You’ll be slaving over a hot stove for hours, preparing a feast fit for kings this Christmas. From the turkey to the desserts, you put love into every recipe, and your family digs in with gusto. Why not add some festive touches to the table as well, and make the presentation as breathtaking as the dishes you’ll be serving? It doesn’t take much time or money to transform your table from humbug to very merry.
Choosing a Theme The easiest way to coordinate your decor is to choose a theme. Your theme can be as specific as a single Christmas carol, or as broad as a certain style or colors. For example, you could choose “Jingle Bells” as your theme, making the centerpiece a miniature one-horse open sleigh, and attaching bells to everything that doesn’t voluntarily move. Or, choose a “Country Christmas” theme and add lots of country touches to your table, like felt cut-outs and cross-stitched napkins.
If you’re planning on selecting colors for your table, stick with one main color and a maximum of two accent colors. Holiday colors of green, red, and white look very festive, or accent with silver or gold for a more elegant touch. Blue and white work nicely together for a winter theme.
Table Coverings You may have your great-great-grandmother’s handmade lace tablecloth stowed away, ready to use for your Christmas dinner. There’s nothing wrong with this, of course coach purses outlet , but if spillage and possible staining are a major worry for you, save the lace for accenting your decorative holiday displays instead and pick up some inexpensive cotton or other fabric to cover your table with, or use clean sheets in various colors. You can even use two contrasting colors of fabric, and use the second, smaller piece to hang at an angle over the larger one. Christmas prints are cute and charming, but try to steer clear of anything too busy or bright, as the fabric will overshadow any other accents you add.
For a children’s table, cover the surface with butcher paper or inverted wrapping paper and provide crayons at each setting. Christmas crackers are also great fun for kids, and look cute sitting on each dinner plate.
Centerpieces Centerpieces can be as simple as a small grouping of different sized candles. You needn’t go overboard and spend hundreds of dollars on fresh flowers and a beautiful decorator’s vase to hold them in. Potted Poinsettias make a pretty centerpiece, as do small baskets filled with pine sprigs and pinecones, or clear glass bowls full of bright Christmas tree balls.
Keeping your chosen theme in mind, choose a centerpiece that will stand out among your dishes of food, and become a conversation piece for guests. If you plan to use lit candles, never leave them unattended cheap coach purses outlet , and choose unscented candles wherever possible.
Napkins You don’t have to limit yourself to simple linen napkins, although these work perfectly well. Use facecloths, small hand towels, or handkerchiefs instead if you prefer. Roll your napkins and fold the roll in half, securing with a pretty bow, or fold them origami style into an interesting shape.
Napkin rings can be made from pipe cleaners, mini wreaths, licorice strings, ribbons, artificial flower stems, or anything else you can think of that will look festive and do the job. Tie bells, small ornaments, pinecones, silk flowers, or even small toys onto each napkin ring for added decoration.
Serving Dishes and Platters Your serving dishes don’t need to match each other to look pretty. A mixture of different styles and colors add whimsy and a country feel to your presentation. If you don’t have enough trivets for all of your dishes, cover pre-cut pieces of thick cardboard with aluminum foil and use these as shiny mats that will protect your table and still look nice.
Place Cards If you want to use place cards to prearrange the seating at your table, use your theme to come up with imaginative ways to create or display them. Gift tags are an easy idea, and they can be attached to each napkin or wine glass with ribbon or pipe cleaners. Miniature artificial poinsettia pots are available at many dollar stores, and they make gorgeous place card holders. Simply fashion your cards and attach them to straws or toothpicks, then secure them into the pots.
Pinecones can hold name cards as well, if you maneuver the cards so that the ‘teeth’ of the cones hold them in place. Create shapes out of clay or dough, thread the cards through candy cane sticks, or simply place your cards on the top of each dinner plate. The possibilities here are endless.
Extras and Finishing Touches Adding candles of varying heights and colors will add warmth to your table setting. Scatter tea lights, votives, pillars, and tapers around the center of the table cheap five fingers , making sure that they are secure and not interfering with anything that could be flammable.
You can also decorate the stems on wine glasses with purchased wine charms or pipe cleaners, or tie small bells to each one with ribbon. Tie cutlery together in a similar fashion if you wish, or tuck utensils securely inside rolled napkins.
For an added touch, decorate each chair with bows, bits of garland, or pretty fabric. Anything goes as long as it doesn’t scratch or otherwise interfere with your guests’ enjoyment of your wonderful meal.
With a bit of extra effort, you can take a plain and boring table and create a stunning masterpiece that will impress your guests even before the first course is served.
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Make A Special Meal Even More So With A Great Presentation
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Understanding The Meaning Of Organic
The word “organic” seems simple enough but can be confusing for consumers. Here is an inside look at the standards and laws governing this important group of products, particularly tea.
What exactly determines if a product is grown organically?
In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop national organic standards. The National Organic Program (NOP) and OFPA developed regulations requiring products labeled “organic” originate from farms, or handling facilities, that are certified by either State or private agencies that have been accredited by the USDA. The regulations further state that farms, or handling facilities may not use any of the following in production or handling;
•Genetic Engineering •Ionizing Radiation •Sewage Sludge
Organic crops must be grown without the use of;
•Most conventional pesticides •Petroleum based fertilizers •Sewage sludge-based fertilizers
How are imported organic products regulated?
•The USDA is required by OFPA to review the certification programs under which imported organic products are produced. •Certifying agents in foreign countries must apply for USDA certification. •In lieu of USDA certification, foreign governments can assess and accredit certifying agents, under NOP requirements, with USDA approval. •An equivalency agreement negotiated between the US and a country’s government may also be used in lieu of certification.
What are “organic” labeling standards?
Organic labeling is the simplest part of the certification process and the aspect that is most confusing for consumers. While many times “organic” on a label means you pay more, what is the meaning behind the label? The standards are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product, and by law must be identified like this;
•Products labeled “100 % organic” must contain only organically produced ingredients.
•Products labeled “organic” must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients.
•Both may display the USDA Organic Seal.
•Processed products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can only use the phrase “made with organic ingredients”.
•Processed products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term “organic” other than to identify the specific ingredients, on the ingredients list, that are organically produced.
So what does all this mean to US tea consumers? Since tea is grown outside of the US certification is almost always done by foreign agents. It has become increasingly important for consumers concerned about how their teas are grown to be comfortable with their tea supplier. Bio terrorism laws have impacted tea importation by looking more closely overall at what and who are importing products into this country, particularly food products. While these laws can sometimes impede the smooth flow of tea to us from overseas it may be beneficial overall to consumers due to the “closer look” of the FDA.
Converting gardens and estates to organic farming is a costly and lengthy process and sometimes not even a consideration for small farmers. In some cases farmers are already doing a lot right, but lack the knowledge or funding necessary to become certified. There is an effort by the US tea industry to educate growers on the benefit both economically and ecologically for growing teas organically.
Quality, from a taste perspective, has been an issue with organic teas. Gardens converting to organic farming have challenges, short and long term, producing teas that taste as good. As processes continue to improve an d farmers gain more experience, quality and taste are improving.
As an importer and supplier of premium teas one of our major responsibilities is knowing the production standards and philosophies of the gardens we work with. Securing quality, organic teas with outstanding taste characteristics can be challenging but more become available each season.
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Treat Maker Jon L. Stopay Candies Expands Company Via the internet
Plains, PA – Feb ., 8 2011 – Sweets manufacturer Jon L. Stopay Candies most recently enhanced their own company by simply designing an online web store to fulfill the requirement for web and comfort buying. Through the process of enlarging their company over the internet, Jon L. Stopay Candies intends to be able to get in touch with long time purchasers which have traveled out of the area but still crave the legendary Peanut Butter Chiffon®, Peanut Butter Eggs as well as their many other handmade delights and indulgences.
The motivation to make the home business was started in 1946 by Papa Jon L. Stopay, who developed a formula for a scrumptious treat which includes a delicious peanut butter heart decorated inside rich milk chocolate. Stories of these delights circulated immediately around the neighborhood, which guided Papa Jon to open his first sweet store in Edwardsville, PA. With time, the business expanded in likability and then grew into an even bigger retailer and shop in Plains, Pennsylvania. A custom for generations, chocolate lover’s young and old continue to persist to explore the showroom in Plains to obtain their favorite snacks and delights.
After opening in December of 2010, the on-line store has recognized encouraging benefits for the period of the holiday season. Moreover, Jon L. Stopay Candies anticipates extended success all the way through the Valentine’s Day and Easter holiday seasons. Small business holders Jon and Mary Ann Stopay think that the e-commerce shop will probably help circulate the word with regard to their candy to locations outside of Northeastern Pennsylvania. At the same time, the managers expect to provide previous customers which are generally no longer in the community a possibility to order their most loved pleasures and confections in a safe, secure and hassle free manner.
A staple in Northeastern Pennsylvania customs, Jon L. Stopay Candies have become a hometown favorite offering the tasty
Peanut Butter Chiffon ®. A handcrafted and delicately manufactured explosion of extraordinary, creamy peanut butter tucked inside a enticing chocolate shell, the Peanut Butter Chiffon® is accessible in milk, dark or assorted (dark & milk) chocolate assortments. Constructed with the most sought after top quality materials, the Jon L. Stopay Peanut Butter Chiffon® along with other chocolate indulgences have become the ultimate sweets for virtually any affair.
Jon L. Stopay Candies 1441 N. River Street Plains, PA 18705 570-823-3557 admin@jonlstopay.com
An Easy Low Carb Pancakes Recipe
If you love to have a hearty breakfast before the start of a day, then low carb pancakes will suit you better than anything else. Unlike other types of pancakes, low carbs are lower in carbohydrates as well as sugar. The objective of this recipe is to do away with the flour and sugar content and have them replaced with ingredients that are healthy. This is a good way to start your day especially if you are uptight about the amount of carbohydrates that you consume while still upholding that original taste of a pancake. Nonetheless, before deciding to take up this recipe, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a physician.
Discussed herein are steps and guidelines on how to make a healthy and yet tasty low carb pancakes.
What you will need to have
• Two egg whites. Alternatively you can use one whole egg or an egg substitute.
• Instead of the usual flour that you are used to, add 2/3 cup of protein powder.
• Approximately ½ cup of water or low carbohydrate milk substitute.
• ¼ cup of cooking oil or preferably butter.
• ½ tablespoonful of baking soda.
• Sweetener which can be used in cooking instead of sugar.
• ¼ tablespoon of salt.
• ½ tablespoon of butter for the griddle.
The above recipe will prepare two large pancakes or approximately 6, 4-inch pancake.
The protein powder to be used ought not to be restricted to what is mentioned herein, but, can go to include what you love the most. These can easily be accessed from the nearest departmental store or pharmaceutical stores.
Instructions
Begin by taking the exact measurements of all that you will require.
Once this has been done, add all the ingredients into one bowl and stir firmly until you have achieved an even mix. Nonetheless, you should start by stirring the dry ingredients then adding all the liquid ingredients thereafter.
Next, take a tablespoon of butter or cooking oil and add at it to the skillet. Heat the frying pan to approximately 190 C. To know if you have achieved this temperature, put a drop of water to the pan and when it skips, know that you have attained the right temperature.
Using a spoon, carefully add the mixture to the pan. Make sure that you have cooked both sides of the pan cake. Each side should take roughly about 30 seconds to make. During this process, bubbles could be forming and bursting.
What you need to know
When making low carb pancakes, instead of the usual milk products that we are accustomed to, you can opt to utilize sour cream. A majority of people love to top their pancakes with syrup. It will beat logic if you were to use sugar syrup. Therefore, if you need to use syrup, opt for sugar free syrups. To make your pancake more interesting, as one side is cooking, you can sprinkle some ingredients, i.e. cinnamons, precooked meat and nuts. If you desire to make pancakes that are less thick, be sure to add a little bit more water and milk.
G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from pancake griddle to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!