Yummy Holidays Blog and News

Valentine’s Dessert

2012-02-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day is just around thecorner! Surprise your sweetie with a delicious homemade dessert. Put somethought behind your gift and make an organic treat that will show you careabout their health as well as making them happy on this wonderful holiday!

WhiteChocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Ingredients:

1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
3 tablespoons Raw Cane sugar
1/4 cup Heart Healthy Culinary Oil
1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries
2 tablespoons Berry Limone sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water
2 cups Ultimate White Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Raw Cane sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

In a medium bowl, mix together cookie crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, and culinary oil. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch pie pan.
In a saucepan, combine raspberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to boil, and continue boiling 5 minutes, or until sauce is thick. Strain sauce through a mesh strainer to remove seeds.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt white chocolate chips with half-and-half, stirring occasionally until smooth.
In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in vanilla and melted white chocolate. Pour half of batter over crust. Spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over batter. Pour remaining cheesecake batter into pan, and again spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over the top. Swirl batter with the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect.
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8 hours before removing from pan. Serve with remaining raspberry sauce.

Bon Appétit!

Holiday Leftovers Made Delicious

2012-01-04T16:41:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are over I’m sure you’re wondering what to do with all the leftover food…Well, wonder no more! Here is a great and delicious leftover dish that will have the family chowing down like its Christmas all over again!

Leftover Turkey Pot-Pie
(Serves about 12)

Ingredients:
•    2 cups frozen peas and carrots
•    2 cups frozen green beans
•    1 cup sliced celery
•    2/3 cup butter
•    2/3 cup chopped onion
•    1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup of amaranth flour
•    1 teaspoon garlic salt
•    1 teaspoon ground black pepper
•    1/2 teaspoon celery seed
•    1/2 teaspoon onion powder
•    1/2 teaspoon Greek seasoning
•    1 3/4 cups chicken broth
•    1 1/3 cups milk
•    4 cups chopped cooked turkey
•    4 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

Directions:
1.    Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2.    Place the peas and carrots, green beans, and celery into a saucepan; cover with water, bring to a boil, and simmer over medium-low heat until the celery is tender. Drain the vegetables in a colander set in the sink, and set aside.
3.    Melt the butter in a saucepan, and cook the onion until translucent. Stir in flour, garlic salt, black pepper, celery seed, onion powder, and Greek seasoning; slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens. Remove from heat; stir the cooked vegetables and turkey meat into the filling until well combined.
4.    Fit 2 pie crusts into the bottom of 2 9-inch pie dishes. Spoon half the filling into each pie crust, and then top each pie with another crust. Pinch and roll the top and bottom crusts together at the edge of each pie to seal, and cut several small slits into the top of the pies with a sharp knife to release steam.
5.    Bake in the preheated oven until the crusts are golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes. If the crusts are browning too quickly, cover the pies with aluminum foil after about 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Enjoy the links to help make a more organic dish!

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Happy New Holidays and New Years

2011-12-23T16:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to Everyone! Christmas is just around the corner and seeing as how much food and people will be around, you need just as much preparation! Try this snack as a light precursor to Christmas dinner.

This appetizer idea is really great and healthy. It keeps with the season and are delicious and modern takes on the boring old traditional Christmas snacks!

Want something light and healthy? We have just the recipe! We all know how hard it is trying to find a delicious appetizer without it being overly fatty, especially around the holiday season. Tha's why we're giving you a simple and delicious recipe that will make it a little easier. Try a light salad with brain-boosting nuts, and a homemade dressing to give the rest of yourself a fresh start!

Healthy Salad
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup chopped tomatoes
½ cup chopped onion
½ tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 orange or 2 clemintines, zested, then peeled and sectioned
2 cups leaf lettuce, torn
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
2 tablespoons walnut pieces

Directions:

Make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and Clementine zest.
Put the lettuce in a large salad bowl and toss with the dressing.
Sprinkle the cranberries, Clementine slices, walnuts, onion, tomatoes, and cilantro into the mix and blend well.
Sprinkle pepper to taste.

Bon Appétit!

Try it today!

And FYI one of our suppliers is having an amazing sale!! Ten percent off your entire order til December 31, 2011! Such a great deal on really amazing organic products. Don’t miss out!! www.esutras.com

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Unique Holiday Cupcakes

2011-12-20T16:16:00.000-08:00

Try this great recipe for cupcakes!! Using great Yummy Holidays products, this recipe was made by one of our staffers and is delicious. Sure to become a holiday staple!

Cream-Cheese Lavender Honey Frosted Cupcakes
with Lavender Sugar Topping

Ingredients: (For cupcakes)
•    1 cup organic cane sugar
•    ½ cup butter
•    2 eggs
•    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•    1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup Amaranth flour
•    1 ¾ teaspoons baking powder
•    ½ cup milk

Ingredients: (For frosting)
•    8 oz. cream cheese,
•    1 1/2 cup powdered sugar,
•    1/3 cup honey,
•    a few drops of food coloring,
•    1 tblspn of lavender buds, and
•    sprinkle of Lavender Finishing Sugar

Directions:
1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.
2.    In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
3.    For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cupcakes are done when it springs back to the touch.

Directions (for frosting)
1.    Mix together all ingredients except Lavender finishing sugar in a bowl. Let chill in refrigerator.

When the cupcakes are done cooling, spread the delicious homemade frosting across the top.
Sprinkle with the lavender topping sugar for a instant holiday specialty!

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Keep in Shape All Year Round

2011-12-19T16:08:00.000-08:00

Summer is gone and winter is here…but that’s no excuse to slack in the fitness department. Every spring/summer we see tons of advertisements about slimming down for bikini season, or losing those pounds you packed on during the winter and the holiday season. How about keeping your fitness regime year round?! Understandable colder weather comes with those holidays that are prone to eating fatty foods. There is a way to still have a happy and traditional family feast without gorging on greasy food.

•    Try smaller portions:

Just because it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas and there’s enough food to feed a small village, doesn’t mean you have to pile everything on your plate. If your Thanksgiving is anything like the one’s my family throws there will be tons of different varieties of food. Try to have a small amount of everything and you’ll be full before you know it. Besides there will be leftovers for weeks afterwards, whatever you didn’t get a chance to try on Thanksgiving, you’ll enjoy next week for lunch!

•    Less saturated fat:

Saturated fat has gotten a bad rep lately. And while saturated fats do have some health benefits (when combined with other healthy food like fruits and vegetables) the saturated fat I’m referring to actually refers to a category of saturated fat that includes a number of different fatty acids. Lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid all classified as saturated fats have different effects on different people, with different diets. But less of them are healthier in general for everyone. Although it is a bit harder to burn off saturated fat than most fats.

•    Diet Supplements:

No one is made the same. Different body types require different ways to lose weight or stay healthy. Some people benefit from things like diet supplements, which help decrease appetites. Try a delicious diet supplement, Cocoa Hoodia Diet Drink is the perfect blend of organic herbs that have appetite suppressing properties. Not to mention delicious organic cocoa!

•    Exercise:

There are a lot of ways to help lose weight and stay trim, but the old tried and true method of exercise is, in my opinion, the best. There are so many different ways to exercise: biking, jogging, or even going to a gym. Also, it works out many different part of your body inside and out! Any diet enhancing method should be used in addition to actual exercising.

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Super Foods Make a Super Body

2011-12-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

“A feeble body weakens the mind.” Famous Swiss philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau said that in the 1700’s and it still applies to our everyday life today. If your body is off kilter, then your mind can’t be expected to focus to the best of its ability. Your mind in the control center of your body, everything your body does is processed by your brain, so if you’re not taking proper care of your body, obviously the brain processes that. Your mind thrives on a healthy body. You ever notice after a filling and healthy breakfast in the morning you’re more alert, you’re less tired, you have more focus the rest of the day? That’s your mind complimenting your body on getting the nutrition it needs to perform at its best. Yummy Holidays has tons of great products that help your body stay strong so your mind stays lively.

•    Yummy Breakfast Sampler Pack – Date are a super food that been used for ages. They’re mentioned more than 50 times in the bible! They are an amazing natural source of fiber and can also be used to make Date nut bread which is very popular in the United States, especially around holidays. This awesome set comes with a date compote that delicious and good for you.

•   Flaxseed Meal – Another great source of fiber. This “miracle food” is high content of alpha linolenic acid a type of omega 3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Benefits of flax seed include lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) levels. The warm, earthy and subtly nutty flavor of flaxseeds makes them an increasingly popular addition to the diets of many.

•   Healthy Grain and Seed Kit – A kit for the ages! Containing 3 of our amazing seeds and grain the health benefits for these kits is astounding. ! Flax seeds contain essential omega fatty-acids and dietary fiber. Amaranth sports a complete protein (all those essential amino acids to keep your cells strong). Sesame seeds will keep your body rich in iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, and calcium plus it contains vitamins B1 and E!

Try all these “super foods” and get your mind and body in shape!

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Beat the Cold Weather Blues

2011-12-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

Walking to work this morning was the pits. I live in Chicago and today’s weather forecast was rainy, cloudy, and to top it all off wind speeds up to 50 mph…The weatherman, for once, wasn’t lying. Scarf wrapped around my face, head bowed, I trudged against the whipping gusts Chicago is notorious for. By the time I made it in, what little of my face that was exposed was numb, and chapped. My hands were frozen, incapable of movement. My fall jacket was seriously being considered replaced by a much bulkier version with layers underneath. The words of the Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” aptly applied to my sentiments about Chicago’s weather…we’re not in summer anymore.

A part of me was sad with this discovery, but a part of me was excited. Cold weather is a hassle to deal with, but some really fun things happen in winter. Sledding, snowball fights, relaxing after a hard day out with a delicious and hot tea. The hot drinks eSutras Organics has to offer are just what I needed after battling the north wind. My favorites? Energize Tea really hits the spot after a tiring day of work and errands. This hot drink gives you a boost of energy, without the crash and burn afterwards. It’s ideal for giving you that extra perk at the end of a long day.

Sometimes, though, after a long day you don’t want that extra burst of energy. You want to just relax, with a great book, and a soothing tea. Easy Sleep Tea is great for relaxing right before you drift off into a warm, comfortable sleep. It contains such things as blue lotus, Damiana, and lots of other herbs especially combined to provide an aromatically relaxing atmosphere.

Not everyone is a tea person, though, and I've got you covered! Choose from an array of delicious cocoa drinks! Drinking Cocoa Mix is one of the best hot chocolate drinks I’ve tasted. It contains delicious and healthy organic cocoa as well as a medley of spices that make this hot cocoa more than ordinary.

Don’t miss out! Give them all a try a beat the winter blues!

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Eco-Friendly Christmas Decorations

2011-12-13T14:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas Recycled

Tree

If you want a real tree, purchase from a small-scale sustainable grower and make sure you choose a tree with roots so it can be replanted. If you can’t replant, recycle the tree. Most towns offer Christmas tree recycling, so check with you district.
Another alternative is to use found dead twigs that you can decorate - a few branches gold painted or splashed with white paint will give it a snowed on look. Also, decorate with bows and painted eggs as ornaments.

Pine Cone Decorations

Dip in melted candle wax: beeswax or natural-based candles. Cones can also be painted by hand by using a gold paint or splatter them with white paint to create a frosted appearance, tie a beautiful ribbon around the top and hang your beautiful decoration from the tree.

Ornaments

Use eggs, cut out stars, cut out suns and other shapes, to make stars ornaments. Draw a simple shape, and use this as a silhouette to trace around. Cut the shape out of cardboard and paint, wrap in foil or re-use gift wrap. Don’t forget about the oldest and most reliable ornament: Paper cut into snowflakes!

Bows

Make bows out of old material, ribbon, anything. Old dresses or shiny skirts that would make lovely bows. Old curtains, leftovers at fabric shops, thrift stores finds, all of these items would make perfect bows!

This can also be used as a fun project for the whole family to do!!

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A Delicious Treat for the Holidays

2011-12-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

A great seasonal recipe is one for Pralines! Pralines is a dish originated in France at the Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte by the cook of the 17th-century sugar industrialist Marshal du Plessis-Praslin. Early pralines were whole almonds individually coated in caramelized sugar, as opposed to dark nougat, where a sheet of caramelized sugar covers many nuts. French settlers brought this recipe to Louisiana, where both sugar cane and pecan trees were plentiful. During the 19th century, New Orleans chefs substituted pecans for almonds, added cream to thicken the confection, and thus created what became known throughout the American South as the praline. Here is a delicious recipe sure to make the people of France proud!

American Praline
(Serves about 2 dozen)

Ingredients:
•    1 1/4 cup organic sugar
•    3/4 cup brown sugar
•    2 cups pecan halves
•    3/4 cup light cream
•    2 Tbsp unsalted butter
•    Pinch of salt
•    1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•    1 teaspoon brandy or vanilla (optional)

Directions:
1.    Preheat oven to 300 F. Place pecan halves on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast for 10 minutes, turning once. Let cool.
2.    Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Mix together organic and brown sugar and baking soda in a 3-quart saucepan. Stir in light cream and place over medium to medium-high heat. Cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture reaches 235°F on a candy thermometer (about 25 minutes). Slight foaming and occasional bubbling in the mixture are normal at this stage.
3.    As soon as the temperature reaches 235 F, add the butter and stir until the butter is fully melted and the mixture is well combined (about 1 minute).
4.    Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the brandy and pecans until well coated. Continue stirring to cool slightly (about 1-2 minutes). Quickly drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Let cool completely.
5.    Store in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.

The whole family can snack on this delicious and easy to make treat!

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Spice Up Your New Years

2011-12-08T13:47:00.000-08:00

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the New Year? Resolutions, a huge holiday bash, confetti, watching the clock tick down until the last second, pointy party hats and noisemakers, screaming “HAPPY NEW YEARS!” surrounded by family and friends. All of these things are the essence of New Years. It’s the happiness of celebrating another years passing and a bright and shiny new one. Make your holiday more special with this seasonal New Years drink…it can even be enjoyed all winter long!

Hot Buttered-Rum
(Servings 20)

•    10 tblspns of butter
•    1 ¼ cup of brown sugar
•    ¾ cup organic sugar
•    (15.5 fluid ounce) dark Jamaican rum
•    2 1/2 cups crème brulee flavored ice cream
•    2 tblspns of ground cinnamon
•    20 cup simmering water
•    2 tblspns of ground nutmeg

1.    Combine butter, brown sugar, and organic sugar in a large punch bowl; stir the mixture together with a spoon until well combined.
2.    Pour in the rum, add the ice cream and cinnamon, and fill the remainder of the bowl with simmering water.
3.    Mix with the spoon until the ice cream and butter have melted together to make a creamy topping.
4.    Top bowl of mixture with your ice cream and butter mixture.
5.    Sprinkle nutmeg across the top, and serve.

Everyone will enjoy this delicious hot drink and the party will be lots more festive!
Try to include as many organic ingredients as you can to make this treat a bit healthier!

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Helping Kids Love Fiber

2011-12-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

More fiber, please! A great way to get fiber in your diet is through flax! Flaxseed, although good for you, isn’t the best tasting dietary food. Growing children need a certain daily amount of fiber in their diets and are not getting the proper serving. Found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes fiber is probably best known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation. But fiber can provide other health benefits as well, such as lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Here is a great recipe kids will love and it will help their diet!

Blueberry Flax Smoothie

Ingredients:
•    6 ice cubes
•    ½ cup fresh blueberries
•    2 teaspoons organic agave nectar
•    1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
•    1 cup cold water
•    1 scoop vanilla protein powder
•    1 teaspoon cinnamon
•    ¼ banana
•    ½ tablespoon flaxseed oil

Directions:
1.    Blend and serve!!

Kids will absolutely adore this delicious drink and parents can rest easy knowing their kids are getting all the nutrients they need to grow big and strong!

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Recylcing Your Holiday Feast

2011-11-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day! All the tips and Thanksgiving Day ideas posted here were pretty special, and I hope everyone was able to take at least one idea and put it to use to help make your turkey day even more special than it already was! The holiday is over, but the holiday season is still in full swing! Think how fast Thanksgiving came and went, the next great holiday will do the same and it’s best to be prepared! One tradition I’ve always loved is putting milk and cookies out for Santa. It keeps the holiday spirit alive even though it is a little dated. Here is a classic and simple recipe for Christmas tree shaped cookies. Santa and the entire family are sure to love them!

Christmas Tree Shaped Cookies
(Serves about 50 cookies)

Ingredients:

•    1 1/2 cups sugar
•    1 cup butter, softened
•    1 egg
•    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•    1/2 teaspoon almond extract
•    1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup amaranth flour
•    1 teaspoon baking soda
•    1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions:

1.    Mix sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Stir in flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
2.    Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Divide dough into halves. On lightly floured cloth-covered board, roll each half out to 3/16 inch thick.
3.    On lightly floured cloth-covered board, cut into Christmas shapes.
4.    Bake on parchment lined baking sheets for 7 to 8 minutes. Let cool on wire racks and decorate as desired.

Bon Appétit!

This recipe is sure to keep the time honored tradition of leaving cookies for Santa alive, plus the whole family will enjoy this delicious treat!

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A Different Kind of Dessert

2011-11-17T13:08:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows and loves the traditional deserts at Thanksgiving time: pies, cakes, cobblers, cheesecakes, cupcakes…The list goes on and on. While these are delicious they can sometimes be not that good for you…especially in as large amounts as Thanksgiving usually warrant. While some cakes and other desserts can be made organically, with natural ingredients, to cut down on the high sugar or cholesterol content, it still isn’t so healthy for younger children in such quantity and variety. Today we’re featuring a recipe that can be a great and healthy alternative to a sugary confection. Enjoy!

Fruit Pizza
(Serves about 8)

Ingredients:

    8 large tortillas
    1/2 cup vegan vanilla yogurt
    3 large strawberries
    One banana
    1 cup cantaloupe
    1 cup pineapple
    2 apricots
    2 kiwis
    1 orange (2 clemintines)

Directions:
1.    Chop all fruit into smaller pieces. Mix together in large serving bowl.
2.    Spread the yogurt over the tortilla, enough to make fruit stick.
3.    Next arrange the fruit on the tortilla, using more yogurts for paste if needed.
4.    Bon Appétit!

Note: Spice up the plain fruit with some delicious organic sugars! Sprinkle Tropical, Berry Limón, and Spicy Rose sugars. There are all delicious and much better for you than most processed sugars. Don’t have a sweet tooth? Give it a twist Citrus Salt or Green Tea Mint Salt!

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Fun Kid Friendly Ideas For Thanksgiving

2011-11-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is a time to get together with your family and friends and reflect on all the things you should be grateful for. When I was a kid it was tradition to go around the table before our meal and say one thing you’re grateful for. Even as a kid I felt very humbled and special to participate in this tradition. Kids are a big part of this holiday. They may be separated from the “adult” table during dinner, but all the festivities make life-time memories for kids. That’s why it’s important to help make them involved and entertained during this special time. Here are some helpful tips on keeping kids entertained before dinner starts!

• Thanksgiving Crafts: Don’t just plop kids in front of the television, it’s doesn’t stimulate their minds to watch a television show they could have watched any other day of the year. Try some different crafts! Have each child make a special Thanksgiving themed picture on a card and use each mini-masterpiece as a place card for your dinner guests. Have each guest take home their name card for a special and simple holiday gift.

Materials:
•    Nontoxic ink pad
•    Blank place cards
•    Markers
Directions:
1.    Press a thumb into the inkpad and then on paper to print a turkey's body. Use the same technique with fingertips to create a head and feathers.
2.    Use markers to add a beak, wattle and feet.
3.    Complete the cards by writing in guests' names.

•    Read them a story: Kids love stories. If you’re not too busy look up the tale of the first Thanksgiving, or other stories related to Thanksgiving. Gather everyone up and have a special (and quiet!) story time reading session. Its simple and it might even encourage the children present to pick up a book and start reading more themselves!

1.    The First Thanksgiving by Nora Smith
2.    A Thanksgiving Dinner That Flew Away by H. Butterworth
3.    How Indian Corn Came Into the World by Henry R. Schoolcraft (adapted) An Ojibbeway Legend
4.    The Horn of Plenty by Ovid

These ideas should help keep kids occupied and active until the food is ready! And it’s a creative way to create great holiday memories!

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Recycle Those Leftover Pumpkins

2011-11-10T12:50:00.000-08:00

One of the most common flavors associated with Thanksgiving is pumpkin. Not only is the flavor affiliated with the season, the fruit is also in season around the same time as Thanksgiving. Prime planting season for this gourd is in July. Although it isn’t 100% accurate where pumpkins originated, many believe they originated in North America. The oldest documentation of a discovery of a pumpkin was in Mexico between 7000 and 5500 BC. Here is a recipe celebrating this delicious food!

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

(serves about 18)

Ingredients:
•    2 tsp of vanilla extract
•    3/4 cup of vegetable oil
•    2 cups all-purpose flour
•    1 cup milk
•    2 teaspoons of baking powder
•    15 oz of pumpkin puree
•    3 eggs, beaten
•    1/2 cup white sugar
•    1/4 cup packed brown sugar
•    1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•    1/2 cup sugar
•    3 tablespoons butter, softened
•    1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil one 9x13 inch pan.
2.    Combine vanilla extract, vegetable oil, flour, baking powder, 1 egg and 1/2 cup melted butter. (Reserve 1 cup of mixture for later in the recipe!) Mix well, and then pat into prepared pan.
3.    In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, milk, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Pour over crust.
4.    In a small bowl, combine reserved mixture, 1/2 cup sugar, and 3 tablespoons softened butter. Crumble over pumpkin filling. Sprinkle nuts evenly over the top, if desired.
5.    Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

This recipe is great for recycling your pumpkins leftover from Halloween, too!! Add special pumpkin seasoning offered on the site to give it that extra kick!!

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Bon Appétit!

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New Year's Party Tips

2011-11-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

One of the most fun holidays is New Year’s…well New Year’s Eve to be exact. Everyone is in a terrific mood celebrating the start of a new and positive year. Everyone looks their best, glitter and confetti cover every square inch of celebrations, noise-makers are constantly being blown, and it’s not even annoying! It’s festive! Resolutions are made to live better lives; plans are made to either watch the classic ball drop at home cozied up on the couch or in the middle of a screaming and cheering crowd. It’s an all around great time, bringing so many people together regardless of age, race or religion. For those of you who want to make your New Year’s that much more memorable by throwing an awesome bash here are some tips to help your party kick off without a hitch!

•    Table Decorations – If you’re serving appetizers at you shindig setting up an easy, yet elegant
serving table is a must! A white nice table cloth with confetti strewn on top adds a festive touch without too much preparation. Leave little presents and New Years paraphernalia, like noise makers, scattered on the table to make the party more interactive!

•    Streamers and Balloons – You don’t have to spend lots of money to create interactive decorations. Pick a color theme and match your streamers and balloons to it. This way you get a more structured and elegant look to your party. Bonus: Get lots of balloons, pour some confetti into each of them, fill them with helium and let them pile up on your ceilings. Have your guests pop up the balloons as the clock strikes 12 at midnight to create a shower of celebration!

•    Lighting – Although candles are very in this season, and provide a nice ambiance, real fire is dangerous to have around dancing people and showers of confetti. Try to find electric candles, they’re safe to have around and recreates the exact same lighting a real candle would. Keep the dancing area dim with these, but make sure you have a well lit area to encourage mingling.

•    Food – Stick to small easily eatable appetizers. Buy larger chips so you can set up a platter with the dips already on the chip. This cuts back on germs spread by double dipping. Use a bean dip or something with a lower viscosity so as not to make the chips soggy. Other good ideas; smoked cheesy popcorn a modern twist on regular popcorn, or even try grapes! New Year's revelers in Spain consume twelve grapes at midnight—one grape for each stroke of the clock. This dates back to 1909, when grape growers in the Alicante region of Spain initiated the practice to take care of a grape surplus. Start a fun and healthy tradition!

All of these ideas are sure to make staying up until midnight hassle free and fun!

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Celebrating all Holidays

2011-11-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

There are a various amount of holidays. Everyone knows about the traditional ones: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. But those aren’t the only ones. The religion of Judaism celebrates a traditional holiday called Hanukkah sometime around the same time Christians celebrate Christmas. This Jewish holiday is celebrated for eight days and nights. It commemorates the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E. This year it will be celebrated December 21, 2011 until December 28, 2011. One of the many traditional foods commonly eaten on this holy day is a latke, a pancake like food, usually made out of potatoes. Today’s recipe will be the latke, but with a modern and delicious spin.

Vegetable and Feta Latkes
(Serves about 6)

Ingredients:
•    2 1/2 cups grated zucchini
•    1 cup peeled and shredded potatoes
•    1 cup shredded carrots
•    1/2 teaspoon salt
•    3 eggs, lightly beaten
•    freshly ground black pepper
•    3/4 cup matzo meal
•    1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
•    1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
•    1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions:
1.    Place the zucchini, potato and carrots in a colander, place paper towels over the top and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. Sprinkle salt over the vegetables and let them drain for 15 minutes. Squeeze vegetable again in paper towels.
2.    In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, vegetables, salt and pepper. Mix well. Stir in matzo meal or flour, parsley and feta.
3.    Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Place vegetable mixture, formed into pancake sized cakes in hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides. (Cook two to three minutes per side). Add more oil as needed to keep cakes frying up well. Drain fried latkes on paper towels.
Don't forget to check out the many different organic culinary ingredients on the site! You can substitute some of the ingredients to make your traditional meal organic and healthy, too!

Bon Appétit!

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Making Thanksgiving a Little Less Hectic

2011-11-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving is an amazing holiday about being thankful and connecting with family. It's a shared meal that bonds people together over the universal feeling of breaking bread and creating comradery. It's also, essentially, a really big celebration to plan. For most people Thanksgiving consists of watching football and then devouring the delicious 5-course meal, magically placed in front of you at 5 o'clock.For the chef and hosts of your family's delicious Thanksgiving dinner, it's a long, complicated process of remembering every ingredient, picking the perfect sides and main course, cooking everything to perfection! It's also deciding where everyone will sit, making sure everyone is entertained, everything is spotless, and everyone is getting along. It's an arduous task and shouldn't be taken on without a few helpful tips that are sure to make your Thanksgiving bash run smoothly!

Tips:

Read over each recipe and then make your grocery list. Write out the menu and a shopping list.
Make sure you have all the kitchen equipment you will need, especially a large roasting pan if you are roasting the turkey. A meat thermometer comes in very handy as well.
Decide whether you want help you, either by guests bringing parts of the meal (wine, dessert, appetizers, and side dishes) or by coming early to help in the kitchen. Make sure everyone knows what they are bringing and what, if any, serving dishes and utensils you’ll need to serve.
Clean out the refrigerator to make room for the Thanksgiving dinner groceries and prepared dishes. It’s a hard task, but it must be done. You’ll thank yourself later when you need space to store leftovers!
Do your non-perishables shopping now. Buy all the ingredients listed for your Thanksgiving dinner recipes.
Wait until the day before Thanksgiving to buy salad greens, fresh breads, or seafood.
A few days before Thanksgiving, iron table linens, designate serving platters, and make sure your glassware and silverware is clean. Also write up a seating chart so conversation flows the entire meal.
Clean your house. The most important areas are the kitchen and bathrooms the guests will be using.
Unless your dinner is sans children up with a plan to keep kids entertained. Purchase new and fun games and serve some food that’s kid friendly.
Also, don't forget to set the mood with cheerful holiday tunes!

With these tips your Thanksgiving is sure to run smooth and hassle free!

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Appetizers You'll Love

2011-11-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had an amazing Halloween! Now that one great holiday is over it’s time to soldier on to the next! Thanksgiving is just around the corner and seeing as how much food and people will be around, you need just as much preparation! Feeding everyone and keeping it modern and delicious is a daunting task for any kitchen aficionado, but with a little help, pulling off a perfect and memorable dinner is completely doable. Today’s focus will be on appetizers. Just little snacks before dinner that will keep everyone’s stomach from rumbling and not spoil their appetite for the huge dinner you’ve slaved over! These appetizer ideas are really great. They keep with the season and are delicious and modern takes on the boring old traditional Thanksgiving snacks!

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

1 cup thawed, chopped frozen spinach
11/2 cups thawed, chopped frozen artichoke hearts
6 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

Boil spinach and artichokes in 1 cup of water until tender and drain. Discard liquid. Heat cream cheese in microwave for 1 minute or until hot and soft. Stir in rest of ingredients and serve hot.

Mini Bacon Quiche

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. Bisquick baking mix
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 tbsp. boiling water
6 slices bacon, crisply fried and crumbled
1/2 c. half & half
1 egg
2 tbsp. thinly sliced green onion
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 c. shredded Swiss cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Generously grease 24 small muffin cups, 1 3/4 x 1 inch.
Mix baking mix and butter. Add boiling water; stir vigorously until soft dough forms. Press rounded teaspoonful of dough on bottom and side of each muffin cup. Divide bacon evenly among muffin cups. Beat half & half and egg; stir in onion, salt and cayenne pepper. Spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons into each muffin cup; sprinkle cheese over tops. Bake until edges are golden brown and centers are set, about 20 minutes.

These are only a couple of the amazing appetizers you can serve. Try them today! Don't forget to check out our site to substitute all ingredients used in these recipes for their organic counterpart! It'll be healthier AND more delicious!

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Healthy Halloween Recipe

2011-10-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! Halloween is one of the best holidays. Full of fun, great costumes, amazing fall weather...There’s nothing like it! One thing the day is notorious for is candy. Still growing children dress in spooky costumes and “scare” countless adults into giving them candy. Candy is great, the novelty sure is fun…but it’s not very good for you in large amounts. Sure having a couple pieces for the season won’t hurt, but eating in humungous amounts, such as what children will do on Halloween, is simply terrible for your body. That’s why it’s good idea to have an alternative to just candy. Kids will love any kind of treat if you stick with the holiday theme. Here’s a great recipe to have for a kid’s Halloween party that won’t result in stomach aches the next day!

Pumpkin Cookies

(Serves about 60 cookies)

These cookies are a great choice for dessert during your Halloween gatherings. A tasty alternative to processed Halloween candy.

Ingredients:

1 cup sesame seed oil
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups flour, 1 cup amaranth flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. salt
2 cups of pureed solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
3 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat the oil and sugar in mixing bowl. Add eggs, beating well. Sift the flour, the baking powder, the baking soda, the spices, and the salt together. Add to sugar mixture alternately with the pumpkin, beating well after each addition. Fold in the chocolate chips, the walnuts, and the vanilla.

2. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto oiled cookie sheets. Bake in 350°F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Check out our website for organic substitutes for most of the ingredients in this recipe!

Bon Appetit!

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Holiday Decorations Made Easy and Organic

2011-10-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

Decorations may be my second favorite part of the holiday season (the great food is the first!). Halloween decorations are so much fun to put up. You can put so much creativity into making your home into the perfect haunted house. Cobwebs covering your ceiling, ghouls perching in dark corners, all of these things make Halloween so exciting and fun to decorate. The only down side? Halloween is over after October 31st! Once the date passes, it becomes a decorating faux pas to have a witch riding her broom plastered across your window. Cob webs go from spooky and fun to just plain spooky! Halloween decorations are simply garish after the holiday has passed. That's why I'm offering a few tips to keeps your home seasonally decorated without keeping horrible left-over Halloween decorations.

Pumpkin Centerpiece:
Don't get rid of those pumpkins you bought for Halloween just yet! You can make beautiful holiday centerpieces for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Follow these simple directions and you can have an awesome centerpiece that's perfect fort he holiday season:
1. Cut small pieces of berry bush and other seasonal flowers (sunflowers, roses, oak leaves, eucalyptus etc.)

2. Cut a round hole at top of pumpkin with a pumpkin cutting knife.

3. Cut foam to fit inside opening in pumpkin and glue in place.

4. Cut flowers into shorter stems, and glue some on each side of arrangement.

5. Insert flowers in the center of arrangement, at different heights.

Just a little creativity and glue and you have a decoration that will last, plus you're recycling. Make sure you spray the centerpiece with an organic oil to preserve the pumpkin so it doesn't wither with time.

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Wreaths:

Nothing says Thanksgiving like a lovely wreath hanging on your door. And if you pick one that's parallel with the season's colors you can leave it up for months at a time! Here's one of my favorites:

Indian Corn Fall Wreath

Just gather and glue red silk leaves and miniature Indian corn (husks included) to a pre-made twig wreath and you have a simple and organic decoration for your home!

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Delicious Holiday Recipe

2011-10-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

One Thanksgiving holiday staple is stuffing. I've been to many Thanksgiving dinners (friends, extended family, in-laws) and one thing that everyone has is stuffing. One thing I've definitely noticed is everyone does it their own special way. Stuffings I've realized are like snowflakes: No two are exactly alike. Whether it's smothered in a homemade gravy or topped with sweet cranberry sauce they're all delicious to me! But one that especially struck me as unique and great tasting was one memorable Thanksgiving, when staying with friends, their parents presented us with an oyster stuffing that was simply amazing. Its close on the top 10 of my favorite holiday foods and I want to share this wonderful concoction with everyone, so they can try it this upcoming turkey day!

Oyster Stuffing

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, minced
2 stalks celery, minced
2 (6 ounce) packages bread stuffing mix
1 pint shucked oysters
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon seasoning
2 1/2 cups hot water

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir the onion and celery until the onion is translucent. (about 5 minutes) Transfer the vegetables into a large bowl. Mix in the stuffing mix, oysters, melted butter, and seasoning; pour in hot water to desired moistness. If used for stuffing a turkey, stuffing will need less moisture.
Simple and delicious! It only takes a few minutes of preparation time, and you'll have the tastiest stuffing yet!
Bon appetit!

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Thoughtful Gift Ideas

2011-10-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

The holidays are fast approaching. Some may say we still have a while before the holiday season is here, but just think..Halloween is one week away! And while Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't quite that close they're still looming figures. Personally, I think it's never to early to start searching for that perfect gift for a loved one. It's a strain to do last minute shopping, besides a well thought out gift from the heart trumps a last minute scrambled for gift any day. Here are a few unique and thoughtful ideas that will be sure to put a smile on the face of your loved one.

Mom and Dad:
Notoriously the hardest people to shop for. Their tastes haven't changed in the last ten years, and chances are your gifts for them haven't either! Dad has 20 ties he hasn't worn and Mom has a dusty collection of perfumes she's never even opened! Try to get them something tasteful and useful! For dad how about a New York Times Frontpage Keepsake, get one from the day he was born or the day his favorite sports team won a championship game, it'll be special and something he'll cherish years to come. For mom how about a some specialty kitchenware. It'll decorate the kitchen, and offer awesome storage to make the kitchen that much more tidier.
http://www.gifts.com/search/product/NYT-Keepsake-Front-Page-Reprint?ideaID=11102&prodID=231050
http://www.yummyholidays.com/10-gifts-and-accessories

Brothers and Sisters:
Since you're close to the same age, it should be a bit easier to know what they'd like. My brothers happen to be huge football fanatics. I've learned to love the game simply by watching their enthusiasm for it. For your brothers a personalized sports jersey would be just the thing! For your sis how about a spa retreat? Take some of the stress out of her work-a-day life. You could even go together and have a great time bonding!
http://www.heartlandspa.com/
http://www.personalizationmall.com/Personalized-Sports-Gifts-s28.store

It's not hard to think of a special gift to really please someone. Just devote a little time and effort and your holiday will be filled with joy!

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Hot Drinks Help Cold Weather

2011-10-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

There are always good and bad things about the seasons changing. For instance when the season changed to summer I was psyched! Hot weather, tons of outdoor concerts, biking near lake Michigan, and my favorite holiday...my birthday! My enthusiasm slowly, but surely, turned to annoyance when it rained most of the summer, putting humidity at the top of my "Enemies" list, warmer weather brings out more people which means more cars which means nix to nil on safe biking. My birthday did turn out wonderful, if a little sweaty.

Same rules apply with this upcoming winter season. The changes that overload my brain tend to be huge piles of snow, horrible wind gusts, back-breaking shoveling..all things I abhor! But there is a silver lining to the season big piles of snow can equal amazing sledding and snow angels galore. Shoveling can easily lead to an exhilarating snow-ball fight, and horrible gusts of wind? Well, I'm not sure what's great about those! But one thing I am sure of is that another perk of cold weather is the delicious hot drinks you wouldn't be able to absolutely enjoy if it were hot out. Here are a couple of unique teas and hot cocoas I flock to when the weather outside is frightful!

eSutras Organics Sleep Easy Tea, a great tea for relaxing after a cold day out.
http://www.esutras.com/index.php/eSutras/On-Clearance-and-Sale/7738-eSutras-Easy-Sleep-Tea.html

Green Mountain Coffee's Fair Trade Organic Hot Cocoa, a delicious taste, but it's good for you! Very fresh and tasty. Throw a couple marshmallow in and you're set for the rest of the winter!
http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com/Accessories/Fair-Trade-Organic-Hot-Cocoa

I'm personally a big fan of green tea over most other teas, there is just something refreshing about them. These are some of the best I've tasted. Fresh ingredients, organic, and unique!
http://www.numitea.com/products/loose-leaf-tea/

Remember, even though the seasons change there are always good things that come with the bad....plus it'll be whatever season you want it to be before you know it!

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Halloween Recycling!

2011-10-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

Halloween comes around once a year. That may not seem very often, but think about this: Most people spend an average of 20-50 dollars every year on a costume...a costume they're only going to wear once! Nobody wants to be Frankenstein 3 years in a row! The whole fun of Halloween is the different outrageous costumes that scare you. You can still have a scary and unique costume, but you won't have to spend tons off money every year. You can use everyday household items for your costume AND some scary make-up. The possibilities are endless. Here are a few of my favorite tips and ideas:

Modern Art:
I love art. Museums are a staple and I think the idea of grabbing a sheet and painting your own rendition on a famous modern art painting is clever and hassle-free. Stick to something by Jackson Pollock or a Mondrian painting because they are very easy to recreate without being a proper artist.

An Animal:
Lot's of household thing can be used to recreate different animals. Case in point: A broken umbrella. I bet you never notice how similar the top of an umbrella is to bat wings! Instead of throwing that old umbrella in the trash simple cut out portions, wear all black, and viola! You're a spooky bat!

Left Overs:
This one is easy and a great conversations starter! All you need is aluminum foil or saran wrap. Just wrap yourself up, grab a tupperware lid and tell everyone you're Monday night's leftover meatloaf!

Anyone who really loves Halloween knows it takes more than just a body costume to put together the perfect look. You need make-up. Whether is fake blood dripping from your vampire fangs, or caked on zombie make-up, you can mix up a few organic things at home and have chemical free make-up for your costume!

For stunning red lips try mixing:
¼ cup beeswax
¼ cup castor oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
Sesame-Seed-Oil-Organic-Extra-Virgin

It makes for an amazing and organic lipstick. Plus it has sesame seed oil in it which is a very
nourishing oil for dry lips!

You can also make edible goop! It can be used as warts on witches
or scars on zombies! Mix together these ingredients:
1 oz. gelatin, add 2 tablespoons boiling water and stir, let sit for 3 minutes. Gelatin doesn't
always smell so good to children so try adding a couple drops of essential oil to the mix for a
naturally great smell.

I've added a couple links to an awesome site where you can get a few of the organic products mentioned, too! Hope these tips help save everyone money and have unique Halloween costumes for years to come!

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Make Thanksgiving Even more Memorable!

2011-10-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

What's your favorite Thanksgiving Day dish? Mine would have to be, without a doubt, mashed potatoes! But for as much as I love those creamy potatoes, I do get a little bored with them. Year after year I get deja vu whenever I take a bite of my mom's secret recipe. I love my mom's cooking, but I've always been one to mix it up a little with change. That's why I'm recommending to you (and my mom!) a new twist on potatoes. It's sure to be a new Thanksgiving Day staple!

Garlic Hasselback Potatoes with Herbed Sour Cream
(Serves about 4, but you can adjust the recipe accordingly to provide for a bigger family!)
Ingredients:
16 ounces red new potatoes
3 to 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Using a wooden spoon as a cradle, place each potato in the spoon and make several parallel slits into each potato top making sure not to slice completely through.
Place 3 garlic slices between slits at the crown of each potato.
Toss in a medium bowl with butter and olive oil.
Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
Bake until tops are crispy and potatoes are cooked through, about 1 hour.
Transfer to a platter and top with Herbed Sour Cream.

Herbed Sour Ceam Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Direction:
Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Season, to taste, and refrigerate until use.

Bon Appetit!

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Giving Cleaning a Whole New Meaning!

2011-10-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Trees are beautiful in autumn. Colors you can only imagine sprout from trees. The world decorates itself in preparation for the coming holidays. The downside to the beauty? The debris. As quickly as the leaves come, they just as quickly fall off. With the weather changing so quickly, lots of natural debris from the environment get strewn everywhere. But I say "why make it a hassle?" You can make it fun, all the while cleaning your environment!

Also, the exercise you get from being out in the brisk fall weather is unbeatable! A simple idea: Grab a holiday-themed bag (I say Halloween!) and make a day of gathering the tons of leaves that have already fallen. You can even gather the entire family and make a memory of it! Kids would love a chance to play around in nature. Time will fly and before you know you'll have a spotless yard. I recommend an orange garbage bag with a jack'o lantern design on it, they're sold at most retail stores. You can also search the web for them, if unable to find them in your neighborhood.

Fill those bags full of autumn's finest and you'll have a new, cheap holiday decoration! Not to mention, you're recycling! You're putting old things that would have lain scattered is a hazardous mess to awesome use. When the leaves get too old, and the life-sized "jack o' lanterns" are a bit droopy, just properly dispose of them (landfills or even a compost heaps would be ideal) and get ready to have another day of autumn fun! Re-use the bags for another romp around the yard with the family gathering more leaves! The possibilities are numerous!

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Spooky Halloween cookies, with a healthy twist!

2011-10-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

Halloween is usually associated with beautiful autumn weather, scary costumes... and unfortunately binging on unhealthy treats. I really love Halloween, and want to give this notion a new spin. You can still have delicious and festive treats, but without all the processed sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or the belly aches that follow! Here's a recipes that your whole family will love..not to mention perfect for a spooky holiday like Halloween. It will make a great conversation starter when you serve it at parties, too!
Witch's Fingers
(Serves about 60 cookies)

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup Organic Cane sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour, 2/3 cup Amaranth flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup whole almonds
1 (.75 ounce) tube red decorating gel
2 tablespoons Organic cooking oil

Directions:

Combine the butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat together with a mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder, and salt, continually beating; refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly oil baking sheets.
Remove dough from refrigerator in small amounts. Scoop 1 heaping teaspoon at a time onto a piece of waxed paper. Use the waxed paper to roll the dough into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give the appearance of a long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near the tip and near the center of each to give the impression of fingers.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes.
Remove the almond from the end of each cookie, squeeze a small amount of decorating gel onto the tip, replace the almond to cause the gel to ooze out around the tip of the cookie.
Let cookies cool for about 10 mins.

Bon appetit!!

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Enjoy the Warm Weather

2011-10-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

October is a wonderful month. It can be warm, cold, rainy, or dry. In the midwest, the trees are changing color. Bright reds, golds and oranges mixing with greens and browns. We hope you are enjoying the warm weather. While you are here, buy some relaxing teas or hot cocoa to enjoy.

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The World's Best Banana (Chocolate Chip) Muffins

2011-10-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

We here at Yummy Holidays can vouch for this recipe's claim as best in the world; we all tried it today at our Holiday party. And it's totally vegan! Courtesy of Sara K. Fay :

1 1/2 cups of overripe bananas (4 bananas should do the trick), mashed
1/3 cup soy milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups flour
1/3 cup eSutras Dark Agave Nectar (we substituted half of this amount with Date syrup - Yum! You can also try maple syrup.)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Organics Vegan Chocolate Morsels (add more if you like)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mash bananas and add wet ingredients. Mix dry ingredients separately; add to wet mix. Add chocolate morsels. Don't over-mix; leave it nice and clumpy, especially when dealing with the bananas. Bake for 20 minutes (or until you check that it's cooked all the way through).

Enjoy! Easy & delicious.