Last Week's Featured Article
Fabulous Money Saving Gift Ideas Including 4 Yummy Recipes That Are Easy and Cheap
By Gaynor Parke

1. Take the family to do volunteer work on Christmas Day. It will be an eye opener for them and be a great present that many can share. Help serve Christmas dinner for those who gather together because they have no family to share with, or are homeless.

2. When the kids are bigger. If your family has reached the place where "things" are no longer needed why not adapt the above example. If someone is ultra busy why not offer to bring over dinner for X number of Saturday's to give them the night off. This type of gift can be in the form of a voucher that you can make yourself and is appropriate for any occasion.

3. If having a baby why not create a baby basket list We all do it for weddings so why not extend that to baby gifts. Write a list of essential like baby wipes and nappies. People don't have to give you the actual item but they can put it in a card such as "I am earmarking this money for 20 packets of baby wipes or a years supply of baby shampoo" It makes gift giving more fun and not as embarrassing as just giving cash because you can't think what to buy. Let people give you the nappies or shampoo if they with though. Take a look at Oxfam.com.au to see how they do it.

4. Homemade cards are always more meaningful than store bought cards.

5. A day of baking will save you days wondering the stores trying to think of what to buy everyone. Put colourfully iced cookies in jars for the kids, rum balls for the men and apricot balls for the women. Alternately make everyone shortbreads. Don't want to do anything sweet? How about yummy Cheesy Sesame Straws?

Iced Cookies

4 oz of butter

3/4 cup (6 oz or 170 grams) sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence

2 1/4 cups (9 oz or 255 grams) plain flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

coloured icing

Heat oven to 375F (190c)

* Cream butter, sugar, egg and vanilla essence until light and fluffy.
* Add sifted flour, baking powder and salt gradually, mixing well.
* Chill for 1 hour then roll out into interesting shapes and bake for 12 - 15 min.
* Allow to cool then ice and decorate. Try blue, pink, red, green or yellow icing to be different.
* Decorate with smiley faces or sprinkles or coconut or anything that takes your fancy, the more colour the better.

These became a tradition in our family for years when the children were young.

Rum Balls

7 oz ( 200gms) cooking chocolate

1/4 cup cream

1 oz (30gm approx) butter

2 oz (50 gm approx ) chocolate cake crumbs (ask your local bakery if they will save you cut offs from the cakes they make - they can only say no!)

2 teaspoons rum

1/2 chocolate sprinkles

* Place the chocolate in a bowl.
* Combine cream and butter in a pan over a low heat and stir until the mixture just boils.
* Pour over the chocolate to dissolve it
* Stir in the cake crumbs and the rum
* Refrigerate for 20 mins stirring occasionally until firm enough to handle.
* Roll in chocolate sprinkles and store in the fridge.

Shortbreads

2 cups (8oz) plain flour

3/4 cup (6 oz) sugar

8 oz butter

Set oven at 325oF (162c)

Sift flour and sugar in a bowl

* Cut butter into the dry mixture using a knife. Using your hands may get too hot and melt the butter - not what you want. Alternatively, put butter and dry ingredients into a kitchen processor and blend until mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
* Roll mixture into a ball and then roll flat.
* Cut into shapes 1.5 cm thick and cook for 40 mins. Leave plenty of room between biscuits on the cooking tray and they will spread during cooking.
* Dust with castor sugar if desired.

Cheesy Sesame Straws

1 cup (4 oz) plain flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

Pinch cayenne pepper

1 cup strong grated tasty cheese

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 egg yolk

3/4 cup melted butter

1 - 2 tablespoons water

Milk to glaze

Sesame seeds

Set oven at 350F ( 190c )

Sift flour salt, cayenne pepper and baking powder.

Mix in the cheese

Combine the egg yolk, butter and Worcestershire sauce; add to dry ingredients with just enough water to make a pliable dough.

Place on lightly floured board, knead and roll out into strips 3inch (7 cm) long by 1/2 inch (1 cm) wide. Glaze with milk and dust with sesame seeds. Twist for a more decorative effect.

Put on trays lined with baking paper and cook for 10 mins.

Gaynor is passionate about helping people achieve their passions. With over 25 years of Personal Development study and vast business knowledge Gaynor is well equipped to assist business owners, executives and employees alike.

You are the key to your success, so let Gaynor help you unlock your potential. With a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE and FREE introductory session you have every reason to contact Gaynor today at http://www.advancedsuccesslifecoaching.com.au

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gaynor_Parke

Member Comment...