Innholdsfortegnelse for Decembre 2015 - Janvier 2016 i Country Woman

I wandered into an antique store one day, and as I walked past the owner, she gasped at the rhinestone brooch on my lapel. It’s a stunning beauty that was once my aunt’s. “I can’t believe you’re wearing that on your winter coat,” the store owner said. “Do you know how much that’s worth?” Frankly, I didn’t know its value, but to me it’s priceless. When I wear it, I think about my aunt and uncle as well as my mother, father, sisters and brother, cousins, nieces and nephews. Yes, that one piece of jewelry does that to me. Sure, I could tuck it away in a safe place to preserve its value. But I’d rather pin it on my lapel or on a scarf and keep it close to…

Visit treesfromhome.org to make a donation or request a tree delivery for someone close to your heart. Sweeten up their day by sending packaged goodies like gum, candy, trail mix or nuts. Hand-write a special holiday greeting, then let your kids or grandkids illustrate the card. The personal artwork is sure to bring big smiles. Send the essentials. Simple gifts like body-care products are a luxury when they aren’t readily available.…

1 Big Dipper Wax Works Beeswax Ornament Candles $16 Hand-poured and sculpted in the Pacific Northwest, these 100% beeswax candles add warmth and holiday glow to any space. In three jolly ornament shapes, they’re a perfect pick for gift exchanges. 2 AHeirloom Sweater Cutting Board $48 The holiday sweater print gets a fresh look—on a cutting board. Chop veggies and cheeses for your winter party platter atop this made-to-order maple surface. 3 Knollwood Lane Canvas & Reclaimed Wood Wall Art $35 This vintage-inspired tree hanging brings instant yuletide flair. With natural trim and a bit of braided jute, it gives any door or wall a dash of that woodsy Christmas feel. BUY IT! Get these and more fun finds in…

FOR THE GREEN THUMB Giving is always in season. Share flower bulbs and fun with a fellow gardener. Roll up garden gloves and tie together with twine. Place natural sisal in bottom of jar; fill jar with gloves and gifts like seed packets, bulbs and plant markers. Replace lid. Wrap several strands of raffia around jar lid and tie a knot, leaving 2-in. ends. Thread one end through the tag’s hole and tie raffia to lid. To make tassel, cut a short piece of raffia and wrap it around the ends of the jar’s raffia tie. Knot. Embellish lid with paper flowers. FOR THE PET Give your dog a bone—and biscuits and toys—all in one tub of treats. Fill a large plastic jar with your dog’s favorite toys, biscuits and…

SPRUCED UP Adorn your tabletop with a shimmering tree of jewelry. Cover a green foam cone with glitter spray paint; let dry. Add 1-2 more coats of paint, letting dry for only a minute or so between coats. Glue strands of costume pearls around cone for garland, and pin brooches for tree ornaments. If using clip-on earrings, remove clips with pliers before attaching to tree. Glue large brooch to top of cone as a standout tree topper; let dry. BLING RINGS Create eye-catching napkin rings with ribbon and costume jewelry. WHAT YOU’LL NEED Brooch or clip-on earring 2-in.-wide ribbon Coordinating all-purpose thread 5/8-in. fusible bonding web for hems (such as Stitch Witchery) Iron-on 1x3/4-in. fastener strips for fabric (such as Velcro) Sewing needle Standard iron DIRECTIONS 1. Fold napkin for…

“My hot fruit punch has been a family favorite since 1993—hard to believe that we’ve loved it for more than 20 years!”—ANITA BELL HERMITAGE, TN EAT SMART Hot Cider Punch My family loves sipping this fruity hot cider during the holiday season. Add clove-studded orange wedges to make it look especially festive. —ANITA BELL HERMITAGE, TN PREP: 5 MIN. • COOK: 30 MIN. MAKES: 12 SERVINGS 3 1/2 cups apple cider or juice 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 cinnamon stick (3 in.) 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 3 cups orange juice 3 cups unsweetened pineapple juice 1 tsp. whole cloves 1 medium orange, cut into wedges 1. Place cider, sugar, cinnamon stick and nutmeg in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 20 minutes. 2. Stir in orange…

1 “My husband, Tom, stole a kiss—and a cookie,” says Patti Helbig of Watchung, New Jersey. “He goes crazy for Mom’s famous peanut butter treats.” 2 “Cailin was really cooking in the hat and apron from Santa,” grandma Melody Durant of Donna, Texas, says. 3 Oh, Christmas tree! “My daughter, Maddie, did a beautiful job of decorating her cookie,” says Lynelle Fischer, Muskego, Wisconsin. 4 “My little sugar, Kyra, helped make the cookies on her first Christmas,” says grandma Linda Petsche of Castle Rock, Colorado. 5 Chef Dawson baked a cake for Jesus’ birthday, says mom Kelly Church of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Your Family Could Be Scrapbook Stars! Send a photo of your family having winter fun—sledding, building an igloo, opening gifts—to submissions@countrywomanmagazine.com . Include the story behind…

Naughty and Nice I cracked up when I overheard my husband asking our then-4-yearold daughter, Aurora, if she had enjoyed Christmas one year. She said, “This year, I learned that no matter how bad you are, Santa still comes.” No wonder she was such a little stinker that December! KATIE CORDES CAMPBELLSPORT, WI Surprise for Daddy When I was 4, my dad was in the military and serving overseas during the holidays. I wanted to make sure he had Christmas, too, and my mom still laughs because I’d said, “Mommy, I’m going to ask Santa for a new baby brother for Christmas, so we can surprise Daddy when he comes home.” TRACIE SHARPE TUSTIN, CA For Crying Out Loud The first Christmas my nephew Augie was old enough to talk,…

New research conducted at Harvard Medical School and University of Wisconsin – Madison has offered exciting clues as to how our bodies fight off infection and disease. It’s been common knowledge in medical circles that our bodies produce hydrogen peroxide, but new studies of human and animal cells are shedding new light on the critical role hydrogen peroxide plays in immunity, wound healing and even tumor biology. This new data shows that hydrogen peroxide is the catalyst to the body’s effective fight against disease and infection. This is one more brick in the wall of evidence supporting hydrogen peroxide’s safety and power. Readers are urged to pick up The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide without delay to begin harnessing the power and saving money without delay. To get this valuable book…

NEW YEAR, NEW USE Q: When the holidays are over, how do you get crafty with Christmas cards? “Once a week, my mom randomly pulled a card she got that Christmas, re-read it and then sent a “thinking of you” card to that person or family through the new year. If she had more than 52 cards, she sent two a week.” DONNA TORRENCE WERNER VIA FACEBOOK “My favorite idea was my mom’s: advent calendars for the next year. She would draw a grid on poster board and cut various pictures from Christmas cards to fit each box. For Sundays, she would choose a snippet of a church in the snow or a Bible. Christmas Eve would be shepherds; Christmas Day, the nativity scene; and Dec. 18, the star (so…

“Imagine what the world would be like if people shared the love and joy of the holidays year round.”—MARIE LOUISE LUDWIG PHOENIXVILLE, PA Just before serving, adorn your favorite cake with fun baubles—or a festive cookie. Carefully invert clear bowl over decorations. Free subscription to CW ! Send an idea, project or tip that makes your holiday happier or your life easier—or more fun. If we publish it, you’ll get a year’s subscription to Country Woman for yourself or a friend. Email ideas to submissions@countrywomanmagazine.com .…

“I plan to read The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman every Christmas. It’s about girlfriends who start a holiday cookie exchange. The book includes several interesting recipes, and there’s even a cookbook that you can buy separately to go with it. I’ve given copies to friends as gifts and plan to start my own cookie club!” SHANNON LÉGER WATERVILLE, NB “ At The Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen had me hooked from the beginning. At first I was a little leery of a story about finding the Loch Ness Monster in a time of war, but as the story unfolded, it changed my mind. It’s about finding family in unexpected places and following your heart.” JOAN HALLFORD NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX “Donna VanLiere’s The Christmas Light is a nice…

Pick Holiday Hues “The simpler the color palette, the brighter the whole mantel looks,” says crafter Jennifer Hadfield of tatertotsandjello.com. For this wintry scene, she chose red and white and spray-painted a vintage door for a bold backdrop. “I like to create decor that inspires family and friends to feel happy, joyful and welcome in my home!” BRIGHT IDEA! Show off this year’s Christmas cards on a ladder using baker’s twine and clothespins.…

PREP: 30 MIN. • BAKE: 25 MIN. MAKES: ABOUT 2 1/2 DOZEN 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 Tbsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground cloves 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. water 3/4 cup molasses 1/2 cup canola oil 1. Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, whisk the first five ingredients. Stir in water, molasses and oil (dough will be stiff). 2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. cutter. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. 3. Bake 25-30 minutes or until biscuits are set. Remove from pan to wire racks to cool.…

Gooey Caramel-Topped Gingersnaps Making these cookies is therapeutic for me. I often watch a movie while I put them together. I take a lot of cookies to fundraisers, and these gingersnaps are quite popular. If you’d like, you can make variations by changing the cookie base or switching the nuts. —DEIRDRE COX KANSAS CITY, MO PREP: 30 MIN. + STANDING MAKES: 3 1/2 DOZEN 42 gingersnap cookies 1 pkg. (14 oz.) caramels 1/4 cup 2% milk or heavy whipping cream 1 cup chopped honey-roasted peanuts 12 oz. white or dark chocolate candy coating, melted Chocolate jimmies or finely chopped honey-roasted peanuts 1. Arrange cookies in a single layer on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. In a microwave, melt caramels with milk; stir until smooth. Stir in 1 cup chopped peanuts. Spoon…

“I’ve always wanted to make homemade bread, but thought it was very hard. I am feeling confident enough now and have high expectations that everything will turn out just like in the videos! Thanks for a great class! — Marcia F. H.”(a very happy customer!) Try our All About Breads & Rolls class......or Enroll in One of Our Other Classes: Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Slow Cooker Favorites Say Cheesecake! Weeknight Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less Potluck Ribs • and Many More!…

When I lived in the city, putting up a Christmas tree involved getting a box from the basement, assembling the tree and fluffing out branches. But when I moved to the country, I learned that using an artificial tree is akin to using artificial turf instead of grass for your lawn—bad. Very, very bad. It was our first Christmas in the country, and my husband and I felt like, well, kids on Christmas morning. We finally had a porch, and we decorated it with garland, lights, a giant light-up Snoopy and a handmade (by a friend) wreath for our door. We also got a real tree. We picked out a white pine from a local nursery, much to the dismay of almost everyone we knew. “No! You need one with…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED Patterns* 14 large paint chips White card stock 8x10 sheet of adhesive glitter paper (for back of bulb)** White sticker letters 2-yd. length of red and white baker’s twine DIRECTIONS 1. Trace patterns separately on card stock and cut out. 2. Lay paint chips in the desired order for hanging on garland. Trace a lightbulb pattern onto each paint chip, making sure the white lines of the chip are centered across the bulb. 3. Cut out paint chip bulbs, placing each one back in the desired arrangement. Attach sticker letters to bulbs to spell Fa la la la la , leaving one plain cutout between each word. 4. Trace each bulb onto glitter paper, adding about 1 in. at the top. Cut out each. 5. Lay the…

Play with Layers “Start with a live garland as the base, and then add items that you love and have collected over time,” says Myra Yarbrough, lifestyle blogger at myblessedlife.net. “I have the sweetest friends and family who ooh and aah over my holiday decor. My dad has commented before that it’s like I Spy because he always sees something different.” Create a Mantel Ashley Thurman, the DIY guru at cherishedbliss.com, doesn’t have a fireplace, so she found a new space to hang her handmade stockings. “One day I was staring at this giant piano in my living room, and I knew it would take the place of a mantel. It worked beautifully! If you don’t have a piano, use a wooden shelf or media stand.” Get a Little Glam…

WREATH WRAP-UP CREATE A COMFY NEW LOOK FOR YOUR DOOR IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS. Vanessa Brady, the crafty blogger at triedandtrueblog.com, shows you how to make a wreath using just a scarf and a wire form. Leaving a short end of the scarf hanging loose at the bottom of the wreath, begin wrapping the scarf around the outside of the form. Continue wrapping, covering the wreath form completely and stopping when the two ends of the scarf are about the same length and lie next to one another. Tie the loose ends of the scarf together at the bottom. COZY ON THE GO BUNDLE UP YOUR SLOW COOKER IN A MONOGRAMMED SWEATER COVER. WHAT YOU’LL NEED Knit sweater (see Note) Matching all-purpose thread Coordinating 6-strand embroidery floss Coordinating iron-on…

FAST FIX Calzone Pinwheels Not only do these bites make use of convenient refrigerator crescent rolls, they can be made ahead and popped in the oven right before company arrives! —LISA SMITH BRYAN, OH START TO FINISH: 30 MIN. MAKES: 16 APPETIZERS 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese 1/2 cup diced pepperoni 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh mushrooms 1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper 2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion 1 tsp. Italian seasoning 1/4 tsp. salt 1 pkg. (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent rolls 1 jar (14 oz.) pizza sauce, warmed 1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, mix the first nine ingredients. 2. Unroll dough and separate into four rectangles; press perforations to seal. Spread rectangles with cheese mixture.…

Apple-Cheddar Pancakes with Bacon After tasting a scrumptious grilled apple and cheese sandwich, I decided to try the same flavors with pancakes. The idea of adding bacon came from my bacon-fanatic sister! —KIM KORVER ORANGE CITY, IA PREP: 15 MIN. • COOK: 5 MIN./BATCH MAKES: 8 SERVINGS (2 PANCAKES EACH) 2 large eggs 1 cup 2% milk 2 cups biscuit/baking mix 8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled 2 large apples, peeled and shredded 1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese Butter and maple syrup, optional 1. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk until blended. Add biscuit mix and bacon; stir just until moistened. Fold in apples and cheese. 2. Lightly grease a griddle; heat over medium heat. Drop the batter by 1 cupfuls onto griddle, spreading with…

If you’re like me and can trace your values, your resiliency, even your sense of humor to a family legacy of life on the land, you’ll also love Country Woman ’s sister magazine, Farm & Ranch Living. In Farm & Ranch Living, families across America tell their own uplifting, funny, inspiring stories, just as April Knight did in this special tale from our December/ January 2016 issue. We also spotlight the Great American Barn, introduce families who grow Christmas trees in Vermont and citrus fruit in Florida, and celebrate young farm entrepreneurs. Each issue brims with authentic stories that’ll make you prize your ties to agriculture. To subscribe, go to farmandranchliving.com/ specialoffer. And keep those rural roots growing strong.…

NOW every single photo, project and tip from last year’s Birds & Blooms and Birds & Blooms EXTRA magazines can be right at your fingertips! Flip open this all-new, colorful hardcover book and enjoy... 350+ full-color photos 200+ clever bird & gardening tips expert advice for better fruit & veggies easy DIY projects that fit your budget and much more! Visit us online at birdsandblooms.com/BB15SA or call toll-free 1-800-344-2560 (mention code BBF21VH00M)…

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At Every Show… LEARN NEW RECIPES! Like the yummy dish shown below that are easy enough to make at home! PICK UP NEW TECHNIQUES! Learn new cooking tips and techniques from our Culinary Specialist! GET A BAG OF GOODIES! Products, coupons and recipes from national and local sponsors. LEARN MORE AT: tasteofhome.com/CookingSchool Turkey Club Roulades  -TASTE OF HOME TEST KITCHEN PREP: 20 MIN. COOK: 15 MIN. MAKES: 8 SERVINGS ³/4 lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed 8 turkey breast cutlets (about 1 lb.) 1 Tbsp. Dijon-mayonnaise blend 8 slices deli ham 8 slices provolone cheese ¹/2 tsp. poultry seasoning ¹/2 tsp. pepper 8 bacon strips SAUCE: ²/3 cup Dijon-mayonnaise blend 4 tsp. 2% milk ¹/4 tsp. poultry seasoning 1.Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add…