We conclude our holiday blog campaign with today’s post. For the past 12 days we have posted 12 blogs with 12 tips. We hope everyone has enjoyed the 144 total tips regarding holiday decorating, entertaining, gift purchases, recipes and more!
So on this very special holiday, we would like to wish you and yours the very happiest of Holidays!
With the holidays so near, I know everyone is searching for the perfect holiday treat to make! ForRent.com wants to provide you with our holiday recipe tips. The first six are regarding essential holiday pantry items and the remaining six are holiday treat recipes!
6 Essential Holiday Pantry Items:
During our annual Marketing Department treat exchange, here were six of our favorite treats that were brought. You’ll see that some of them require one of the essential holiday pantry items mentioned previously!
SALTINE TOFFEE BARS
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350-400 degrees. Line a 9 X 11 jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and spray with Pam. Place saltines, edge to edge, over the bottom of the pan. Melt butter, add sugar and bring to a boil. Boil about 3 minutes to dissolve sugar. Spoon (not pour) over the saltines and then settle the saltines and bake for about 5 minutes. The saltines will look like they are floating. Turn off the oven and remove saltines. Sprinkle chocolate chips over crackers and return to oven until they are melted then add almonds if desired. Cool a bit then cut (but do not try to separate- too runny still) and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Refrigerate until hard then break into pieces, removing foil from the back of the crackers.
Peppermint-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients:
1 (16.5 ounce) tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/4 cup all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Directions:
Decorating suggestion: crushed candy canes or peppermint candies; white, red and green sprinkles; or red and green decorating sugar
Special equipment: a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, and a ½ ounce cookie scoop
Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, knead together the cookie dough and 1/4 cup flour until smooth. Lightly flour a work surface. Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out circles from the dough. Knead together any scraps of dough and roll out again. Continue to cut out pastry circles until there are 24 pieces in total. Place the dough circles on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies are slightly golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Reserve 1 parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Combine 1 cup of chocolate chips and the cream in a small bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Whisk in the peppermint extract and refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour. Using a 1/2-ounce cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure, place the chocolate mixture in the center of the flat side of 12 of the cookies. Place the remaining cookies on top and gently squeeze to distribute the filling evenly. Place on a baking sheet and freeze until the filling has set, about 25 minutes.
Combine the remaining chocolate chips and the vegetable oil in a small bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Dip the top of each cookie in the melted chocolate and return to the baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with crushed candy canes or peppermint candies. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store in an airtight plastic container.
Christmas Cupcakes
Ingredients:
Pillsbury Cake Mix Funfetti
Duncan Hines Classic Vanilla Frosting
Eggs
Vegetable Oil
Baking Cups
Directions:
Follow directions on the box for cooking cup cakes. After cup cakes have cooled, put vanilla frosting on the cup cakes. For extra decoration, you can use holiday colored sprinkles!
Peppermint Bark
Ingredients:
12 oz bag of White Chocolate Morsels
12 oz bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
8 regular sized Candy Canes
Directions:
Lightly grease a large cookie sheet. Break up candy canes into one inch pieces and put into a sturdy plastic bag. Crush candy canes inside the bag until they are in very small pieces. Next, put the semi-sweet chocolate morsels into a bowl and put in the microwave for 1 minute; stir in 15 second increments until it is completely melted. Pour melted chocolate on the cookie sheet and spread to make a thing layer. Put the white chocolate morsels in a bowl and repeat microwave cycle (while white chocolate is in the microwave, put baking sheet of semi-sweet chocolate in refrigerator for cooling). Once melted, stir in ½ of the candy cane pieces and spread on top of semi-sweet chocolate layer. Top with the remaining pieces of candy cane; be sure to lightly press into the chocolate layer to secure. Cool in refrigerator until hard and then break into pieces!
PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE KISS COOKIES 
Ingredients:
1 c. butter
2/3 c. creamy peanut butter
1 c. granular sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 2/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
16 oz. pkg. chocolate kiss candyDirections:
Combine butter, peanut butter and sugars; blend until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; blend. Mix flour, salt and soda, add to cream mixture; stir well. Roll dough into quarter size balls. Roll ball in bowl of sugar. Bake dough at 350 degrees for 8 minutes, take out, place chocolate kiss in center of each cookie. Bake an additional 2 minutes.
M&M Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough
Bag of Holiday Colored M&Ms (could be the regular kind or the mint flavored!)
Directions:
Cut the sugar cookie dough into slices for the appropriate sized cookies (you could also roll into whatever size you choose). Put on greased baking sheet and lightly press to flatten the dough. Place M&Ms on top of the cookies and bake accordingly. Wait for the cookies to cool before taking them off the baking sheet.
Happy Cooking!
It’s inevitable; you’re going to get a bad gift this holiday. It could be from your loving grandmother who just seems to think you are 10 years younger than you really are and gets you and your cousin matching tea sets (don’t ask….). Or it could be someone who tried really hard to find something you might like, but just overshot. Regardless, you are going to experience some uneasiness when opening a bad gift. Therefore, we are providing you with a few ways to say ‘thanks’ and of course their actual translation in your mind!
1. ‘Oh, thanks. How unique’
Translation: ‘Wow, really?’
2. ‘Wherever did you find this?’
Translation: ‘So I know where to return it…’
3. ‘I know just where to put this’
Translation: ‘In the attic where no one will find it…’
4. ‘Oh, how sweet! What size is this?’
Translation: ‘Hopefully I’m a different size and have to exchange it for something else!’
5. ‘Nice pattern…’
Translation: ‘Am I trying to stop traffic?’
6. ‘That’s so funny; I saw these everywhere in stores!’
Translation: ‘Which is probably why they’re still there and I didn’t purchase myself one’
7. ‘How creative! Did you make this yourself?’
Translation: ‘Crap, a thoughtful gift. Going to have to break it out when he/she comes over’
8. ‘Thank you so much. You’re too thoughtful!’
Translation: ‘Now I have another thing to do on the day after Christmas’
9. ‘This is perfect for…. (name a situation in which you’d use the item)’
Translation: ‘Goodness, what on earth am I going to do with this?!!’
10. ‘That’s so sweet, but unfortunately I’m allergic.’
Translation: ‘Please have the receipt so I can return this thing and if not, I’m allergic so you can’t be upset if it’s not used!’
11. ‘Yah know, I think I have this very same thing at my house!’
Translation: ‘Offer up the gift receipt so I can return this thing.’
12. ‘This is something I don’t have…’
Translation: ‘For good reason….’
Well, hopefully these tips have given you an idea of what to say this Christmas when opening up bad gifts. Please also remember that receiving gifts and the thought behind those gifts is what matters most. So be grateful to those who have thought of you this holiday season!
Most people during the holidays are trying to find tips on how to NOT over eat. Our society has told us that we shouldn’t eat whatever we want during the holidays. Well, I’m here to say if you want to eat-then eat! In fact, we’re going to provide you with tips on sneaky ways to get food without anyone noticing (or most importantly judging) you!
1. This works well for Holiday parties at work. Ask to take a plate home for your “husband or wife”.
2. Get two plates of food/dessert like you’re taking it back to the table for a friend, at a work party, or for a family member at home. No one will think twice if your friend or family member comes back for seconds (which was really their first plate)!
3. Desperate measures? Ask your family members if you can take their plate in. Grab a bite of Grandma’s left over ham before throwing away the food & putting it in the dishwasher.
4. Get a glass (that you can’t see through) and tell your family your getting water. Quickly fill the glass with the chips/whatever and walk away casually.
5. Find a way to carry the food. If you’re a girl, then carry a big tote bag with you. If you’re a boy, simply have big pockets or a jacket-you can always wear a sweatshirt with a big pocket.
6. The holidays are a great time for pictures! So why not use your camera or video bag to store your food! If you’re carrying the case, no one will think twice about what’s inside-but you’ll know!
7. Zip lock baggies are your friend!! Be sure to have plenty stored in your pockets and purse/bags. To really get the maximum amount of food, switch them out when they get full. Once you have a selection, you can proceed to snack on them throughout the evening without even having to share!
8. Put some food in a napkin when someone’s back is turned and when you get a craving for something, bring the napkin to your mouth. Pretend like you’re wiping your mouth when really you’re stuffing it! (Literally)
9. Appearances can be deceiving. Lets say you want to get more creative….use a cover. For example, if you are the hostess and don’t want your guests to know you’re sneaking a bit on the side, take a cleaning supplies container (obviously thoroughly cleaned) and store food inside of it. Your guests will just think you’re either going to clean something or putting back the cleaner. This can also work well with a tissue box, etc. Whatever will cause the least suspicion will work best.
10. Have a wing man; a partner in crime to help. He/she can help create a diversion when you go in for the kill. Of course, as partners, you have to return the favor by either hoarding enough food for the both of you, or creating a diversion for him/her.
11. A simple, but useful, tip would be to hide the extra food underneath other food on your plate. For example, you want an extra scoop of mash potatoes? Go ahead and put it on your plate but then minimize visibility by putting a roll on top of them.
12. And finally, something effortless would be to get in line for food first. Go through and get a plate. Run into your secret area (i.e. your room, or closet if you’re at someone else’s house) and put the plate down. Wait and then get into the end of the line and make like this is the first time. Say comments about how yummy the food looks, or how much you’re looking forward to getting some Mac and cheese.
It’s a tradition with my family year after year. We always pile up in our car and drive around to look at Christmas lights. There is one house in particular we always stop and see. We call it the ‘NOEL House’ as it has the ‘NOEL’ saying prominently displayed on its rooftop. We also make it a point to go to see the Holiday lights at Virginia Beach Oceanfront. There is something grand about looking at the holiday light displays across our city. I look in amazement at the creativity and the excitement that I feel. I feel like a child again, anxiously waiting for the big day!
Accumulated by americasbestonline.net, here is a list of the best holiday light displays in cities across the nation. Look who turned up number 11! J If you are near one of the areas, make sure you go out and look at the wonderful lights displayed.
1. Silver Dollar City- Branson, MO
Millions of Christmas lights cover the whole park. Plus, the entire city is transformed into a holiday wonderland each evening at 5:30 p.m. as guests join together on the Square for the lighting of the dazzling, five-story Special Effects Christmas Tree. Adorned with over 250,000 lights coordinated to blaze to the musical movements of Christmas songs, this unique Special Effects Christmas Tree presents classics such as “Carol of the Bells” and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” in a spectacular light and sound show.
2. Oglebay Festival of Lights- Wheeling, WV
In 1985 a holiday tradition began at Oglebay and spread throughout the city of Wheeling. That tradition is the Winter Festival of Lights celebration. The first year, displays and landscape lighting covered about 125 acres over a three-mile drive throughout the resort. Since then, the show has grown into one of the nation’s largest Christmas light shows, covering more than three hundred acres over a six-mile drive throughout the resort.
3. Fantasy of Lights- Pine Mountain, GA
A 5 mile drive by car or trolley takes visitors past 13 holiday scenes with more than 8 million Christmas lights. Since 1992, this outdoor light and sound show has glittered with holiday magic for millions of people. Families from across the Southeast have added Fantasy In Lights to their list of memorable holiday traditions. This year, experience the 15th annual Fantasy In Lights with its eight million lights creating more than a dozen beautiful scenes, and you’ll see why this is the brightest holiday light show in the South!
4. Smoky Mountain Winterfest- Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, TN.
Smoky Mountain Winterfest is a magical celebration that begins in late fall. Ride the Trolley Tour of Lights around Pigeon Forge and claim a spot on the sidewalk for Gatlinburg’s “Fantasy of Lights” Christmas Parade, featuring lighted floats, marching bands and giant helium balloons. This event combines 3 Tennessee cities: Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. These neighboring Smoky Mountain towns are ablaze with 5 million lights thru February.
5. Trail of Lights - Austin, TX
The Trail of Lights is a mile long display of 42 lighted scenes, US Post Office, Santa’s House, the Yule Log, and an entertainment stage. The festival begins with the lighting of the Zilker Tree, a 155 feet tall, 180 feet diameter lighted tree consisting of 3,309 bulbs on 39 streamers strung from Austin’s historical Moonlight Tower. Since 1987 the honor of lighting the tree has been bestowed upon the winner of the city-wide children’s tree coloring contest. The tree lighting ceremony takes place on the first Sunday of December.
6. Magical Nights of Lights - Lake Lanier, GA
Rekindle an old tradition or create a new one at Lake Lanier Islands Resort’s 16th annual Magical Nights of Lights holiday celebration. Known as the world’s largest animated light extravaganza, the fun kicks off November 22 through December 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm. nightly! Bring the whole family a drive through tour of over six miles of twinkling, holiday light displays and a live nativity scene complete with live actors and animals!
7. Holiday Festival of Lights, Charleston, S.C.
Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission created the Holiday Festival of Lights to bring families and friends together and to raise support for the Charleston county park system. With over 600 individual displays located throughout the park in 132 power locations, the Holiday Festival of Lights is a magical sight to see!
8. Enchanted Garden of Lights, Chattanooga, TN
See Rock City! The gardens’ natural beauty is complemented by more than 25 holiday scenes as half a million lights illuminate rock formations along the Enchanted Trail.
9. Southern Lights - Lexington, Ky.
The annual Southern Lights event is the largest fundraiser held for The Kentucky Horse Park. Over 25,927 vehicles passed through the electrical wonderland in 2006 alone! Everything from petting zoos, model railways, arts, crafts, and Santa Claus fill the Indoor Attractions section free of charge to guests.
10. Mission Inn - Riverside, CA
This magnificent hotel and grounds have over two million Christmas lights! Enjoy the sounds of the holiday season as our Dickens’ Carolers stroll throughout the hotel every Thursday through Sunday, beginning November 25, 2005, or enjoy a romantic carriage ride around the grounds - to take in the lights of the holiday season.
11. 100 Miles of Lights - Virginia Beach, VA
Come share the glow of the season and experience millions of lights and hundreds of events from Virginia’s capital city to the Atlantic Ocean. The region will glitter and glow, sparkle and shine with lights, lights and more lights. 100 Miles of Lights features holiday events and activities in Richmond, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.
Drive-through and walk-through light shows will dazzle and shine with more than two million lights, providing a colorful backdrop to the wide range of events and activities for the young and young-at-heart. Lighted boat parades, city illuminations, festivals, parades, living history re-enactments, caroling, dining events, music and dance are among the many activities occurring throughout the region from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.
12. Bright Nights at Forest Park - Springfield, MA
New England’s most popular holiday destination and largest drive-through lighting display. Two and a half miles of Forest Park are illuminated with more than 500,000 twinkling lights, bringing the magic of the holiday season to life for people of all ages, in dozens of dramatic scenes such as “Poinsettia Fantasy,” “Seuss Land,” “Toy Land,” and “Victorian Village.” Plans are in place this year for bright new displays, and special celebrations to commemorate the holiday traditions of the many cultures that make up the region.
My father use to say ‘what do you get the person who has everything? A box to put it all in.’ (yes, my father is corny like that) But seriously, what do you do when you have a gift to purchase for someone and it appears that they literally have everything!?!
Here are a few suggestions from the team at ForRent.com if you really wanna ‘wow’ someone who has everything…..
1. Unveil their inner Monet. Local art studios and recreation centers typically offer classes starting at the beginner level and work their way up to advanced. A class like this will let them try a hand at their pottery, wine slumping, or mosaics skills (the list goes on). Pick a class you think would be of interest and see if it results in a new hobby.
2. Personalized wall art. You pick the letter-shaped photos and the word; a first or last name is classic, but words like laugh, joy, and peace look great too! A gift like this can’t be copied!
3. Go local. Ever been complimented on a one of kind piece that you bought when visiting such and such a place? Offer someone the same experience by bringing them back something unique from your travels. Not only are you giving them something they couldn’t find themselves, but you are also supporting small, local businesses at the same time.
4. Everybody wants a good laugh! Gifts from the heart are great, but every once in awhile someone needs to be thrown for a loop, why not be the person to do so? Gifts like the below “Ignorance is Bliss” and “Bittersweet” scales are sure to be a hit and are definitely hard to come by. You’ll walk away knowing this gift will be the source of much laughter! (www.uncommongoods.com)
5. Give to more than just them. Sometimes people really do have everything and another knick knack isn’t the answer. Organizations like Farm Africa (www.farmafrica.org/uk) allow you to make a sustainable purchase that benefits those in need under the name of a friend or family member. Farm Africa actually has you purchase an animal that will be given to families in poverty; these animals help them overcome their poverty. You can also adopt endangered species through certain organizations and send that animal’s information to your gift recipient.
Does your friend or family member feel passionately about a different cause? Give them a TisBest Charity Gift Card and let them decide what to support. All they need to do is log on to http://www.tisbest.org/ and choose from over 200 charities to contribute your predetermined gift amount toward.
6. Cooking Lessons. Some people need to learn the basics, some people want to go gourmet, and some people would love to learn more recipes that fit their on the go lifestyle. There are cooking classes out there that cover all these needs. You could select a gourmet cuisine they may be interested in or lend them a hand with some beginner basics; either way this hands on gift lets them walk away with more than a good food sampling.
You should also check out available classes in your area for wine making or making beer. What an interesting trait to say you have learned? Who knows, you could inspire them to make some for your present next year!! Go for the skill they’d learn and the experience they’d have while doing it.
7. Have you, yourself learned a trade? Why not put it to good use! If you’ve taken scrapebooking lessons, put your talent to work for a friend. If you are a skilled photographer, why not utilize your skills with a photographer the person would love. It’s the personalized gifts that really take the breath away of the recipient. So go ahead….get creative!
8. So they may have everything, but have they done everything? Think through things they have mentioned wanting to do, but either put off or chickened out. Maybe they have always wanted to learn to ski, so you buy lessons or they think skydiving looks fun, but are too afraid to sign up. This gift may take more thought, but they are sure to remember it.
9. Feeling especially green this season? Purchase a tree or several in your favored friend’s name and let them feel good about helping to sustain our planet. Places like http://www.arborday.org/ and http://www.americanforests.org/ make giving gifts like this as easy as planting seeds.
10. How many people can say they have a star named after them? This is something my brother did for one of his girlfriends and I thought it was the sweetest thing. You can literally name a star after a friend or loved one. Go on http://www.starregistry.com/ for the process!
11. Photo gifts. I am a personal fan of Walgreens.com photo center. They have a really nice collection of gifts you can do for anyone. One year I did a calendar of photos for my mother. There are also mugs, pillow cases, aprons, mouse pads and more! Or you could take a photo that you have, that the recipient would like, and enlarge it. Frame it with a matte and it’s a one of a kind piece of art!
12. Coupon book. This works if you’re a little financially strapped during the holidays as well (who isn’t these days). In a book I created, I had a coupon for various tasks such as: FREE dog sitter one night, hot chocolate and a movie, dinner at your favorite restaurant, NO boys allowed-girls night out, etc. I also incorporated my skills at their disposal whenever they should need it (which I’m sure will happen since I’ve already offered it and they have a coupon saying I’d oblige). This was extremely appreciated as it came from the heart and literally is a gift that keeps on giving (until the coupons run out)!
We hope these gifts have inspired you and given you something to get for that one difficult shopper on your list! Happy Shopping!
