MAKE A NOTE!! -- DECEMBER 1, 1997

CIRCULATION 55

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CHRISTMAS REMINDERS

Well, hopefully by now, most of you have finished all your Christmas projects and mailed off the Christmas letters with the photos. But just in case you haven't sealed things yet...ever wonder what to do with all the "mini-portraits" you get when you get photos done at some places? Enclose them for the kids in the families you are sending the larger photos too, they love things like that. POST IT...by Christmas photos.

ORGANIZING TIME

For those of you who have finished most of your Christmas stuff, here is an easy way to keep track of Christmas cards and addresses. If you use an address book, consider switching over to a Rolodex or an address book that has removable cards in it, so that when you add it keeps things in order. Write the info in pencil, so it will be easy to make changes if needed (this is especially important for the military folk on the list). After you send out Christmas cards make a small "C" for Christmas card by the person's name in the book in pencil. If you receive a card back from them, then underline the "C", if you receive any mail after that during the year, erase the C and underline. So when Christmas comes around again, it will be easy to see who might need to be removed from the list. Of course, you would always want to send cards to relatives and certain special friends even if you don't hear from them. But let's face it, you really run out of things to say if it is a one way conversation. Nice thing about the removable cards is you can also write in birthdays, anniversaries on the back, clothing sizes or possible gift ideas. POST IT...by your address book.

CARD DISPLAY

Here's an easy way to display Christmas cards & yet they can still be opened & enjoyed. Hang a piece of ribbon from the top of a door down to the floor (reinforce the top of the ribbon with tape and use a stapler to staple to top of door). As you get the cards staple it by the inner corner of the card to the ribbon. As you get more you can fill the ribbon up and start new ones if you need to. POST IT...by you Christmas cards.

RECIPE CLUTTER

This is a great time to really go through your recipe boxes and pull the cookbooks and recipe cards that have sat in your kitchen forever, but never get used. Be realistic and ruthless. Save only the ones you KNOW you will use and are relatively certain you might try. Chances are the more ingredients or steps it has, the less likely you are to use it, in this busy day and age. POST IT...by your recipe box/books.

EASY RECIPES

Here are a few easy recipes that you might enjoy adding to your collection...

SPICE TEA (AKA RUSSIAN TEA, AKA FRIENDSHIP TEA)

This is my own variation of the popular orange stuff. It is a great thing to make up and put into those leftover jelly jars, or even into baggies if you don't have jars and use as hostess gifts, or gifts for teachers, co-workers, etc. It also has a lot of vitamin C, so is much appreciated during the cold/flu season. Here it is...

2C Tang, 1C instant tea (decaf, if possible), 3/4C instant lemonade mix, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1C sugar. Mix altogether & pour into containers. Makes about 5C. Put bow or tie ribbon around container. Put label on that says to mix 3 rounded tsp, more or less to taste, to large cup of hot water. POST IT...near your shopping list.

HOLIDAY HERB (CANDY CANE SHAPE) CHEESE SPREAD

This is a great item to take for a holiday appetizer. Also check out the Quote at the end of the Make a Note about the history of the candy canes. With electric mixer, beat together 2 PKG(8 OZ EACH) CREAM CHEESE, SOFTENED, 1/4 C BUTTER OR MARGARINE, SOFTENED until fluffy. Add 2 TBLSP FREEZE DRIED CHIVES (OR 4 TBLSP CHOPPED GREEN ONIONS), 2TBLSP PARSLEY FLAKES, 1TSP GARLIC SALT, 1/2 TSP DILL WEED, AND 1/4 TSP THYME LEAVES (OR 1/8 TSP GROUND THYME) and mix all together well. Place a piece of plastic wrap on a small cookie sheet & spoon mixture onto wrap to form a log about 3" thick & 12" long. Fold up plastic to encase. Refrigerate until firm, about 4 hr or overnight. Unwrap log & bend top 1/3 of log over to form candy cane shape. Place on serving plate & smooth surface with fingers or knife. Decorate w/chopped red bell pepper to form "stripes". May be covered & refrigerated overnight. Surround with crackers before serving. POST IT...by your shopping list.

FAKE BRIE (Courtesy Bill Pierce)

This one is always a big hit wherever it appears. Preheat oven to 350.  Make rectangle out of 1/4 of crescent dough roll (2 triangles left together in rectangle), pressing the perforations closed. Sprinkle dill on top, then put cream cheese block on top, sprinkle that with dill also. Cover with another rectangle of crescent roll. Repeat with another block of cream cheese. Experiment with other spices/herbs if desired. Bake at 350 until golden brown, about 8-20 min, watch closely. Just before serving, cut off very end to expose cream cheese, but leave rest of dough around block. Serve with crackers. POST IT...by your shopping list.

CHRISTMAS TREE VEGGIES

Put 3 rows of celery sticks on a rectangular serving tray in a Christmas tree shape. A few sticks in first row, then few more (wider) in second row below, then few more (wider) in third row. Then 2 extra short sticks together at bottom for stump of tree. Take broccoli florets and place all the way around the outside edge of the tree. Make rows of cauliflower florets between the 3 rows of celery sticks. Cut red stars out of a red bell pepper & place one at top of "tree" and a couple on each row of celery sticks. Serve with a dip on the side. POST IT...by your shopping list.

PEPPERMINT FUDGE (Courtesy of Annie Rose)

Foil line & butter 8x8 pan. Melt 1 pkg vanilla chips in microwave. Add 1 container vanilla frosting and 1/2 tsp mint extract. Pour into pan. Drop 4 drops of red food coloring in 4 different spots in the pan, use toothpick to move around to produce a "marbled" effect. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes. POST IT...by your shopping list.

FUDGE

In microwave melt 3 C (18 oz) milk chocolate chips, add 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk, and 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, dash of salt, and 1/2-1C chopped nuts if desired. Pour into foil lined & buttered 8" or 9" sq pan. Chill, then turn onto cutting board and cut. POST IT...by your shopping list.

GREAT STEAK TOPPER

1/2 C melted butter, 3 tblsp A-1 steak sauce, 2 tblsp sliced green onion, 1-1/2 tblsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 tsp salt. Mix altogether & use as a steak sauce. Save a few extra sliced green onions to sprinkle on the steak after putting sauce on. This is really delicious. Refrigerate any unused sauce. POST IT...by your shopping list.

BUTTER

Before anyone gets on my case about using butter as opposed to margarine, a recent news article said that they have actually discovered that the things in margarine are worse for you than butter. Of course, neither is good in large amounts, but they did say that margarine makers were scrambling to change their recipes to eliminate the harmful ingredients. POST IT...on your shopping list.

CHOCOLATE COVERED RITZ PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES (Courtesy of Harriett Shooter)

Make peanut butter & Ritz "sandwiches" out of regular size box of Ritz crackers and creamy peanut butter. Melt 1 pkg chocolate chips (real semi-sweet) in double boiler or microwave (be careful not to overdo in the microwave or the chocolate will "seize"). Dunk one sandwich at a time, both sides into the chocolate. Put chocolate cookies on wax paper & refrigerate. Sounds good to me! POST IT...by your shopping list.

MORE COOKIES

Be sure to check out www.cookierecipe.com, especially their Christmas cookie section. Try to stick with the pan cookies, it'll save a lot of time in the kitchen. There is a recipe in there, that I submitted that is great fun for kids, it originally came from Janice Chipman. Look in the Christmas cookie section under Christmas Cornflake Wreath Cookies. And the Meringue Cookies in the Make a Note #2 is also a great one for Christmas, esp. with red or green sugar sprinkled on top, just before you stick them in the oven. POST IT...by your shopping list.

REQUESTS

Keep those POST IT ideas coming. 

JOKE

A mushroom goes into a bar and orders a drink. The bartender takes one look at him and says, "I'm sorry, we don't serve mushrooms. The mushroom turns to him and says, "Why not? I'm a fun guy!" (Get it??? Fungi???). I think I can hear the groans already. :-)

QUOTE

"The Candy Cane- Sometime during the latter part of the 18th century in England, when all religious symbols were banned from public display, Christians could no longer recognize one another by any kind of symbolic jewelry, clothing, etc. It was during this time, it is told that there was a Christian candy maker who set out to find some way for members of the Christian family to identify each other. He began with a white candy to signify purity & the holiness of Jesus Christ. next, he fashioned the candy cane into the shape of a shepherd's staff as a reminder that our Heavenly Father is the Good Shepherd. Then he placed 3 small red stripes around the candy to represent the encompassing power and presence of the Trinity (the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit). Finally he placed a single bold red stripe throughout the candy to demonstrate the redeeming power & the blood Christ shed upon the cross for each of us, & the forgiveness of sins. This was a hope that each would be reminded in a subtle way of the love God has for us and the price he paid for our salvation. Peace to all!"

--S. J. McKee

(Note-What an opportunity for a conversation starter during the holidays. The next time you see a candy cane, ask..."Do you know the story of the candy cane?")

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Sharon

^i^

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