How many sleeps until Christmas? When is Santa coming? Are you sure that he got my list? Is there really a Santa? Where are my presents? Where is the money tree? When is my Christmas concert?
These are the questions that I am faced with at my daily briefing. My answers vary as I share the excitement along with my children. It is so much fun to be a part of the magic that Christmas brings. Not the buying of gifts or the tinsel or glitter, but rather the sparkle in the eyes of children.
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Recipes – popsicles are made with lactose-free milk and yogurt so are perfect for those who can’t tolerate milk, while everyoneelse will also enjoy them
It is also a time to share new recipes to be served over the holidays.
Honey fruit dip
Developed for Bee Maid Honey Kitchen.
2 cups plain yogurt 500 mL
1/4 cup honey 60 mL
2 tablespoons orange juice 25 mL
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel 2 mL
fruit for dipping: pineapple chunks,
mandarin oranges (drained), sliced
bananas or fruit of your choice.
Combine yogurt in a small bowl with honey, orange juice and peel. Mix well. Chill and serve with fruit.
Spiced cranberry dip
I picked up this Kraft Kitchens recipe at a sample day at my local grocery store.
1 package cream cheese, 250 g
softened
1/2 cup whole berry cranberry 125 mL
sauce
1/4 cup orange marmalade 60 mL
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 0.5 mL
1/4 cup slivered almonds, 60 mL
toasted
Spread cream cheese onto bottom of nine inch (22 cm) pie plate.
Mix cranberry sauce, marmalade and cayenne pepper; spoon over cream cheese. Sprinkle with almonds. Dig in with crackers of your choice.
Cranberry chicken
The aroma from this recipe welcomed us home after a day at the rink. It’s real comfort food.
12 boneless, skinless chicken
breast halves
11/4 cups whole 310 mL
cranberry sauce
1/2 of envelope dry (0.7 oz./20 g)
onion soup mix
1/2 cup French dressing 125 mL
1 tablespoon granulated 15 mL
sugar
1/8 teaspoon pepper 0.5 mL
Arrange chicken in five quart (five L) slow cooker. Mix remaining five ingredients in small bowl. Spoon over chicken. Cover. Cook on low for eight to 10 hours or on high for four to five hours. Serves 12.
You can also bake this covered, in ungreased four quart (four L) casserole at 325 F (160 C) for 11/2 to two hours.
Raspberry cream muffins
These versatile muffins make for great breakfast fare, but also work for luncheons, snacks and afternoon teas. Keep plenty on hand for all your holiday visitors.
2 cups all-purpose flour 500 mL
1 teaspoon baking powder 5 mL
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 mL
1/2 teaspoon salt 2 mL
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 mL
1/2 cup butter, softened 125 mL
2/3 cup sugar 150 mL
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream 125 mL
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 mL
1 cup chopped frozen whole 250 mL
raspberries
Measure first five ingredients into large bowl. Stir. Make a well in centre.
Cream butter and sugar in medium bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add to well in flour mixture.
Add raspberries. Stir until just moistened. Fill 12 greased muffin cups three-quarter full. Bake in 350 F (180 C) oven for 30 to 35 minutes until wooden pick inserted in centre of muffin comes out clean. Let stand in pan for five minutes. Remove muffins from pan and place on wire rack to cool. Makes 12 muffins.
Gift ideas
The recipe for the muffins is from the
new Company’s Coming Most Loved Holiday Favorites by Jean Pare. This cookbook would make a good Christmas gift.
If you want to also get the men in the kitchen try The Father’s Guide to Surviving With Kids. When it comes to humorous gift books for single, divorced or stay-at-home fathers, this is the quick and easy recipe book for the dad who needs a little help. The guide includes tips on parenting, cooking, travel, laundry and first aid. Buy it for $16.95 at bookstores, gift stores, grocery stores and Costco.
Holiday contest winners
Grand prize gift basket from Atco Blue Flame Kitchen: Stephane Ruszkowski, Prince Albert, Sask.
Atco Holiday Collection Cookbook: Ann Goy, Yellow Creek, Sask.; Pat Muri, Central Butte, Sask.; Kathleen Prehn, Forestburg, Alta.; Henia Martyniuk, Smoky Lake, Alta.; Carolyn A., Fairview, Alta.; Gwen Follick, Strongfield, Sask., and Tanya Pidsadowski, Westlock, Alta.
A Taste of Christmas and flip mitts from The Western Producer: Mae Woronuk, Rycroft, Alta.; Marilyn Beever, Fraser Lake,
B.C.; Laura Spence, Maymont, Sask.; Naden Hewko, Cactus Lake, Sask., and Barb Hutton, Petersfield, Man.
Norwex cleaning cloths donated by Marie Nixon: Jeannette Roy, Arborfield, Sask.
Storage containers donated by Tupperware: Connie Rempel, Nipawin, Sask.
Christmas tree food mould donated by MaryAnn Barnett of Prairie House Kitchens Ltd.: Ann Weekes, Biggar, Sask.
Saskatchewan Pulse Grower’s cookbook, The Amazing Legume: Suzette Mireau, Harris, Sask.; Millie Scheuerman, Barrhead, Alta.; Sherry Diener, Saskatoon, Sask., and Johanna Kohle, Wakaw, Sask.
Christmas contest responses
This year we are booking our country hall for Christmas day. Our immediate family numbers have increased with anywhere from 30 to 40 people, so it’s starting to get a bit much for one house. The hall is decorated, everyone will be interacting in the same big room and we will assign food for everyone to bring. Because space is not a problem now, we can invite other people who don’t have Christmas plans. – M.S., Alta., e-mail
Each family celebrates in the way that is most meaningful to them.
– N.H., Cactus Lake, Sask.
This year we are also planning to help a young single mother have a merry Christmas. We are cutting back on what we spend in order to buy some gifts and food for her and her little daughter.
I really believe that the most important part of the holiday season is being together with friends and family and not worrying about if everything is perfect but just enjoying the imperfect life that we all live.
– L.S., Maymont, Sask.
Our celebrations have become increasingly complicated. In the beginning we were a nuclear family with four children and Christmas at the farm was quiet and serene, but divorce changes everything. We finally reached a compromise whereby the kids spent the whole of Christmas day with me, and their dad had his own celebration with them on Boxing day, in effect a second Christmas, which they loved.
Now that my ex-husband and I have both remarried and our respective family sizes have increased accordingly, Christmas could have been a nightmare trying to fit everyone in but we’ve gradually evolved a routine that suits us all and keeps everyone happy. But Boxing day with Dad is one tradition that won’t change. – C.A., e-mail
Jodie Mirosovsky is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or contact them at team@producer.com.
