Today I have a delicious Christmas Dinner for 8 for Less than $30. The Food Network’s Aaron Sanchez and Walmart’s Holiday Meals put this Christmas menu together to help make things simple, and to help people who are on a tight budget this holiday season . The Christmas meal will be perfect for entertaining holiday guests without breaking the bank.

The meal ideas include:

• One 10-pound Spiral Cut Half Ham
• Three 8-ounce cans Del Monte Green Beans
• One 10-pound bag of Russet potatoes
• One 12-count package of Sara Lee dinner rolls
• One 10 inch Pumpkin Pie

Here’s the spread:

Ham with Mango Jalapeno Glaze

Ingredients:

• One 10- to 12-pound spiral cut half ham
• 12 cloves for studding ham
• 1/2 cup mango jalapeno jelly (recipe following)
• 2 T Dijon mustard

Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 350°F.
2.) Distribute cloves between slices of ham. On a rack in a roasting pan bake ham in middle of oven for 1 1/2 hours.
3.) In a small saucepan heat jelly over moderate heat, stirring, until melted and smooth. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in mustard. Spread glaze evenly on top of baked ham and bake 35 minutes more.
4.) Transfer ham to a platter and let stand 15 minutes before slicing.

Chipotle Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 5 large baking potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 1 cup hot milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 canned chipotle in adobo, peeled and seeded
• 1 cup of canola oil
• 6 cloves of garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1.) Boil potatoes in salted boiling water until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Place the potatoes in a food processor and purée, adding milk and butter until incorporated. Transfer potatoes to a large serving bowl.
2.) In a small sauce pot combine oil and garlic and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes until garlic is tender. Drain oil and reserve it in a small bowl. On a cutting board chop garlic and chipotle into a fine paste. Stir garlic-chipotle mixture into the oil; let cool.
3.) Add cooled garlic-chipotle oil to the potatoes. Mix well and season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Green Bean and Mushroom Picadillo

Ingredients:

• 2 cans green beans
• 1 T olive oil
• 8 oz. sliced white mushrooms
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup red wine
• 1/3 cup chicken broth
• 1/3 cup grated Cotija cheese or Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1.) Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

2.) Add red wine and chicken broth to the skillet and bring to a boil. Simmer to blend flavors and reduce sauce, about 2 to 3 minutes.

3.) Add green beans to mushroom sauce and toss to coat. Spoon into a large serving dish and top with cotija or parmesan cheese.

Veggies with Aaron Family ranch sauce

• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon of chopped cilantro
• 1 tablespoon of hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• Assorted crudités (such as carrot and celery sticks)
• Corn tortilla chips

Preparation:

Whisk ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Transfer to serving bowl. (Can be
made 1 day ahead.) Cover; chill.
Arrange crudités on platter. Place chips in basket. Serve with dip.

Images: Walmart

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While you send out the invitations for your Caroling party you can ask everyone to bring a bag of fruit, some snack crackers, jellies or jams or other items to make up some good cheer food baskets to deliver on your route. You can find inexpensive baskets at many thrift shops, or in your own closet.

Fill the baskets with the fruit and non perishable fruit and deliver them to anyone on your caroling list that could use a little helping hand.

On the night of your caroling party get together with your friends and carpool from one destination to another. While you’re at each spot spread holiday cheer with your baskets and your songs. Have a good time while you’re doing something to give back to the community.

When you’re done invite your friends back to your place for some hot chocolate and cookies or appetizers at your place so you can talk about the night and look forward to the year ahead.

Image istockphoto

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The other day I decided I was going to dip a few of them in chocolate and make some little chocolate covered cherry snowmen just for fun. They turned out really cute so I thought I’d share them here. Here are a few of them posing for their glamor shot.

Here’s how I made them:

White Chocolate Covered Cherry Snowmen

• Merry Maraschino Cherries (removed from juice and patted dry
• White melting chocolate melted according to package directions
• A little orange melting chocolate melted to package directions for the nose
• Brown or black melting chocolate for the eyes and charcoal mouth

Hold the cherries by the stem and dip them into the melted white chocolate until they are completely coated. Lay the chocolate covered cherry on wax paper to cool and dry.

Once the chocolate is solid, melt a little brown chocolate and use a toothpick to dot on eyes, and a charcoal mouth. Use another toothpick to put a drop or two of orange chocolate for a nose.

These are a very simple but fun winter treat you can add to your holiday dessert table.

Today is the last day to enter to win a jar of Merry Maraschino cherries, if you haven’t entered yet, hop over and leave a comment on the giveaway post to get entered before midnight tonight!

Image (c) L Gerlach

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With names like  Snow Storm, Mistletoe, and Holiday Sweater these cocktails will make for some great conversation with your friends. Pick out one or two and claim them as your holiday signature cocktail.

This first recipe is my favorite, you can’t go wrong with mint and Crème de Cacao, of course the Sleigh Ride with hot chocolate sounds pretty delicious too. Yum!

Snow Storm

• 1.25 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam™ Bourbon
• .50 part DeKuyper® White Crème de Cacao
• .25 part DeKuyper® Blustery Peppermint
• 2 parts heavy cream
• Candy cane or peppermint

Red Nog

• 1.50 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam™ Bourbon
• 4 parts prepared egg nog
• Ground nutmeg
• Cherry

Sleigh Ride

• 1.50 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam™ Bourbon
• 4 parts hot chocolate
• Whipped cream
• Cherry

Holiday Sweater

• 1.25 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam™ Bourbon
• .75 part DeKuyper® Hazelnut liqueur
• 4 parts hot chocolate
• Green crème de menthe
• Whipped cream
• Mint leaf

Mistletoe

• 1.50 parts Jim Beam® Bourbon
• .75 part DeKuyper® Pomegranate Liqueur
• 1.50 parts Fresh Lemon Sour
• 1 part Fresh OJ
• 1 bar spoon of orange marmalade

Always remind your guests to drink responsibly!

If you’re looking for more great holiday cocktail recipes stop by the Jim Beam website.

Images and recipes courtesy of Jim Beam

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The Christmas cocktails I have for you today were created by leading mixologists. They were created by taking your top winter drinks from childhood and giving them a sophisticated and provocative makeover. Forget spiced apple cider, you’re sure to enjoy these updated cocktails. They’re sure to put a smile on your face just like Christmas morning.

The recipes are all courtesy of Brent Lamberti, bartender at RDV restaurant in New York City, and the respective brands.

Mistletoe Makeout

A VeeV Açaí Spirit spin on a berry smoothie

• 1 oz VeeV Açaí Spirit
• 0.5 oz Grand Marnier
• Handful of cranberries, blackberries and blueberries
• Dash of All Spice
• 1 oz Crémant d’Alsace
• Mistletoe for garnish

Muddle the berries in a mixing glass and add All Spice. Pour the berry puree into a cocktail shaker and add VeeV Açaí Spirit and Grand Marnier. Shake well over ice, and pour into a Champagne flute. Top up with Crémant d’Alsace, and garnish with a mistletoe on the bottom of the glass.

Coco Loco

A sophisticated Hot Chocolate upgrade

• 2 oz Flor de Caña 7-year-old
• 0.5 oz Godiva Milk Chocolate Liqueur
• Thin slice of Habañero Chili
• Dash of cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of brown sugar
• 2 oz of milk
• Grated pistachios for garnish
• Whipped cream (optional)

Pour the rum, chocolate liqueur and milk into a small pot, and add the slice of chili, cinnamon and sugar. Simmer on low to medium heat until hot. Pour the Hot Chocolate into an Irish coffee mug, and an optional topping of whipped cream. Garnish with grated pistachios.

Sapphire Stocking Stuffer

A Bombay Sapphire Gin spin on eggnog

• 2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 2 oz ginger liqueur
• 1 peppermint tea bag
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 egg white
• 3 oz sugar
• 6 oz heavy cream
• 3 oz milk
• 0.5 teaspoon nutmeg
• Mint leaf for garnish

Pour 2 oz of Bombay Sapphire Gin into a mixing glass. Add the peppermint teabag, and let it steep for a couple of minutes. In the meantime, whip the egg white with sugar until stiff, and fold in the egg yolk, heavy cream, milk, and nutmeg. Combine equal parts eggnog and peppermint infused Bombay Sapphire Gin in a shaker over a small amount of ice, roll it, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a mint leaf.

Gingerbread Man

In a mixing glass, muddle 3 dials of fresh ginger.

Add:

• 1 oz Lucid
• 0 .5 oz demerara sugar syrup (or simple syrup)
• Dash of freshly grated cinnamon
• Dash of freshly grated nutmeg
• 0 .5 oz fresh lemon
• 0.25 oz green chartreuse

Shake thoroughly with ice, then strain over fresh ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a small Christmas tree gingerbread cookie.

Pear Infused Cognac Liqueur

• 1.5 Parts Xanté
• 3 Parts Freshly pressed apple juice or apple cider
• A cinnamon stick

Heat the freshly pressed apple juice together with the cinnamon stick

Add Xanté before serving.

I hope you enjoy these recipes. Make sure you remind your guests to drink their holiday cocktails responsibly!

Images: RDV Restaurant

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I also have some really yummy looking Hershey’s Kiss Cookie and Treat recipes with a twist below to share with you. You can visit the Hershey’s Kisses Cookies website for more mouth watering holiday cookie recipes and yummy holiday desserts and treats.

Midnight Chocolate Cheesecake Cookie Cups

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa or Hershey’s Cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Chocolate Filling (recipe follows)
• Whipped topping or sweetened whipped cream
• 42 Hershey’s Kisses Brand Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolates, unwrapped and divided

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Paper or foil line 30 small (1-3/4 inch diameter) muffin cups.
2. Beat butter and shortening in medium bowl until fluffy. Beat in sugar, egg and vanilla. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Gradually blend into butter mixture, blending well.
3. Drop rounded teaspoonful of dough into each prepared muffin cup. Using back of spoon, push dough up sides of muffin cup forming crater in cup. (If you are having difficulty with this step, refrigerate pans for about 10 minutes and then continue.) Prepare Chocolate Filling; evenly divide into muffin cups. (Cups will be very full.)
4. Bake 15 minutes or until cheesecake is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cover; refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, top each cheesecake cup with whipped topping rosette and chocolate piece. 30 dessert cups.

Chocolate Filling: Beat 2 packages (3 oz. ea.) softened cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar until well blended. Beat in 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Place 12 chocolates in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at Medium (50%) 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until chocolates are melted and smooth when stirred. Cool slightly, blend into cheesecake batter.

Recipe makes 30 dessert cups.

Double Kisses Truffles

• 28 Hershey’s Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons whipping cream
• 10 Hershey’s Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates filled with Caramel
• 1 cup ground pecans

1. Remove wrappers from milk chocolates. Place milk chocolates and whipping cream in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at Medium (50%) 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at Medium 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until chocolates are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Cover; refrigerate 4 to 6 hours or until firm.
2. Remove wrappers from caramel filled milk chocolates. Using about 1 tablespoon of milk chocolate mixture for each truffle, shape chocolate around each caramel chocolate piece; roll in hand to make ball. (Be sure to cover each chocolate piece completely.) Roll in pecans; refrigerate until ready to serve. For best chocolate flavor, allow truffles to soften at room temperature about 5 minutes before eating.

Recipe makes ten truffles.

Even if you don’t win Hershey’s Ultimate Exchange Cookie Party you can host your own cookie exchange party this holiday season, they’re tons of fun!

Here are some tips from Hershey’s for planning a successful cookie exchange party yourself.

• Remind each guest of the total number of guests, and ask each to bring one dozen cookies for everyone. If the group is large, consider reducing this quantity to a half-dozen – more than 10 dozen cookies may overwhelm some guests.
• Encourage all participants to bring plenty of printed recipe copies so the recipe exchange can begin, along with an empty, sealable container to take home new treats.
• For a festive touch, play a favorite holiday CD during the party and display a set of holiday gift tags and pens so guests may label their goodies.
• Be sure to offer refreshments, but keep it simple. Consider making something the night before that can be reheated for the party. Plan to serve a holiday beverage, such as hot Hershey’s® Cocoa or warm apple cider, along with standard beverages such as coffee, tea, juice and milk.
• For added fun, turn the cookie exchange into a cookie gifting party. Set out gift tags, gift bags, ribbons, and festive Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates wrapped in holiday-colored foils, and invite guests to make sweet gifts for co-workers, neighbors, teachers and friends.
• Have guests vote for “The Cookie Santa Can’t Refuse” or “Most Decorative Cookie,” and award prizes to each winner.
• Supply extra plastic bags or containers for guests to transport their cookies home. There are bound to be some participants who forget to bring their own.
• For a perfect party favor, consider asking guests to provide their recipes in advance, and print them out on festive paper to compile homemade recipe books.
• Additional cookie exchange tips are available at KissesCookies.com.

Images tips and recipes courtesy of Hershey’s

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You can also add to a large vase with some fresh fruit, like oranges and lemons, or arranged with Christmas bulbs, or pine cones and white lights to make an evergreen garland down the center of your table.

If you have your own evergreen trees or bushes, just steal a couple of the bottom branches, or a few branches right out of the middle. If you don’t trim too heavily, you won’t even know the branches are gone. You can also use the trimmings off of your Christmas tree, instead of throwing them out, or purchase greens at local garden centers, or Christmas tree farms.

You can also use your fresh evergreens as part of a Christmas centerpiece.

Image (c) L Gerlach

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Creating a holiday centerpiece doesn’t have to be difficult, and you might even have some of the things you need already in your home. If you have a beautiful basket, or vase that you’re not sure what to do with it would make a great base for your holiday centerpiece.

Here are a couple other ideas for holiday centerpiece containers or bases:

• A small sleigh
• A wagon
• Flower pot
• A small burlap bag (made to look like Santa’s bag)
• A horn of plenty
• A wrapped gift box, or floral foam wrapped up like a present.
• A pumpkin or gourd
• Yule log
• Serving tray
• A holiday bowl

You get the idea, many things can be the base of your holiday centerpiece, just use your imagination. You can also be creative on what you use in your centerpiece arrangements, including:

• Evergreen branches
• Pine cones
• Flowers
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Beads
• Feathers
• Wire small presents, angels, or ornaments into your arrangements
• Fall leaves
• Candles
• Dried fruits
• Raffia or ribbon
• Dried seed pods
• Mini lights

Just be creative. If you’re creating a centerpiece for Thanksgiving use fall colors, fruits, and vegetables. For a Christmas or New Years centerpiece use whites, reds, greens, blues, golds or silvers.

Dried floral foam makes a great base. Here’s a wonderful video with a great example of a
holiday centerpiece being created from Monkey See.

It’s really not hard to create your own holiday centerpiece, and it can save you a ton of money over purchasing pre-made decorations.

Images (c) L Gerlach

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Many of the details for a kid’s company Christmas party depend on the size of your company, and how many employees you have. If you have a small company you can often get by with hosting the party at your own location, or in someone’s home. If you have a larger corporation you will need to find a venue to host your party.

Here are a few ideas to help you plan:

• Plan your children’s party at a local kid’s favorite like a children’s museum, skating rink, bowling alley, or pizza shop. Most of these even provide entertainment and food in their cost.
• Plan age appropriate gifts for the children, within your budget. To get an accurate count have your employees let you know by a certain date if they’ll be attending the party, and the ages of their children.
• Instead of gifts you can let the kids create a simple craft to take home with them.
• Don’t forget Santa, and a chair for Santa to sit in. You’ll also want to organize things so all the children aren’t standing in line for Santa at the same time. Call them in alphabetical order, or by age to sit on Santa’s lap, so they can play instead of standing in line.
• Hire a photographer, or have a fellow employee snap quick pictures of the kids while they’re sitting on Santa’s lap.
• Plan easy kid friendly snacks, order pizza, or and serve Christmas cookies and punch.
• Make a list, and check it twice. Get all your party details in order on paper, so you don’t forget something while you’re planning.
• Start early. Christmas is a hectic time, if you’re planning on hosting your children’s Christmas party someplace other than your business you need to reserve the location before they’re all taken.

Planning a corporate children’s Christmas party can be fun. Just don’t forget, the Christmas season sneaks up fast, so start planning early so you can coast through the holiday season.

Image (c) L Gerlach

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I have a couple Christmas wedding decorating ideas to share with you today. I know, it’s only August, and Christmas is still 5 months away. If you’re planning a wedding, that’s not very long to get everything together, so you should already be at least in the planning stage.

• My favorite Christmas weddings have all featured poinsettias. They’re fabulous to put at the alter when you’re getting married. Small poinsettias also work very nicely as table centerpieces for dinner.
• White tulle, with white miniature wrapped inside can look like fluffy white snow.

• Christmas wedding table decorations can include pine cones, Christmas greens, shimmering silvers, reds, and whites. Votive candles, or larger pillars can give the room a soft glow.

• Leave a small box filled with Christmas chocolates on your guests plate, as a decoration, and a party favor.
• Wrap white lights on branches, for soft background lighting when you turn out the lights for a little dancing.

Images (c) L Gerlach

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