Small Memories

Everyone loves getting gifts that come from the heart.  What shows this better than gifts made by hand?  While this may make some people panic at the thought of trying to make something arts and crafts, it really isn’t that hard to make a nice gift for someone. Here are a few homemade Christmas gift ideas to help get your creativity flowing.

An excellent gift for a new bride in the family would be a cookbook of all the family favorites.  Add some stories and maybe old photos of family gatherings to go along with the recipes.  Put together some dry mixes of some of the recipes to get her started.  Wrap it in a nice apron, maybe even one that belonged to a relative.

For kids, a great gift can be  a dress up kit. Get an old suitcase or two and fill it with old clothes that you don’t wear anymore.  Include hats and shoes. Now and then, add more items to the box. Ask other relatives to contribute to it as well. If you have pictures of family members wearing the clothes, print them out and decoupage them on the outside of the suitcase and then coat with a clear finish.

Do you have a flower garden during the year? Save the petals, dry them and make your own potpourri.  You could buy cinnamon sticks to add another scent and texture.  Put it in small containers or mesh bags.

Everyone likes to snuggle up with a soft blanket on a cold evening.  You can make a blanket and never sew or crochet a stitch.  Purchase a piece of fleece the size that you want your blanket (the clerks at the store can help you figure out the right amount).  Simply cut fringe in about two inches from all the edges about an inch apart. You can either let the fringes hang loose, or tie knots to make a pattern around.

Homemade cookies, fresh from the oven, are a great treat.  A lot of people just don’t have the time to make them.  You can make a frozen cookie kit.  Mix up a batch of their favorite cookies. Roll them out into balls and flatten them slightly.  Flash freeze them by putting them on wax paper on a cookie sheet until they are solid.  Remove them from the sheets and place them in a freezer bag.  Bake for two to three minutes more than the normal time or until golden brown.  They can be baked in small batches, even in the toaster over, or all at the same time.

Another nice handmade gift could be writing a poem for a family member.  Poems don’t even have to rhyme.  Print it out in a nice font or in calligraphy if you know how, and put it in a nice frame.  It’s a gift someone will treasure for years to come.  You can have kids help write one for different family members. An easy poem type project is to take someone’s first name, write it along the left margin and then think of a word associated with that person for each letter. For example, Sue could be Sweet, Upbeat and Energetic or Bob could be Brave, Outgoing and Baseball.

No matter what you choose to make for your homemade gifts, be sure to include lots of love in the making and it will sure to be a hit with it’s recipient. Don’t forget to add a homemade card or tag to these very special gifts.

Every family has its favorite dishes for the holidays, traditions that have been passed down year after year.  Maybe it is time to spice things up and introduce some new recipes or at least make some variations to some favorites.  It’s a good idea to incorporate family favorites from your spouse’s family (if you can get them to share the recipes), especially if you can’t get together with that side of the family. Here are a few different Christmas dinner menu ideas to help you find your own groove this holiday season.

Appetizers - Why not have a few appetizers set out, so people can snack while dinner is finishing up?  Set out some healthy things to munch on, like fruit and veggies or cheese and crackers.  It’s easy to set up a nice tray; even just a foil lined pizza pan covered in clear plastic with Christmas designs on it can dress up the table.

Side Dishes - Tired of the same old stuffing or mashed potatoes?  Try some souped up stuffing.  Take some precooked chicken (or left over turkey from Thanksgiving), picked off the bone and then mix that with your favorite cream soup (chicken, mushroom or celery) and some sour cream, top with stuffing, add a little water and bake according to the directions on the stuffing box.

Other side dishes can feature different vegetables, noodles or potatoes. You could also have some fruit side dishes, like baked apples.  If it’s a family gathering where everyone brings a different dish, then try out that recipe you’ve been wanting to make but haven’t.

Main Dishes - While a ham or turkey may be traditional for Christmas dinner, how about a roast?  It’s simple to cook a nice, moist roast using a slow cooker.  Place the meat in the slow cooker, add some broth or au jus, some favorite spices and let it cook while you are enjoying the family.  Add some vegetables; simply select ones that cook well in the slow cooker and there is one less dish to make.

Desserts - Everybody loves desserts, especially at the holidays. We tend to overindulge in them.  Try to find some desserts that are still delicious, yet a little less filling. Gelatin, especially if you make red or green, is always a hit around the holidays. Add fruit or make it into squares or even fun shapes with cookie cutters.

Instead of having very heavy desserts try having an angel food cake. Adding red and green candy or sugar sprinkles gives it a festive look.  Have a variety of bite-size desserts, such as mints, chocolate covered nuts or peanut butter balls.  This will give guests a variety and help curb the need to overindulge as well.

Do you have alternative holiday menu ideas? Feel free to add your Christmas dinner menu ideas below.