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Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As “room mom” for both my kid’s classes, one of my jobs is to organize contributions for the teacher’s holiday “gift.”
In past years, most parents have preferred pooling cash to save them the effort of buying yet another holiday gift. But this year, many parents are telling me they are going back to making homemade gifts to save money. Most are planning to bake cookies or other treats.
I know in the past I have done gift cards for specialist teachers and for the leaders of my kid’s extra curricular activities, but after calculating how much that adds up to, I too am taking the homemade goodie route.
I am trying to find things besides plain cookies though, since they’re probably getting so many of those. I think for the healthy crowd, I’m going with homemade granola. Some friends did great cheese crackers one year and I might try something savory like that as an alternative too.
Are you doing homemade or store-bought gifts for teachers and other school, or afterschool, personnel? If so, what are you making? Do you have any good alternatives to cookies?
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How do you watch those holiday pounds?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By now most of us have loosened our belt a notch or two. It starts with a steady diet of just “a piece or two” of Halloween candy through most of October. Then there’s the big blowout Thanksgiving meal and, if you are lucky, days of leftovers pie (and while you’re at it, just a dollop of whipped cream).
Blink your eye and Christmas candy is dotting the shelves. My family has already been snacking on a pre-holiday shipment of chocolate covered marshmallows my sister sent. It’s only a matter of time until we succumb to the boxes of peppermint bark and toffee that beckon us from the shelves at Trader Joe’s. I think I already gained a pound just looking at the holiday catalogues from Crate & Barrel and Wms. Somona.
How do you manage holiday overeating? Do you have any secrets to share…besides just keeping our mouth’s shut!
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What’s on your ideal Thanksgiving table?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We have learned a few things about your Thanksgiving druthers. It’s Dressing, cooked outside the bird. And there’s a strong contingent clamoring for Sweet Potato Pie, followed by Pecan (pee-CAN!) rather than Pumpkin.
But Jeanne Besser’s pie debate provoked a few readers to offer their ideal menu for Thanksgiving Dinner. Take a look at these excerpts and then offer your own menu below.
And exactly how many of you serve Macaroni and Cheese on Thanksgiving? For me, speaking selfishly, the most important dishes after the turkey are the cranberries (i prefer the jelled kind, but my better half prefers whole cranberries) and bread-crumb dressing. But that’s just me. What dishes are must-haves on YOUR Thanksgiving plate?
Happy Thanksgiving!
By brittany: it’s just not a real thanksgiving with out a southern spread: collards, black eye peas, baked mac and cheese, yams(don’t ruin them w/marshmallows!)turkey, cranberry sauce,mashed potatos, corn bread, corn bread DRESSING. and SWEET POTATO PIE. Pumpkin is not terrible, but it’s not as homey and yummy :)
By Jeffrey of Nashville: So let’s not get this confused. On Thanksgiving Day the Southern table will look like this: Turkey, Dressing, Mac & Cheese, Turnip or Collard Greens, Yellow or White Squash,Green or Blackeye or Field Peas, Green Beans, Potato Salad, and Cranberry Sauce. All of this will be complimented by: Sweet Tea and a deep dish slice of SWEET POTATO PIE!
By Nicole: I lived in New Jersey till I was 10 Florida till I was 15, and Ga since. I am now 28. I lived more of my life in the south, and more of my life in Georgia at that. However, growing up with family from the north: Its stuffing all the way baby! which means…stove top, chicken flavored stove top to be exact, and nothing else will do. When it comes to pie…Pumpkin! Sweet potatos (potatoes?) anyway… are our side dish at Thanskgiving, smashed and mixed with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon and nutmeg, then covered with mini marshmallows, baked till golden brown. But its pumpking pie on the table for dessert, along with Pecan, and a moist delicious chocolate swiss cake roll, that we apparently didn’t have enough of, because it was what everyone wanted..they totally skipped over the pumpking and pecan and went straight for the swiss roll, there were no left overs much to my regret..so next year, I think we will have two of those and one pumpkin pie. We don’t use cool whip..we use whipped cream.
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Are you cutting costs this Thanksgiving?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have to say I was relieved when my friend, Cheryl, decided to host Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving has always been a favorite holiday, but as fun as it is, it also is expensive. In other years I could justify it, but this year, like most people I am watching every penny.
In the past, my home has been holiday central, with at least 25 people for dinner. With a crowd that size, I had splurged by renting plates and cutlery. It not only made the table attractive, but also eliminated most of my washing up (all you need to do is a quick rinse). Having a virtual clean-up free holiday justified that expense, but now I think I’d go with mismatched place settings and prepare myself to be washing dishes for as long as it took.
Lucky, my guests always helped out with sides, but between my extra-large turkey, buying nice wine and still cooking most of the meal, there was no way to get around the dent in the wallet.
Are you cutting back this holiday? What are you willing to compromise on? What won’t you give up?
Related: A simple holiday menu, with recipes | Atlanta Money Saving Tips
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Southern pie question: Sweet potato or pumpkin?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After reading the comments in my recent blog Do You Eat Stuffing Or Dressing it seems that where you hail from plays a big part of what is served with the turkey. Readers from Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama all made it crystal clear. There was no debate. Only dressing would do. Stan even called stuffing “EVIL!”
It made me wonder if this strong regional preference plays into what (besides pecan pie) is going to be on your dessert table. Do Southerners only want sweet potato pie, or, is pumpkin pie welcome to share buffet space?
Most would agree, although their textures differ slightly, there are a lot of similarities. Both have custard-like filling with near identical spices. But it seems from the last blog, southerners prefer sweet potato. In her comment, Rebecca tells of baking a pumpkin pie for her northern-bred hubby and being told by her mother “No one likes that— they won’t eat it — it isn’t tradition.” That’s harsh!
What is it about sweet potato pie that makes it more desirable here? At least with pumpkin pie you can open a can of pureed pumpkin and you’re halfway done. There’s no getting out of cooking those sweet potatoes.
Tell us why your favorite is best, and then take part in our Holiday Guide Thanksgiving Food Poll, starting with the burning question: Turkey or Ham?
RELATED: Thanksgiving recipes from our recipe file, dressing AND stuffing
Permalink | Comments (132) | Post your comment | Categories: Home cooking
Latest comments
I very seldom eat the homeade treats. I have a few parents that send them throughout the year and most of them are active w/PTO or will come and volunteer sometimes. My knowledge of/interaction with the parent dictates whether I will eat the treats.... read the full comment by Old School Al | Comment on Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday? Read Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday?
A friend hipped me to a wonderful gift for teachers that is under $10. Pier 1 has these awesome and beautifully decorated Christmas Tree ornaments that they make each year with the year printed or engraved on them. The come in really nice ornament boxes... read the full comment by PTA President | Comment on Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday? Read Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday?
We middle school teachers get very few gifts since it’s not “cool” to give your teacher anything at this age. However, when we do, it’s always appreciated and welcome.I do have to agree that the sheer volume of cookies, fudge etc.... read the full comment by peanuts | Comment on Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday? Read Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday?
Wow, who knew so many cookies get dumped in the trash. We have always made an edible treat for teachers, bus drivers and other staff members. One year was sour cream poundcake with a jar of cranberry orange sauce, another year was layered peppermint hot... read the full comment by Chef | Comment on Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday? Read Are you opting for homemade gifts this holiday?