Christmas Lights Advice

You can smell it in the air and see it in every store - Christmas is just around the corner. Christmas stockings hanging in a row on the mantle is a favorite sight in many homes (I know it is in ours!). Get a jumpstart on thinking about what sort of stocking you might hang and what to fill it with - make that list early and save money picking up little items here and there. See Christmas Stockings for my full article.

Merry Christmas (and Happy Halloween!)

Shellie Gardner
Copyright 2008

Santa likes to get out of his red suit in the summer so he’s hanging out over at Christmas Light Source in a Hawaiian print shirt (best source - local resale shop - “just got 4 for $3 each”, says the jolly man) and he’s sporting sandals and a cool drink with an umbrella.

Nice to see him taking it easy in July!!

Shellie

Even in the middle of summer, fudge is a great candy to make for friends - even better because it’s unexpected. I am making a batch for a friend and thought I’d post a couple of my favorite recipes. Try your own additions - like crushed peppermints to make the recipes your own!

Bookmark this post for later because fudge really is one of the absolute musts of any Holiday season. Its melt in your mouth rich flavor is not to be missed and it makes a great gift when your Christmas gift giving budget is running low and your list of friends is long.

Fudge packaged in a pretty box - try a chinese take out style box from a craft store with some colored cellophane - is a great hostess gift and time of year. (maybe you should include a set of battery operated mini lights tied with a bow as well for your hostess to use to accent her table :-))

Chocolate Fudge with Marshmallows

This has to be an all time favorite. It is easy to make and makes enough to satisfy the largest chocolate craving as well as making plenty for gifts. You will want to start out with the following ingredients.

4C of Sugar
1 large can of evaporated milk
1 stick of butter about 1/4 lb
1 oz or 1 sq of Bakers Chocolate unsweetened
1 pkg of semi sweet chocolate chips - 12 oz
1 package of marshmallows - 16 oz
1 tsp of vanilla extract
optional 1C of nuts chopped

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter and chocolate squares. It is best if the saucepan is heavy. Bring the ingredients up to a low boil and stir for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat add vanilla, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Combine until smooth. At this point if you are, adding nuts add them and then pour into a 9×13 in pan. Allow to cool and then cut into pieces. This fudge does need to be stored in a cool location and the recipe makes approximately 5 lbs.

For those looking for a more traditional Chocolate Fudge Recipe here is one that is sure to delight.

Chocolate Fudge Recipe - Old fashioned

You will need the following ingredients

1 1/2 C Milk
4 oz Unsweetened chocolate (Baker’s squares work well for this)
4 C Sugar
3 tbsp Light corn syrup
1/4 tsp Salt
3 tbsp Butter or margarine ( butter is preferred)
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Directions
In a 2-3 quart heavy saucepan, combine milk and chocolate. Cook on low until chocolate is melted. Then add sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook until mixture reaches a boil while stirring constantly.
Using a candy thermometer cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 234F. Remove from heat instantly, ADD Vanilla, and butter. Do not stir these ingredients in.
Cool the mixture until it reaches 110F or until lukewarm, and then beat using a wooden spoon until the mixture begins to thicken and begins to lose its gloss. Approximately 15 minutes then spread the mixture into a buttered 8×8x2 inch pan. Let stand until it has cooled and set then cut into squares and serve. Makes approximately 2lbs

These are just two of the great recipes that can be found for fudge. Fudge can be simple and easy to make but it does take practice. Burning the chocolate can give a rather unpleasant smell and taste as can boiling the milk too hard during the cooking process. The reward however is well worth the added work and fudge can be one of the best home made food gifts that can be given during Christmas and all year long - even summer.

Shellie Gardner
Christmas Lights
Copyright 2008

Perhaps I should have titled this post, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Nutcrackers but were Afraid to Ask.”

I became faschinated with Nutcrackers when my 3 year old discovered them and lit up everytime he came near one. I know this is a Christmas Lights blog but let’s be crazy and think about our little wooden friends.

Now what do you think of when you hear the term ‘nutcracker’? You probably envision the tool that somewhat resembles pliers. These functional nutcrackers feature two steel fingers (for lack of a better word) joined at a pivot point next to which you insert your nut and squeeeeeeze. They can be used to crack not only nuts, but also for cracking the shells of sea creatures such as lobster and crab.

And now for historical data…….. putting on professor jacket……

It is thought that the earliest manner of breaking open nutshells was by using a stone. It was later that specific tools were designed to make cracking nutshells much easier. Nutcrackers were relatively simple tools at first. Then, during the 16th and 17th centuries, villagers in Switzerland, Germany, France, and England began to create beautifully crafted nutcrackers. It is with those simple villagers that the nutcracker story truly begins.

The villagers in the German regions of Erzgebirge and Sonneberg worked long hours in the mines to earn a meager living. They had little to show for their hard work while those in authority seemed to have everything. In the winter, when work couldn’t be done in the mines, the villagers carved wood to pass the time. They began carving nutcrackers!

Nutcrackers became an art form. They took on the appearance of everything from humans (resembling dolls), animals, and birds. When a nut was placed in the “mouth” of the doll or animal, the fruit of the nut was released by using screws or levers on the back of the nutcracker to move the lower jaw against the upper jaw, effectively crushing the nut. The villagers were amused at this sight because it seemed as though the dolls, often times made to look like soldiers, were cracking nuts for them – a lowly task at best.

Once the mines had given all they had, the villagers began carving nutcrackers all year long. Over time, the soldier nutcrackers became extremely popular and were sold throughout Europe. It became tradition to have a soldier nutcracker standing next to a bowl of nuts on your table during the holidays.

Moving forward to the 18th century, the nutcracker was a unique combination of both an attractive addition to any home and a functional tool. In the 1830’s, the term “nusscracker” was seen in the first dictionary of High German and was defined as “often in the form of a misshaped little man, in whose mouth the nut, by means of a lever or screw, is cracked open”. Probably the most popular nutcrackers resembled kings and soldiers. Nutcrackers are said to inspire E.T.A. Hoffman’s fairy tale “Nusscracker und Mausekonig”. From humble beginnings to inspiring a writer, nutcrackers have since become a symbol of not only function, but also as collectors’ items.

In America, the passion for collecting nutcrackers seemed to emerge sometime in the early 1950’s. Discovered in open-air markets by American soldiers stationed in Germany during World War II, the nutcrackers accompanied the soldier when he returned home from the war and thus, the tradition of the nutcracker was brought to America. According to German folklore, it was believed nutcrackers protected a home from evil. Around the same time, Tchaikowsky’s ballet, “The Nutcracker Suite” became popular in America, further fueling the passion for collecting nutcrackers.

Some of the higher quality nutcrackers we see today still feature careful hand carving. Each nutcracker is created from “living” wood. From beginning to end, the process for each character takes three to four years to complete! Each nutcracker will undergo nearly 100 separate steps to become a functional and beautiful tool for performing the simple pleasure of cracking nuts.

Nutcrackers were traditionally made from wood, but now they are also made from brass, porcelain and silver. One of the most sought after nutcrackers in America is the Steinbach Nutcracker. Steinbach’s are still hand-made in Germany. They are incredibly detailed and come in figures that stand as tall as 18 inches high or as small as 5 inches high. Collectors appreciate these pieces because they are hand crafted, but not necessarily because they actually crack nuts.

Ulbricht, Memory Company, and Glasser are the top brand names for nutcrackers today. Collectors pay anywhere from $25 for one nutcracker, all the way up to over $500 for the finest hand crafted nutcrackers hailing from Germany.

In some homes, the holiday decorating would not be complete without nutcrackers of every shape, color and figure. They’re used to adorn the mantle, the holiday table, the dining room sideboard, or hang as ornaments from the Christmas tree. Most collectibles purchased today aren’t truly functional nutcrackers. Rather, they serve to remind us of a simpler time in history and bring beauty to our home.

And they delight little 3 year old red-headed boys.

Best regards,

Shellie
Christmas Lights
Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Pickles are green, somewhat sour, crispy, crunchy, and make your cheeks pucker. They’re a great addition to any burger or hot dog. If you love pickles, perhaps you already have a Christmas pickle ornament on your tree. However, if you are one of those who has yet to hear of the tradition of the Christmas pickle, you’re in for a real treat.

The story goes something like this…

Two Spanish boys were traveling home from boarding school to spend time with their families over the holidays. They stopped over to rest at an inn for the night. The evil innkeeper steals everything the boys own and then stuffs them into a pickle barrel. Now this very evening, who happens to stop by for a rest at the inn but St. Nicholas! He somehow becomes aware of the boys in the pickle barrel, taps the barrel with his staff, and in an instant, the boys are magically returned to normal. The boys thank St. Nicholas and continue on their journey home to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones.

The tradition of the Christmas pickle ornament supposedly hails from Laschau, Germany years ago. The pickle ornament was the very last one to be hung on the fir tree on Christmas Eve. The parents would hide the special pickle ornament deep inside the green fir boughs. On Christmas morning, the children immediately began searching for the special pickle ornament. They believed that the first child to locate the pickle ornament would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas in addition to their other gifts. If the family couldn’t afford the extra gift, the child who found the pickle ornament was the first one to open presents instead.

There is another version of the Christmas pickle story as well. A Bavarian-born ancestor who fought in the American Civil War was a prisoner of war. Suffering from poor health, he appealed to the guard for one pickle to eat before he passed away. The guard was moved by the simple request and gave him a pickle. According to the story, the pickle, by the grace of God, gave the prisoner strength and he indeed didn’t die.

In Berrien Springs, Michigan, the annual Christmas Pickle Festival is a well-attended event in December. During the parade, the Grand Dillmeister passes out fresh pickles to the folks along the parade route, which is always the highlight of the festivities.

Production of blown glass Christmas pickle ornaments was begun in the 1890’s. Even today you can easily find these ornaments for your tree. Many of them are still created from blown glass; hand painted, and then tucked in a special box or pickle jar along with a copy of the story behind the ornament.

Oddly, the German people don’t accept either one of the versions of the Christmas pickle story. Despite the possibility that the story is a hoax, the tradition lives on and is fondly celebrated all over the United States.

Maybe this is the year that you and your family (just for fun!) should celebrate the tradition of the Christmas pickle and add a little bit of fun and excitement to your family holidays.

Shellie
Christmas Lights
Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved