Celebrate Your
Holiday with Flair! A Christmas Parody featuring recipes and decorating projects created by Chase Rivers
1
For my beautiful daughter Maya. You always inspire me.
Celebrate Your
Holiday with Flair! Parody by Chase Rivers Recipe & craft photos by Chase Rivers Cover photo by Chuck Arlund Edits by Rachel Owen, Andrea Hewitt, Robbie Grayson Graphic Design by Amanda Graves
2 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
I absolutely LOVE Christmas, so I took the liberty of inserting myself into my favorite Christmas story! Included are fun and easy crafts along with delicious entrees, enticing desserts and festive drinks for the kids and the adults. I hope these will inspire a new tradition or two in your own special celebration of the holiday season. I’d like to thank all my fans from ChaseRivers.com, and the Chase Rivers Flair Facebook site for encouraging me to gather some of my favorite Christmas crafts and recipes into this collection. I also want to thank everyone involved in this project and I look forward to the next one. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, y’all! Live your life with Flair,
Chase Rivers
3
Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
d the
children were restless and craved
yummy treats
‘ Twas the day before Christm and all through the house, ‘Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the house, the holiday spirit was yet to be found.
The stockings weren’t hung and the tree was still bare, we desperately needed some Chase Rivers flair!
The children were restless and craved yummy treats with visions of cookies and candy cane drinks. And Mom in her apron and I with no clue
Hoped that Chase Rivers would finally come through.
Then out of nowhere he appeared with a ladder, cooking utensils and cookie dough batter. Away to kitchen he flew like a flash
With Momma in tow and his recipe stash.
We went to the foyer to put up the tree
while Mom and the children baked happily.
We crafted with tinsel and strung twinkling lights while sipping on eggnog, delicious and spiked.
5
Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
Some herbs to give a wonderful flavor
In silver and gold touches of blue and shimmering snow-covered 7 In silver and gold we decked out the mantle
with touches of blue and shimmering candles,
made snow-covered branches to hang from above
then refurbished old tins and filled them with love.
“A dash here, a splash here?’” we heard from the kitchen, “Jolly ole Rivers, I need some assistance!”
From the top of the ladder, having decked out the hall, he dashed away , dashed away to heed Momma’s call.
Some herb to give a wonderful flavor
When it marries the spice is like heaven to savor. So out of his bag, Chase Rivers he drew Oregano, garlic & cracked pepper too.
One final sprinkling and he knew it was right, next add the beef loin to soak overnight. “Now all to bed, I’ll be back in the morn
for to finish the meal and the table adorn.”
with Flair!
Holidays Live Your
Flairy Christmas to all,
good night
God Bless and
‘As soon as the sun took over to the sweet smell of Christmas, As soon as the sun took over the night,
to the sweet smells of Christmas, we woke with delight. He stood in the kitchen and grinned ear to ear with a skillet pancake and holiday cheer.
As we and the children opened our gifts
he sang Christmas carols with heavenly riffs. “Now time to bustle, there’s work still to do,
let’s peel those potatoes, make dressing and soup.”
The smell of roast beef and baked bread filled the house it wouldn’t be long til it melted in our mouths.
The table was set, all the trimmings displayed,
beautiful spheres with each name marked our place.
Everyone sat, bowed our heads and said grace,
then passed the hot cider and filled up our plates. And nodding his head, raised his glass for a toast with wine made of oranges & ginger & clove.
Then away he flew, before I could thank him,
headed on back to his hometown of Franklin.
But I heard him yell, as he drove out of sight —
”Flairy Christmas to all, God bless and good night!”
9
Recipes It’s beginning
to taste a lot like Christmas...
10 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Caramel Egg Nog • 15
Banana Cake • 36
29 • Gingerbread Friends
23 • Stuffin’ Muffins
11
with Flair! Live Your
Holidays
Candy Cane Cocoa
A Kids favorite! Rich white chocolate with peppermint, topped with toasted marshmallows.
Candy Cane Cocoa 2 cups whole milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 cup white chocolate chips 1 teaspoon peppermint extract Salt Miniature marshmallows Candy canes Heat milk and cream over medium low heat.
Add white
chocolate chips and stir continuously until melted.
Add
peppermint extract and a pinch of salt, and stir. Pour into mugs, top with marshmallows and place on a baking sheet under the broiler until marshmallows are toasted. Garnish with a candy cane. Stir melted marshmallows into drink for a super rich taste.
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Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
Buttery caramel and just the right amount of spice. Add a little splash of brandy for a cold Christmas night.
Egg Nog
Caramel Pecan Egg Nog 3 large eggs yolks 1/3 cup sugar
1 cup caramels
3 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon salt
Whipped Topping & Caramel Sauce 2 cups heavy cream
Using a hand held mixer, beat egg yolks until pale in color, about 4-5 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar until dissolved.
2 teaspoons vanilla 1/4 cup granulated sugar
In a medium-sized sauce pan, heat 1 cup of milk over medium-
Chill a deep, metal bowl and beaters in freezer for 10 min. Place
low temperature.
the sugar and vanilla into the mixing bowl and add heavy cream.
Add caramels and dissolve, stirring continuously with a wooden
Beat on high until stiff peaks form.
spatula. Once dissolved, raise heat to medium, add 3 more cups of milk
1 cup caramels
and 1 cup of cream.
1/4 cup B& B liqueur
Stir until hot and steaming and then gradually temper into egg yolks. Pour back into saucepan and add nutmeg and salt. Reduce heat back to medium low and cook, stirring continuously until egg nog has slightly thickened. Do not bring to a boil. Cover, let cool and refrigerate. Makes 4-6 servings.
1/4 cup whole milk Crushed pecans Heat milk and B&B liqueur over medium low temperature, add caramels, and stir until melted. Top with whipped cream, drizzle with caramel sauce, and finish with crushed pecans. Spike with B&B liqueur.
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Lemon
Lemon-Spiced Cider 3 liters of clear apple cider 2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves Zest of 1 lemon 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/4 cup honey 2 whole nutmeg, crushed Garnish Sliced lemon rings
Place all ingredients in a large pot over medium-low heat. Once heated, steep on low heat for 25-30 minutes or until cider has
Delicious hot cider with lemon & honey. Then perfectly spiced for the naughty or nice.
16 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
reached desired taste. Strain and pour into mugs with a lemon ring.
Spike with a splash of brandy.
A Holiday Slow Sipper. White wine, brandy, citrus & spices served with brandied orange wedges & candied ginger.
Citrus-Spiced Wine
Citrus
2- 750 ml bottles light-tasting, dry white wine Juice of 2 Valencia oranges 1 teaspoon fresh Valencia orange zest
Place all ingredients in a large pot over medium heat. Once heated, cover and steep spices on low heat for 25-30 minutes or until wine has reached desired taste. Strain and pour into mugs with a brandied orange slice and candied ginger.
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest (about 1 lemon) 2 cinnamon sticks
Garnishes
1 teaspoon whole cloves
Orange slices
1 whole nutmeg, crushed
Candied ginger chunks
6 tablespoons light brown sugar
Good quality brandy
1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup good quality brandy
Soak orange slices in brandy, and serve orange slices and candied ginger with mulled wine.
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Cannellini B
Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
Pulled ham, Cannelini beans and sauteed vegetables. This rich flavorful soup will get your guests off to a good start at the dinner table this Christmas.
Bean Soup Cannellini Bean Soup with Ham Shank 8 cups vegetable broth (plus extra)
Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions
3 pounds ham shanks
and celery, and cook until onions start to caramelize. Add garlic
1 large branch fresh thyme (several stems)
and cook until lightly browned. Remove from heat.
After ham shanks have cooked 1.5 hours, remove them and let
Place all ingredients above in a large stock pot and bring
cool. Add cooked vegetables to pot with ham broth. Add cab-
to a boil. Reduce heat so broth comes to a slow boil while
bage, beans, apple cider vinegar and cook covered 20-30 minutes
covered. Cook 1.5 hours, adding more broth as needed to keep
or until vegetables are tender. Pull meat from cooled ham shanks
at the same level. Start chopping vegetables.
and add back to pot. Add salt and pepper to taste, then and add
2 tablespoons olive oil
Italian parsley right before serving. Place a stem of thyme in each bowl and serve with cornbread croutons.
2 cups yellow onion, coarsely chopped 2 cups celery, cut on the bias (1/2’’ pieces) 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 cups green cabbage, coarsely chopped 3-16 ounce cans cannellini beans 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped Salt Pepper Cornbread croutons
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B
Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
Melt in your mouth delicious beef, rubbed with sun dried tomatoes, herbs & Parmesan cheese served up with a creamy horseradish sauce.
Beef Tenderloin Sun Dried Tomato Beef Tenderloin Sun Dried Tomato Rub
(Marinate beef with rub overnight)
Tie the tenderloin with butchers string and season with salt and pepper. Coat with sun dried tomato rub, wrap in plastic and refrigerate over night.
1/2 cup finely chopped sun dried tomatoes 1/4 cup fine chopped basil 1/3 cup minced onion 1 tablespoon garlic minced 1 tablespoon dried oregano
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place tenderloin on roasting rack and roast until the center of thickest part of tenderloin reaches 135 degrees. Remove from oven and place a sheet of aluminum loosely over the top. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with horseradish sauce. Horseradish Sauce
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
3 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Mix all ingredients together to make a paste. Beef Tenderloin
Salt and pepper to taste
Whisk all ingredients together.
3-4 pound beef tenderloin, trimmed Butchers string Plastic wrap Salt Pepper Roasting pan with rack
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Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
Dressing with a new flair! Marsala mushrooms with Apples, herbs & spices.
S
Stuffin’ Muffins Marsala Mushroom Stuffin’ Muffins Seasoned Chicken Broth
1 tablespoon lemon juice
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons thyme, finely chopped 1 teaspoons oregano, finely chopped 1/4 cup sweet Marsala wine (liquor store brand) 2 cups chicken broth 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 3/4 teaspoon salt
Heat 4 tablespoons of butter over medium temperature in a small sauce pan. Add garlic, thyme and oregano, and cook until garlic is lightly browned. Add Marsala wine, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Bring to a simmer, add remaining butter, and let simmer until butter has melted. Remove from heat, strain and let cool. Sautéed Mushrooms
4 tablespoons unsalted butter 16 ounces white mushrooms, cut into fourths or sixths, depending on size 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped 1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine (liquor store brand)
Heat butter over medium temperature in a large sauté pan, add mushrooms and rosemary, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook 5 more minutes to allow mushrooms to release their juices. Remove lid and add Marsala wine, lemon juice and salt & pepper. Cook until liquids have evaporated. Spoon mushrooms into a small bowl and set aside. Place pan back on stove for the next step. Stuffing Mixture
1 pound loaf white Italian bread, torn into coarse pieces and dried out in oven. 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 1/2 cup white onion, coarsely chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 Fuji apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 6 cups of bread crumbs 4 eggs, whisked
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(continued on page 24)
Marsala Mushroom Stuffin’ Muffins (continued) 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme, chopped 1 teaspoons oregano, chopped 1 cup toasted pecans 3/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper Melted butter for brushing Place pan back on medium heat, and add olive oil and butter. Add white onion, salt & pepper, and cook until edges start to
Buttr Buttery Yeast Rolls 1/2 cup warm water 1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1 1/2 cups whole milk, room temp 10 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs, whisked 2 teaspoons salt 6 cups all purpose flour
brown. Add apples and cook until tender. Remove from heat, stir in mushrooms, and let cool. Spoon into a large mixing bowl, add bread crumbs, Italian parsley, thyme, oregano, toasted pecans, coarse pepper, salt to taste and mix. Pour eggs over the top and mix well. Add enough seasoned chicken broth to moisten the stuffing, but don’t soak it. Add more salt to taste. Spray muffin tins with olive oil and fill with stuffing mixture. Brush with melted butter and bake at 375 degrees for 15-17 minutes, until nicely browned on top. Makes 1 dozen muffins.
Mix water and 1 teaspoon sugar together in a large mixing small bowl. Add yeast and stir. Let sit in a warm place until foamy. Heat the milk over low temperature in a saucepan. Add butter and stir until melted. Add the 1/2 cup sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Once cooled, add the eggs and foamy yeast mixture and stir. Add 2 cups of flour and salt and stir. Gradually add 4 more cups flour and stir until dough forms. Place dough onto a lightly flowered surface and knead for about 5 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic. Form into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Place in a warm area and cover with a damp towel. Allow dough to double in size. About 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
24 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
ry Yeast Rolls Place dough back on lightly floured surface and flatten out into a
Place back into a warm area and cover with a damp towel. Let the
square shape. Cut into 24 squares. Roll each square into a ball by
balls double in size.
tucking each corner underneath and shaping with your hands.
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Bake the dough for 15 minutes or until
Place the balls about 1 inch apart onto a lightly oiled baking dish.
the tops are lightly browned. Brush with melted butter while hot.
Light Fluffy & Buttery, grab one while you can!
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Live Your
Holidays with Flair!
Roasted Potatoes
Roasted Potatoes & Green Beans with Lemon Sauce Lemon sauce
Roasted Potatoes & Green Beans
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 pounds gold potatoes, unpeeled
1/4 cup white onion, diced
3/4 pound fresh green beans, whole
3 tablespoons carrot, diced
5 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse pepper
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon rosemary, finely chopped
2 cups chicken broth
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 1/2 tablespoons capers Salt Pepper
Wash potatoes and green beans. Cut potatoes in fourths (for larger potatoes, cut into sixths), and place in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the top of potatoes and mix very well with your hands. Sprinkle on salt, pepper, rosemary and garlic, and mix well with hands. Spoon into a large roasting pan and spread out evenly. Roast in oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove
Heat butter over medium temperature in a sauce pan. Add onion, carrot, and herbs and cook until vegetables start to brown. Add garlic and cook until lightly browned. Add cornstarch and
from oven and mix in green beans. Roast for an additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven, drizzle on lemon sauce and mix until coated. Serve.
stir. Whisk in chicken broth and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, and add salt and pepper to taste. Strain into a small bowl, add capers, and cover.
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Gingerbread Friends Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
Chewy gingerbread cookies, spiced to perfection, with a lemony glaze.
Gingerbread Friends with Lemon Icing 3 cups all purpose flour
inch thickness.
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Cut out gingerbread friends, lift with an icing spatula and place
1/2 teaspoon salt
on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
1/2 teaspoon ground clove 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg 1 1/2 tablespoons ground ginger Mix all ingredients above in a large bowl using a whisk.
Remove from oven and let cool. Makes 2 dozen large gingerbread friends Lemon Icing
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar. Tap top of measuring
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp
cup with a knife and level off.
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
3 egg yolks, room temp
Rolling pin Gingerbread friend cookie cutters Icing spatula Beat butter, sugar, and molasses together in a large bowl. Add egg yolks and beat until smooth. Scrape sides. Gradually add dry ingredients and mix. Scrape out with a spatula and form into a ball. Cut ball into 4 equal parts and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Roll out one ball at a time onto a lightly floured surface to about a 1/4
Whisk all ingredients together until smooth.
Icing bag 1B piping tip Fine point decorating brush (for detail) Fill icing bag and pipe on faces, clothing, etc. Fill in large areas by piping back and forth and spreading out icing with tip. Use decorating brush for detail. Let icing harden for 24 hours.
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Pistachio Orange Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla 2 egg whites
1 cup dry roasted pistachios, crushed fine (pulse in food processor)
Orange marmalade
Mix flour and salt together in a mixing bowl. Cream butter and sugar together and beat in 1 egg and vanilla. Gradually add flour and mix until dough forms. Scrape out dough and roll into a ball. Form dough into 1 inch balls. Beat 2 egg whites with 2 tablespoons of water until frothy. Dip each ball into egg whites and then roll in crushed pistachios. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using the back side of a teaspoon, press into top of cookies to form an indentation to fill with marmalade. Dip teaspoon in flour after each use to prevent sticking. Use a small spoon to fill each cookie with marmalade. Bake at 350 about 18-20 minutes. Makes about 30 cookies
30 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Chewy shortbread rolled in crushed pistachios with an orange marmalade filling, baked to perfection.
d Cookies 31
Skillet Cake Breakfast cake topped with spiced apples, walnut streusel, crispy bacon and drizzled with syrup. Dollop on some whipped cream and tickle the taste buds.
32 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Skillet Cake with Spiced Apples and Walnut Streusel Walnut Streusel
Skillet Cake
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons vinegar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 teaspoon salt Mix dry ingredients together. Mash butter into dry mixture us-
2 eggs whisked
ing a fork, and then crumble between fingers until coarse crumbs
1/3 cup melted butter
form. Mix in walnuts.
Cooked bacon strips Whipped cream (optional)
Spiced Apples
Mix milk and vinegar together and set aside. Sift dry ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
together in a large mixing bowl. Add milk, eggs, and butter and
4 Fuji apples, cored and sliced 1/4 inch thick
mix until just incorporated. Don’t overmix. Grease a 12-inch oven-proof skillet and fill with batter.
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar Using
a slotted spoon to strain out as much syrup as possible, spread the cooked apples on top of the batter, and then sprinkle streusel evenly over the top. Place skillet in an oven preheated at 350
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
degrees and bake for 40-45 minutes or until streusel is lightly
1/2 teaspoon salt
browned. Place syrup from apples back on medium low heat
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
and cook until slightly thickened. Remove skillet cake from oven, sprinkle with chopped bacon, drizzle with syrup, and serve with whipped cream.
Place all ingredients in a large sautĂŠ pan and cook over medium heat until apples are almost tender. Remove from heat.
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Layered banana cakes with cream cheese buttercream covered in raspberry strawberry sauce and finished off with orange candied walnuts.
Banana Cake 34 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
35
B
Banana Cake with Strawberry Raspberry Sauce & Orange-Candied Walnuts Banana Cake
Note: Batter can also be baked in 3-inch mini cake pans, if desired. Make sure pans are deep so cakes can be cut into thirds.
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature
Strawberry Raspberry Sauce
1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced 6 ounces fresh raspberries 1 cup seedless strawberry jam 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Whisk jam, orange juice, lemon juice and zest together until
2 tablespoons molasses
smooth.
3 overripe bananas, mashed
Place strawberries and raspberries in a bowl and pour sauce over the top. Gently mix.
Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with sugars. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and molasses. Gradually mix in the dry mixture, and then mix in bananas. Batter will be very thick. Butter an 11x7 baking dish, and then scrape batter into dish and smooth out. Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
36 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Banana Cake Cream Cheese Buttercream
at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally or until toasted. Remove from oven and mix in orange zest. Let cool.
1/2 pound salted butter, room temperature 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
Assembly
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Small Christmas cookie cutters
4 cups sifted powdered sugar Using a 3-inch scalloped biscuit cutter, cut out cakes and then slice horizontally into thirds. Spread or pipe cream cheese butBeat butter and cream cheese with vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until incorporated. Orange-Candied Walnuts
2 cups whole walnuts 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1/4 cup light brown sugar
tercream on bottom layer and top with the second layer of cake. Spread or pipe another layer of cream cheese buttercream. Cut out the top piece of cake with desired cookie cutter and press on top of cake. Serve with strawberry raspberry sauce and candied walnuts.
Notes: Candies walnuts can be crushed and sprinkled on top of each cream cheese buttercream layer if desired.
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon orange zest Place walnuts in a medium sized bowl, drizzle with butter and stir to coat. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt and mix. Spoon onto a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake
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Crafts
Deck the Halls!
38 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Refurbished Tins • 49
Ribbony Stockings • 51
43 • Silver & Gold Wreath
44 • Sh]]]immering Candles
39
Shaggy C
Shaggy Chic Wreath
Tin or plastic container at least 1 inch lower in height than decorative container Decorative container Wooden dowel rod
Metallic spray paint
Quikrete® concrete mix Level
14” Styrofoam ring Shaggy, tinsel garland Hot glue gun Felt fabric Fabric marker
Silver and gold shaggy tinsel with aqua blue ribbons and worn metal give these wreaths a vintage look. Place them anywhere in the home to enjoy the holiday season.
Fabric scissors Spray adhesive Hand saw Drill Work gloves Polyester snow cover Christmas bulbs Miniature Christmas bulbs Decorative bells Wooden floral pick Whimsy, Christmas floral sprays Ribbon
40 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Chic Wreath Measure dowel rod to desired height and cut with saw.
twist around dowel rod in a downward motion.
Spray dowel rod with metallic paint and let dry.
Using about a 1 inch ribbon, glue one end at the top left of the
Fill your tin container with prepared concrete mix and place dow-
wreath. Then wrap the wreath with the ribbon creating a 5 point
el rod in the center. Be sure dowel rod is straight. Let concrete
star pattern. When you have finished creating the star at the base
harden. Use your level as concrete hardens to be sure dowel rod
of the wreath, twist the remaining ribbon around and down to the
is straight.
base of the dowel rod and floral sprays.
Drill a hole the same diameter of your dowel rod through the bot-
Fill the top of the decorative container with Christmas ornaments,
tom end of your Styrofoam ring.
hot gluing them to one another as you go, and using miniature
Hot glue one end of tinsel garland to the Styrofoam ring and wrap
bulbs and ribbon to fill in any free space.
it around the entire ring covering it thoroughly with the garland.
Attach decorative bells to center, top part of wreath with a hot
Hot glue the second end to hold in place.
glue gun and a floral pick.
Wearing your work gloves, fill the drilled hole in the Styrofoam ring with hot glue and place over dowel rod. Make sure the top of the dowel rod is flush with the top of the hole in the wreath. Do not push dowel rod beyond the Styrofoam hole. Hold in place until hot glue has hardened. Place your chosen decorative container on top of felt fabric and outline with marker. Cut out fabric inside the traced line. Adhere to bottom of container with spray adhesive. Place assembled wreath inside your decorative container and fill any free space between the decorative container and the tin container with polyester snow cover. Use cut pieces of felt fabric to balance if necessary. Press sections of floral sprays into bottom of Styrofoam ring and
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Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
S W Turn your old dull wreaths into shiny and new.
Silver & Gold Wreath Silver and Gold Wreath Old, artificial wreath
Silver and gold metallic spray paint Newspaper Ribbon
Respirator mask
Place wreath on newspaper and fluff to desired fullness
Wearing your respirator mask, spray with gold spray paint. Cover as desired leaving some of the natural color showing through. Go back and accent desired areas with silver spray paint and let dry. Hang on wall and incorporate ribbons.
43
Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
Shim
Modern decor to light up your home this holiday season.
mmering Candles Shimmering Candles Newspaper
with the flat part of one of the brushes in a circular motion, while
Glass cylinders
turning the cylinder, until completely covered.
3 inch masking tape
Using the second paint brush, go back in the same motion and
2- 3 inch paint brushes Mod Podge® Gloss-Lustre (or other waterbase sealer) Fine glitter
make rings by lightly wiping off some of the Mod Podge®. Try to be as uniform as possible. Wipe excess Mod Podge® off the second brush as needed. Pour a glitter all over the cylinder heavily, and let dry. Gently tap the cylinder to remove excess glitter and brush with
Acrylic, high gloss sealer
another coat of Mod Podge®.
Craft glue
Let dry overnight.
Glitter ribbon
While wearing a respirator mask, spray with acrylic, high gloss
Felt
sealer. Let dry and repeat.
Respirator mask
Attach glitter ribbon to the top perimeter of cylinder with craft glue and let dry. Glue felt on the bottom of the cylinder to prevent scratching fur-
Tip: Work as quickly as Mod Podge® Gloss-Lustre will dry quick-
niture.
ly! Ready? Go!
Place candles inside your beautiful new cylinders and light.
Wash and dry cylinder.
Tip: Adding a little sand in bottom of cylinder will make wax
Tape off the inside, top edge with masking tape to prevent acrylic
clean up easy.
sealer from getting inside. Working over newspaper, place hand inside cylinder (fingers if using small cylinder) and turn upside down. Apply Mod Podge®
45
S Bring winter inside with this eye catching, realistic snowy branch. Can be placed anywhere in the home or hung from above.
46 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Snowy Branch Snowy Branch
Faux Snow -A Realistic Approach
Scoop the dried glitter and snow into plastic container.
Over dropcloths or newspaper, place a branch on saw horses or
Materials Needed
two chairs.
Spray snow
Working in small areas at a time, spray the top-facing part of the
Crystal glitter, coarse
branch with adhesive and stretch polyester snow over the top,
Small plastic container
pressing down with hands and fingers. Cut polyester snow in
Large branch/branches Saw horses or chairs Drop cloth or newspapers Multi-purpose spray adhesive
thin sections if needed. Now spray the top of polyester snow you just attached with adhesive and sprinkle heavily with the snow glitter, holding one of your hands underneath to catch excess. Press the edges of the glitter snow with your fingers to create straight lines and shape as
Polyester snow
desired, spraying extra adhesive as needed.
Tinsel
Let dry 24 hours.
Wired tinsel
If hanging the branch, drill holes in 2 areas that will hold branch
Christmas bulbs
up balanced and tie with heavy duty fishing line. (Be sure line is
Fishing line
tied properly so it doesn’t unravel. Tie onto nails or appropriate
Decorative birds
anchors for the walls from which they are hung.) Once placed in the area to be presented, decorate with tinsel, ribbon, ornaments, and decorative birds. If using lights, string
Pour whole container of glitter on newspaper and spread out.
before decorating.
Shake the spray snow well. Spray the spay snow all over the glitter, coating thoroughly. Be sure to the hold can far enough away to not blow away glitter. Let dry overnight.
47
Refurbished T Bring new life to old tins in this fun project that even the smallest helpers can help create.
48 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Tins Materials Needed
Refurbished Tins color with paint pen. Decorate tins (see below)
Old tins
Let tins sit with their lids off until adhesive smell has dis-
Masking tape
sipated.
Newspaper
Rinse inside and outside of tins with water to remove any
Adhesive spray
loose glitter and dry.
Fine glitter Gloss, Mod Podge®
Decor
3” painters brush
Tinsel pipe cleaners
Acrylic, gloss coating
Wired tinsel
Paint Pen
Pendants
Safety mask
Jewels Small wooden dowel rods and balls
Wash tin inside and out, removing any tacky residue. Dry completely. Tape off the upper edge of tin (part that is
For wreath: shape out a wreath using wired tinsel and
covered when the lid is on it) and fill with newspaper to
attach with glue gun. Add a pendant to center of wreath
prevent adhesive spray from getting inside.
and incorporate jewels.
Place tin on newspaper and spray with adhesive.
For words: Shape out letters with tinsel pipe cleaners and
Grab the top edge, tilt and pour glitter on tin until it’s
spell out words, attaching with glue gun.
covered. Repeat process with the lid.
For drum: Bend tinsel pipe cleaner in a V shape and hot
Let dry 1 hour and then repeat with adhesive and glitter
glue around tin. Paint the upper, top edge in matching
until covered thoroughly. Let dry 2 hours.
color with paint pen. Create drum sticks by drilling holes
Apply a coat of Mod Podge® with painters brush and let
in wooden balls and hot gluing small dowel rods inside.
dry for 2 hours. Spray with acrylic, gloss coating and let
Spray tips of drum sticks with white paint and sticks w
dry 24 hours. Remove tape from upper edge of tin and
gold paint. Attach to top of tin lid with hot glue gun.
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Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
S
Beautifully hand crafted stockings made of ribbons & tinsel to hang year after year.
Stockings Ribbony Stockings Materials needed
Stocking template Fabric marker
Fabric scissors 2 inch metallic ribbon Felt fabric matching ribbon color Multi-purpose spray adhesive 1 inch ribbon Decorative ribbon Hot glue gun Wired tinsel Pin and trace stocking templates (front and back) onto felt fabric and cut out. Cut strips of ribbon, spray with adhesive and press onto front, top section of stocking panels vertically. Cut strips of ribbon, spray with adhesive and press onto heel part of stocking panel horizontally. (only decorate front of stocking) Trim off excess ribbon around edges of stocking. Fold over a 1 inch hem on the top, wrong side of each panel and sew. Place the right side, panels of stocking together, facing each other
Cut an 8 inch strip of 1 inch ribbon, glue onto a strip of felt fabric with spray adhesive and cut out. Gather at ends to form a loop and sew inside the stocking at the top. To decorate stocking: Zig zag wired tinsel and adhere with hot glue to create a cuff. Twist wired tinsel to create circles and swirls and adhere with hot glue to front of stocking. Create bows with ribbon and pin or glue onto front of stocking.
and sew a 1/4 inch seam around stocking. Fold stocking right side out and hot glue any loose ribbon.
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Silver L
Shimmering decor to adorn your mantle year after year.
52 • Live your Holidays with Flair!
Leaf Mantel Silver Leaf Mantel
Christmas floral sprays (example: metallic leaves, etc.)
Drill a second row of holes above the first row but stagger the
1 1/2 inch dowel rod, at least the length of your man-
placement of holes in between the spacing of the first.
tel plus one inch
Repeat until you reach desired fullness of the floral spays on the
Spray paint matching the color of your floral sprays Hand saw Drill
rod. Place pieces of wire through the end holes of the dowel rod for hanging. Place a small nail on each end of your mantel and have someone
Wire cutters
help you hang the swag underneath the top of mantel by wrap-
Hot glue gun
ping the wire around the nails. Be sure to pull tight on wire so
Strong wire for tying
swag is flush with the underside of mantel. Bend and shape sprays.
Measure the length of your mantel and add 1/2 inch on each side
Fill in any free space by using loose floral sprays.
to measurement. Mark and cut dowel rod if necessary, and spray paint it. Drill a hole in the center of the extra half inch measurement on each end of the dowel rod. These holes are for hanging. Continue drilling holes along the entire length of dowel rod spaced about 2-3 inches apart and side by side to the holes you drilled for hanging. (See step 5. Gauge distance between holes by fullness/ width of floral sprays you will insert into the holes.) Cut desired length of floral spray and hot glue them into drilled holes.
53
Live Your
Holidays
with Flair!
Ornament P Personalized ornaments to mark your place at the dinner table. Take home as a gift to hang on your Christmas tree year after year.
Place Holder Ornament Place Holders Ornament Hanger
1.3 mm artistic wire, silver Tinsel pipe cleaners Needle nose pliers Wire cutters Cut a 6 inch piece of wire for each hanger
Monogrammed Ornaments
Materials needed Various shaped bulb ornaments Paint pen Metallic cord or ribbon of choice Sprigs of holly or herb
Twist the pipe cleaner around the wire with needle nose pliers to cover it completely. Snip off the end to even with the wire. Hold the very tip of one end of wire and bend to curve at the base of the hanger. Bend the other end of the wire in the opposite direction to make a simple hook, which will hang over glass lip.
Using your paint pen, write names of guest on ornaments and let dry. For spherical ornaments write names on horizontally. For elongated ornaments, write names on vertically. Place ornaments on hangers (see above instructions) and tie on a bow, inserting a sprig of holly or herb.
Rub the pipe cleaner on the top hook with fingers to remove any loose tinsel.
Hang on wine or other drinking glasses and enjoy!
Attach to the monogrammed ornament below by threading through the ornament’s hanging loop. Calligraphy for ornament place markers by Marlaine Lucchesi
55
Chases kitchen creations became equally noteworthy among Chase Rivers is the founder
friends. Chase loves cooking and will spend hours in the kitchen creating a meal that is both delicious and artistic. News of his
and creative
incredible dinner parties spread by word of mouth and still
force behind
inspires calls for Chase Rivers to cater.
Chase Rivers flair! Serendipitously, his interest in creative design continued to Chase grew up in the Southeast and from an early age found
grow and he realized that this could be his true calling. Eventu-
himself drawn to both music and southern cooking. As a little
ally, he decided to fully focus his time and boundless energies in
guy in North Carolina, he learned to play the guitar and made
that direction.
some delicious and some disastrous messes in the kitchen. His wedding design business is now recognized as one of the It was during his high school years in Florida that he fronted his
Nashville areas top providers of floral and event designs for
first rock and roll hair band. As a result of this and other musical
weddings and other elegant events; and his multi-faceted tal-
accomplishments, Chase was encouraged to move to Nashville,
ents and interests led to his vision for Chase Rivers flair! which is
TN to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter.
a reflection of his own approach to life as art. When describing Chase Rivers, it is impossible not to mention his boyish charm
However, in order to make ends meet in his new hometown,
and unstoppable enthusiasm which drives him and encourages
he began drawing on other talents. Odd jobs included land-
those who work with him. For the most part, Chase developed
scaping, interior decorating and faux painting. He also began
his natural talents on his own, which makes his stunning work
working at Riverwood Mansion, a well-known Nashville wed-
and advancement even more amazing. He continues to grow
ding venue where he used his planning and design abilities to
and learn and, through flair!, Chase Rivers hopes readers will
produce beautiful and memorable events.
grow and learn along with him and be inspired to do it with flair!