December Menu Plan

It's a few days late, but better a bit late than never, right?  I've had it on my desk in handwritten form for a week or so, but time slips away with a new little one to care for, children to school, crafts to make for Christmas, and all the other Holiday activities that take up time.  Enjoy!


December Menu Plan

Old House Kitchen Christmas Favorites: Seven Layer Salad

With a new baby in our midst we are trying to soak up as much cuddling time as we can so I thought it would be fun to share our family's favorite Christmas recipes!  Enjoy!

 

We're going to a Christmas party this evening so I'm taking this salad.  It's so yummy.  Enjoy!

 

Seven Layer Salad

Prepare the following ingredients and layer in a large dish.
(I use a large rectangle Tupperware that way all layers are
spread out and everyone can get a taste of all the layers.)

1 head of lettuce washed and torn in small pieces
1 green pepper diced
1 1/2 cup diced onion
10 oz. bag frozen green peas (cooked, drained, and cooled)
 Mix together 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise and 2 T. sugar
1 1/2 cups mild cheddar cheese
1 lb. bacon  cooked and crumbled

(Sometimes I add some chopped raw broccoli and cauliflower in with the peas...making it more than a seven layer salad.  That's o.k., though, I don't think anyone will count. *wink* )

Let it sit overnight.  Drain before serving if necessary.  Toss together lightly.

Homemade Gift Ideas

When I sat down last month to tally my list of who needed gifts I found the list kept getting longer and longer.  And I wasn't even talking about my immediate family!  There are neighbors, friends, the post man, garbage man, various teachers, etc. who need a little something special for Christmas.  I know some of them may get paid by you already, but it's such a nice gesture to give a little something for Christmas.  The best thing to give are consumables!  Consumables are something that won't be setting around their home or office collecting dust!  They are things they will use (consume) and enjoy!  Here are a few suggestions...


*Gift mixes    Spiced chai!  (You all saw that one coming, didn't you? *wink*)  One batch can fill 5-6 half pint sized canning jars.  Simply trace a circle of pretty paper with the canning jar lid and place it on the lid, then cover the lid with the band.  Tie a ribbon around it, attach a gift tag and voila!  If you don't have extra canning jars and don't want to spend the money to buy them put the mix in a baggie and put it in a decorative bag.  Better yet, buy a package of brown or white paper lunch sacks.  Rubber stamp with a pretty Christmas design, trim the top with some decorative paper scissors, fold over the top, punch two holes at the top about 1/2 inch apart and pull ribbon through.  Tie a bow and you're all set!

Make up batches of Taco Mix, Chili Mix or find any recipe that uses herbs and such and make up a mix.  Don't forget to add the recipe!  You can use snack size baggies or buy food safe cellophane bags to package those.  Put them in smaller lunch bags and decorate the same as above.

*Cookies  Have a family baking day and mix up several batches of cookies.  Package them up in paper bags like the mixes above or buy inexpensive tins to package them in.  Some of our favorites include: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Cake Mix Cookies, and Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie.

*Other Treats   Cookies are fun, but it's also nice to include some fun treats.  Like Chocolatey Oat Bars, Peanut Butter Balls, Spiced Pumpkin Fudge, and Cracker Cookies.  There are other  yummy recipes on the Miscellaneous Dessert page that would be fun to give, too. 

*Soap  Handmade soaps are a wonderful gift to give!  You have to make at least 2-3 weeks in advance so the soap has time to cure, but that will be all the more time you have to enjoy the holidays because you're not busy making gifts on the 23rd to pass out on the 24th!  Here's my tutorial on making hand made soap HERE.  Or you can make it easy on yourself and order it at my Etsy site HERE.

There are endless possibilities for small, inexpensive gift ideas!  Learn how to do a craft and give those for Christmas!  If you're a bit behind already this year maybe make a goal to make your own gifts next year! 

Like these gift ideas?  Share them with friends on Facebook by clicking "Like".

One Month Old!

Seems like just yesterday little man was born!  I can't believe he's one month old already!  I can't believe Christmas is 24 days away!  Phew!  Time sure flies when you're having fun!  My mom, a few kiddos, and I did a little photo shoot today and thought you might enjoy some picture updates of the little bundle of cuteness! 

Happy December, everyone!