The Family Christmas Meal

Cooking large meals during the holiday season is basically a holiday tradition in many families. It is part of the fabric of a family. I can remember countless years of gathering the extended family around a large table (children at their own table of course), attempting to put aside the disagreements of the past year, and enjoying a wonderful meal. At first it was always my grandmother who hosted and did most of the cooking. Over the years though, the tradition has passed down to my mother and now to my wife and I.

There is always one constant at these Christmas dinners. Someone always seemed to have a new recipe to try each year. A few recipes were great and a handful were dreadfully horrible (stuffing balls come to mind), but most were worth a try. I am picking this year’s new recipe. We will be trying out a new cranberry orange relish recipe this year at our Christmas dinner. I found it at FoodClassics.com, although not in the Christmas recipes category. Rather, it was in the Thanksgiving recipes area of the site. I am a huge cranberry fan, and this cranberry relish recipe looks like it will be a hit among the cranberry lovers at the table.

It sure sounds sappy, but Christmas dinners are one of family events I always look forward to every year. I hope my daughters feel the same way in about 25 years. I also wonder what great new recipe they will spring on my wife and I, and maybe even some grandchildren.

Three Tips for Decorating for the Holidays

You don’t have to work yourself into a frenzy to decorate your home for the holidays. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best and can help to reduce the stress level of major holidays. First of all, you don’t have to go run out and buy your
decorations the same year the holiday comes up in. Secondly, have some standbys that are the same year to year. Finally,
keep in mind that many fires can be set with the use of standard decorating elements like candles or improperly
grounded lights. Be sure to be safe as well as beautiful during your holiday seasons.

Create A Decorating Closet

Everyone should have one closet where they store all their seasonal decorations. If you don’t have a closet, then use a
part of your garage or basement. You will want to gradually build up your decorating closet to include all the holidays,
not just Christmas and Thanksgiving. This can be done by shopping after a holiday passes for all the leftover and
discounted decorations. If you store them, they are like brand new when you take them out the following year. You save and you’ve just added a new feature to your decorating style.

Your Favorite Standbys

Obviously, there are some generic favorites: Christmas trees, wreaths, statues, and lights. However, the standby can also be something very individual like a large nutcracker or a Valentine’s Day poster. Dried wreaths are great for storing in
their boxes and bringing out for different occasions. They are even good for casual parties when there is no holiday to
celebrate. Lights should always be reviewed before storing, to make sure they are all in working order and not tangled into a giant mess that you’ll have to unwind the following year. Have some additional lamps as well as string lights to bring more festive accents into your home. Candles are a wonderful source of light but they can be dangerous and should be watched closely during the holiday season.

Safety

Think safety when you are decorating. The fact is if you are decorating you are most likely going to be entertaining too.
So, expect visitors, sometimes with their children to show up to admire your decorations. You will want to make sure your
outlets are safety plugged for small children. If you have pets, never leave them unattended near extra wiring or lit
candles. They can easily chomp down on electrical wires and hurt, if not kill themselves. Also, any natural materials that
you are using in wreaths or as accent plants, like poinsettias,are very dangerous when ingested. Keep them away from pets and small children.

When decorating for the holidays, you can prepare ahead of time. Having a closet or space where you stock your treasures
can be a source of great stress relief the following year. If you aren’t out shopping with everyone else, then you have more
time to enjoy the holidays. Use some pieces as standard decorating “bones” while newer pieces can help to accent the
older pieces. Move the location of your decorations year-to-year to make them different and exciting. Above all,
think safety. Don’t bring in plants that are toxic into a household of small children even if they fit your décor. Try to
understand how to use electric lights in a way that is safe and practical.

About The Author: Hunter Pyle wrote this article for the
purpose of sharing some tips on decorating for the holidays. If
you are looking for more ideas I’d suggest checking out
http://www.shopgetorganized.com/ or http://www.kitchenandmuchmore.com