An Education on Leftovers

1. How long before I need to refrigerate my leftovers?

Within two hours of purchase or preparation. Be extra careful about getting meat and dairy products into the fridge promptly.

2. How long can I keep refrigerated leftovers?

About three to five days.

3. How do I store leftovers?

Store in airtight, shallow (1- to 2-inch deep) containers to allow adequate circulation of cool air.

4. How long can I keep cooked lean meat and meat dishes?

Three to four days in the refrigerator and two to three months in the freezer. Raw beef can be stored for six months to a year in a freezer set below 0°F.

5. How long can I keep cooked lean poultry and poultry dishes?

Three to four days in the refrigerator and four to six months in the freezer set below 0°F. Raw poultry can be stored for nine months to a year in a freezer set below 0°F.

6. At what temperature should I keep my refrigerator?

40°F.

7. What's the best way to keep track of how long my leftovers have been in the fridge?

Label and date every container, and keep the older containers toward the front of the fridge.

8. What if I'm unsure how long my leftovers will keep?

Check them daily for signs of spoilage, such as an odd odor or color, and be on the lookout for any indication of mold.

9. Can I taste leftovers to see if they are still fresh?

If in doubt, throw it out. Never taste a questionable leftover.

10. What if my refrigerator is too full for everything?

Clean it out, getting rid of old leftover containers or questionable foods. Cold air needs to circulate to keep foods fresh.

(Source: South Beach Diet Online)

Drop In and Decorate: Holiday Cookies for Donation

NineCooks.com recommends that families and friends have a "drop in and decorate" party. Set a date and time, then have a large selection of already baked plain cookies ready to be decorated. They tell you how to get started, what supplies to have on hand, have some decorating tips and yummy recipes, while suggesting local agencies to contact who might appreciate the goodies.

Click here: http://www.ninecooks.com/hostyourown.pdf

Last Minute Christmas Decorating Ideas

Better Homes and Gardens has a wonderful slide show featuring 31 super simple Christmas decorating tips. For example:

- Houseplants and topiaries can be made to look more festive by covering the dirt with a layer of moss and then adding colorful ornaments.

- Dress up a chandelier by adding bows and ornaments to the arms. You can add bows and decorations anywhere, including the backs of chairs or newel posts.

- No fireplace? No problem! Hang stockings from stair railings, doorknobs, bookshelves, or on the backs of chairs.

Find more great ideas by clicking here!

Copyright © Charlene Davis 2006

Kids' Christmas Coloring and Decorations eBook

Kids of all ages will love this 55-page digital book filled with Christmas-themed pictures. There are Santas, snowmen, candy canes, elves, and many other delightful holiday scenes to choose from.

This book never runs out because pictures can be printed out again and again for fun at home, school, or parties! Children will not fight over who gets to color a favorite page since they can be printed in duplicate. If a page is torn or a mistake is made, no problemo - just print out another one. And print one for yourself and join in the fun! Then cut out the pictures to be used for holiday decorations.

Click here for more info!

Christmas Trees Recipe

2 16-ounce boxes confectioners' sugar
6 egg whites
3 Styrofoam cones, ranging in height from 7 to 12 inches (available at craft stores)
4 12-ounce boxes vanilla wafers or other small, flat cookies

Beat all but 1/4 cup of the sugar with the egg whites until stiff. Spread a thin layer of the frosting on a cone, then, working from the bottom up, overlap cookies, using more frosting as necessary. Repeat for the other 2 cones. Use a small sieve to dust the trees with the remaining sugar.

Note: Straight pins can be used to hold the cookies in place until the frosting dries, but don't forget to remove them.

Yield: 3 trees

NUTRITION PER SERVING:
CALORIES 126.6(32% from fat); FAT 4g (sat 1g); PROTEIN 1mg; CHOLESTEROL 4mg; CALCIUM 18.01mg; SODIUM 96mg; FIBER 1g; CARBOHYDRATE 21g; IRON 1mg

Kay Chun and Jane Kirby
Real Simple, DECEMBER 2002

Toys R Us $250.00 Contest!

I've been an affiliate for FreebieKing.com for a couple of years and I can vouch for their authenticity. They have access to some of the best freebies and contests on the Internet, plus they have a great newsletter. Click the graphic below for more information and a chance to win $250.00 from Toys R Us:

Don't forget to use a throwaway email account when entering contests and sending away for freebies. If you want more information about how to save yourself from unwanted spam when applying for online offers, see my article "Show Me the Freebies!" at The Ditzy Dog Speaks Blog.

Gifts from the Heart and Hearth

“During this holiday season, may God’s peace and joy surround you as we celebrate the birth of Christ!” (From an old Christmas card)

One of my favorite traditions during the holidays is making homemade and edible gifts for family and friends. Gifts from the hearth (a/k/a the kitchen) are also gifts from the heart, because they are always made with love. The fun and creativity continue during the packaging process as I like to use a variety of containers, such as old tins from thrift stores, boxes that have been covered in cloth or paper, baskets adorned with garland and berries, and pretty glass bowls or jars. To make them even more festive, I also decorate them with Christmas tissue paper, soft tulle, colored plastic wrap, raffia, silk flowers or fabric remnants, and glitter.

Probably the best part of this holiday tradition is giving away these goodies to unsuspecting recipients. I still remember the sweet little tears that seeped out of a homebound neighbor’s eyes when my son and I surprised her with a visit and a decorated tin of Christmas cookies.

The true essence is that we receive so much more than the folks we bestow our creative, homemade treasures on. I think this must be how God feels when he sees how much we appreciate and adore the precious Gift that He gave to us so long ago, found wrapped in swaddling clothing and lying in a manger.

To see some great ideas and recipes for homemade gifts to give to loved ones on your Christmas list, click here to read the Busy Moms Recipes Christmas newsletter.