Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 - January 2017 i Country Woman

It’s not Christmas until pine needles jut wildly from my hair because I’ve crawled beneath the tree to wrestle it into place. It may clog the vacuum with needles, but I must have a live tree. I love the fragrance, the decorating, the nostalgia. Plus, I’m partial to fresh pines because I trimmed and primped more than 50 acres of them every summer during high school in Michigan. To find out which pines are the most aromatic, or pet-friendly, or longlasting, check out reader Amanda Werner’s insider tips and a sweet story from her family’s Vermont tree farm on page 24. Amanda’s family makes a lot of wreaths this time of year, some like the ones used to make the cover model and her little “reindeer” dog. We show you…

Make-Ahead Lasagna An old standby for when time is limited and company’s coming, this lasagna combines recipes I’ve tried. —MARY GRIMM WILLIAMSBURG, IA PREP: 35 MIN. + CHILLING BAKE: 55 MIN. + STANDING MAKES: 12 SERVINGS 1 lb. ground beef 1 lb. bulk hot Italian sausage 2 cups marinara sauce 1 can (15 oz.) pizza sauce 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 carton (15 oz.) ricotta cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes 1/2 tsp. pepper 12 no-cook lasagna noodles 4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese 1. In a skillet, cook and crumble beef and sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the sauces. In a bowl, mix eggs, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley and pepper. 2. Spread 1 cup meat sauce…

Her eyes, how they twinkle; her smile, how merry. But one would expect nothing less from Mrs. Lulabelle Claus. Otherwise known as Lila Osterkamp, this Christmas-loving lady from rural Missouri embraces a year-round spirit of the season. For seven years she created a magical scene for local children, inviting them to her farm to visit her reindeer. And her future plans will swell even the tiniest of Grinch hearts. Why do you love Christmas so much? People smile more, laugh more. They get excited about the gifts they’ve found to give loved ones, and they’re eager to see how the recipients will respond. I would say “Merry Christmas!” from a very early age, anytime gifts were exchanged. I began giving things throughout the year for no extra-special reason, and I’d…

When it comes to decking Doreen Cagno’s halls at Christmas, music is her muse. It’s this classic spiritual song—along with a pair of vintage skis—that inspire her retro-rustic look for Christmas. “Christmas is my favorite holiday,” says the creator of the hymnsandverses.com blog. “I start decorating by taking everything out of each room, except the furniture. I plan an overall theme but tweak things as I go until I’m happy. It’s what makes my home uniquely me.” Doreen’s special touches and love for vintage treasures are found everywhere in her Pennsylvania home. “I shop antique markets all year long. The mittens on the wall in my living room caught my eye three years ago. The black-and-white deer and pinecone prints are vintage etchings that I found online. I made copies…

“ Each house reveals its builder’s age and interests. ”—LINDA RAILEY DES MOINES, IOWA Iwasn’t planning to start a family tradition. While preparing for a Thanksgiving meal at my brother and sister-in-law’s house in northeast Indiana about 30 years ago, I was just interested in keeping my teen daughters and two of their cousins entertained. So before traveling, I baked four small gingerbread houses and bought some candy. After our family dinner, the four girls spread out on the kitchen table and busied themselves by creating show houses with bright red and green gumdrops, gum, a few Red Hots and royal icing for snow. The girls’ younger cousins didn’t want to be left out, and they begged to decorate a house. So the next year I baked a few more,…

Elf Cupcakes Buttery vanilla cupcakes make the perfect landing spot for these fallen elves lost in fluffy frosting. — TASTE OF HOME TEST KITCHEN PREP:45 MIN. BAKE:15 MIN. + COOLING MAKES: 22 CUPCAKES 2/3 cup butter, softened 1 3/4 cups sugar 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/4 cups 2% milk FROSTING 3/4 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup shortening 1 1/2 tsp. clear vanilla extract 6 cups confectioners’ sugar 4 to 6 Tbsp. 2% milk 44 miniature candy canes Pastel mini marshmallows Candy cane kisses 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 22 muffin cups with paper liners. 2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and…

1 “I’m a cowgirl, not a princess,” Morgan tells her grandmother Diane Green, of Ulen, Minnesota, before stepping out to a horse sale to choose her new pony. 2 “My daughter, Shannon, and I baked our favorite raspberry meringue Christmas cookies last year,” says Joy Spinella of Belgrade, Montana. 3 “Our son Marshal landed this pike on nearby Puckaway Lake,” says Stephanie Kohman of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. “My husband, Arik, is so proud.” Q 4 “A smooch from Salvester, our friendly goat, is just fine with my granddaughter Carly,” says Ronda LaPaugh of Riverdale, Michigan. Show Off Your Scrapbook Stars Share a family snapshot and description at countrywomanmagazine.com/submit . If we publish it, you’ll get well-deserved bragging rights and a free year of Country Woman…

It’s a week before Christmas and all through our place Runs an air of excitement, like the start of a race. The back porch is packed full with hats and downfills, But call for some help, and they’re off for the hills. In front of the woodstove stretch two lazy cats, Settled right in for their afternoon naps. Out on the street there’s the sound of a din As a big snowball fight is about to begin. The shopping’s not done, and the cards not all written, Gift sweaters still sleeveless, I’m frantically knittin’. The living room carpet is bare to the wall, Awaiting the cleaner who promised to call. The spirit of goodwill I hate to diminish, But the wallpaper’s run out one strip from the finish. The outdoor…

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Q: What’s the best Christmas surprise you’ve ever given or received? My best surprise was last Christmas, when my fiance and my kids surprised me with a chocolate Lab puppy. KELLY ACKLEY OTEGO, NEW YORK My favorite was getting a call from our local radio station telling me that a lady I’d nominated in a contest honoring someone who did something extraordinary had won. Our neighbor, who I’d say was 75 years old at the time, knitted a pair of mittens every week for an entire year and then donated them at Christmas. She won a $100 gift card to Shopko and was more than surprised when I told her she’d won. She got new bedding and bathroom rugs. Her win was a blessing for both of us. DEB BRUSHERT…

ROPE THEM IN TWIST IT, TIE IT AND WELCOME GUESTS HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. WHAT YOU’LL NEED 62 ft. of 1/2 -in.-wide sisal twisted rope 14-in.-wide wire wreath frame 22-gauge floral wire Choice of decorations such as florals and greenery Utility knife Wire cutters Hot glue gun DIRECTIONS 1. Use utility knife to cut four 1-yd. lengths of rope; set rope aside for Step 4. 2. Place wire wreath frame flat to work. Layer most of the remaining 50 ft. of rope in circular loops on top of frame. 3. With about 6 ft. of rope remaining, create a double hanging loop at top of wreath. Wrap remainder of rope tightly around itself and the wire frame backing. Secure hanging loop to back side with a clove hitch or simple…

PROJECT 1 WOOLEN WHIMSY THESE FUZZY FRIENDS BRING THEIR ELFIN MAGIC TO ANY PARTY. WHAT YOU’LL NEED 7- to 10-in.-tall papier-mâché cone 12-in.-square patterned scrapbook paper Craft felt sheet Decorative fur sheet Wooden bead Miniature colored bell Hot glue gun Sewing needle and thread (optional) DIRECTIONS 1. For elf shirt, wrap scrapbook paper around lower half of cone. Use hot glue to secure the paper in place. Trim excess paper as needed. 2. For beard, cut a raindrop shape from decorative fur. Trim beard to desired size proportionate to cone. With pointed end facing down, use hot glue to secure beard in place. Allow beard to overhang cone bottom. 3. For hat, wrap felt sheet around upper half of cone, overlapping beard slightly. Use hot glue to secure hat in…

“ This twist on a cream cheese pie tastes divine. ”—JODIE JENSEN Pumpkin Toffee Trifle I wanted to use pumpkin for a quick party dessert. This twist on a cream cheese pie tastes divine and keeps well, so it can be made ahead. —JODIE JENSEN DRAPER, UT TAKES: 25 MIN.• MAKES: 14 SERVINGS 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 can (15 oz.) solid-pack pumpkin 2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 carton (16 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed 1 pkg. (11.3 oz.) toffee shortbread cookies, broken into pieces 1 pkg. (5 1/4 oz. ) thin ginger cookies, coarsely crushed 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. hot caramel ice cream topping, divided 1…

I grew up as a typical small-town girl. I had friends on farms, and I helped with chores here and there, but I was no farm girl. All that changed in 2014 when I fell in love with Justin Nasers, a farm boy from Iowa. At the time, I was a teacher in South Dakota, and we started dating long-distance. I decided that I wanted to be by Justin’s side through thick and thin, so I found a job in Iowa, packed my belongings and headed for his family farm. Little did I know that visiting a farm would be so different from the reality of living on one. Here is a short list of what I’ve learned. 1. Harvest time will bring out the true colors of a relationship.…

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