Holiday Peanut Butter Bites

3 cups of all purpose flour
1-1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1-1/2 tsp of molasses
3 tablespoons of peanut butter, unsalted
3 tablespoons of canola oil

~ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

~ In a bowl mix the all purpose flour and the whole wheat flour together and set it on the side. In a separate large bowl stir the molasses, peanut butter and oil together. Then add the flours mixture into the molasses mixture and whisk it until it is smooth.

~ Use your hand to break the dough into small ball size pieces and roll each one into logs about 1/2″ in diameter.

~ Cut the logs into 1/8″ thick discs. Place the discs on ungreased baking sheets and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown.

~ Once done allow to cool completely before serving.

~ Store in an airtight container for up to 14 days, or wrap in freezer wrap and keep them in the freezer for up to 60 days.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Holiday Peanut Butter Bites for Dogs

Willow Tree Angel: With Affection I adore the Willow Tree collection and own several, and this sweet angel holding a cat is on my wishlist this year.

This adorable Chester the Cat Teapot (with matching mug and salt and pepper shakers) makes me wish I drank tea!

I love calendars and for reasons I’m not even sure of, I tend to have several throughout the year. This 2010 calendar features “Bad Cats” in humorous situations.

Learn about the traditions and history of the Lucky Cat, a popular symbol of prosperity and good fortune across Asia and the world, in a hardcover book. Then check out the Lucky Cat figurines.

This Amazon seller has dozens of resin ornaments and figurines, perfect for any collector. Of course, I especially like the Chihuahua and rat terrier ornaments!

Show everyone who your best friend is with this adorable Dog Lover coffee mug.

I love these dog paw car stickers! The set of eight stickers costs less than $4 (including shipping!) and attaches cleanly to any smooth, hard surface.

Of course, we can’t forget the dogs when it comes time to look for a 2010 calendar. This one, like the cat calendar above, also features silly dogs in compromising situations!

[images: amazon.com; custom]

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2009 Gift Guide for the Cat and Dog Lover

Chrstmas ornaments image: sxc.hu

• Keep a journal and record the various holidays activities that are occurring in the family and at school.
• Take pictures of the various crafts and activities and put these in a slide show on the computer.  So many youngsters are learning how to make slide shows for school projects.  So this could carry over at home
• Print off pictures and put them in an actual scrapbook.
• Make holiday collages with pictures from magazines and write about the holidays on this.  These could be lone collages or be compiled into a scrapbook.
• Find old Christmas cards saved in the family.  Put these in a scrapbook and write something about the memories these evoke.  My grandmother saved hristmas cards for years.  I’m trying to jot down notes about any of the people I know who sent these to her.

What holiday memory projects does your family do?

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Holiday Memory Project for Tots

Why try? The exotic aromas and comforting flavors of this delicious tagine will transport you to North Africa’s Mediterranean shores with every bite.

Image: The Food Channel

Though the number of ingredients in this recipe may appear daunting, the dish can be assembled quickly. Only the onion, preserved lemons, cilantro and parsley require knife work; the rest of the work is just measuring. All the ingredients should be available at your local supermarket with the exception of the preserved lemons, which may be purchased at specialty stores or can be easily prepared at home (though they can take weeks to become fully preserved). Click here for The Food Channel Preserved Lemons recipe.

This is a great dish to serve company. The combination of spices is a bit off the beaten path, so it will please the foodies on your guest list. However, all the flavors are familiar, so it won’t scare off any guests with conservative palates.

Foodie Byte: To reduce the spicy-heat of this dish, cut back on the cayenne pepper. Though the tagine is a one-pot meal, it is even more delicious served over basmati rice or couscous.

Prep Time: 3 1/2 hours
Cook Time: 1 hour
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 8 small chicken thighs, bone in, skin on (approx. 3 pounds total)
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1½ tablespoons ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons turmeric
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 5 tablespoons + 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion sliced 1/8 inch thin
• ½ cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 can (14 oz) chick peas, drained
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
• 1½ preserved lemons, rinsed, pulp removed, cut into strips 1/8th inch wide
• 1 cup kalamata olives

Preparation

1. Rinse chicken, pat dry and set aside.
2. Mix together salt, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne pepper, black pepper, turmeric and garlic powder. Stir in 5 tablespoons olive oil. Coat chicken with spice/oil mixture, place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 3 hours.
3. Remove chicken from marinade, reserving any marinade left on the plate.
4. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on both sides, in batches if necessary, approximately 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a clean plate.
5. Add onions to the Dutch oven and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add reserved marinade, parsley, ½ cup of cilantro, lemon juice, chick peas, tomatoes, preserved lemons, olives and reserved chicken. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover.
6. Cook until chicken is falling off the bone, approximately 60 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste and sprinkle with remaining cilantro. Serve 2 thighs and a few large spoonfuls of the chunky sauce per person. Serve over basmati rice or couscous if desired.

This recipe is part of The Food Channel’s Holiday Gifts for Food Lovers series.

Post from: Blisstree

Chicken Tagine

1. Properly identify pets with ID tags and microchips: Make sure you have your pets’ ID, current rabies tags and that they’re microchipped. To be extra cautious, attach an additional tag with the address and phone number of where you will be staying for the duration of the trip to your pet’s collar, in case they get lost after you arrive.

2. Train pets to travel in their crates: Whether you’re heading to your holiday destination by plane, train or automobile, getting your pets used to their crates will make the entire traveling experience less stressful. Even when away from home, pets still view their crates as a safe haven from stressful situations.

3. With a crate, size does matter Crates should be large enough for pets to stand and turn around in comfortably. Remember to keep water inside the crate or allow for breaks every three hours so that your pets can drink and stretch.

4. Never leave your pets unattended: Just as you would never leave a child unattended, never leave your pets alone in a car.

5. Be prepared: Take your pets’ health records with you, just in case they need to see a veterinarian during your trip. Be sure to ask your veterinarian if she recommends heart worm prevention or treatment for fleas or ticks for the area in which you are traveling. Keep pet dishes in your car, as well as extra water and pet food, in case of car trouble or bad weather.

6. To fly or not to fly: As a rule, puppies and kittens, sick animals, animals in heat, and frail or pregnant animals should not travel by air. If a pet is too large to fly in the cabin with you, perhaps a stay at a boarding kennel would be a safer choice. You should also plan ahead because many airlines have restrictions regarding pets, and your pets may need a health certificate to fly.

7. Visit your veterinarian: Your vet may prescribe a sedative to help reduce your pet’s stress level while traveling. However, sedatives are not always safe for pets so be sure to give your vet the details of how your pet will be traveling and how long the trip will take.

8. Boarding is an option: If your pets are too large to fly in the cabin with you, or if a long car ride might be too stressful for them, boarding your pets at a kennel may be a safer choice. Or you could hire a licensed pet sitter to take care of your pets in the comfort of your own home.

9. Try to keep pets on the same “schedule”: Stop when you would normally let your pets out at home and at feeding times.

10. Plan lodging ahead: Research your route, make reservations and carry a list of pet-friendly lodging along the way. Also, ask for a room on the ground floor so it is easier to walk your pets. Never let your pets stay in the car.

[image: flickr]

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10 Holiday Travel Tips for Pets

These “howliday” greeting cards are not only a nice little thought for your favorite four-legged friends, but they come with treats built right in that they’ll appreciate even more!

The Talk To Me Treats greeting cards come filled with 0.7 oz of Talk To Me Treats Fresh Breath and Dental Care treats (which are the perfect size to put inside the Talk To Me Treatball), and dog-lovers can choose between “Happy Howlidays,” “Merry Christmas,” or a brand new “Tis the Season” cards.

The greeting cards, together with the dog treats, are priced at around $3.99 each making them pretty cost-effective when you compare them to the cost of a regular card without dog treats! A list of retailers are available at the Talk to Me Treats website, and are available at stores like PetsMart, Petco, QVC, and Target.

[image: talk to me treats]

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Howliday Greeting Cards for Pets

Image: sxc.hu

What do parents do?

• Simply bring this to the attention to the teacher, or the principal if it involves a number of classes.
• Ask that your child might do something else during this time.
• Offer to come into class and explain your holiday to the youngsters.  Or provide your child with material to do so.
• Refrain from taking a defensive attitude until you’ve explored the possibilities to share.

I’ve often been left notes by the regular teacher that a particular child doesn’t participate in an event or holiday.  So alternative activities are available for the child at this time in another part of the classroom.

I mention the topic of holidays at this time because some families don’t participate in Halloween and don’t want their children dressing up and attending parties.  Others have no problem if you call it a Harvest Festival.

The Christmas season also presents another time when many families have other types of celebrations.  In our evolving diverse population, we have opportunities to learn about different cultures and to share our customs with them.

How have you handled these situations, either as a parent or a teacher?

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If You Don’t Celebrate Holidays…

One of the popular places to be during the holiday season, is New York City.  From the beautifully decorated department store windows, to ice skating at Rockefeller Center, to the parade and the Rockettes, and everything else that the city has to offer.

One of the highlights of the season is the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center.  The tree overlooks the ice rink, and the promenade leading to the ice rink from 5th Avenue, and is one of the most recognizable holiday symbols.  If you’re making plans for the tree lighting, mark this date on your calendar:

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009, 7-9 pm

The two hour program will include celebrity appearances, music, and lots of festivities.

If you can’t make it for the lighting ceremony, you can still see the tree on display until January 7th, 2010.  It will be lit daily from 5:30 am – 11:30 pm, all day on Christmas, and from 5:30 am – 9 pm on New Year’s Eve.

Photo credit: cchen @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

2009 Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center

October is:

National Apple Month

~ Apple Recipes
~ Old Fashioned Apple Cakes
~ Apple Almond Tart
~ Granny Smith Apple Pie
~ Apple Crisp

National Apple Jack Month

~ Apple Jack Recipe
~ Apple Jack Pound Cake
~ Apple Jack Cocktail Recipe
~ Apple Jack Brandy Recipes

National Caramel Month

~ Caramel Sauce Recipe
~ Caramel Apples
~ Caramel Apple Cookies
~ Caramel Banana Cream Pie
~ Homemade Caramel Corn

National Chili Month

~ Turkey Chili in the Slow Cooker
~ Beef Chili
~ Vegetarian Chili
~ Healthy Chili (video)
~ Ten Tips for Cooking the Best Pot of Chili

National Cookie Month

~ How to Make Perfect Cookies
~ Cookie Tips and Hints
~ Vegetarian Cookies
~ Gluten-free Cookies
~ Decorating Halloween Cookies

National Dessert Month

~ Dessert Tips and Terms
~ Dessert Tips
~ Vegetarian Dessert Index
~ Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes
~ Healthy Desserts

National Popcorn Poppin’ Month

~ Healthy Popcorn Collection
~ Gourmet Popcorn Recipes
~ Perfect Popcorn from Alton Brown
~ Homemade Microwave Popcorn
~ Popcorn Toppings

National Pork Month

~ Pork Chop Casserole
~ Pork Recipes
~ Slow Cooker Pork Recipes
~ Healthy Pork Recipes and Tips
~ Healthy Pork Chops Recipes

National Seafood Month

~ Seafood and Fish Recipes
~ Seafood Allergies
~ Top Seafood Recipes
~ Homemade Fish Tacos
~ Seafood Tips

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

October Is…

In this video, Clara shows how to prepare Sicilian Fig Cookies, a treat that her family only made once a year around the holidays. She mentions that it was pretty much something they only did after the Depression ended, since the ingredients were so expensive!

Using flour, sugar, lard, milk, baking powder, eggs, powdered sugar, vanilla, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, candied fruit, raisins, dates, oranges, tangerine peel and figs, Clara recreates a truly mouthwatering cookie that’s sure to get anyone in the holiday spirit.

During the preparation process, Clara talks with her granddaughters about Christmas during the Great Depression, and how they would celebrate and the gifts the children would receive. She also talks about how food was stored and how they used a genuine ice box, with an ice man who would come down the street to deliver blocks of ice.

Clara then toasts the nuts together, and boils water and sugar on the stove. She then combines all the fruits and nuts together and puts them through a food processor in batches to make a dense, crumbly dough. Whiskey is then added (optional, of course!) along with a cup of the sugar water, and then it’s all stored overnight in the refrigerator.

Stay tuned for part two!

Post from: Blisstree

Cooking With Clara: Sicilian Fig Cookies