Quote from Forum Archives on October 24, 2006, 5:49 pm

Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman

 

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10/24/06 GETTING A JUMP ON THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS, RECIPES

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Please feel free to share this complete newsletter with family and friends

who might also like to receive it (instructions to subscribe are at the very end).

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

PRAYER AND VALUES VOTERS 

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

BLESSING MIX

THANKSGIVING SCRIPTURES AND A QUOTE

THANKSGIVING IDEAS AND TIPS

MAKE-AHEAD RECIPES TO FREEZE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

        MAKE-AHEAD MASHED SWEET POTATOES, MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE, FROZEN CRANBERRY SALAD, FROZEN                 INDIVIDUAL CRANBERRY MOLDS, PILGRIM HAT COOKIES FOR THANKSGIVING, DRESSING or STUFFING, CONFETTI CORN,         LET'S TALK TURKEY!    

GETTING A "JUMP" ON THE HOLIDAYS - THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN CORN HUSK DOLLS

REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR ON OCTOBER  28!   

 

 

PRAYER AND VALUES VOTERS 

 

"If people of faith - the so-called values voters - don't come out and let their voices be heard, there are going to be some major implications for this country." 

-- Dr. James Dobson, Founder of Focus on the Family

 

Much prayer is needed for this year's election!  This year in the United States, the vote is expected to be lower than in a presidential year, which gives every vote more punch!  The mainstream media is trying very hard to convince us that the values voters who made the surprising difference two years ago are complacent this year and plan to just stay home.  They know the stakes are high, and if the values voters do not vote, we are likely to lose many family liberties and lose moral ground on saving precious lives of innocent unborn babies. This is not "politics," - your vote matters very much for your family and every family and we have a duty to vote responsibly.  Again, remember that in a year of low voter turnout, every single vote carries even more weight than in a heavy voting year!  Take your driver's license along as ID.

 

In 2004 there were 13 states that passed marriage amendments (one man and one woman)by overwhelming majorities.  On November 7, there are 8 more states that have marriage protection amendments on their ballots.  Those states are Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,  Wisconsin and Virginia.  Many House, Senate and Governor's races in every state, as well as other extremely important initiatives, hang in the balance on November 7.  The makeup of the Senate will determine the confirmation of future federal judges as well as Supreme Court Justices, which is another crucial reason to vote, regarding which way the Court will lean in the near future.  It all depends on whether or not people of faith realize how serious the situation is, get to the polls and vote wisely.  This could be the most important election in the history of the United States.  A lot is at stake for the Christian family!  Think of your children and grandchildren.

 

"In a Christian nation, we have the biblical responsibility as well as the patriotic responsibility to cast our vote for those who govern us," he said. "We want people to spend time praying that those who are elected will align themselves with God's laws. We also want them to get out and vote so the Christian understanding is captured in the vote."

-- Jim Weidmann, vice chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force

 

Go to www.citizenlink.org to receive complimentary e-mails that will keep you informed on  important family issues - many issues that you may not hear about on the mainstream media.

 

 

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

As long as you are already registered to vote, in Virginia and many other states, there is still time to vote by absentee ballot, if you aren't positively sure you can make it to the polls on Election Day. 

 

Who may vote by absentee ballot?  If you may be out of town on November 7, if you may have to work overtime and not be able to get to the polls, if you are elderly and unable to go to vote, if your health would prevent you from getting out to vote, etc.  Maybe your job as a mother will make it very difficult for you to get to the polls.  And ladies, we all know that caring for your children is certainly a big job.  If it is impossible to take your children along, or have someone watch them, that's reason enough. 

 

If you have moved since the date of last year's Election Day, but haven't changed your voting address yet, according to the back of your voter registration card, you are still required to vote in your previous voting prescient.  If your former prescient is a distance away, vote by absentee ballot. 

 

Moms, call your local Registrar today and have an application sent to your young adult children in college.  Then let them know the process as told below, urging them to fill it out and mail it immediately.  You have 14 days until Election Day.  Here's how!

 

How to vote by Absentee Ballot: 

Call your local Registrar.  The phone number can be found in the government pages of your phone book or by calling your library.  An application would immediately be sent to you by the Registrar.  You would immediately send it back to the address given.  Next a ballot would be sent to you, and you should immediately mail it back so the Registrar's office receives it before Election Day!  You can also go into your local Registrar's office now to vote by absentee ballot in person and complete the process.

 

 

BLESSING MIX Thanks to Barb Campbell in Mississippi for this great Thanksgiving recipe! *Each ingredient in this snack mix symbolizes something associated with Thanksgiving. 2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks - shaped as a cornucopia, a horn of plenty. 2 cups pretzels - represent arms folded in thanks and prayer. 1 cup candy corn - during the first winter, the Pilgrims were each allotted only 5 kernels of corn per day because food was so scarce. (Corn nuts from a health food store are a good substitute) 1 cup dried fruits - Thanksgiving is the celebration of the harvest. 1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds - seeds represent the potential of a bounteous harvest for the next season if they are planted and well tended. In a large bowl mix all ingredients together. Other ingredients such as dry cereals, candies, or marshmallows can also be added. Make this mix as a family and eat while discussing each ingredient and how it relates to Thanksgiving.

THANKSGIVING SCRIPTURES AND A QUOTE

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your  hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. - Philippians 4:6-7

 

There are lots more scripture verses on being thankful and content than the ones below, but these will get you started as you discuss thankfulness with your children.  Psm. 95:2 * Psm. 100:4 * Psm. 50:14 * 2 Cor. 9:15 * Eph. 5:20 * Phil. 4:11 * 1 Tim. 6:6-10 * Heb. 13:5

 

Remember ever; and always, that your country was founded...by the stern old Puritans who made the deck of the Mayflower an altar of the living God, and whose first act on touching the soil of the new world was to offer on bended knees thanksgiving to Almighty God.  
~ Henry Wilson, 18th US Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant 

 

 

THANKSGIVING IDEAS AND TIPS

Thanks to Jennifer Raffety in Missouri for compiling these Thanksgiving ideas and tips given to her by ladies in her church!  Many would be suitable for Christmas as well.

 

Preparing for Thanksgiving can be time-consuming and begin to take away some of the joy of the celebration.  By spending some concentrated time in planning, much of the preparation can be condensed or eliminated allowing the joy of the holiday to remain.  As every family is different, part of the planning will include choosing what best suits your family's temperament, circumstances and situation.  If you have no family or friends with which to share your holiday, for whatever reason, why not invite others who are alone to join you.  You could all share in the meal.  The following are several ideas to consider as you plan this wonderful time of thanking God for His blessings with those you love.

Rotate Hostess Duties.  Start with a list of the adult ladies in the family who want to host the meal.  Your list might include Grandma Short, Aunt Louise, your mom, your sister-in-law Sharon and you.  Many families rotate hostess duties within their list and within the usual yearly holidays (which includes some or all of the following: Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Years' Eve/Day).  This greatly reduces the actual workload and the psychological stress that can result from feeling responsible for every holiday.  Be flexible in determining who will host each holiday as well as the other details.  As the years pass, family dynamics can change, requiring different arrangements and varying magnitudes.

Decide What the Hostess' Duties Are.  A good balance is for the hostess to provide the home and the meat.  It should be the hostess' personal choice about tableware.  She may chose disposable tableware with a theme, china or everyday dinnerware.  Some families include games and activities as the responsibility of the hostess or designate that to another person.  She may want to appoint several older teens to take charge of this area.

 

Rotate the Food Contribution Responsibilities.  There are many options, especially if a large group of extended family is included.  (1) You can start with a basic list (potatoes, rolls/bread, vegetables, salads, dessert, etc.) and have each lady contribute at least one item - or one item on the list, plus one other item of her choice.  (2) You can ask each lady what 3 dishes she would most like to contribute, then chose the one that best fits what you have in mind.  (3) You can assign dishes as you please.  (4) You can provide the whole meal and allow others to donate funds to a small can.  (5) You can have the whole meal catered and collect funds before or after the gathering.  (6) You can have the meat catered and let each lady bring one dish (vegetable, potatoes, rolls, etc.) and one dessert.  (7) You can provide the meat and desserts and let everyone else bring something to go with the meat.  Serving hot spiced apple cider all day in a crockpot, is not only a great drink, but it fills the entire house with a sweet spicy aroma.  Make these possibilities work for your own family's specific needs and limitations.

Decide Beforehand how the normal chores generated by a large gathering will be handled.  Children can help with table setting, rolling flatware into napkins, setting place cards on the table, putting napkins into napkin rings, pouring water into glasses, placing salt and pepper on the table, putting butter on a dish, placing cranberry sauce in a bowl, clearing the table, washing/drying dishes, taking out the trash, supervising younger children, taking charge of games with cousins, etc.  Other jobs will be carving the meat, filling serving bowls, lighting candles, removing rolls from pans, etc.  The size of the kitchen, of course, will determine how many can be involved, but many hands make work light and preparing a meal together sparks great conversations and brings people closer together in good ways.

Food Traditions 

Divide up the leftovers at the same time the table is cleared; place each family's leftovers in Ziploc bags.  When each family is ready to leave, their portion of leftovers will be ready to go.  If there are elderly singles in your family, consider assembling "TV dinners" with some of the leftovers - a very generous and kind gesture which will be appreciated!

Try adding one or two "authentic" items to your menu, similar to the food served on that first Thanksgiving Day.  Some suggestions are cornbread made in a skillet, a dried fish dish, duck or goose, oysters, clams, a bean dish, squash, pumpkin (not in a pie), venison or succotash (corn with lima beans).

You might consider requiring each guest (age appropriate) to bring something he or she prepared him or herself.  Very young children (ages 3 to 7) can make quite a few things with adult help, and this would involve the entire family.

Indoor Decorations

Make a holiday countdown board, poster, calendar, paper chain, etc.  Any Thanksgiving *shape* will work, such as a house, the Mayflower, a turkey, a cornucopia, a Pilgrim hat, a teepee or a fall tree.  Choose a scripture, a job to do, or a fun activity for each day between now and Thanksgiving.  A more simple method is to write these on slips of paper, fold, and place them in a bowl or hat.

Table Decorations 

Cloth napkins dress up a table without a lot of fuss and are a great family tradition.  They are easy to make and fun to fold into interesting designs.  You can check out books from the library for various napkin folding methods, and children enjoy learning and helping. 

An autograph tablecloth can quickly become an heirloom every family will appreciate.  Buy or make a plain white tablecloth to use for the holiday.  Each year, have each guest sign his/her name and date it with a fabric pen.  You can embroider over these if you wish.  If you have an embroidery machine, stitch autumn designs throughout the top of the tablecloth or on the draped edges.

 

Make a family tablecloth that everyone will love.  First lay down a plain tablecloth.  Using family photographs from other Thanksgiving Days of your own and those of your guests, lay the pictures all around the table where they will be noticed, and place a clear vinyl tablecloth over top.  What a wonderful conversation piece!  Plenty of hot pads will protect the pictures and the vinyl from hot dishes.

 

Homemade place mats, napkin rings, and place cards are always fun and look great on the table.  Leaves, cornucopias, squashes, harvest foods, ships, praying hands, haystacks, pilgrims, Indians, corn, turkeys and Thanksgiving words (such as "Thanks," "Gratitude" or "Blessings") are all good choices.

 

If your table will be overflowing with food, you may opt to use a Thanksgiving table runner rather than a centerpiece, for lack of space.  Set the centerpiece on the buffet or nearby for all to enjoy.

Simple table decoration suggestions include a bowl of fruit, clove-studded oranges with red,  green and yellow apples, autumn leaves, a bowl of nuts, a themed table runner or scarf, Pilgrim and Indian figurines or candles, candles of all shapes and sizes, scripture plaques, a small cornucopia with small fruits and vegetables (real or artificial), corn husk dolls (plain or "dressed" as Pilgrims and Indians), small framed pictures of loved ones, living or deceased.

Outdoor Decorations
Outdoor decoration suggestions include garlands around doorways, porch pillars, deck posts, a Thanksgiving or harvest wreath, an arrangement of hay bales, cornstalks, pumpkins and other harvest bounty.  You can also decorate a small tree or bush easily seen from inside with food for wildlife such as birds and squirrels.  Make strings of cranberries, popcorn, raisins, bagels, donuts, apple slices or orange halves.  Use heavy string or floral wire.  Luminaries are nice for driveways or walkways, but exercise safety if using candles.

General Activities
You may want to write and send your annual "family letter" during the Thanksgiving season.  It's a less stressful time than the Christmas season and easier to do the job justice.

Hang a small posterboard in an accessible spot.  Provide guests with a pen and instruct each to list one or more things for which they are thankful. 

Help the children make Indian or Pilgrim costumes with grocery bags and markers.

Start a Thanksgiving Memory Book, using a scrapbook or 3-ring binder and loose sheets.  Include the names of guests, foods eaten, the weather, the day's activities, thankful thoughts for the day and year, etc.  Pictures would be perfect to include.

 

Spend the early part of the week reading about Pilgrims, Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving celebrations of other cultures.

Make arrangements for the children to stage an impromptu Thanksgiving play.

Teach the younger children short poems or finger plays about Thanksgiving to share with everyone sometime during the day.

Create a Thanksgiving Tree for the wall.  Make a bare tree out of construction paper and attach it to a large posterboard.  Write "I am thankful for . . ." just below the tree or on the trunk.  Hang the posterboard in an accessible spot.  Provide all guests with orange, brown, red and yellow construction paper, scissors and pens or markers.  Instruct them to trace their hand 2 to 5 times on paper and cut them out, then list a blessing of theirs on each leaf.  Tape each *leaf* to the tree.

Create your own personalized "Thankfulness Booklets" with the children.  Use 2 or 3 sheets of construction paper (cut in half then folded in half again) to make an 8 to 12 page blank book.  Let each child draw or paste in pictures of things they are thankful for, one picture per page. Add simple text suited to each child.

Try doing something that will demonstrate how different our lifestyle is from what the Pilgrims experienced.  Some ideas to get you started are: shoot bow and arrows, make corn husk dolls, make pumpkin pies or bread from scratch (starting with a pumpkin or wheat berries), pluck/defeather a recently killed bird for your meal, cook over an open fire or turn off the heat in the house and use only the cooking source and fireplace for heat.

Show slides or home videos from the recent or distant past.  Talk about who's who and how they are related to each other.

Start a tradition of putting together a 500 to 1,000 piece puzzle together or playing games 

every year.  Some suggestions are board games, such as a Monopoly, Pictionary or charades.  Or go outside and play football.

 

Let the men do the cleanup since the ladies have spent hours preparing the meal.

 

Some families have made hayrides a family tradition, whether it is a large wagon pulled by a farm tractor or a riding mower with a small wagon for the kids.  Great fun!  Don't forget to take lots of pictures - maybe even assign someone to be in charge of that, then share the pictures with each family later.  A digital camera is perfect for this.

Sharing Activities

Make place cards out of card stock or blank 4 X 6 cards.  Write each guest's name on one side.  Sometime before or after the meal, pass out pens and instruct guests to pass the place cards in one direction.  Have each person write, on the inside of the card, a virtue they admire in that person or why they are thankful for that person.  Then pass the card on to the next person in line.  These are great for affirming one another and strengthening family bonds.

Place 3 or 4 corn kernels at each place setting.  After the blessing is said, pass a small basket around the table.  Each guest is to drop in one kernel and share one blessing or gratitude for the past year.  Keep the basket going until all kernels have been collected.

 

Sharing the meal with those other than your own family is a great way to personify thankfulness.  People to consider are college students who can't travel home, military personnel (if you live near a military base), single or elderly people from church, any struggling family you know who will not be able to be with family for the holiday.

Consider donating to the Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, a soup kitchen, food pantry, local charity or church gift basket fund, either with money, food or with your time.

Encourage all guests to bring photo albums containing pictures from the past year (or more distant past if it has been awhile since their last visit).  Set up a table near comfortable seating for others to leisurely enjoy them.

 

Hopefully these ideas will help to make your holidays full of blessing and harmony, as well as many wonderful memories down through the years!

MAKE-AHEAD RECIPES TO FREEZE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Tips on How Not to Spend Your Entire Day in the Kitchen - Start Cooking Now!

By Lois Breneman, © 2003, Revised 2004, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]  
 

Since we could all use extra hours around the holidays, any shortcuts we can apply in our kitchen will give us more time and energy to be used elsewhere - preferably with our families!  Here are a few ways of trimming down our kitchen time and energy over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

MAKE-AHEAD MASHED SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes can be cooked and mashed ahead of time, then frozen.  We used to grow sweet potatoes in our garden and harvest several bushels at one time.  That's when I learned to freeze them!  Now when sweet potatoes are on sale, I like to stock up, because the prices fluctuate greatly.  Autumn is when we find the best prices in the US.  Bake the washed sweet potatoes in a Dutch oven or roaster pan with a small amount of water added for moisture. Bake at 350 F. for about an hour (check for tenderness).  When cool enough to handle, peel, mash and freeze in freezer bags.  It's as simple as that!  I like to freeze sweet potatoes without salt or seasoning, so they can be used for sweet potato casseroles, bread, muffins and pies.  Of course, freezing a casserole flavored with ingredients such as butter, salt, brown sugar (or sucanat), cinnamon or cranberries also works very well.  It's wonderful to go to the freezer and take out a dish already prepared, except for thawing and heating!  If you are able to freeze your casserole in the same dish you plan to set on the table, that saves even more time. 

 

A last minute tip: Brown sugar or sucanat, from the health food store, placed around the outside edge of the casserole not only looks and tastes good, but it allows those who prefer not to have sugar to reach into the center for a scoop.  Color and texture give the dish more appeal, so why not add chopped walnuts and/or dried cranberries, sprinkled around the edge or only in the center?

 

MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE
Five or ten pound bags of white potatoes are often "Buy One -- Get One Free," so in order to take advantage of these special prices, without them spoiling, you can cook, mash and freeze them for multiple casseroles to use later.  Sometimes I cook the potatoes and mash them, adding some of the cooking liquid, butter and salt - and freeze them in a casserole dish until needed.  Before serving them, I thaw the potatoes, heat them in the microwave, add a little milk as I mix them up with a potato masher and they are ready to serve!  They can also be held over in the oven, covered, until the rest of the meal is ready.

 

Or here is a delicious and convenient recipe from the More-With-Less Cookbook by Doris Janzen Longacre.  If your family does not like spinach, try substituting grated carrots or other vegetables, although it is very good plain, with vegetables served on the side.  If potatoes are the only vegetable your children will eat, try mashing a few cooked carrots or some sweet potato in with the white potatoes.  When I've done this, my family thought I had added 

cheese.  For extra nutrition and a yellow tint, an egg can also be added as the potatoes are whipped.  A sprinkle of dried dill weed mixed into the potatoes as well as over the cheese before (or after) baking adds extra flavor and color. 

 

Cook and mash: 3-4 large potatoes. 
Add:                    1/3 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
                             1 tsp. salt
                             dash of pepper
                            1/2 tsp. sugar (given in recipe, but certainly not necessary)
                            1/4 cup butter
Add just enough milk to bring to proper consistency and beat until fluffy. 
Add:                     1/8 tsp. dill seed
                            2 tsp. chives, chopped
                            1 cup cooked spinach, well drained, chopped (optional)
Place in greased casserole and top with 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese. May be made a day or two ahead and refrigerated, or make a double recipe and freeze half to add to a future oven meal.  Or freeze now to use during the holidays!

  

FROZEN CRANBERRY SALAD

(How easy can it get?)
1 #2 can crushed pineapple in its own juice, drained
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 cup sour cream     (Whipped cream could be substituted for all or half of the sour cream.)

Mix together and put in ice cube trays or in a 9x9 glass dish.  Sprinkle chopped nuts on top.  Freeze overnight.  Cut into squares and serve as a salad with green lettuce beneath or serve as a dessert - maybe with a cookie on the side.  

 

FROZEN INDIVIDUAL CRANBERRY MOLDS
1 can whole cranberry sauce                            1/2 cup sugar (Healthier - Splenda or NuStevia)
8 oz. crushed pineapple with juice, drained    1 cup chopped pecans
8 oz. sour cream      (Whipped cream could be substituted for all or half of the sour cream.)
Mix together all ingredients and freeze in muffin cups.

 

*Note: Small pieces of banana mixed in is delicious too!  Either cranberry recipe is a great make-ahead salad or dessert for Thanksgiving or Christmas!  Of course, either recipe can be frozen in a large mold, glass dish, muffin cups, custard cups or individual molds.

 

PILGRIM HAT COOKIES FOR THANKSGIVING

Using the best rolled gingerbread cookie recipe I've ever found, cut with round cookie cutters and bake, following the directions below.   A time-saving tip would be to make enough gingerbread cookies in all kinds of shapes right now and freeze them.  Then have the children help to decorate them with frosting closer to Christmas.  For Pilgrim hats, after the round circles have cooled, unwrap a small peanut butter cup and place one upside down in the center of each round cookie.  Using store-bought frosting in a tube or your own frosting, pipe a ring around the base of the peanut butter cup, "gluing" it onto the cookie.  This can be a thick or a thin line, and it will automatically form the band of the hat!  Lastly, pipe a square buckle from that line, upward onto the peanut butter cup to form the buckle.  These can be made ahead, as well!  You may want to bake the round cut-out cookies and freeze way ahead of time to simplify things even more, then have family members join in this fun decorating project.  That's what I did this year, thinking my daughter would enjoy this!  When our children were young, my sister and two brothers got together for Thanksgiving and we moms organized fun art projects for the children.  Those are priceless photographs, now that they are all grown!  Well, enough reminiscing!

 

The Best Gingerbread Cookies Ever!
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cup or less brown sugar (or use sucanat from a health food store) 
1 egg
3 Tbsp. orange juice
4 tsp. grated orange rind         Beat butter and sugar (sucanat) together.
3 cups flour                                Mix all ingredients well and chill dough for 3 hours. 
2 tsp. baking soda                    Roll 1/4" thick.  Cut cookies in various shapes.
2 tsp. cinnamon                         Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.  Do not overbake.
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
a dash of salt 

 

DRESSING or STUFFING
I like to make a large dishpan full of stuffing at Thanksgiving, so I can freeze the extra and completely skip the process for Christmas -- it's already done!  I don't really use a recipe for this, but make it as my mother always did.  Cube bread (whole wheat and white mixture) and let it dry out on a large tray for a day or so.  Sometimes I dry it in a dishpan, stirring occasionally over a 2-3 day period.  Melt butter, add chicken broth, beaten eggs, lots of cooked celery and onions (sometimes a small amount of grated carrots for color), salt, onion salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, and other dried herbs (parsley, Greek oregano, thyme, rosemary or tarragon, etc.). Stir well.  Add enough bread crumbs for a slightly moist mixture.  I bake it in greased dishs, (rather than in the bird) at 350º  F. until golden brown on top.  Don't overbake.  The unbaked stuffing mixture will freeze great in containers or freezer bags to serve later.  Note:  Anytime before Thanksgiving is the time to make this recipe and freeze for both Thanksgiving and Christmas or any other time you want to enjoy stuffing throughout the year. 

 

CONFETTI CORN
If you want to save last minute meal preparation, cut a couple pats of butter into a microwavable casserole dish.  Add finely chopped fresh or frozen green pepper, a jar of chopped pimientos (drained), dill weed and a bag of frozen corn.  Cover and put the dish in the freezer.  To make things even easier for us, some supermarkets sell bags of frozen chopped onion, red, green and yellow bell peppers.  On the day you are ready to serve the corn, take the dish from the freezer, thaw and microwave as you normally microwave corn.  Add salt to taste just before serving.  To cook on top of the stove, add a small amount of water first.  This is a quick, tasty and colorful dish -- yellow with red and green!

 

LET'S TALK TURKEY!        

If using a frozen turkey or turkey breast, be sure to give it a couple days in the refrigerator for safe thawing.  For a juicy turkey or turkey breast, place a grapefruit, orange or lemon inside the cavity prior to roasting.  Pierce the fruit to prevent it from bursting, and simply cook it as usual.  You are "guaranteed" a juicy bird each time and there will be no citrus or orange flavor in the turkey.  I don't know how this works, but it does.  You simply take the fruit and dispose of it after roasting.  Obviously, you don't stuff this bird, but it works great to have a separate casserole dish of stuffing as a side dish. Several "Heart to Heart" ladies and I have tried this and we all agree that it works great! 

 

  

GETTING A "JUMP" ON THE HOLIDAYS - THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS

By Lois Breneman, © 2003, Revised 2004, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]   

 

Most of us are not finished with our Christmas shopping, and don't get stressed about that!  I'm not finished either, but that's okay!  But there are lots of other things we can do ahead of time to help get a "Jump" on the holidays. 

 

Discuss with the family what they'd especially like to do for the holidays.  Be sure to delegate some of the work to each family member, putting them in charge of specific projects.  Plan your Thanksgiving and Christmas meals early.  Look through recipes, write out your holiday menus now, make a grocery list and shop early for all except the perishable items.   Buy a couple turkey breasts now while on sale for 88 cents a pound!  Purchase basic ingredients such as unbleached flour, shortening, cooking oil, baking powder, baking soda, salt and chocolate chips when on sale, but don't wait until the last minute.  I remember one year how I needed unbleached flour for baking cookies and the shelf was bare!  Buy it now!  This will cut way down on your time, saving trips to the grocery store during your busiest time of the year.  Spices such as ginger, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg that are necessary for Thanksgiving and Christmas baking can be purchased in bulk at a health foods store to save as much as ten times the price in grocery stores.  Use your savings to buy gifts.  Rather than baking with sugar, try sucanat or honey from the health food store.

 

Find a few holly or bayberry candles to get your family in the holiday spirit.  Play your Christmas music while you bake cookies, cakes and pies now and freeze them for the holidays.  All this will help get you and your family into the spirit and spur you on to finish the shopping and pull out the decorations too.  I usually enjoy decorating the day after Thanksgiving, if at all possible, so we can enjoy everything longer.  Don't overdo the baking, though baking now for parties will save you time in the long run.   A birthday cake for Jesus will freeze well, if baked ahead, but frost it after it is thawed.  Let's not forget that it is Jesus' birthday that we are celebrating!

 

Choose Christmas cards now – or use what you had already bought on sale last year.  Type out all the names and addresses of those to whom you plan to send a Christmas card.  Keep this list in a file to copy, paste and print.  These names and addresses can be printed on mailing labels.  Or they can simply be printed on white paper, cut out and glued onto envelopes with a glue stick.  This can be done now.  Sign the cards now, as well.  Stickers, stamps and return address labels can be added now.  Let the children help.  There are so many rubber stamps available to dress up an envelope and that can also be done ahead of time!

 

If you plan to send a newsy Christmas letter to friends and family whom you don't see very often, work on a rough draft now.  Get input from each family member on what to include.  Then fine tune it and print it out!  Make copies on colored paper. Use a rubber stamp with a Christmas theme.  Fold the letter and tuck into the cards.  Done!  Now your cards will be ready to mail when the time comes.  If you are waiting for a picture to include, fine, but the rest will be done, and your planning ahead will relieve a lot of pressure.

 

You may want to find a new Christmas ornament to make together as a family project.  Search for ideas now.  Holiday magazines, the library, craft books and Michael's are good places to find ideas.  I've been giving each of my children a special Christmas ornament each year.  They took their ornaments when they left home, but we still enjoy giving them a new one each year.

 

Find an Angel Tree in the mall and shop early for the child to whom you choose to bring some Christmas joy.  Find out if there is also a needy family who needs a meal or other help.  Remember the single moms.

 

As far as your gift list, write down all the names of those to whom you plan to give a gift.  Check to see what gifts you already have on hand and continue from there.  If you have time to make a gift that isn't too complicated, make it in multiples – assembly line style.  Handmade gifts that are done well are always welcome, and you can save so much.  Christian books, CD's and tapes are a great gift idea too.  Some cities have a temporary Christian bookstore in their area, with merchandise discounted as much as 80%.  I know one had returned to our area two consecutive years.  The prices are amazing!  You can buy good Christian CD's for just $2 and audios for $1!

 

A few other small ways to plan ahead (every little bit helps!): 

 

*Make a list of goals for your family during this holiday season, along with how you can reach those goals.  Keep things in perspective.  

 

*If it's cold where you live, you may want to put out your snowmen and sled decorations early, even before Thanksgiving! 

 

*Cream cheese balls freeze well.  That's something you can do now for later, even as gifts!

 

*If you don't have an Advent Calendar to use with your children, make plans now.  

 

*Be sure your bathrooms have extra toilet paper and hand towels available. 

 

*Decide now which dishes you'd like to use for the special meals and make a note of it.

 

*I like to use an 8 1/2 x 11" piece of colored paper, folded in half, to write down my specific plans.  Being a pretty color, I'm not as likely to loose it!  😉

 

These are just a few tips to help in planning ahead.  I'm sure you can think of lots more!  You can make this Thanksgiving and Christmas season a time of real thanksgiving and peaceful joy, rather than hurried, frazzled, stressful drudgery!   Simplify by cutting out some things you think you just have to do!  Make time to be thankful and remember that the only reason we have Christmas is because it's Jesus' birthday.  "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!"

 

 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN CORN HUSK DOLLS

(A great craft to make together on Thanksgiving Day!)

http://www.farmandfield.net/doll.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/16875/how_to_make_a_corn_husk_doll.html

http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf118easythanks/famf118easythanks5.html

 

 

REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR ON OCTOBER  28! 

Yes, in the U. S. we get an extra hour this weekend!  If you can't remember which way to turn your clocks, always remember this: "Spring forth and fall back!" 

 

 

                            Many Heart to Heart ladies and their families need our prayers, so

              please remember to pray for each Heart to Heart lady as you receive your newsletter.

(¨`·.·´¨)                     God bless you and your family and keep you in His loving care!

 `·.¸(¨`·.·´¨)                         And remember, I love to hear from you dear ladies!

      `·.¸.·´                                              Your Heart to Heart friend,

                                                                                                 Lois

                

The purpose of the Heart to Heart Newsletter is to encourage women and build biblical values into daily living through practical creative ideas for the Christian family regarding marriage, children, homemaking, and much more.  Receive this free bimonthly newsletter by sending your name, city, state, e-mail address, and name of your referral person to Lois at [email protected].  New subscribers will receive a "Start-Up Kit." 

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