sturdy, water-holding stand with wide spread feet. Keep the stand filled with water while the tree is indoors.
Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. Use thin guy-wires to secure a large tree to walls or ceiling. These wires are almost invisible.
“Snow”
Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled. To avoid injury, read container labels; follow directions carefully.
Lights
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the label from an independent testing laboratory.
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house, walls or other firm support to protect from wind damage.
Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a fire.
Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.
The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and any person touching a branch could be electrocuted! To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside a tree, never fastened onto it!
Keep “bubbling” lights away from children. These lights with their bright colors and bubbling movement can tempt curious children to break candle-shaped glass, which can cut, and attempt to drink liquid, which contains a hazardous chemical.
Candles
Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens.
Always use non-flammable holders.
Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper.
Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.
Trimmings
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials.
Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass “angel hair” to avoid irritation to eyes and skin.
Choose tinsel or artificial icicles or plastic or non-leaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
In homes with small children, take special care to:
Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.
Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children. Pieces could be swallowed or inhaled.
Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food. A child could eat them!
Fires
Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that flue is open.
Keep a screen before the fireplace all the time a fire is burning.
Use care with “fire salts” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals which can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if eaten. Keep away from children.
Paper
When making paper decorations, look for materials labeled non-combustible or flame-resistant.
Never place trimming near open flames or electrical connections.
Remove all wrapping papers from tree and fireplace areas immediately after presents are opened.
Do not burn papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
General Rules for
Holiday Safety
Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of the reach of children.
Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.
Make an emergency plan to use if a fire breaks out anywhere in the home. See that each family member knows what to do. PRACTICE THE PLAN!
Avoid wearing loose flowing clothes—particularly long, open sleeves—near open flames - such as those of a fireplace, stove, or candlelit table.
Never burn candles near evergreens. Burning evergreens in the fireplace can also be hazardous. When dry, greens burn like tinder. Flames can flare out of control, and send sparks flying into a room, or up the chimney to ignite creosote deposits.
Plan for safety. Remember, there is no substitute for common sense. Look for and eliminate potential danger spots near candles, fireplaces, trees, and/or electrical connections.
Christmas Recipes
Old-Fashioned English Trifle I’ve always thought that Trifle was created as a way to use left over/stale cake (and this seems to agree with me). The brandy can be omitted – just add back some of the juice drained from the strawberries/raspberries. Also, I’ve used packaged pudding instead of the custard mix – when I have wanted to make it richer, I have added an egg to the cooked packaged pudding). 1 (18.25 ounce) yellow cake mix 1 cup jam or jelly (any flavor) 1 (10 ounce) package frozen strawberries or 1/2 cup nuts, finely chopped raspberries, thawed and drained 2 to 4 tablespoons brandy 1 cup sherry 2 small boxes custard mix, prepared 1/2 pint heavy cream, whipped Blanched almonds Glace cherries 1-Prepare cake mix several days in advance. Save one-half for another time and use one-half for trifle. Allow cake for trifle to dry out. 2- Thinly slice the cake, lining the bottom and sides of a round bowl with the slices. A glass bowl is best because the colors of the layers are attractive. On this first layer, sprinkle half of brandy and 1/2 cup sherry. Then spread with mixture of jam and nuts, then fruit. Pour custard on top; repeat layers. Spread with heavy cream and decorate with almonds and cherries. 3-Trifle tastes best if made 1 to 2 days in advance.
Finnish Cookies / Danish Finsk Broed By: Deantini Oct 27, 2009 125 cookies (according to recipe ;-) These cookies are very delicate and melt in your mouth. The name is a bit odd, it is a Danish cookie but directly translated called 'Finnish Bread'. The dough needs to rest for at least one hour which is not included in the prep time. Note - The dough can be frozen for easy planning Ingredients 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (375 g) 1/2 cup sugar (85 g) 1 cup butter 2 eggs, divided 1/4 cup almonds, skinned 1 tablespoon sugar Directions 1-Mix flour and sugar in a bowl, cut the butter in small pieces and cut it into the flour mixture. 2-Whip one egg and add to the dough, Gather the dough quickly. If you find the dough is too dry you can add a bit of water to help gather the dough. 3-Divide the dough into 4 portions and roll the dough into long ropes about as thick as your finger. Flatten the 'ropes' and cut them into 2 inch long cookies. 4-Place the cookies on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper and let them rest in a cool place for at least one hour. 5-Meanwhile - chop the almonds roughly and mix them with 1 tbsp sugar. 6-Whip one egg. 7-Preheat oven to 400°F. 8-Brush the cookies with egg and dust with almond/sugar mix. 9-Bake the cookies for 12-15 min at 400 F until golden.
Danish Christmas Rice Pudding By: Smilyn Jun 24, 2004 3¼ hours | 15 min prep SERVES 6 -8 (change servings and units) [Smilyn’s] mom and grandma use to make this every Christmas or special holiday, but it had to be extra special. This is a great dessert that keeps those great memories close by. This is an old recipe so keep in mind that not everything is exact. Use your own discretion when baking. 1/2 cup of packed rasins can be added to this dish, but I prefer it plain and served warm with whipped cream. I found this recipe because this is part of the Danish Tradition that I had read about while doing this with my children. There was one part that I remembered about the tradition that included hiding a small coin in one of the bowls (in one account this started as a means of prompting the children to quickly finish the entire amount they were given). However, the older siblings became wise to the fact it was always placed in the youngest child’s bowl. I included this as it shows how traditions can be simple and cheap. They also seem best when they evolve to meet the needs of each individual family. Ingredients 6 cups whole milk 1 cup cooked white rice, medium grain 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 whole eggs, lightly beaten cinnamon nutmeg 1 whole almonds 1 tablespoon vanilla (or vanilla bean) 2 cinnamon sticks Directions 1-Preheat oven to 325°F. 2-Put milk, eggs, rice, sugar and salt into baking dish (nice glass cooking bowl or dish) and place in a hot water bath. 3-At the top of custard, add a few dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Add vanilla bean (if using) and cinnamon stick. 4-Cover and cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove vanilla bean and cinnamon stick after one hour of cooking. Pudding is done when rice is soft and custard is set (a slight jiggle). 5-Remove lid for the last 10 minutes of cooking to give a light golden color. 6-Put an almond in the rice pudding just before serving: According to the old Danish legend, whoever finds the almond at Christmas will have series of lucky adventures. 7-Serve warm or cold with whipped cream.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Scripture thoughts to comment on.
I receive an email from "Daily Gems" with a thought of the day. Here are two of them. Please comment on them. Thanks!
Thou Shalt Not Covet
Posted: 10 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST
“Being provident providers, we must keep that most basic commandment, ‘Thou shalt not covet’ (Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. . . . If our family does not have everything the neighbors have, . . . we go into debt to buy things we can’t afford—and things we do not really need. Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually.”
Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign, May 2009, 8
Testing Your Courage to Endure
Posted: 09 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST
“Even when you feel the truth of [the] capacity and kindness of the Lord to deliver you in your trials, it may still test your courage and strength to endure. The Prophet Joseph Smith cried out in agony in a dungeon: “ ‘O God, where are thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?’(D&C 121:1–2). . . .“The Lord’s reply has helped me and can encourage us all in times of darkness. Here it is: ‘My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes’ (D&C 121:7–8).”
Henry B. Eyring, “Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 24–25
Thou Shalt Not Covet
Posted: 10 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST
“Being provident providers, we must keep that most basic commandment, ‘Thou shalt not covet’ (Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. . . . If our family does not have everything the neighbors have, . . . we go into debt to buy things we can’t afford—and things we do not really need. Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually.”
Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign, May 2009, 8
Testing Your Courage to Endure
Posted: 09 Nov 2009 11:00 PM PST
“Even when you feel the truth of [the] capacity and kindness of the Lord to deliver you in your trials, it may still test your courage and strength to endure. The Prophet Joseph Smith cried out in agony in a dungeon: “ ‘O God, where are thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?’(D&C 121:1–2). . . .“The Lord’s reply has helped me and can encourage us all in times of darkness. Here it is: ‘My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes’ (D&C 121:7–8).”
Henry B. Eyring, “Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 24–25
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