Organizing more than you refrigerator!

If your New Years Resolutions included starting a diet or eating healthier, now is the time to organize your recipe box. Look for healthier dishes to prepare this year.  Clean out and reorganize the fridge.   Organize your pantry, checking the sell by dates.   Dispose of seasonal items that will not get used.  Stock up on ingredients for your revamped healthier meals, to help you stick with the plan.

It is hard to eat healthy foods when there are so many comfort foods out there to tempt you.  Some foods are favorites that we simply cannot give up, so why not put a healthy spin on them. French Fries are one of those foods. 

Instead of deep frying them, cut the potato into either wedges (for steak fries) or thinly, (for regular fries), toss them in extra virgin olive oil and season with lemon pepper and cook them in the oven on 375/400 until they are golden and sizzling.  

Mashed Potato - try half potato, half parsnips for a sweet alternative. Use a little milk instead of lashing of butter when mashing them.

Chili - use ground turkey instead of ground beef.

Spaghetti and Meatballs - Use spaghetti squash and turkey meatballs.

Oven bake your fish, instead of frying.  Using a mixture of mayo and dijon mustard, spread a thin layer over a tilapia loin and press into panko bread crumbs, turn over and repeat on the other side.  Bake in the oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

It's "Get Organized Month"

It’s a new year and time to organize the house after your guests have left, the kids have returned to school and life gets back to normal once again.  

Sending thank you notes for gifts and hospitality you received over the holidays is a good place to start. 

If you have gifts to return or exchange, try to do this this week, as many stores have a 30 day return policy to receive a refund, however,  some extend this period after Christmas. 

As you put away your new gloves, scarves and sweaters etc., consider donating the ones you already have and reduce overcrowding in your closet.

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night - Traditionally this is the day that Christmas decorations are taken down. 

The reason for this is that in colonial America a Christmas wreath was always left up on the front door of each home, and when taken down at the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, any edible portions would be consumed with the other foods of the feast. The same held true in the 19th-20th centuries with fruits adorning Christmas trees. Fresh fruits were hard to come by, and were therefore considered fine and proper gifts and decorations for the tree, wreaths, and home. Again, the tree would be taken down on Twelfth Night, and such fruits, along with nuts and other local produce used, would then be consumed.

When putting away your holiday decorations, discard any that are broken or shabby. Check if your town has a tree recycling program, whereby you can leave your tree at the curb for collection.  

Go through the Christmas cards you received and make note of any address changes. Old Christmas cards make great gift tags, save these to use next year.  

To store your festive wrapping paper, white gift boxes, tissue paper, gift bags and gift tags made from recycled Christmas cards, take a large cardboard box that a gift was shipped in (everyone must have a few of these), wrap it in Christmas paper and you are set for next year!

Small plastic drawers on wheels are perfect for tree decorations.  Organized by color and type, it makes decorating the tree much easier.

Mums Christmas Cake

I have never been much of a baker.  I'm not a bad cook, so say my kids, but baking is not something I do often.  So, for years I have always purchased my Christmas Cake.  This holiday season, we decided to start eating our Christmas cake around Thanksgiving,  Before long we had finished it!  I was tempted to buy another, but upon polling my family on Facebook, I was inspired to make my own.  My aunt sent me my mothers recipe, that she had saved for many years.  I thought it was a lovely idea to make Mum's cake, I have fond memories of Christmases as a kid and my lovely mum was a wonderful cook!

so, Here's the recipe:
8oz Currants
8oz  Sultanas
8oz  Raisins (chopped)
4oz mixed peel
4oz glace cherries halved
2oz chopped almonds
8oz plain flour
pinch salt
1/2 level teaspoon ground mace
1/2 level teaspoon cinnamon
8oz Butter
8oz soft brown sugar
grated rind of one lemon
4 large eggs (size 1)  ( mix these separately in jug or bowl -Trisha's suggestion)
2 Tablespoons Brandy


Use 8oz Cake Tin lined with double grease-proof paper
Tie a band of brown parcel paper round the outside of the tin with string

Mix all fruit together
Sift flour salt & spices
Cream Butter, sugar & lemon rind until pale and fluffy
Add eggs a little at  a time beating well after each addition
(if mix looks like it may curdle - just add a spoon of flour and continue)
Fold in half the flour mix.  Then other half plus Brandy.  Last Fold in fruit. 
Spread in tin making sure no air pockets and make a dip in the center ( this is to ensure a flat cake for icing)

Stand tin on a layer of newspaper in the oven - bake at 150C or 300F for 3+3/4 hours
To stop top over browning cover with double grease-proof after 1 & 1/2 hours

When the cake is cooked, leave in the tin until cold -then turn out
After a few days you can start "feeding"  with brandy - use a skewer or kebab spike -prick all over the base going quite deep and then drizzle brandy all over -turn back upright and repeat this as often as time permits -I used to make the cake end October and then feed it all through November and December - it will be quite boozy, but delicious !! 

Good luck!

I made a few adjustments - I soaked the fruit overnight in a generous amount of brandy, as I was making the cake only three weeks before Christmas and wouldn't have time to "feed" it.  Also, for safety reasons I didn't place the cake on the newspaper or wrap the tin in parcel paper, and I forgot to add the nuts!  As the recipe didn't mention when to put them in, I expect with the fruit.  Maybe next year I will remember!

Also as I was using a convection oven the cooking time was much less.  It was about 2 - 2 1/2 hours.  I started checking on it after 1 1/2 hours then after 1/2 and hour then every ten minutes until the
kebab stick came our of the cake clean.

Ready for the oven.

Cooling

The bottom, looks fruity!

Next, it was time to cover it with marzipan.  I mixed  one tablespoon of marmalade with two tablespoons of water and heated it to boiling.  I used this mixture to coat the cake To get the marzipan to stick.  I then left the cake for a couple of days.

Rather than using royal icing I decided to use fondant icing, with I found ready made in Michales Crafting Store, they also had ready made decorated icing ribbon to wrap around the cake, for a great finish.

                                    Delicious!   

Lowcountry Festive Sights to See

Take a stroll and enjoy the lights at Shelter Cove Towne Centre and in Harbour Town:

The Dove Street Festival of Lights at Shelter Cove Towne Centre

December 1, 2014 - January 4, 2015

The Dove Street Festival of Lights™, an Island holiday tradition for 20 years, is coming back to life at Shelter Cove Towne Centre! With the blessing of founders Paul & Kristi Beckler and Rob Lolik, visitors from across the region will once again be able to experience the magic of the cascading and tastefully tacky display.

 6pm-10pm, Nightly

http://sheltercovetownecentre.com/asp/work.asp

Harbour Town Lights

In Harbor Town

December 1, 2014 – January 1, 2015

Enjoy the illuminated seasonal figures, with the centerpiece of the display being a towering 30-foot lighted Christmas tree. Harbour Town is the perfect place to be this holiday season, with live entertainment and activities.

Make A Difference. While you’re enjoying the holiday season, you can help Deep Well make a difference in some else’s life, too.  Bring a canned good or two, or a new unwrapped children’s toy and drop them in the "Well" by the Liberty Oak Stage.  Since 1973, the non-profit, volunteer-based Deep Well has been serving the basic needs of the less fortunate on Hilton Head Island. 

Sponsored by: The Sea Pines Resort, the shops at Harbour Town, Hargray, Pepsi, PSAV, and The Greenery. 

SOBA's Holiday Boutique
Through December 30 • This is an All Day Event

About the Event
The Society of Bluffton Artists presents “A Holiday Boutique,” a collection of hand made treasures, art-sy crafts, cards and 

small paintings on display and available from November 22 through December 30. Look for holiday decorations, perfect hostess gifts and extra special presents for extra special people.

Gallery and Center are located at the corner of Church and Calhoun Streets in Old Town Bluffton. Call 757-6586 or visit sobagallery.com for more information.

Family Fun

Outdoor Movie
 'Polar Express'
in Harbour Town

Sat, December 20, 
7pm – 9pm

Get into the holiday spirit by watching this magical movie under the Liberty Oak. Bench seating will be provided and admission is complimentary with the donation of a canned good for Deep Well. A fire pit and s’mores will also be available.  For additional information, please contact The Sea Pines Resort Recreation Department at (843) 842-1979.

Gregg Russell Christmas Concert
in Harbor Town

Tue, December 23, 
7:30pm – 9:00pm





Relish the spirit of the holidays with an evening in Harbour Town.  Listen as Gregg Russell plays his guitar and sings songs of the season for children and adults.  Following the concert, enjoy a special visit from Santa Claus. Complimentary.

Holiday Fun in Harbour Town
Sat, December 27,

Join us around the Liberty Oak Tree in Harbour Town to watch classic holiday movies, roast marshmallows over a fire pit, and enjoy festive games and activities for the whole family. Games and activities start at 4pm and the movie and fire pit start a 6pm. This is a complimentary activity however donations for Deep Well are appreciated.  For additional information, please contact The Sea Pines Resort Recreation Department at (843) 842-1979.

Making Christmas Your Own

While for many Christmas is a time of great joy and excitement, for some it is a difficult time.  The picture that is presented to us on our televisions, radio and through advertising is that it's a time of plenty, bottomless wallets, abundance of food, and good cheer.  This is not the reality for many.  From those who feel the stress of financial burdens to those who have suffered a loss in their lives, the holidays can be a difficult time.  It is possible to make the season special in our own way, without getting caught up in the commercial hype that we are constantly bombarded with.  You can create your own family traditions to enjoy at this time that make the season special that do not revolve around parties, presents and elaborate spending. 

Simple decorations, homemade bows and items purchased in thrift shops can bring in the seasons cheer.  A poinsettia placed on the porch in memory of a loved one you miss.  A home cooked favorite dish modified to make it Christmasy will fill a child's heart.  The holiday season can be a time for reflection, family bonding, and a time to reach out to others less fortunate than ourselves, in fact all of these together.  Add a little candle light and some music to make your holiday a very special time.  

Nigella Lawson has a lovely recipe called Rudolph Pie that she makes for her children on Christmas Eve, it's basically shepherds pie, tweaked.  She uses ground venison and pork, but you could substitute this with meat loaf meat (beef, pork and veal). The mashed potato topping also includes mashed parsnips, which makes it sweeter and a little different.  The meat can be cooked in advance and frozen, leaving just the topping to make on Christmas Eve.  Top the pie with a cherry tomato when cooked and change the name to Rudolph Pie and your done.  

For Nigella's recipie click on the link.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/rudolph-pie-christmas-shepherds-pie-recipe.html

Mashed potatoes make great snowmen with peas for buttons, a baby carrot for a nose, parsley arms, and a carrot wheel for a hat. 









Here's a clever idea using mashed potato 

snowmen to top a beef stew ... Another inexpensive, hearty, low key meal with a festive touch.

The financial burden of gift buying can be reduced by introducing a "Yankee Swap". This is a lot of fun!

The most popular version of the White Elephant or Yankee Swap Rules say any number of people may participate, including children. However, the minimum number of participants should be at least six or else the game is not much fun. Each participant is asked to bring along a gift worth no more than a pre-agreed amount, generally around $25.

Participants draw numbers from a hat to determine their swap order from one up to the total number of participants. 

Each person gets a crack at choosing a gift. The person who picks the first gift opens it and shows it to the rest of the company. Then the number two participant picks a gift and chooses to either unwrap it or swap it for an unwrapped gift. If the gift is swapped, the person who had their gift taken from them gets to unwrap the chosen gift and the turn passes.

When all the gifts have been opened, the game is over. Afterward, some trading should be expected and is perfectly acceptable so that, as much as possible, everyone goes home with a gift they are happy with.

Since items can be stolen, the item in your possession is not yours until the game is over. However, this is often amended with a rule declaring a gift "dead" or "safe" after it has been stolen a certain number of times (usually three). This helps the process go more smoothly (avoiding, for example, the hypothetical scenario of the same gift being stolen by every successive participant) and limits the disadvantage of being among the first to choose gifts.

for more details and variations visit http://www.yankeeswap.com/

Maya Angelou once said “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

Wrap or Stash?

Where to keep the Christmas gifts you buy? Wrap them and put them under the tree or stash them away from inquisitive eyes?

Keep track of your purchases using a master list, either in paper form or by using Google docs or a similar app. Have your list with you at all times, to jot down ideas, or check before impulse buying when you are out shopping. 

Tips to Keep Them Guessing

If you like to keep your secrets until The Big Day consider using a different wrapping paper for each person.  Don't label them, only you know which pattern goes to whom.  Cut out the gift recipients initial from the wrapping paper you used for them and hang it on the tree Christmas morning.  

If you have lots of small gifts for someone, who is not a kid, place them in a pillowcase, unwrapped. Tie the case with a ribbon and place it in a box and wrap the box. The recipient with once again have the joy of rummaging in the Christmas Stocking upon opening the gift box.

With gifts too big to wrap or put under the tree, create a treasure hunt with a few clues.  Start with clue one in a gift box under the tree. Take the recipient to unlikely places to look for the surprise, like under seat cushions, the pocket of a coat, and other easily accessible places, before sending them to the correct location.  

With small gifts, like a ring, attach it to a plush toy with a ribbon and wrap the toy. This works for most jewelry items and will keep your recipient guessing until the last minute!

With giving a gift of money, place your check in a box with a themed gift for the recipient, depending on what they need the money for. For example: for a new home owner; place a check in with a couple of tea towels or oven mitts.  Paying for your kids Spring Break; place the check in with a pair of flip flops and some sun tan lotion. Giving money to a student; place the check in with a post it pad and pens.  Write "Call Mom & Dad" on the top post it.