Christmas Twinkle

Holiday Photo Tip #3

by Warren Tang
Shoot Things, Not Just People -
As much as the holidays are about people – family, friends, loved ones, and even in-laws – the spirit of the holidays is also in the décor, the food and yes, the desserts. To capture the full essence of the holiday season I encourage you to include photos [...]

Holiday Photo Tip #2

by Warren Tang
Get Down Low And Get Close -
Just because you’re taller than your kids doesn’t mean most of your photos should be of the tops of their heads. To get some great photos of children try to get down to their level where you can make eye contact and really engage them. You can [...]

Tips for Holiday Photos You’ll Cherish

by Warren Tang
As the holidays are upon us, many of us are feeling the need to capture memorable photos of friends and family, food and fun, and the sparkle of joy in the eyes of the little ones. Whether you’re wielding a $2,000 professional DSLR camera, snapping with a slim and trim compact camera, or [...]

Red, White, & Blue Pie for Patriotic Holidays, Honoring Military Members, Etc. (Diabetic Friendly)

Posted by admin on February 9th, 2010

Bring out this Red, White, and Blue Pie to celebrate patriotic holidays, to honor military service members, etc. This pie is easy and decorative. But best of all it is good. Blueberries, strawberries, white chocolate pudding; you know it’s going to be delicious. This recipe is diabetic and diet friendly. If you want, you can make it regular by using regular products where sugar-free are called for.

RED, WHITE, BLUE PIE

1 baked, sugar-free pie shell

8 whole fresh strawberries, halved lengthwise

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

8-oz reduced-fat cream cheese, cubed

3/4 cup powdered sugar*

3/4 cup cold low-fat milk

1 small box sugar-free instant white chocolate pudding mix

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 cup sugar-free whipped topping

Arrange sliced strawberries in the bottom of the pie shell. In a medium or large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Gradually add milk; mix well. Using low speed of electric mixer, mix in pudding mix for about 2 minutes or until thickened. Spread pudding mixture over berries in pie shell. Place the blueberries in the center of the pie. Arrange the strawberry halves around the edge of pie, tips pointing to the edge. Using a large star tip, pipe whipped topping between the blueberries and strawberries.

*How to make sugar-free powdered sugar: Put 3/4 cup of Splenda Granular and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a blender and blend until it is a very fine powder. 0 grams of sugar and only 4 carbs per tablespoon.

Now don’t tell. Most people won’t know the difference and you’ll be so proud of your pretty pie, cake, etc.

Enjoy!

How to Enjoy Fall’s Bounty of Pumpkins: Eagle’s Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Posted by admin on February 6th, 2010

One of the first signs of Fall is the abundance of pumpkins. Pumpkins are everywhere from decorations to the grocery store to the roadside stands and Farmer’s Markets. Take advantage of this bounty and try this recipe for Eagle’s Perfect Pumpkin Pie. This pie is great served topped with whipped cream, as is our American custom. But if you want to impress your family and friends with a different pumpkin pie, add the streusel topping. The directions follow the recipe below. You just might start a new tradition at your house!

EAGLE’S PERFECT PUMPKIN PIE

2 cups canned or cooked pumpkin
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell (deep dish shell works best)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a medium mixing bowl with a wire whisk, beat together pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Pour pumpkin mixture into the prepared crust. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted 1-inch from the crust comes out clean. Cool before cutting. Serve topped with whipped cream.

Note: To keep crust from getting too brown around the edges, tear off some strips of foil and loosely fold over the crust. Remove during the last few minutes of baking if necessary to complete browning.

Variation: Streusal Topping: Combine 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup unsifted flour; cut in 1/4 cup cold butter until crumbly. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts. After the pie has baked for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, sprinkle the mixture over the top of the pie and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Diverse ideas for Christmas greeting cards

Posted by admin on February 6th, 2010

Greeting cards play a vital role in articulating your emotions and feelings in a memorable manner. They are sent to friends and family on many special occasions. Christmas is one of the major festivals celebrated by the people all over the world. Sending cards on Christmas is a tradition originated in London. There are many ideas to create captivating cards on Christmas for friends and family.
History of Christmas cards:
The origin of Christmas greeting cards was in London. This was a common practice among the English folks. They use to send handwritten cards to their near and dear ones on Christmas occasion. Later on, disseminating printed cards became a tradition in United States. It was popularized by Louis Prang who was an American Lithograph printer. He sold these cards embellishing them with beautiful images displaying flowers, birds, toys, gifts, children and much more. Over the years these cards became a part of the culture and people across the globe begun using printed or handmade cards on Christmas occasion.
Different ideas of creating Cards:
It is a great fun to play with exotic colors, patterns and designs to create a wonderful card. If you are creating printable cards you can draw patterns on the borders of the cards. One can use personal photographs on the front side of the card. You can draw cartoon characters on the front side of the card if it is meant for children. Children are fond of cartoon character drawings. These paintings become memorable for them. If you are creating card for teenagers you can draw funny paintings. The teenagers find such funny pictures more appealing. Cards for elderly people can have sober designs and images on the front side. You can draw Christmas trees and with stars and snow fall. The elderly people like all these designs that are simple and convey sobriety. In the inside page of the card you can write spellbound messages. These messages should convey a feeling of belongingness to the recipient of the card. At the back side you can use designs or keep the back page blank. There are many ideas for creating beautiful cards on the eve of Christmas. You can search for the ideas on the Internet and such other sources.

How To Make A Traditional Holiday Fruit Cake

Posted by admin on February 5th, 2010

During the holiday season, I like to spend an afternoon making some delicious homemade mini fruit cakes. Making and serving these delectable goodies has been around for centuries. You will usually see them served around the holiday season or at wedding celebrations.

You will find that various cultures will have a different twist on the traditional recipe, however, the following recipe is done in the American tradition. When I make this fruit cake, I bake them in a muffin tin or in mini loaf pans. If desired, you can certainly bake them in a regular loaf pan or round cake pan.

Fruit Cake Recipe

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups eggnog
1 1/2 cups mixed candied fruits
1 1/2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
additional eggnog
(optional) candied cherry halves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the granulated sugar with the softened butter until it’s light and creamy. Beat in both eggs until combined. In another bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. Slowly stir the flour mixture into the sugar mixture and then beat in the eggnog until all ingredients are well combined. Fold in the chopped candied fruits. If the mixture is stiff, stir by hand.

Lightly spray your muffin or mini loaf pans with nonstick vegetable cooking spray. Spoon the batter into your desired pans. Place pans into a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 20-22 minutes or until they are done and the centers test clean with a toothpick. Remove from the pans and let cool on a wire rack.

In a small bowl, combine the confectioner’s sugar, nutmeg and ground cinnamon. Add in enough eggnog to make the mixture of drizzling consistency. Drizzle the glazed over the cooled fruit cakes.

If desired, top the fruit cakes with candied cherry halves for garnishing and store them in an airtight storage container.

Why You Must Acquire Your Christmas Decorations Early

Posted by admin on February 3rd, 2010

Are you planning on decorating your home for Christmas this year? If so, there is a good chance that you may be in need of Christmas decorations. When it comes to Christmas decorations, did you know that when you shop for them is just as important as where you shop for them? In most cases, you will find that it is easier and recommended that you purchase your Christmas decorations early.

Perhaps, the most important reason why you should get your Christmas decorations early is because of the selection. Most retail stores begin displaying their Christmas decorations in July and September. While some individuals purchase their Christmas decorations then, there are others who want until the month or weeks before Christmas. Since a large number of retail stores are limited on the selection of Christmas decorations that they carry, you will want to try and get your Christmas decorations before your local retail stores sell out of them.

In addition to getting Christmas decorations, by doing you shopping early, you will find that you have a better chance of getting what you want. This is, in a way, related to the above mentioned selection. The earlier you start shopping for Christmas decorations, the larger the selection you will have to choose from. The larger the selection you have, the more likely you will be able to find exactly what you were looking for. If you are looking to purchase a Christmas decoration that is considered a hot seller, such as most tabletop fiber optic Christmas displays, it may be a good idea to make your purchase as soon as you see what you want available for sale. This will help to make sure that you get to decorate your home for Christmas the exact way that you wanted to.

Although it is advised that you shop for your Christmas decorations early if you plan on buying them from a storefront retail location, it is also advised that you buy your decorations online early as well. With online shopping, you will find that many retailers have a larger selection of products, but that does not mean that they will not end up selling out. In addition to the selection of products available, it is also important to examine the shipping time. When shopping online, it typically takes about one week, at least, for your purchases to arrive at your door. You need to keep when you plan on decorating for Christmas in mind. Keeping your intended date of decoration in mind is the best way to ensure that you are able to order and get your Christmas decorations on time.

As previously mentioned, a large number of retail stores, both on and offline, begin selling their Christmas decorations around July or September. Despite the fact that Christmas decorations are available that early, not everyone terms September or July as being early, when it comes to shopping for Christmas decorations. You will have to decide for yourself what you term as being early and what you do not. Although you may prefer to shop for your Christmas decorations in July, you may prefer to wait. If you want to do so that is fine, but it is advised that you shop for your Christmas decorations no later than the end of October. Doing so will help to ensure that you get the Christmas decorations that you want and for a somewhat affordable price.

Personalised Christmas Cards-Show Your Love

Posted by admin on February 3rd, 2010

The event of Christmas is truly very unique and each person likes to celebrate this occasion by wishing everyone for all happiness in their life. Due to this, a huge variety of the Christmas cards are available in the marketplace now-a-days. Though, these cards are a bit costly, but it is a great way to wish your loved ones. Each card depict the true nature of Christmas that is a Santa, Pine tree, red dress, balloon, cake, snow and a lot more.

Now-a-days, people spend some time in making cards on their own also. The market Christmas cards are more or else similar to each other and does not that you made any special effort for your dear ones. But a personalised Christmas card gives a different happiness to the people for whom you take so much of pain.

The market Christmas cards may not suit your choice or likeness, but the personalised Christmas cards allows you to make everything that you like and it also result in numerous different types of cards. It also gives you an option to make your own library of cards which may later result in a very good business opportunity. Your imagination works a lot while you make any card. It looks simple and also makes your loved ones feel really very special and loved.

The personalised Christmas and the other Christmas cards are mainly the outstanding way to show your fondness and care to your near ones. Merely buying the cards does not involve much trouble but the personalised Christmas cards require a lot of time and a lot of hard work which will truly show your affection.
One of the wonderful websites which offer numerous beautiful Christmas cards and personalised Christmas cards is InvitingInvitations.com. This website offers awesome cards made for different occasions. You can purchase invitation and simple cards for Christmas, at a nominal cost on this website.

Southbank and the London Eye warm up for Christmas

Posted by admin on January 29th, 2010

One of the UK’s most iconic attractions, the London Eye, is welcoming the festive season with a new Mulled Wine Flight—a ride on the 135-meter high observation wheel accompanied by a warm glass of mulled wine. Tickets start at £30 and include a glass of mulled wine (or a non-alcoholic drink for the kids) and priority boarding.

While you’re there, you might as well hop on the Christmas Cruise. The cruise begins and ends at the London Eye and takes in all the top riverside attractions as it floats along the Thames. Get one of the later cruises and you can see the likes of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London all lit up for the evening. If London’s iconic landmarks aren’t enough to get you in the Christmas spirit, the cruise includes a complimentary Gingerbread Fizz cocktail. Prices start from £12 for adults.

To round up a festive day, why not stroll through the Cologne Christmas Market set up on the Southbank right next to the London Eye? The German-style market features wooden chalets selling homemade gifts, crafts, toys and a variety of sweets. Traditional German food on offer includes bratwurst, gluhwein (the German version of mulled wine), and gingerbread hearts. The market also includes a carousel and Santa’s Secret Village in front of the Southbank Centre.

While you’re at London’s Southbank Centre, you may want to take in one of the festive concerts on the itinerary for December. Whether it’s classic carols or contemporary and quirky adaptations, you’re sure to find a concert to suit.

The following sites offer more information on activities around London’s Southbank and the rest of the UK:

www.londoneye.com

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

www.visitbritain.tv

Easy Christmas Cakes & Puddings

Posted by admin on January 28th, 2010

When most people think of Christmas, there are certain smells and tastes that immediately come to mind. A kitchen that tantalises the senses is a place that invites family to gather and to linger. Create that kind of kitchen this Christmas with these easy Christmas cakes recipes. Most of the cake ingredients are easy to find; you may already have them in your kitchen cupboards.

1. Holiday Fruitcake - This is a traditional Christmas cake that uses dried fruit, glace cherries, citrus peels, nuts such as pecans or walnuts, sugar, butter, milk, allspice, baking soda, flour, and eggs.

2. Apple and Carrot Pudding - A lower fat Christmas pudding, this recipe is still bursting with flavour. It has carrots, apples, raisins, breadcrumbs, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, sugar, butter, and eggs.

3. Cream Cheese Pound Cake - This is great to serve with ice cream or fresh fruit but is tasty enough by itself. It has simple cake ingredients including butter, sugar, cream cheese, eggs, flour, and baking powder.

4. Pumpkin Bread Pudding – Give a new twist to pumpkin pie with this great recipe that uses eggs, milk, sugar, pureed pumpkin, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, bread cubes, chocolate chips, and brown sugar.

5. Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake – Especially for the chocolate lovers, this recipe calls for chocolate cake mix, instant pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil, water, baking chocolate, whipped cream, and nuts such as almonds.

6. Steamed Christmas Pudding - This unique recipe can use any filling from mincemeat to fruit. It needs self-rising flour, sugar, cinnamon, eggs, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, and your choice of filling.

7. Frozen Mocha Torte - As a frozen cake, this is a great recipe to make ahead of time. You’ll need chocolate wafer crumbs, sugar, butter, cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup, instant coffee granules, hot water, and heavy whipping cream.

8. Plum Pudding - A delightful combination of brown sugar, butter, milk, flour, dates, raisins, currants, and candied fruit peel, this steamed pudding is great with custard, whipped cream, or ice cream.

9. Popcorn Cake - This is a favourite among kids and people of all ages. The simple cake ingredients are butter, marshmallows, popped popcorn, gumdrops, chocolate covered peanuts, and candy-coated milk chocolate pieces.

10. Crème Brulee – This classy Christmas recipe only needs eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Impress your guests and keep your family hanging around the kitchen with these classic Christmas pudding and cake recipes. Using simple ingredients start your own traditions that can be passed down from generation to generation as your family feasts on these delightfully tasty treats.

Christmas Cards Sale Offers Creatively Designed Cards

Posted by admin on January 28th, 2010

Have you bought Christmas cards for your friends if not you must check out the Christmas cards sale on the web where you can get the best collection of cards. Christmas cards sale is at a peak these days as the Christmas day is just around the corner.

Everyone must be busy in preparing for Christmas, do not forget to buy Christmas cards for your friends. If you make a list of things-to-do then things become easier, so in your list do write down ‘Christmas cards for friends’. Make sure you post them in time, don’t leave this for the last moment.

No matter how many new ways of wishing may come but the importance of a greeting card will never decrease. Whether it’s a birthday, a valentine’s day, a Christmas day or any other special day, a present along with a nice greeting card can convey your warm feelings to your loved ones. This idea is ideal for those who have relatives living in other cities and countries. If you cannot celebrate your day with them at least you can send a sweet note in the card that you remember them on special days. Most people send electronic Christmas cards but those can be deleted but if you send a Christmas card with wishes in your handwriting it has a different impact and the receiver will keep it as long as he can as a memory from you.

You can either visit a book store near your location or you can check out the colorful variety of Christmas cards sale offered on the world of web.