Christmas Tips and Recipes

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Today I have a neat tip on making homemade gift tags and a couple of recipes for holiday goodies.

I wanted to make gift tags that were special and homemade. So I went to the fabric store and bought pieces of country Christmas fabric. The print on the fabric is in blocks with angels,santas and stockings. I put fusible webbing on the back . then ironed them on index cards and cut them out. Punched a small hole in the corner added a ribbon. I can write on the back of them and the are so cute and easy. ~Lisa

Make these for a special gift or just a very rich treat to accompany coffee tea after Christmas dinner. ~Lizzy

Christmas Truffles

Ingredients:
7 oz. dark chocolate (good quality)
1/3 cup thickened cream
1 tablespoon of orange liqueur (or try rum)
3 oz. unsalted macadamia nuts (or almonds or hazelnuts)
Coatings: dark cocoa / shredded coconut / chocolate sprinkles

Put the chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl (or double sauce pan) and place over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure bowl does not touch the water). Stir until the chocolate melts. Remove the bowl and stir in the liqueur and nuts. Cover and place in the fridge for a couple of hours or until firm enough to roll into balls. Line a tray with non stick paper, roll teaspoons of mixture into balls and place on tray. Put in freezer for about 30 minutes then roll the balls quickly to smooth the surface and roll in desired coating. Makes 36.They will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a week.

Alabama Chocolate-Pecan Jumbo Christmas Fudge Pie
Christmas With Southern Living 2003

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet
chocolate morsels, melted
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
Garnishes: vanilla ice cream, fudge topping

Combine chocolate crumbs and 1/3 cup melted butter, mixing well. Press into bottom and up sides of ungreased 9" pie plate. Bake at 350° F. for 6 to 8 minutes. Beat 1/2 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in the melted chocolate and next 4 ingredients. Pour the filling into prepared crust. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes; cool
completely on a wire rack. Garnish, if desired. Yield: 1 (9") pie.

Make this adorable light bulb Santa this year!
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/bulbsanta.html