Holiday Gift Guide
Holiday Cookies
Children of Luck
Organizing Tips
FamilyLife
MERRY & BRIGHT
December 2018
December Contents
19 ADVICE
FEATURES
19 Lucky Kids
49 2018 Gift Guide
ORGANIZE
FOOD
25 10 helpful tips for organizing your home
65 Holiday Stars
31 IN EVERY ISSUE
65 ON THE COVER Photography by Erik Putz Food styling by Ashley Denton
16 Editor's Letter 82 Last Look
29 Craft: Organization box 31 One family's DIY home makeover
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FamilyLife EDITOR IN-CHIEF Pamela Hayford EXECUTIVE EDITOR Suzanne Moutis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karen Paddon EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa TEST KITCHEN FOOD DIRECTOR Soo Kim SENIOR FOOD ASSOCIATE Stina Diös CONTRIBUTING FOOD SPECIALISTS Donna Borooah, Cara Tegler ART DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Lena Diaz ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Sarah Big Canoe CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR Leanne Gilbert PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Genevieve Pizzale EDITORIAL SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR Megan Howard FEATURES EDITOR Mary Levitski COPY EDITORS Debbie Madsen Villamere, Stephanie Zolis EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Marianne Davidson, Sarah Dziedzic HOME & GARDEN HOME & STYLE DIRECTOR Ann Marie Favot DESIGN EDITOR Morgan Lindsay ADVERTISING SALES, TORONTO SENIOR DIRECTOR, MEDIA SOLUTIONS, TRANSACTIONAL Jérôme Leys KEY ACCOUNT DIRECTORS, NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES David Garby, Andrea McBride, Akta Sharma ADVERTISING COORDINATION TEAM LEADER Maddie Belanger ADVERTISING COORDINATION MANAGER Janice Clarke NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES Cathy Ellis, Gary Forshaw, Joanne Landry, Delainie Salvatore, Vanessa Watson DIGITAL NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES Paul Cummins, Gwen O’Toole, Tony Vigario, Joanna Woodman SALES ASSOCIATE Patricia Mixemong MARKETING & CREATIVE SOLUTIONS BRAND MANAGER Mieka Jansen SENIOR STRATEGIST Stephanie Mediati STRATEGIST Jeremie Marcoux PROJECT MANAGERS Janine Short, Kathryn Walsh ART DIRECTOR Suzanne Lacorte
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Editor's Letter
Holiday Wishes A few months back, I asked my daughter to empty out her closet, drawers, storage bins, hampers, etc., etc. Together we went through every item in her room and kept those she would still use or wear and then donated the rest. After all was said and done, we had several large garbage bags filled to the brim with donation items. The volume gave me pause, and over and over I thought, “We have too much stuff!” Then because I like to plan ahead, I started thinking about the holidays and what I could give instead of more stuff. With that for inspiration, in this issue you’ll find an article on non-toy gifts, along with gift ideas that not only don’t crowd your home but also share the treasure of time spent together creating memories. Because in the end, none of it is going with you, so stockpile memories in your heart instead of stuff in your house. In addition to gift ideas, you’ll find much more to help you celebrate the holidays in your home in our Christmas Guide. Do you write thank you notes? Do your kids? The thoughtful art of writing and sending thank you notes seems in danger of becoming extinct, but I, for one, am in favor of resurrecting it! And what better time than the holidays to send out thank you notes! When my girls were younger, I used writing thank you notes as a way to not only teach them to be gracious recipients, but also work on things like penmanship and spelling. And addressing the envelope is great practice for a life skill all kids need. Merry Christmas!
Pamela Hayford Editor In-Chief
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Advice
Lucky Kids
By GINA KLEIN
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Advice “Send some of that luck my way!”
Be willing to take risks.
How many times have you heard someone say this to you or to someone else? Or, better yet, “That’s not fair!” (especially from a child).
The lucky breaks other people have are almost always the result of their bravery in taking risks—so they really aren’t luck at all. They’re the payoff for courageous action. Whether it’s taking up a new hobby, learning to bake something new, going back to school to finish a degree or starting a new job, demonstrate that you’re willing to take risks to reach a goal. The more children see their parents take risks, the more comfortable they become with life’s uncertainties.
What many don’t realize is that luck is not as simple as stepping outside the door in the morning and being handed something amazing. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Luck is the work and passion we put into something that eventually pay off. We earn the end reward. Understanding this, however, is hard for children. It’s not fair if someone else is the “lucky one” and not them. They don’t understand that luck is merely a word for earned. Sure, people go searching for four-leaf clovers, and some even find them. But finding one is still work. They put effort into their search, just as someone who wins a raffle prize puts effort into purchasing the raffle tickets to try to win! Real luck means creating your own lucky situations and having a positive mindset. But how do we teach this to our children?
Communication is key for us parents. By communicating the consistent message to our children that effort results in a positive outcome, we hope our children will develop a good work ethic and the discipline to achieve their goals. If we consistently model the following behaviors for our children, they will learn how to make their own luck in life.
Encourage creativity and imagination. When children are given opportunities to increase their natural creativity and imagination, they’re more likely to see opportunities in a variety of different life experiences. What’s more, they’re better able to solve problems and seek unique solutions to issues they may experience.
Keep an open mind. More ways than one are available to accomplish something. If you only focus on one way of doing something, you may miss out on other chances to reach the luck you desire. Teach children to try different tactics to see what outcomes they get. They may discover their initial idea wasn’t such a great one after all.
Expect good things to happen! People who expect good things to happen generally attract good things. What you put out into the universe, you get back. Not always instantly, and not every time, but over time you realize that when you expect good things to happen, they almost always do. This is a great lesson of positivity for kids.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Show your children that when they reach out to other people for help, they benefit from the advice, experience and insight of others. Just by asking, they may gain valuable feedback and even land new opportunities!
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Advice
Use affirmations daily.
Never fear failure.
As American businessman and philanthropist W. Clement Stone once said, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Affirmations are positive ways of planting the seeds of success in our subconscious. They are always positive, in the first person and in the present tense. For instance, “I am lucky. I am successful. I am a winner.” You can write them out or repeat them to yourself several times a day. This is a wonderful way to teach children to think positively about themselves and to remind themselves that they are successful.
You never know something won’t work until you try it. And although seeing your children struggle with something and not succeed is hard, the adversity is important in both building their resilience and giving them confidence to try new solutions to problems. As a parent, model this in your own life. Show them something on which you’ve tried and failed, but then reworked and proceeded to succeed. This teaches them that having high expectations will motivate them to persist. Failure is merely an invitation to keep going.
Practice positive visualization.
Don’t be afraid of hard work.
Visualization is a wonderful technique where you picture yourself achieving a goal. What a great tool to teach your children, too, because practicing visualization helps them work out the steps to reach their own goals. For instance, tell your children to think about winning a contest they would like to enter. Have them envision and feel themselves winning the prize, explaining that they can use that visual image to fuel their luck. When they can see themselves as the winner, they can work backward to see what they need to do to make it really happen.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” Being successful or lucky does take a lot of work, but with patience, persistence and a positive attitude, you may be surprised at how successful you can be! And by demonstrating this to your children, you’ll teach them the value of hard work and how good luck truly comes about.
Quick Quiz:
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I know my friend has good luck because …
Luck comes from …
A. She always gets good grades. B. She wins every contest she enters. C. She works hard to achieve her goals.
A. Crossing your fingers. B. Good luck charms. C. Working hard and staying positive.
December 2018 - Family Life
Organize
10 helpful tips for organizing your home Organizing your home has never felt so good! Sort through that clutter and teach your kids that cleaning up can actually be fun with these tips.
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Organize
Get organized
Handy helpers
Is it time to declutter your home? Are you tired of tripping over toys? Reorganized your family’s living space with these helpful tips and get back on track. Our useful pointers might even make mini-organizers out of your kids!
Fill a bottom drawer or cupboard with plastic dishes so children can help set the table. It gets them involved with housework, and teaches them independence.
Try shelves
Fun storage solutions
When purchasing shelving units, make sure you look for ones that will grow with your family; this workstation can be easily rearranged into a study area for older kids.
Fill a bottom drawer or cupboard with plastic dishes so children can help set the table. It gets them involved with housework, and teaches them independence.
Clear the toy clutter
Under the bed
Tired of stepping on tiny toy cars? Attach magnetic knife strips to your walls for the perfect parking spot. It will keep the cars off the floor, and we’d wager that your kids will actually want to tidy up. For the best results, attach a little metal strip on the bottom of the cars to make sure they stay in place and out of the way.
Look for simple ways to hide toys and books. A trundle bed is the perfect antidote to clutter. Use cutlery organizers in the lower bunk to store blocks and puzzle pieces.
Make the perfect kid cave
Stay on schedule
Every child would love a secret getaway spot of their own, but not many of us have the space to provide it. However, the often ignored closet floor can be easily converted into a little den. Whether you’re designing a princess’ palace or an astronaut’s alcove, all you need is a fresh coat of pain, a rug and some throw pillows to create a cozy corner.
Keep permission slips, library books and keys together to avoid out-the-door chaos. A magnetic board holds notes and a calendar keeps you up to date.
Closet organizer
Put a bird on it
Installing a branch in a nursery is a beautiful way to showcase your babe’s adorable wee wardrobe.
Vintage suitcases are a great place to stash kids’ dress-up clothes. Use felt cut-outs for a personal touch.
Create a chore chart Make household tasks fun(ish) with these unique ways to remind kids to pitch in.
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Organize
Craft: Organization box 'Tis the season of fresh starts, so here's a cute way to get your little ones into the spirit of helping. By KATE STEWART
-One small - or medium-sized milk carton per child -Scissors -Wooden box (found at craft or dollar stores) -Wide craft Popsicle sticks -Paint and paintbrushes -Craft paper -Glue gun -Foam letters -Marker or ink and stamps
1. Cut off the top third of each milk carton. Paint the cartons, box and Popsicle sticks the colours of your choice. Let dry. 2. Use craft paper and other decorating items like glitter and foam shapes to add flair to the box and cups. 3. Glue foam letters to the outside of the box to spell out "CHORES." 4. Use a marker or stamps to print the various chores on the ends of each Popsicle stick. 5. Glue foam letter initials to the outside of the milk carton.
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Organize
One family's DIY home makeover Interior decorator, DIY expert and busy mom-of-two Sarah Gunn has won the storage war in her Oakville, Ont., home. See how she transformed three rooms into organized and stylish spaces. Photography By ROBERTO CARUSO
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Organize
DIY magic: Home decor There are no ifs, ands or buts about it – the way you use and decorate your home completely changes once you bring home a baby. Function immediately rules over fashion, and areas once destined for a home office or a guest room quickly becomes headquarters for bouncy chairs and baby swings, and later, for toy land. Now that my boys, Jacob, 6, and Cooper, 4, are growing up, my desire to create both pretty and useful spaces has returned. My foyer, basement-turned-playroom and Cooper’s bedroom were all in need of a refresh. Here’s how we conquered the clutter and satisfied our need for more space. Above: Sarah with Cooper (left) and Jacob (right) 32
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Organize
Entryway appeal As first impressions go, our home was far from fabulous and even further from functional. I spruced up this chair and dresser – both budget-friendly finds from Kijiji – with new coats of colourful paint. The drawers are perfect for tucking away smaller items, and the small tray is a great place to empty your pockets and ensure that keys and sunglasses aren’t misplaced. Organizing tip: Designate a spot to drop your mail when you enter the house.
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Organize
Stencilled walls and rugs Stencilling a pattern on the walls in high-traffic areas not only adds style, but it helps disguise pesky fingerprints and marks, too. You can also give an inexpensive rug a makeover using a stencil and latex paint!
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Organize
Photo finish Preserving family memories is a snap with this Instagram collage. Print photos and arrange them on a large gallery-style canvas until you are happy with the layout. Apply Mod Podge to the canvas. Smooth each photo in place. When dry, cover the entire piece with Mod Podge to protect it. Organizing tip: To maximize the space in a small room, use drapes instead of closet doors and add floor cushions to transform it into a cozy hideaway or reading nook.
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Organize
Big kid bedroom While Cooper was in a big-boy bed, his room still looked like a nursery. I wanted to give him something he could grow into, while adding much-needed storage. Fabric baskets in the closet keep toys and extra linens (for those late-night bed changes) within easy reach. The board and batten on the bottom half of the wall helps the room feel more spacious, and light colours and geometric patterns keep the look fresh. Organizing tip: Tape photos of toys that belong in each bucket so even the tiniest tot can help tidy up. Velcro the bins to the bottom of the drawers so they don’t move around. 36
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Organize
DIY bookshelf After a coat of spray paint and some sticker labels, an office-supply organizer doubles as a bookshelf in Cooper’s closet.
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Organize
Art attack! Let the kids get creative. Wrap old cans with colourful scrapbook paper to hold markers, crayons, paintbrushes and other craft supplies. Jars with lids are ideal for housing smaller items like paper clips and pompoms. Decor tip: Hang art at your child’s eye level where he can see and enjoy it. Make sure it’s secure.
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Organize
Fun prints Simple graphic prints are a fun and inexpensive way to brighten up a room. Decor tip: You'll find lots of talented artists online who are willing to create custom prints at a reasonable cost.
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Organize
Basement living Like most homes, our basement serves several functions: It’s a playroom, movie theatre, storage space, and, when guests visit, a spare bedroom. In order to make this room work for everyone, we needed to make some major changes. Our number one goal was to hide the clutter by designating a spot for the boys’ toys and games. Organizing tip: Close the door on clutter by using a wardrobe to store larger toys and dress-up clothes.
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Organize
Colour coded drawers Use paint to colour code the inside of the drawers and assign one to each member of the family – no more sorting through toys and stray mittens to find your wallet! Organizing tip: Multi-purpose pieces of furniture are perfect for shared spaces. Kids can snuggle up with a book, the drawers provide extra storage, and there’s somewhere for guests to sleep.
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Organize
Wall candy Create a place for kids to display their art using chalkboard paint. Frame the whole “gallery” with decorative moulding to make it stand out. Adding chalkdrawn frames to their creations finishes the look. Quotes or silly sayings can fill any empty corners. Decor tip: Before using the chalkboard, rub the entire surface with the side of a piece of chalk, then wipe clean with a damp cloth to maintain the finish.
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Organize
Word play Capture your kid's sweet or silly childhood sayings by creating graphic word art made from scrapbook paper. Use a simple colour palette and experiment with different patterns. Decor tip: Having a hard time parting with your child’s baby clothes? Frame your favourites. Showing the graphics of beloved onesies adds colour to the walls without looking too juvenile. Attach adhesive picture-hanging strips to the back of each frame, and use a level to keep them evenly spaced.
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"I love the scents of winter! For me, it's all about the feeling you get when you smell pumpkin spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, gingerbread and spruce." -Taylor Swift Family Life ‐ December 2018
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GIFT GUIDE 2018
23 toys for babies and toddlers, Whether you're celebrating baby's first holiday or are just after a cute and fun gift, check out our favourite toys for babies and toddlers.
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Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo Futuristic BeatBo has all the cool moves. With three modes that grow with your baby, this rockin’ bot teaches colours, letters and counting in a fun way. $50, fisher-price.com Go! Go! Smart Wheels Ultimate RC Speedway Add mechanical and technical how-to to playtime with this interchangeable 13-and-a-half-foot track that has five features, a steering wheel–shaped remote control and a friendly musical driver named Ralph. $70, vtechkids.ca
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Flow 'N Fill Spout This adorable bathtime spout attaches to the side of the tub and draws water up, so when teeny bathers press its face they can start—and stop—the flow of water. Includes three activity cups for more fun. Yookidoo, $28, indigo.ca
Feed ’N Roll Froggy Wee ones learn cause and effect by feeding this plush machine-washable frog rattling balls and then watching them roll out of his tummy. Earlyears $23, mindsalive.ca
Petilou Little Leaf Blocks Pretty wooden blocks are fun to play with and perfect to cherish as a keepsake. Sweet graphics, such as a bunny, acorn, fox and ladybug, adorn the sides of this old-school four pack. Le Toy Van, $15, kolkid.ca
Baby Hand Rattle A cute crocheted owl, available in pink or blue, is the perfect toy for babes to shake, rattle and chew. Zubels, $12, bbbuggy.com
Magic Star Learning Table Chock full of things to explore, little ones can flip book pages to hear a nursery rhyme, dial the phone, press buttons and spin wheels. Removable legs make it a great toy that grows with your kid. $45, vtechkids.ca
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Babi Corolle Miss Fresh Riviera This très chic dolly is perfect for snuggling. She has a light vanilla scent and is just the right size for babies to cuddle up with. $30, jouetschoochoo.com
Bandana Buddies Activity Fox This fuzzy forest friend is great for at home or on the go. Babies will love the bright colours, crinkly sounds and attached teething ring. Skip Hop, $19, well.ca
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Sit-to-Stand Alphabet Train This action-packed train will grow with your kid, plus its interactive storybook, double-sided blocks, moveable gears and light-up buttons help with fine motor skills. $70, vtechkids.ca
Whoozit Space Blankie Perfectly stretchy and mesmerizing for your babe to grasp, this colourful lovey features spinning rattles, a mirror and a special teething corner so sore gums can get a workout. Manhattan Toy, $18, mastermindtoys.com
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Play All Day Elmo Your kid is sure to find a new BFF in the latest fully loaded Elmo, whose resumé includes more than 150 responses and activities like freeze dance and pat-acake. Playskool, $80, hasbro.com
Fishing Boat Add some fun to bathtime with this fishing boat that comes complete with a working hook, floundering fishies, a life ring and a captain. Stow everything below deck once you pull the plug. Ambi Toys, $28, mastermindtoys.com
Lamaze Squeezy the Donkey Squeezy says hello to friends with his ears— babes can give his tummy a squish and watch with glee as his ears puff out. Featuring clip-clopping hooves, soft ribbons and a textured tail, this toy has so much for curious tots to explore. Tomy, $22, mastermindtoys.com
Baby Clemmy Turtle Clemmy the turtle isn’t just a pull-along cutie—his shell doubles as a storage case for 15 squishy blocks and as a building surface for sky-high stacking. Clementoni, $49, amazon.ca
Guess How Much I Love You Activity Toy Based on the much-loved book of the same name, this soft bunny features a clip for easy stroller attachment, a teeny mirror and two rings for baby to grab. Kids Preferred, $25, sears.ca
Number Lovin’ Oven Wee chefs can craft recipes using 16 included “ingredients,” such as a fried egg, cupcakes and pizza, while learning new things like counting and sharing with this singing and talking oven. $30, leapfrog.com
Baby Stella Sweet Dreams Doll Sweet Stella is ready for bed. She’s got her cozy PJs on and a little lamb to snuggle, and her soft lavender scent is released when you hug her close, sending little ones into sweet dreams of their own. Manhattan Toy, $45, indigo.ca 58
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Submarine Spray Station This battery-operated little yellow submarine navigates below the surface of the tub and draws water up through a spray nozzle. Pour water over it and watch the wheel spin, propeller rotate and sprinkler activate. Yookidoo, $35, mastermindtoys.com
Lil’ Ocean Explorers Crawl ’N Pop! Turtle Shape sorting gets a deep-sea makeover with this cute turtle that helps little ones learn their colours. They’ll also practise their crawling skills when they follow their new pal as he toddles around to cheery songs. Little Tikes, $20, toysrus.ca
Mirari Flip Flop ABC Blocks Old-fashioned letter blocks get a fun makeover with these magnetic squares. Each cube has a letter and corresponding character inside that moves when the included magic wand is waved above it. Patch Products, $70, scholarschoice.ca
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Twilight Noah’s Ark With a nod to the classic Bible story, this sweet toy transitions from playtime to sleep time with four plushy animal finger puppets that fit in the ark and a detachable top that projects a starry nightscape onto the bedroom ceiling. $50, cloudb.com
Roll ’N Gears Car This two-in-one toy is perfect for babies and toddlers, with fun gears to explore and wheels to turn. When it’s opened up, little ones will learn early engineering skills like stacking. In car mode, your babe will be mesmerized by the spinning parts. Playskool, $15, hasbro.com
Food
9 holiday baking recipes From teacher gifts to make-ahead dough, we've got your holiday baking covered. Photography By ERIK PUTZ
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y a d i l o H s r a t S Christmas icebox cookies
Looking for something to do on a snowy Saturday? Grab some sprinkles and get the kids involved in decorating these festive holiday treats. Photography By ERIK PUTZ
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Pink almondcoconut snowballs
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Gingerbread spice caramel corn
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Crunchy maple-nut granola
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Turtle Fudge
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3-ingredient chocolate shortbread
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Butter tart squares
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No-bake butterscotchpeanut haystacks
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DIY Holiday Candy Bar
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Food
DIY Holiday Candy Turtle Fudge Bar PREP TIME:40 MINS
TOTAL TIME:3 HOURS 25 MINS
PREP TIME:20 MINS TOTAL TIME:30 MINS 3 thick pretzel sticks 1 1/4 cup brown candy melts 3/4 cup green candy melts 6 star-shaped candies assorted decorating sprinkles, holiday sprinkles of mini M&Ms 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Using a ruler and pencil, trace six 5 x 3-in. rectangles on parchment, then flip over so lines are still visible. 2. Cut the pretzel rods in half, crosswise. 3. Place brown candy melts in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, stirring halfway through, about 1 min. 4. Scoop 3 tbsp melted candy melts onto each rectangle. Use a palette knife or spoon to spread to the edges to create a “bar.” Place pretzel piece on the centre of each bar. Set aside until firm, 10 to 15 min. 5. Place green candy melts in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, stirring halfway through, about 1 min. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a ¼-in. round tip, or a resealable zip-top bag with 1 corner snipped to make a ¼in. diameter opening. 6. Pipe a zigzag tree pattern, starting from one end of the pretzel rod, making each line longer than the previous one. Decorate with starshaped candies and sprinkles. Set aside until firm, 10 to 15 min. 7. Wrap each bar in a cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon.
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450 g bittersweet chocolate, chopped (about 3 cups) 300 mL can sweetened condensed milk 1 1/2 cups toasted pecans, coarsely chopped, divided 300 g chewy caramels, unwrapped (preferably Werther's) 1 tbsp 35% cream 1/4 tsp flaky sea salt 1. Line the bottom and sides of an 8 x 8-in. baking pan with 2 large overlapping pieces of plastic wrap. 2. Combine chocolate with milk in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium, stirring halfway through, until chocolate is almost melted, 2 to 3 min. Remove from microwave and stir until evenly mixed and smooth. Fold in 1 cup pecans. Scrape fudge into prepared pan and press down. Cover with plastic wrap and smooth top. Set aside. 3. Combine caramels with cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until just melted and smooth, about 7 min. Set aside to cool slightly, about 2 min. 4. Uncover fudge and spread caramel over fudge to edges. Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup pecans and salt. Cover pan with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 3 hr or overnight. Fudge keeps well refrigerated for up to 1 week.
3-ingredient chocolate shortbread PREP TIME:8 MINS TOTAL TIME:25 MINS 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips 1/2 cup salted butter 1 cup all-purpose flour decorating sprinkles icing sugar, optional 1. Preheat oven to 325F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. 2. Combine chocolate chips and butter in a medium microwavesafe bowl. Microwave on medium, stirring halfway through, until melted, about 1 min. 3. Stir flour into chocolate mixture. Roll dough into 1-in. balls and arrange on baking sheet 2 in. apart. Press down to flatten slightly. Sprinkle coloured sprinkles on cookies, if desired. Press down gently so they stick. 4. Bake in centre of oven until cookies are puffed, 18 to 20 min. Sift icing sugar overtop, if desired. Serve warm, or transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Food
Crunchy maplenut granola PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:45 MINS 6 cups large-flake oats 2 cups chopped pecans, or walnuts 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut 1 cup pepitas 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup canola oil 1/2 cup maple syrup , or honey 2 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 cups dried fruit, (cranberries, cherries or raisins) 1. Preheat oven to 325F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment. 2. Combine oats with pecans, coconut and pepitas in a large bowl. Sprinkle with cinnamon and salt. Stir oil, maple syrup and vanilla in a small bowl, then stir into oat mixture until well coated. Divide mixture between baking sheets and spread out evenly. 3. Bake in top and bottom thirds of oven, stirring every 12 min and switching sheets halfway through, until light brown and toasted, 30 to 35 min. Transfer to a rack and let stand until cool. Toss with dried fruit. Granola keeps well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
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No-bake butterscotchpeanut haystacks PREP TIME:10 MINS TOTAL TIME:30 MINS 300-g pkg butterscotch chips, (1 2/3 cups) 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter 3 1/2 cups chow mein noodles 1 cup roasted peanuts 1. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. 2. Combine butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium, stirring halfway through, until chips are melted, 3 to 5 min. Stir in noodles and peanuts until coated. 3. Scoop heaping 1 tbsp portions onto prepared sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hr.
Christmas icebox cookies PREP TIME:10 MINS TOTAL TIME:1 HOUR 30 MINS 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup red, green and white sprinkles, (optional) 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 cup granulalted sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup icing sugar 1 tbsp milk 1. Stir flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add sprinkles, if desired. Preheat oven to 350F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. 2. Beat butter and sugar on mediumhigh in a large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture until just combined. Gather dough into a ball and divide in half, rolling each portion into a 2-in.-wide log. Wrap logs in waxed paper and chill until firm, 1 to 1½ hr. 3. Slice cookies into ¼-in. rounds and arrange 1 in. apart on prepared sheets. Bake until golden, 10 to 12 min. Let cool on sheets for 1 min, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 4. Whisk icing sugar with milk until smooth. Brush cookies with a thin layer of icing.
Food
Pink almondcoconut snowballs PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:1 HOUR 100 g pkg ground almonds, (about 1 cup) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature 1 tsp vanilla 2/3 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut red food colouring 2/3 cup icing sugar 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. 2. Stir almonds, flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and vanilla. Using your hands, combine mixture until it forms a pliable (but crumbly) dough. Roll into 1-in. balls. Arrange on prepared sheets, at least 1 in. apart. 3. Bake in centre of oven until tops are cracked and edges are lightly browned, 12 to 13 min. Transfer sheets to a rack to cool slightly, 15 min. 4. Combine coconut and a few drops food colouring in a resealable ziptop bag. Close and shake until coconut turns pink. Place coconut mixture in a small bowl. Stir icing sugar with 2 tbsp water in a small bowl. 5. Dip domed tops of warm cookies into the icing sugar glaze, then into the coconut mixture until coated. Return cookies to sheets to cool completely.
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Butter tart squares
Gingerbread spice caramel corn
PREP TIME:25 MINS TOTAL TIME:1 HOUR 25 MINS
PREP TIME:25 MINS TOTAL TIME:55 MINS
3 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 tsp salt 1 1/2 cups cold unsalted butter, cubed Filling 2 cups packed brown sugar 4 eggs 1 cup 35% cream 2/3 cup corn syrup 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 1/3 cup dried cranberry, or sultans (optional) 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly oil two 8 x 8-in. baking pans, then line with parchment, leaving some overhang. 2. Whirl flour with granulated sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add cubed butter and continue whirling until a ball forms, about 1 min. Divide dough equally between prepared pans. Press dough firmly into an even layer. 3. Whisk brown sugar with eggs in a large bowl. Stir in cream, corn syrup, melted butter, and sultanas, if desired. Divide mixture evenly between pans. 4. Bake in bottom third of oven until filling is puffed, 50 to 55 min. Transfer to a rack to cool completely, about 2 hr. Cut each pan into 16 squares.
1. Preheat oven to 300F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Combine ingredients for Gingerbread Spice Mix. 2. Place popcorn in a large wide bowl. 3. Stir sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 min. Increase heat to high and boil, without stirring, until mixture turns amber, 7 to 10 min. Remove from heat and stir in butter and pretzels. Pour over popcorn, stirring with a spatula. Spread in single layer on baking sheets and sprinkle with 2 tbsp of Gingerbread Spice Mix. 4. Bake in top and bottom thirds of oven, stirring and switching sheets halfway through, about 20 min.
Last Look
Movies
Mary Poppins Returns December 19 The children visit a local park and Georgie, who has found the kite, flies it. Mary Poppins descends from the sky with the kite in her hand. She takes the children home and announces that she will take charge of them as their nanny. She draws a bath for the three children, leading to underwater adventures.
Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures
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