Gifts from My Christmas Kitchen - Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments

This week, my friend Tricia over at Onceamonthmom.com invited a guest post focused on creating unique Christmas gifts from your very own kitchen. This post reminded me of some wonderful smelling ornaments I made a few years ago. Each year I have kept telling myself that "this year will be the year I make them again!" Yet, I never seem to get around to it. :(

Five years ago, I was (very) pregnant with my daughter and was desperately looking for things to keep myself occupied. Because it was the holiday season, I was definitely busy, but the later stages of pregnancy tends to cause many sleepless nights and there were many nights that I couldn't fall asleep until 1:00 a.m. or so. On these late nights, I would find myself busily preparing Christmas goodies in my (then huge) kitchen.... oh how I miss that kitchen. At any rate, one of the "goodies" I made in abundance that year was a big batch of Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments. I was amazed at how amazing my entire house smelled for weeks after making these things! To tell you the truth, they're very simple to make. I gave a few to my mother for a small gift that year.... when I walked into her home this past weekend after her tree was up and the decorations were hung (including those ornaments) I could still smell them!

I'm planning on making the first batch of ornaments since that year this coming weekend, and my daughter will be helping me this time! :) Here is the recipe:

Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments

Ingredients
1 cup ground cinnamon
1 cup store-bought applesauce (homemade tends to be too runny)

Instructions
Mix both ingredients in a medium mixing bowl until well blended. Form into a ball and roll flat on a flour-covered surface or wax paper-covered surface. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Poke a small hole in the top of each ornament with either a plastic straw or toothpick. Place each ornament on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Let air dry for 4-5 days. This seems like a long time, but the wonderful aroma that will fill your house will be worth it!

Once ornaments have dried completely, string a pretty ribbon through each hole and tie at the top. If you are giving these as a gift, wrap a few in wax paper before putting in another type of packaging. Brown paper and ribbon would suite this type of homemade gift well!

Voila - beautiful, fragrant ornaments that will last for years! :)

The Seger Virtual Christmas Card for 2009!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Savory Seger Sunday - Sweetly Devilish Eggs

One of the appetizers I always seem to make this time of the year (because of endless requests) are my version of deviled eggs. When I was younger, I never really cared for the traditional deviled egg recipes... they seemed to leave a bitter taste in my mouth for some reason. So, once I was old enough to cook and tote my own food creations to family get-togethers, I started experimenting with different deviled egg recipes. The second recipe I tried was an instant favorite of mine and boy, has it stuck! Now my eggs seem to be a staple at the "Good gatherings." If you have a sweet tooth - these are the deviled eggs for you!


Sweetly Devilish Eggs
Ingredients:

- 6-12 eggs
- 1/3 cup Miracle Whip (or similar generic brand)
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- Paprika
- Parsley flakes (fresh or dried)

Instructions:

- Boil eggs until done. Peel eggs and cut in half length-wise. "Pop" yolk out of each egg half into a mixing bowl. Place each egg half onto a deviled egg serving tray or similar. After all eggs have been cut in half, add Miracle Whip and pickle relish to yolks. Mix well with a spoon or whisk. Spoon into egg halves. Sprinkle eggs with paprika. Garnish by sprinkling with fresh or dried parsley flakes.

*Miracle Whip and sweet pickle relish should be adjusted to desired amounts - the amounts given are simply an estimate. :)

Enjoy!

Being Thankful

Today has been a little rough for me, spending it sick and alone with Chipotle leftovers wasn't exactly the Thanksgiving I had in mind for this year. :( I love the holidays. It means spending time with family members we do not see enough of and making new memories for the younger generations to cherish for years to come... of course, there's also lots of good food involved too. :) I feel like it's important today for me to take advantage of the peacefulness that awkwardly exists in my house at the moment (hubby took the kiddos up north to "the farm" for Turkey Day celebrations) and reflect on all of the things I am thankful for, even though I am definitely not thankful for my sinuses at the moment...

My top ten list - I am thankful for:

1. A wonderful husband who seems to always know the right things to say at the right moment.
2. A healthy, happy daughter who blows us away with her creativity and generosity.
3. A healthy, happy son who can make us all laugh until we pee our pants.
4. Wonderful family and friends who support me, enrich my life and constantly remind me how to be a better person.
5. A roof over my head and food in my belly (even if it's leftovers.)
6. Being able to have a job that I enjoy and am passionate about.
7. A part-time job that allows me to keep my day job and stay at home with my children every evening.
8. Amazon.com - already have 75% of the kids' Christmas done and within our (small) budget. :)
9. A second-chance to spend a late Thanksgiving dinner with my mom, dad, sis, brother-in-law and niece and nephew in two weeks.
10. Long, hot baths and a good novel to relax with when I'm feeling under the weather.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Parents In Action: Plan for Holiday Spending

A new post has been added to my Extension blog - Parents in Action, click on the link below to view it. (Which, by the way, now has a new link - www.parentsinaction.osu.edu - add it to your reader! We could all use a little reminder to plan ahead for holiday spending - seems like it always creeps up on us each year, doesn't it? The post below may help!

Plan Now to Help Control Holiday Costs