ReportWire

Tag: Month December Week 3

  • Christmas Morning Granola: Eat It! Gift It! – Garden Therapy

    What’s better for last-minute gift making than something that you can make with items picked up at the grocery store, where you likely have to make a stop anyway? This Christmas morning granola is a simple recipe that makes a thoughtful hostess gift, stocking stuffer, or treat for Santa.

    Growing up, Christmas morning was the time that we opened our stockings and all the presents. Sure, there was one gift opening allowed on Christmas Eve before we snuggled into bed, but the bulk of the gift gluttony was done in the morning. With all of the wrapping paper being torn open and ribbons being hurled in the air, you could certainly work up an appetite.

    As an adult, I now like to have something quick and nutritious available to feed the masses. Homemade granola packed full of seeds, nuts, and fruit makes a thoughtful gift for the holidays. I’ll be bringing one of these pretty packages for the hosts of every dinner or party after December 20th. Good thing this recipe makes a lot!

    Christmas Morning Granola recipeChristmas Morning Granola recipe

    Christmas Morning Granola with Cranberries and Pecans

    This Christmas morning granola makes a healthy breakfast choice for the holidays, laden with rich food and too much drink. Top 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt with 3/4 cup homemade granola for a filling breakfast or a healthful treat.

    Ingredients

    Makes 4 packages

    • 8 cups rolled oats
    • 2 cups unsweetened coconut
    • 2 cups whole pecans
    • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
    • 1/2 cup brown sugar
    • 1 cup honey
    • 1 cup sunflower oil
    • 1 tbsp vanilla
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 cup cranberries
    • 1 cup raisins

    Christmas Morning Granola

    Made with cranberries and pecans, this is a healthy but yummy breakfast choice for the holiday season.

    Prep Time10 minutes

    Cook Time1 hour

    Total Time1 hour 10 minutes

    Course: Breakfast

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: breakfast, christmas morning, Granola

    Servings: 4 packages

    Calories: 574kcal

    • 8 cups rolled oats
    • 2 cups unsweetened coconut
    • 2 cups whole pecans
    • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 cup honey
    • 1 cup sunflower oil
    • 1 tbsp vanilla
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 cup cranberries
    • 1 cup raisins

    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

    • Measure the oats, coconut, nuts, seeds and brown sugar into a large bowl.

    • Combine the honey, oil, vanilla and salt in a pot and warm up on the stove, stirring constantly. Warm just until all the elements are mixed evenly, then pour the hot mixture over the oat mixture. Stir well to ensure all of the oats are covered.

    • Spread the mixture onto a few greased cookie sheets and toast in the oven for 1 hour. Remove the granola from the oven every 10 minutes and stir so that it toasts evenly on all sides.

    • Once cool, mix in the cranberries and raisins.

    • Fill 4 frosted tin tie bags with the granola and add labels.

    Serving: 0.25package | Calories: 574kcal

    More Holiday Recipes to Try

    Stephanie Rose

    Source link

  • Rustic and Natural Christmas Candle Centerpiece – Garden Therapy

    Add a touch of rustic coziness to any space with this DIY Christmas candle centerpiece. This can be created with foraged natural materials for an affordable homegrown project. 

    A rustic and natural Christmas candle centerpiece planter can be used as table decor, fireplace mantle, or even outdoors on the porch. This is a wonderful holiday decor project using my favourite decorating material: fresh-cut greenery from the garden.

    This post will cover…

    A rustic and natural Christmas candle centerpiece planter can be used as table decor, fireplace mantle, or even outdoors on the porch. See the DIY.A rustic and natural Christmas candle centerpiece planter can be used as table decor, fireplace mantle, or even outdoors on the porch. See the DIY.

    The Best Greenery for Crafting

    Many of the shrubs and trees in your garden that have evergreen leaves can be brought indoors for the holidays. You can see a comprehensive list of the best greenery for decorating in this post.

    I love working with greenery because it doesn’t need any special care like watering or misting, and when the holidays are over, you can simply toss them in the compost.

    Pairing candles and garden greenery makes for elegant yet natural entertaining decor. I have made one in the spring, as you can see with this 10-minute candle planter. I have made one in the summer with a hurricane candle holder surrounded by succulents. For Christmas, this candle display in a wooden liquor box makes a perfect centerpiece to celebrate the season.

    foraged greenery for a centerpiece foraged greenery for a centerpiece

    How to Make a Rustic and Natural Christmas Candle Centerpiece

    Here are the steps to making your very own rustic and natural Christmas candle centerpiece from the garden (and, in this case, your Christmas tree!).

    Materials

    Make It!

    Head out to the garden with your pruners and cut some greenery. Read this article on The Best Garden Greenery for Holiday Decorating before you go, to brush up on what and how to cut the greenery.

    Fit some dry craft foam into a wooden box. You do not need wet florist’s foam that holds moisture for flower arrangements. The stems do not need water; the foam is simply to keep it all in place. You can also glue the craft foam to the wood box if you would like. I didn’t find it necessary, as the arrangement holds in place perfectly once it is finished.

    putting together a rustic Christmas candle centerpiece putting together a rustic Christmas candle centerpiece

    Set the taper candles into the craft foam, equally spaced apart.

    fresh greenery around a candle centerpiece for christmasfresh greenery around a candle centerpiece for christmas

    Next, start designing the planter with cascading, needle-leaf greenery around the edges (I used Fraser fir trimming from my Christmas tree) and colourful broad-leaf evergreens and berries in the center (I used Portuguese laurel and holly).

    side view of a beautiful rustic Christmas candle centerpiece side view of a beautiful rustic Christmas candle centerpiece

    Check the arrangement to be sure that it looks good from all angles, especially if it is going to be used on a table where the guests will surround it.

    Light the candles and enjoy the ambiance!

    Lit candle centerpiece in a wood box with fresh greeneryLit candle centerpiece in a wood box with fresh greenery

    A Note About Candles and Greenery

    This candle planter, if not used with common sense, could be a fire hazard. Please do not leave the candles burning unattended near greenery or wood. You could certainly enjoy this planter without lighting the taper candles. You could replace the candles with electric candles, or even candles contained in glass jars. I only plan to light the candles while sitting at the table where I can closely monitor them. When they burn down, I will blow them out. 

    Please use your common sense when using candles. I don’t think that every project should have to show electric candles for safety reasons on a blog, and we do not take any responsibility for how the projects are used at home. Be smart, my friends, and you can enjoy the warm glow of candles and fresh greenery for Christmas!

    christmas candles blown outchristmas candles blown out

    More Christmas Crafting Ideas

    DIY Rustic Christmas Candle Centerpiece

    Forage greenery from your backyard and make this lovely rustic centerpiece for the holidays.

    • Cut a chunk of floral foam to fit in your wooden box. If necessary, you can glue it in place.

    • Add the candles into the foam, equal distances apart.

    • Layer in greenery around the candles. Make sure to press the stems firmly into the foam. Place cascading greenery on the outer edge, and shorter greenery on the inside.

    • Light the candles and enjoy!

    Stephanie Rose

    Source link

  • Recycling Christmas Cards Into Gift Tags – Garden Therapy

    Recycling Christmas cards into gift tags is such a quick and easy project. It’s simple, reduces waste, and is a great way to save the thoughtful holiday cards you were lucky enough to receive.

    Materials

    Make It!

    1. Gather all your pretty Christmas cards and recycle any parts with handwritten or personalized sentiments.

    Christmas Card Recycling ProjectChristmas Card Recycling Project

    2. If you have a tag punch, this next step will take mere minutes. Just position, punch, and ta-da! You have a gift tag. This would also work with round or flower-shaped punches, or if you don’t have any of those, you can use scissors.

    I must say that I use my punch far more than I thought I would. I can recycle tissue boxes, packaging, and other decorative card stock into pretty tags that are handy with all the handmade stuff I give away.

    Recycling Christmas Cards with Tag PunchRecycling Christmas Cards with Tag Punch

    3. For some cards, you may be able to get a bunch of tags…

    Make Your Cards into Gift TagsMake Your Cards into Gift Tags

    …others may only have one image that will work…

    Recycling Holiday Cards into Gift TagsRecycling Holiday Cards into Gift Tags

    …and with some, you can use the sentiment as long as it fits well in the area.

    Christmas Card Recycling IdeaChristmas Card Recycling Idea

    4. The final step is to punch a hole in the top of each tag. Thread some baker’s twine, garden twine, or ribbon to add it to your gift.

    Evergreen Clipping Paper Gift Tag with TwineEvergreen Clipping Paper Gift Tag with Twine

    You can now store them away until next year, when you unpack the tags and memories of this holiday season.

    Punch a hole in the gift tagsPunch a hole in the gift tags

    More Crafty Christmas Projects

    Stephanie Rose

    Source link