Quick and easy gift ideas
Do you need some ideas to satisfy all of your gift giving? Do you find some people are almost impossible to buy for? Are you running out of time? Here are some great tips:
- Relaxation coupons – Put together your own set of coupons for massages, manicures, pedicures or simply a hair appointment at a favorite salon.
- Nail care basket – Fill a small basket with all the essentials for great nails – brushes, files, cuticle creams and a new color of polish. Perhaps you could even throw in the matching eye or lip color.
- Hair care basket – Give a collection of hair care products with a brush, comb and hair accessories included.
- Aromatherapy kit – Package a set of essential oils along with a book on aromatherapy. You could even go as far as aromatherapy lotions or candles.
- Tickets – Give tickets for an event that the individual may enjoy, like the ballet, theatre or a sports event.
- Homemade treats – Arrange some of your favorite Christmas baking, candy or beverages for friends and family in a basket, Christmas tin or decorative bag.
- Artwork – Paintings, pottery, folk art, done by yourself or purchased with care, are a welcome gift.
- Photographs – Photos are a collection of your life memories and those people that you share it with. Reprints of some favorites done up in a beautiful frame or printed in a calendar can become a treasure to the receiver.
- Subscriptions and memberships – Consider magazine and newspaper subscriptions, or a membership fee to an organization to which the recipient would like to belong.
- Books – If the people on your gift list love to read, a suitable book that either you have read and would recommend or a selection of the best sellers list available at bookstores would be a great choice. For those who feel holiday stress, Coles Bookstore recommends a new book by Elaine St. James titled Simplify Your Christmas … 100 Ways to Reduce the Stress and Recapture the Joy of the Holidays.
- Time – Give the gift of time to someone who would appreciate some help. Coupons for babysitting, shoveling snow, walking a pet, a shopping trip or simply a drive to see the Christmas lights are all great options.
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The joy of giving
For our readers who enjoy poetry, I saved a poem from last Christmas. When the giving of gifts seems a bit stressful, read The Joy of Giving to get back in the spirit of things.
Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the year through.
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to make you glad.
– John Greenlea Whitti, 1807-1892
Recycled tree ornaments
Everyone can have fun turning old Christmas cards into decorative tree ornaments. This project is easy, even for non-crafters like me, and they look great.
Cut images from cards and use a punch to make a hole at the top. String decorative ribbon through the hole and your ornament is ready. You can also glue two images together so both sides will show Christmas scenes. Also, trimming the outside edge with ribbon can make a lavish difference. Children may love to add their own special touch with glitter, or whatever their art specialty may be.
Recipes to share
Dear Santa: I baked these for you.
Whether you are making a plate for Santa, your neighborhood cookie swap or just to enjoy with family and friends, here are some great recipes that my son and I love to bake.
Old-fashioned chocolate chip cookies
1 cup margarine 250 mL
or butter
3Ú4 cup brown sugar 175 mL
3Ú4 cup white sugar 175 mL
2 eggs 2
1 tablespoon hot 15 mL
water
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
11Ú2 cups flour 375 mL
1 teaspoon baking 5 mL
soda
dash of salt
2 cups rolled oats 500 mL
1 cup chocolate 250 mL
chips
(Optional: You can also
add 1 cup/250 mL of
chopped walnuts)
Cream margarine and sugars, add eggs, water and vanilla. Beat well. Sift flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in oats, nuts (optional) and chocolate chips. Drop from spoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F (175 C) for 10-15 minutes.
Oatmeal cookies with Skor bits
1 cup flour 250 mL
1Ú2 cup white sugar 125 mL
1Ú2 cup brown sugar 125 mL
1Ú2 teaspoon baking 2 mL
soda
1Ú4 teaspoon salt 1 mL
1Ú2 cup margarine 125 mL
or butter
1 egg 1
1Ú4 teaspoon vanilla 1 mL
3Ú4 cup rolled oats 175 mL
1Ú2 cup Skor 125 mL
chocolate bar bits
Mix and roll into small balls. On a greased cookie sheet, bake at 350 F (175 C) for 10-12 minutes.
Peanut butter gems
1Ú2 cup margarine 125 mL
or butter
2Ú3 cup brown sugar 150 mL
1Ú3 cup white sugar 75 mL
1 large egg 1
1Ú2 cup smooth 125 mL
peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
11Ú2 cups all- 375 mL
purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking 5 mL
soda
1Ú8 teaspoon salt 0.5 mL
Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Grease the cookie sheets. Combine first six ingredients in the bowl. Beat on low speed until everything is moistened. Beat on medium speed until smooth. Scrape the batter off the beaters into the bowl using rubber spatula.
Add the flour, baking soda and salt. Stir with a spoon to moisten. Using the palms of your hands, roll the dough into 11Ú2 inch (3.5 cm) balls. Arrange on cookie sheets, about two inches (five cm) apart. Press down with the fork or with your hand or the bottom of a glass. If sticky, dip the glass into some flour between presses.
You can apply some decorations at this point if you wish, or you can wait until the baking is done and use icing as a base for decorating.
Bake on the centre rack in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Makes 24 to 30 cookies.
Sugar cookies
3Ú4 cup margarine 175 mL
or butter
3Ú4 cup white sugar 175 mL
1 large egg 1
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
2 cups all- 500 mL
purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking 5 mL
soda
1 teaspoon cream 5 mL
of tartar
1Ú4 teaspoon salt 1 mL
Cream butter and sugar in large bowl. Add egg and vanilla. Beat. Mix remaining ingredients in separate bowl. Stir into batter. Roll out 1Ú8 inch (three mm) thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into rounds or different shapes. Bake on greased cookie sheet in 350 F (175 C) oven for about 10 minutes. Cool and decorate. Makes about seven dozen cookies.
Icing
11Ú2 cups icing 350 mL
sugar
3 tablespoons 50 mL
margarine or butter
1Ú2 teaspoon vanilla 2 mL
5 teaspoons water 25 mL
or milk
food coloring
Beat all four ingredients together in bowl adding more icing sugar or water to make proper consistency. Tint desired color and decorate.
Source: Company’s Coming for Christmas by Jean Pare, publisher The Recipe Factory Inc., 1996.
Seasonal warm-ups
Outdoor activities during the Christmas season would not be complete without hot chocolate. It is a must after carolling, tobogganing or skating.
Make hot chocolate by simply heating chocolate milk and adding marshmallows or whipped topping. It is quick, nutritious and tasty.
Heating milk in the microwave eliminates the constant stirring and pot-watching that comes with heating milk in a saucepan or double boiler.
Be sure to stir once or twice while heating to promote even heat distribution and to prevent a film from forming on top.
Chocolate milk is as nutritious as white milk, being an excellent source of calcium, riboflavin and vitamin D. It is made by adding sugar and cocoa powder to whole, 2%, 1% or skim white milk. The sugar in chocolate milk, while more than white milk, is less than the amount in unsweetened orange juice. Also, some people can digest chocolate milk more easily than white.
Attention quilters
The Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild is calling Saskatchewan quilters to enter the second biannual Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild Show to be held Oct. 23-24, 1999 at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon. There are three open and judged categories. Cash prizes will be awarded. The show is open to the public.
For more information call 306-343-0826 or 306-257-4108.
