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Archive: Holiday projects
November 20, 2009
How-To: Bake a Turkey-Shaped Cake
Bake a Turkey-Shaped Cake
By Cathy Callahan
How about cake instead of pie this Thanksgiving? I don't mind pie but am really more of a cake person. This turkey-shaped cake is a fun way to introduce a cake to the dessert table and is also fun for kids to make for Thanksgiving. And if the "pie people" turn their noses up at it? At least it can also double as decoration for the table.
With the big holiday just around the corner I'm sure many of you are starting to pour over your favorite cookbooks in search of recipes. I really don't own many cookbooks and am an advocate for just having a few really good ones on hand. There's been a lot of talk about classic cookbooks lately. Of course we all love Julia Child's The Way to Cook. The Joy of Cooking has been a staple in kitchens for many generations. On many people's lists of "must haves" are The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, How to Cook Everything, Beard on Food and the list goes on.
But to me an overlooked classic is Baker's Coconut Cut-Up Cakes (1956 edition). Why not have a little fun in the kitchen? It was updated in 1959 and retitled Baker's Coconut Animal Cut-Up Cakes. It was published by Baker's to promote their "Angel Flake Coconut" product. At any given time there are usually a few listed on eBay and there is oftentimes a bidding war to get the older ones. You can sample some pages of the book in charm and poise's Flickr set.
Cut-up cakes are all about the reconfiguration of the standard layer or sheet cake. Following the illustrations, the cake is cut into shapes and arranged to resemble things like boats, bunnies, witches, etc. and then iced, sprinkled with coconut, and decorated with candy; the boat eveb gets Lifesavers for the portholes. And they all have cute names.
I have made the "Ella Elephant," "Fanny the Fish," and "Dear Santa."
I just made the "Gobble-Gobble Gobbler" as a dry run for this Thanksgiving. I tried to follow the recipe as best I could but I have to be honest that a little more explanation would have been helpful. I did have a couple of mishaps and had to approach this project like a small scale construction project. So here I've adapted the original directions in hopes that it will make it a little easier for you. Make sure you wear an apron because it's a very messy, but fun, undertaking.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 20, 2009 05:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Food, Holiday projects, Super Crafty Kidz |
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Cathe Holden's Gift Making Guide
Cathe Holden has put together a super useful gift making guide, complete with more than 40 of her DIY projects that are perfect for your holiday gift list.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 20, 2009 06:00 AM
General, Holiday projects |
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November 19, 2009
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
By Jennifer Perkins and Chris Boehk
Every fall my husband Chris whips up a batch of his world famous pumpkin pie ice cream! This year we served it at a Halloween party and are planning to take it to a Thanksgiving potluck! Since this is his special fall creation, I let him write up the instructions and I took the pictures!
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 19, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Food, Holiday projects, Super Crafty Kidz |
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CRAFT Holiday Gift Guide 2009: For the Foodie
I'm a big fan of homemade food gifts, which in my mind include alcoholic items, condiments, spices, etc. In fact, my mom recently told me that one of her favorite gifts in years past was a jar of Bronzed Chicken Spices that I mixed together in a big batch and doled out to family members along with the recipe. Mom said it took the hard part out of making a yummy dinner, and it was a thoughtful and helpful gift. Bonus!
That conversation greatly influenced my selections when I sat down to choose the items in this year's Foodie Gift Guide. It can take just pennies to make a gift that's likely to end up as someone's favorites list this year, so why pick products that cost a fortune, no matter how cool they are? Sure, we'd all like to have a fancy mixer or espresso machine, but in today's economy, a nice whisk or a pound of good coffee are just as welcome.
So here's a baker's dozen of food and kitchen items that you can either make as gifts this holiday season, or pick up without emptying your larder, er, pocketbook. (Puns definitely intended!) I'd love to hear about other gifts you plan on making or buying for the foodie in your life. Please tell us about them in the Comments! Merry merry, happy happy!
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Homemade Coffee Liqueur
A few years ago we made two different versions of coffee liqueur, dutifully marking them brew #1 and brew #2. Some recipes call for instant coffee and some call for a pot of brewed java. The bad news was that we forgot which recipe went with which number. The good news was that both batches were tasty, and our friends and family really appreciated the gift, especially when certain name brands can be quite pricey. This also needs to sit for a month, so factor in the time this needs to sit on the shelf aging to perfection.
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Posted by Shawn Connally |
Nov 19, 2009 11:00 AM
Food, Gadgets, Holiday Gift Guide 2009, Holiday projects, Homemade |
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How-To: Host a Snowman Making Party
This fun idea for a winter party from The Finer Things is making me yearn to live in a part of the country that actually gets snow!
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 19, 2009 10:00 AM
Holiday projects |
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November 18, 2009
Homemade Eggnog Recipe
Christy at Instructables shares with us her recipe for delicious homemade eggnog. I can't wait to try it out!
Posted by Becky Stern |
Nov 18, 2009 04:00 PM
Food, Holiday projects |
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Thanksgiving Feast: Pumpkin Pie with Caramel Pecan Topping
Thanksgiving Feast: Pumpkin Pie with Caramel Pecan Topping
By Katie Goodman
I have had so many failures with pie crust — too sticky, too dry, full of cracks — that for a while I just resigned myself to buying either frozen crusts or those ones you roll out and shape yourself. But that's really not my style. I love homemade, not store-bought. When I found this recipe from Simply Recipes, it seemed so easy and straightforward that I thought it was worth another go. With such great results on my first try, I felt the confidence I needed to never look back at those store-bought crusts again.
If you're trying to save time on Thanksgiving, you can make the recipe up to Step 5 and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to make the pie. Just let it sit out on the counter for about 10 minutes before you roll it out.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 18, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Food, Holiday projects |
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November 17, 2009
How-To: Felt Poinsettia Hair Clip
Calli of Make it Do shares how to make this sweet felt poinsettia hair clip that can also be made into a pin or even used as a gift topper.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 17, 2009 02:00 PM
Holiday projects |
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November 16, 2009
How-To: Thanksgiving Memories Keepsake Book
Leigh Ann of The Object Project shares how she created this special family book for holding thanksgiving memories and keepsakes from year to year.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 16, 2009 10:00 AM
Holiday projects, Sewing |
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How-To: Felt Tree Forest
The folks at Wee Folk Art have just published their tutorial for making these sweet felt trees and a bush, perfect for creating a winter scene for your holiday decor.
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 16, 2009 08:00 AM
Holiday projects |
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November 15, 2009
Toilet Paper Tube Yule Log
Lori at Pretty Little Things shows you how to make a yule log from a toilet paper tube and a couple of egg carton cups. It's a great way to package stocking stuffers!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 15, 2009 07:00 AM
Holiday projects, Paper Crafts, Recycle |
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November 13, 2009
How-To: Retro Felt Christmas Trees
I've been planning to make some fun, inexpensive holiday decorations this year, and I'm definitely going to try these retro felt Christmas trees from Felt-O-Rama. [via True Up]
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 13, 2009 08:00 AM
Holiday projects |
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November 11, 2009
Thanksgiving Feast: Side Dishes
Thanksgiving Feast: Side Dishes
By Katie Goodman
Some might argue that the Thanksgiving sides are really the stars of the show. There are so many good recipes to choose from and every family has that special dish that better be on the table — or else! For me, it's hard to decide. I like so many side dishes for different reasons, but I've picked a few of my favorites to share here.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 11, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Food, Holiday projects |
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Flocked Fauns
How cute! These adorable deer would be perfect for just about any holiday craft, right?
Posted by Brookelynn |
Nov 11, 2009 10:00 AM
Holiday projects, Home Decor |
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November 10, 2009
Flashback: Candles from Scratch
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With the gift-giving holidays right around the corner, I thought it would be the perfect time to offer up this classic DIY from the pages of CRAFT Volume 04. Leah Peterson teaches you the fundamentals of candle-making, whether you want to reuse old candles to make new or make new ones from scratch. Who doesn't love candles?
Candles from Scratch
Gather old cans, containers, and half-used candles to make brilliant, new light.
By Leah Peterson
You don't need expensive equipment to make your own candles at home. You can use a variety of containers with smooth sides for molds, including thick plastic or metal measuring cups and muffin tins. An old pancake hot plate and cleaned food cans make a great double boiler. Just remember that whatever you use will most likely be covered in wax and not a good candidate for food use afterwards. Paraffin wax can be purchased at craft stores in large blocks, but you can also use old candle leftovers.
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Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Nov 10, 2009 05:00 PM
Holiday projects, Home Decor |
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How-To: Grown-Up Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is a childhood classic. One of my fondest memories as a child was slurping half-melted whipped cream off the top of a warm mug of cocoa. I'd beg to have it right off the stove, but it was always too hot for gulping. Instead I'd have to sip it and then savor the cool whipped cream against my tongue. We all remember this moment as kids, right? As I have grown, however, my tastes have changed. What I like now is freshly beaten whipped cream, extra-rich chocolate, and, of course, amaretto. Adding a shot of liquor to this decadent treat pushes the experience over the top. It updates my warm childhood memories in a wonderfully grown-up way. I recommend making a double batch of this hot chocolate, and serving the kids first! Send them off to bed, then relax with your own unadulterated cup.
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Posted by Brookelynn |
Nov 10, 2009 12:00 PM
CRAFT Projects, Holiday projects, Recipe |
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Holiday Paper Crafts
Lisa at the Red Thread has posted up some links to holiday paper craft tutorials that you can get a head start on now. I am loving her Paper Christmas Wreath and the Holiday Baubles (pictured below) that kids can make.
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Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 10, 2009 11:00 AM
Holiday projects, Kids, Paper Crafts |
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November 9, 2009
Hot Drink Mixes for Holiday Gifts
Amy at the Motherload shows you how to make hot drink mixes as perfect holiday gifts. She's got recipes for not just hot cocoa but also for vanilla chai tea!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 9, 2009 05:00 PM
Food, Holiday projects |
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Acorn Napkin Rings
Betz White shows you how to make these fall-inspired acorn napkin rings for your Thanksgiving dinner table by using some felted sweaters, felt balls, and acorn toppers.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Nov 9, 2009 03:00 PM
Holiday projects |
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Mystery Christmas Crochet Project From Sarah London
Sarah London has just announced her mystery Christmas crochet project, which runs through the end of November. I'm in love with the idea of jumping in to a project without knowing what the end result will be!
As I said, it is our Mystery Project for November, so no reveals til the end, plunge in if you have faith, plunge in if you love to crochet and plunge in if you're looking to decorate with crochet this Holiday Season!
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 9, 2009 10:00 AM
Crochet, Holiday projects |
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