Archive for October 2009

Thanksgiving Dinner Leftovers

By on October 29, 2009

What to do with Thanksgiving Dinner Leftovers

So many people have a turkey for Thanksgiving and then they never look at turkey again for the rest of the year. But I am not one of these people. I generally have turkey on Thanksgiving, and possible on two or three other occasions.

But no matter how well I plan, I always end up with more turkey that I know what to do it. I get a bird that is much bigger than what we need, and the leftovers seem to be overwhelming.

Perhaps this is why most people only have a turkey once or twice a year. Knowing what to do with the turkey afterwards can be tricky, but all you need are a few good recipes for turkey.

I bet you would be surprised at the number of recipes for turkey there are out there. If you search through some of the cooking web sites on the Internet, you are going to find a lot of great ideas.

When it comes to recipes for turkey in my house, there are a couple of simple ones that I use. I have to say I love cold turkey sandwiches.

There are two different recipes for turkey sandwiches that I use. One is so simple that a five-year-old can do it. All you need is two pieces of bread, a layer of mayonnaise, and some turkey.

You put it together in a sandwich with a little salt, and you have a great meal. You may also make turkey salad much like you would make chicken salad.

One of the other recipes for turkey I use is one to make turkey and biscuits. This is much like chicken and biscuits, but you use turkey instead a chicken.

Remember that you don’t have to use all of your turkey up right away, as it is safe to freeze turkey for a period of time. As long as you can do so safely, you have some great turkey ideas for months after you’ve cooked the actual turkey.

There are many other great recipes for turkey out there; all you have to do is look and we have even done that for you. 250 great recipes at less than 6 cent each!

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The History and Customs of Halloween

By on October 28, 2009

 

The History and Customs of Halloween spans almost 3,000 years!

The history behind Halloween is long and there are some remarkable associations which, over millenniums of practice, survive in some form today.

The Celts were the first Halloween celebrants, around 2900 B.C., although the name of the original celebration was Samhain. The occasion of Samhain was to mark the end of their year, October 31, probably relating to the end of harvest.

However, the Celts also believed that the dead had their day each year on Samhain, allowed to roam the earth, sometimes disguised as animals. This put a little spookiness into the harvest season.

The Celts were pagans at this time. One of the customs on Samhain was to collect and exchange food to appease the gods and keep evil spirits at bay. To this end, they dressed in costumes, wearing and brandishing scary masks, designed to frighten off these evil spirits, in much the same way gargoyles were later used on churches.

Bonfires were also customary, as an added measure to ensure the evil spirits did not gain a foothold in their community. So costumes, masks, pumpkins and treats were an integral part of the history behind Halloween from the beginning.

Christians converted the pagan Samhain celebration into a Christian celebration of Halloween, followed on November 1 by All Saint’s Day. This cleverly served to divert the offerings to pagan gods and point celebrants in a Christian direction. This strategy did, eventually succeed.

Over a period of hundreds of years, Halloween gradually picked up superstitious myths and stories, some still hanging on to the pagan rituals and ideas. So, today’s ghost stories around the campfire became part of the history behind Halloween traditions.

While Halloween began as a celebration and ritual holiday for adults, in the early part of the 20th century, the adults started behaving badly, with malicious acts overshadowing the treat aspect. The malicious tricks became so severe, the history behind Halloween might have ended there. People banded together to preserve this fun holiday tradition for kids only. For about 50 years thereafter, adults didn’t go trick or treating.

Around the 1980s, adults celebrating Halloween came back in vogue. Although most adults still don’t go trick or treating, due to the typically chilly reception they receive, they do attend adult Halloween parties where the host provides the treats and everyone gets into costumes, just as the ancient Celts did.

For more information on The History and Customs of Halloween and some great ideas for the party click the link but its ok if your to scared, we understand.

Scary-Halloween-Party-Ideas

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Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas!

By on October 28, 2009

Some simple Thanksgiving dinner ideas that can save you a lot of time and stress!

Thanksgiving Day preparations used to have me worn out by the time the family sat down to dinner. It was an all day production, beginning with prepping the turkey at the crack of dawn and ending with a frenzy of last minute activity.

Tasting each dish for proper seasoning, I felt like I’d been eating all day long. Then after many years of this routine I came across a book which put a whole lot of ideas in my head! These days, all I have to worry about on Thanksgiving Day is getting the turkey in the oven and brewing a pot of coffee after dinner.

Here are some tips for easy and delicious Thanksgiving dinner ideas.

Top Tip
Pick up your frozen bird at the store the day before Thanksgiving. Be sure to order ahead of time! Fill a large picnic style cooler with enough ice cold water to cover the bird and close the lid. Before you go to bed, turn the turkey over. It will be ready to cook by morning. I’ve used this technique for 10 years.

I always wondered why my bird didn’t cook in the time given on the directions. Opening the oven to baste is why. This Thanksgiving dinner idea is a gem. Melt a stick of butter and add seasonings. Slip your fingers between the breast and leg skin, gently separating the skin from the meat.

Set the bird on end and pour the butter between the skin and meat, using your clean! fingers to distribute the butter. Place the bird breast side up on a rack, cover with foil and put it in the oven. The bird bastes itself. Fool-proof, I should know!

Most traditional Thanksgiving pies, such as mincemeat and pumpkin, are great. Freeze, remove and thaw the day before and bake the night before Thanksgiving Day.

Good Thanksgiving dinner ideas have one thing in common, less work and more free time.

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How to have the Best Halloween Ever

By on October 24, 2009

Halloween is my favorite holiday. As the weather cools, the leaves turn and summer is over, I start looking forward to autumn, and, specifically, Halloween. Every year, I do what I can to make that particular Halloween my best Halloween ever. If you are interested in having your best Halloween ever, follow some of my tips and tricks and you might just succeed in having your best Halloween ever.

The best Halloween ever will have four qualities. The first of which would include some excellent jack-o-lanterns and other spooky decor. Certainly both my mom and my aunt knew the importance of creating a thematic atmosphere with holidays, and their favorite was probably Halloween as well. They spent a whole day picking out pumpkins to carve, and then carving them, as well as toasting the pumpkin seeds. They draped “spider-webs” everywhere as well as cackling witch decorations.

Another quality of the best Halloween ever is the treats. Candy is an essential ingredient of any good time, especially for the young children in their Halloween costumes. But there are several adults that have vicious sweet tooths as well and having plenty of candy on hand is important for my best Halloween ever.

Of course, treats are not just sugary confections. In many circles, a round of festive alcoholic beverages are just the “treats” you need for the best Halloween ever. Playing on the holiday themes, drink names such as witches’ brew, goblin juice and many others are just some of the examples of fun with names, themes, and, of course, adult drinks.

Finally, the most important quality for the best Halloween ever is the Halloween costume. Don’t even bother trying to celebrate Halloween in jeans and a sweatshirt. Whether you are trick-or-treating door-to-door or going to a party, whether you are six, sixteen, thirty-six or sixty-six years old, everyone should dress up as something for Halloween. And no, a costume is a costume, not just jeans and a sweatshirt and a cop-out. Dressing up as a vampire or witch, ghost or monster takes virtually no time at all, while costing very little money. There really is no excuse not to dress up at Halloween.

These are the key ingredients for the best Halloween ever, or, at least, my best Halloween ever. Your best Halloween ever could be something completely different, for more great tricks and tips for a great holiday click the link!

Scary-Halloween-Party-Ideas

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Affordable Halloween Party Ideas for Adults

By on October 23, 2009

Fast, simple and Affordable Halloween Party Ideas for Adults

Halloween is a beloved American holiday. Many children get excited about the costumes they will select or make with parents and wear to school. Many teachers got out of their way to plan Halloween parties at school for kids to partake in. Many community centers plan special Halloween events that all families are invited to.

Parties are a big part of the holiday because most of the holiday revolves around comparing costumes with other party. Some parties even have a contest and award a prize to the best costume at the end of the evening. Most likely, the most creative costume will win or a costume that has a clear amount of detail poured into it.

While kids get excited, many people look for adult Halloween party ideas year after year. Many adults throw parties that children are not allowed to, making it easier for everyone to loosen up. 

Some Halloween party ideas for adults are simple to recreate without a lot of time or money. A great way to set your Halloween party is to have it start very late on the actual holiday. Since the holiday is known as an opportunity to scare people, starting it at night when it’s dark out is the only way to go. 

Secondly, make costumes mandatory. If people cannot embarrass themselves on Halloween, when can they? People that do not wear costumes on Halloween are the one’s who stick out.  Write on the invitation that if they are attending your party, they must wear a costume.

Another adult Halloween party idea is to serve a fun cocktail. Since there will not be children present, it is okay for people to drink. You can find a festive punch bowl, or simply buy one that is orange and/or black. Mix together a witch’s brew of vanilla vodka, green food coloring and peach juice. Everyone will love the sweet treat.

Games are also a great way o break the ice between people who haven’t met before. Find a large clean metal bushel, fill it with water and drop apples into it. People can bob for apples by holding there hands behind their backs, bending forward and sticking there face into the bushel, trying to grab an apple with their teeth. This game can lead to some pretty fun flirting.

Some great Halloween party ideas for adults include your choice of costume. Since there will not be children present, feel free to dress up in something risqué or completely out of character for you. This is that one time of year when you can really let loose.

To uncover some great Affordable Halloween Party Ideas for Adults just click the link Now!

Scary-Halloween-Party-Ideas

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Adult Halloween Party Ideas

By on October 23, 2009

Simple and Fast Adult Halloween Party Ideas

Much like Christmas morning, Halloween seems to be a holiday tailor made for kids to have fun. But that doesn’t mean their parents can’t get in on the action as well. In fact, as Halloween has grown in popularity over the years, it is becoming more and more an adult holiday. This usually means costume parties but after you’ve gotten over the initial amusement of seeing who everyone is dressed up as there are some adult Halloween party ideas that can keep the fun going into the wee hours.

The most obvious adult Halloween party idea is to have a costume contest. Let your guests know they’ll be competing for prizes such as most outrageous costume, funniest costume, best couple costume, etc. If you have the space, consider setting up a small stage in your backyard to give everyone the chance to see the costumes and vote by applause as to who should win.

Another great adult Halloween party idea is to create a scavenger hunt for your guests. This could mean coming up with a list of items that teams will need to collect over the course of the night. These could be things like carved pumpkins, toilet seats or bowling pins. Naturally you’ll want to entice everyone with prizes.

A variation on this adult Halloween party idea would be to have a scavenger hunt with photos. Since everyone’s cell phone can snap a picture you could give folks a list of photos that might include a picture with a barnyard animal, a picture with a cop, or a picture of a professional restaurant kitchen. The thing to keep in mind with scavenger hunts is to set a time limit. You don’t want folks out all night missing the party!

An additional adult Halloween party idea would be to take the party to a big Halloween parade. All of your guests could wear coordinated theme costumes that would unify them. You could then proudly march down the parade route and head back to the house for the rest of the night’s merriment.

Then there is the retro adult Halloween party idea that will surely make for a memorable night. This would be taking your guests out trick or treating. Technically there isn’t an age requirement for trick or treater so there is nothing wrong with a much of costumed and well behaved adults getting their fill of Halloween candy. No doubt everyone would have fun with that adult Halloween party idea!

To discover some great Adult Halloween Party Ideas just click the link Now!

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Thanksgiving Party Plan

By on October 18, 2009

What’s Your Thanksgiving Party Plan

Have you recently made the decision to host a formal Thanksgiving party?  If so, have you started planning and preparing for your party?  If not, it may be time to get started. As you likely already know, all parties, regardless of their type, require some planning and preparation, but formal parties often require more planning and preparation. 

One of the many things that you will need to do, when it comes to planning a formal Thanksgiving party, is invite your party guests. Since your party will be formal in nature, it may be a good idea to send out formal party invitations.  These invitations should clearly state the fact that your party is intended to be a formal party.

If you wish for your guests to arrive in formal or elegant eveningwear, it is advised that you state so on your invitations.  Since your guests may need to purchase additional clothing, just to attend your party, it is advised that you send out your invitations in advance, a month in advance is an appropriate amount of time.

In addition to invitations, you will also need to decide, ahead of time, which food or drinks you will be serving at your formal Thanksgiving party. In addition to just having on hand snacks, you may also wish to prepare a formal Thanksgiving dinner. 

A Thanksgiving dinner is ideal for formal Thanksgiving parties.  Before your party, at least a few weeks before, it is advised that you sit down and prepare a list of foods, snacks, or drinks that you would like served.  It may also be a good idea to start buying these items, especially if you are lucky enough to find them on sale. 

Entertainment is also something that you need to plan and prepare for.  No party is complete without entertainment.  Having light music playing in the background or an area set up as a dance floor is a great way for your guests to socialize during your party. 

Elegant music, elegant clothing, and an elegant party setting is the perfect way for you and your party guests to spend your evening celebrating Thanksgiving. At your liking, you can easily incorporate additional forms of entertainment into your formal Thanksgiving party.

While elegant eveningwear is enough to set a formal Thanksgiving party apart from a casual one, you may be looking for more. That is why it is also advised that you plan, as well as purchase your holiday party decorations in advance.  Online or in your local retail stores, you should easily be able to find a collection of elegant Thanksgiving party decorations, including centrepieces, placemats, candles, and more. 

If you make the decision to purchase your Thanksgiving party decorations locally, it is advised that you get decorations as soon as you see them available for sale.  A large number of retail stores are limited on the decorations that they carry; therefore, you will want to make sure that you get yours before they are all gone. 

As previously mentioned, not only are you advised to start planning your Thanksgiving party early, but you are also advised to start preparing for it early, as with buying your Thanksgiving party decorations.  In addition to buying your party supplies early, you may also want to prepare your home for your formal Thanksgiving party.

When attending any party, guests expect the party host’s home to be clean and inviting.  With a formal party, your guests will likely expect more. That is why it is advised that you start cleaning and preparing your home weeks or, at the least, in the days before your party is set to take place. Of course, there are some tasks that you may not want to start until right before your party, but it is wise to get a jump start on all of your cleaning.

When it comes to planning a formal Thanksgiving party, as you can easily see, there is a lot of hard work, preparation, and planning that is involved. Despite all of the work, the end result, a successful elegant Thanksgiving party, is almost always worth it.

 For Fast Simple Thanksgiving party Recipes Click the Link!!!

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The History & Customs of Halloween

By on October 16, 2009

 

The True History & Customs of Halloween

Halloween has become the second most popular holiday in the United States of America, second to only Christmas, at least based on retail dollars spent on the holiday. Halloween has not always been so popular, though it has virtually always been around. It is an ancient holiday with a history that stretches back for thousands and thousands of years, making it one of the oldest holidays around.

The origin of Halloween dates back two thousand years to ancient Ireland. The people populating the land at the time were called Celts, and every year, at the end of October, they had a huge ceremony and celebration. It was the end of the growing season, the harvest was over, and the dark cold months of winter was upon them.

The Celts built giant bonfires to dance around in animal costumes, hoping to appease the gods, thanking them for the bounties of the harvest, and pleading for protection from the dangerous months ahead.

The history of Halloween continues in this way until the spread of Christianity to the British Isles. Eager to turn this pagan holiday into a religious one, the Pope declared the day after, November 1st, All Saints’ Day. The Middle English word for All Saints’ Eve is where we get our modern “Halloween”. We lost the ritual sacrifices of livestock but retained the costumes and celebration.

The origin of Halloween followed the social and cultural growth of Britain and Ireland throughout the centuries, becoming more and more modern with the times. By the time of the great Irish immigration to the United States in the 19th century, Halloween was a holiday of costumes and door to door treats.

Once Halloween caught the imagination of the population of the United States, it was transformed into a community event, with costumed citizens gathering in community centers. This practice continued through the 1950′s, when trick or treating returned to the neighborhoods.

The origin of Halloween is a long and winding one. Halloween has transformed from a pagan ceremony, to a religious day, to a community celebration, while still keeping the spirit of fun, and a mystical respect for the unknown elements that lurk in our worlds.

Understanding more about the history of Halloween as I know do allows me to enjoy the day on a deeper level and I hope the same for you this Halloween.

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History Customs of Halloween

By on October 14, 2009

The Darker side to the History Customs of Halloween

The origin of the celebration can be traced back to ancient Celtics. The have this feast called Samhain which is a festival held during the end of the harvest season and which is also the Celtic New Year.

According to Celts beliefs, during this time of the year, the spirits of the dead will go up to the surface world and try to posses living bodies for the year to come. To prevent there bodies from being possessed, Celts would light bonfires and dress up in all sorts of morbid costumes just to discourage the spirits of the dead from entering their bodies.

However, the practice of placing costumes in America can be traced to only as recent as the 1900s. It was only in the 1930s that Halloween costumes began to be mass produced. The usual costumes that people rent or make are those of different monsters including but not limited to vampires, ghosts, ghouls, demons, witches, and skeletons.
Even if it is the night that evil is supposed to surface, “good” costumes are also a common choice among children and adults alike. In fact, princess, fairy and angel costumes often times make it to the top ten list of top Halloween costumes.

Also popular are pop culture costumes which mimicked famous personalities, fictional characters, celebrities, and even politicians have an equal share in exposures during Halloween. Women, no thanks to commercial advertising, have also found this a good time to wear sexy outfits to show off their bodies and sexual prowess. But that is another story.

The fact that costumes for Halloween celebration have become so varied that the modern tradition have overshadowed the earlier tradition which makes wearing costumes during Halloween different from other dressing up feasts there is. And that is the concept of dressing up during Halloween is to mimic the supernatural, the ghoulish being, or basically the scary stuff.

Nevertheless, who are we to keep traditions from adapting to the modern times? Things will always evolve, that’s just how things naturally work. We can’t simply insist on wearing only scary stuff during Halloween. Creativity will play a role in this aspect and people will always crave for new things.

So not withstanding the darker origins of wearing Halloween costumes, we and our children and their children will continue to celebrate this day for as long as there are candies to share and creativity to spare.

If you would like to find out more about the History Customs of Halloween
click the link, Unless You’re AFRAID!!!

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Thanksgiving Party Food

By on October 9, 2009

Food for Your Thanksgiving Party

When it comes to a Thanksgiving party, food and snacks are important. That is why you may be trying to decide which food and snacks, you should have at your next Thanksgiving party. As you will likely see, you have an unlimited number of different options.

First examine the focus of your Thanksgiving party. This may make it easier for you to decide on a particular food or snack. In most cases, you will want to try and tailor your food to the type of party that you are having. For instance, if you planning a kids’ only Thanksgiving party, it may be a good idea to have a collection of finger foods or other age appropriate snacks on hand.

In addition to ensuring that your guests will enjoy your food, choosing the right type of food and snacks may make it easier for you to plan for and prepare for your Thanksgiving party.

As previously mentioned, if you are having a kid only Thanksgiving party, it may be a good idea to have kid friendly snacks on hand. These snacks may include chips, pretzels, cheese and crackers, pudding, or a veggie tray, and so on.

If you are planning on having an all ages Thanksgiving party, a party where both adults and children will be present, it may be ideal to have a collection of common foods on hand; foods that will likely appeal to all ages. These snacks, as mentioned above, many include cookies, cheese and crackers, and vegetable snacks.

If you have decided on a formal Thanksgiving party, you will likely want to your party snacks to mirror the theme of you party. This means that you may want to purchase or make more elegant party snacks.

These types of party snacks typically include vegetable trays and seafood. In addition to snacks, there is also a good chance that your formal Thanksgiving party will include a formal Thanksgiving dinner.

If this is the case, you will need to purchase more than just snacks. You will need to purchase the main course, such as a turkey, as well as side dishes, which may include potatoes, cranberries, and a salad.

Although it is important to examine the types of foods, snacks, and drinks you would like to have at your Thanksgiving party, it may also be a good idea to examine when and where you will buy your items.

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, you will find that many retail stores, namely grocery stores, place popular Thanksgiving food and snacks on sale. Waiting until this time to purchase you party food, snacks, and drinks may make it so you have can everything that you want, but at an affordable price.

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