Thanksgiving Napkin Rings

After Halloween, I bought two containers of candy corn. One is Caramel flavored, and the other is Caramel Apple flavored. I plan to use them in the cookies the kids and I bake later, but I also used them to make napkin rings for our table.


This is a time consuming task, and it can't be done too early, or the candy corn will go stale. This works with just about any soft candy. I got the idea from my step-mom, who did this with Jelly Beans at Easter one year.





Candy Corn Napkin Rings

You'll Need:
Candy Corn
Thread
Needle** This needle will be pretty gross when you are done, so you may want to use one you don't mind throwing away!

1. Thread the needle with a long length of thread, and double it over to tie off.
2. Using the top of your desk, table, or other hard surface, prop the end of the needle, so you can gently push down on it with the candy corn. If you push too hard, the candy will break. I found it easier to push through the candy when the needle was braced against the desk.
3. Keep stringing them on until you have about 15-20 candies in place, then knot the end, and tie it to the start of the thread to form a ring. The candies will swivel on the string, allowing rolled up napkins to easily pass through.

 

  

 

Good luck! You might want to try alternating between flavors, or adding in Indian corn (my favorite!)

Thanksgiving Place Cards

Tonight, I made a gorgeous wreath using harvest colored Christmas ornaments. When I was done, I was left with 6 ornaments, 3 in a muted gold color, 2 in burgundy, and 1 that was much more red than the burgundy. Because I needed my glue gun, I uncovered a small tub I had tucked away with odds and ends in it.

After finishing the wreath, I started to sort through the tub, and clean & organize it somewhat. In the process, I found 3 packs of fake autumn leaves I had picked up to use last year. I also uncovered a metallic gold paint marker. I was messing around with the leaves, and drew gold lines along the veins of the leaves, then I got an idea.

Why not glue several leaves together, then add one of the ornaments to the top? And my lovely little Thanksgiving Place Cards (I use that term loosely, as they are not cards at all) were born.

I just love them, and they are VERY inexpensive to make!

Thanksgiving Place Cards

You'll Need:
Shatter Proof Ornaments in Harvest Colors
Fake Fall Leaves
Glue Gun
Metallic Gold Paint Marker

Total Cost:
For me, I used only left overs from past projects, so while I paid for the items, the costs were accounted for already, so.. free. The ornaments can be found at Dollar Tree in packs of 5 for $1 ($.20 each). The leaves can also be found at some Dollar Tree's in packs of around 30 for $1. I used 3 per grouping, costing roughly $.03 each. That would make each one roughly $.23 to make.

1. Glue leaves in a grouping of 3-4. I used 3, so they line the front and sides, but not the back.
2. Using the paint marker, draw along the veins of the leaves, for a bit of glitz.
3. Spread hot glue along the top in a slightly curving line, and glue the ornament with the hook side down against one end. This helps stabilize it.
4. Carefully pick it up, and if it's not too hot, use your finger along the under side to tack the leaves securely against the bulb

I made 5, as there are 5 of us. The last ornament was too red, I thought, to really look great against the leaves. I do wish I had an orange ornament or two left, though, but they are all on my wreath.

Homemade "Peeps"

Today as I was cruising through the blogosphere, I cam across a blog I hadn't seen yet: Frugal Family Fun Blog, by Valerie. It has some pretty cool frugal fun ideas posted, and I'm only on page 2!

The idea that caught my eye, however, were Super Easy Marshmallow Pumpkins. She's right- they are super easy, and look like they'd be fun at any party for the people who love peeps.

It got me thinking, though... how could those translate into Christmas treats? They could easily be made for Thanksgiving, as is- cute little pumpkins as a cute, easy to make Thanksgiving treat. I started considering peeps themselves. Already I've seen the Snowmen and the Christmas Tree peeps on the shelves. But, the tree would require cutting and shaping, and the Snowman would require attaching two of them together.

Then it hit me- Christmas Ornaments! You could make all sorts of colors, and use gel icing to draw designs on the front of them, and use silver or gold metallic gel icing to put the blob on top!

I am so excited to try these now. I do believe we may have to make a small handful for Thanksgiving, and some more for the various Christmas parties we attend. I know they'll be a hit!

Thanks for the great idea, Valerie!

Thanksgiving Treats Seems To Be Big

Though my little blog has been around less than a month, I have noticed that I am already receiving hits from people doing web searches. Google in particular has really picked up on my posts. The topics vary, but the biggest hit seems to be people wanting to find new Thanksgiving Treats.

Now that Halloween is done, Thanksgiving is the next holiday looming ahead for most people. I've noticed that in often, Thanksgiving is over looked as a plan-ahead holiday, in lieu of people frantically trying to figure out what they are going to do for Christmas. Seeing how many hits I am getting from people looking up Thanksgiving, it makes me smile.

So, in honor of the many wonderful web hits I've gotten from people wanting to find new treats, here area few additions to my growing list of Thanksgiving Treats.

Hot Chocolate-Marshmallow Pudding

What You'll Need:
1 4oz package of pudding mix- any chocolate flavor (white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, etc)
1 cup mini marshmallows
2/3 cup whipped cream topping.

Prepare the pudding according to the directions, and stir in the marshmallows.
Scoop the mix evenly into single serving size microwaveable dishes.
Microwave on high for 35 secs, or until the marshmallows begin to melt & the pudding is heated through. Stir, and top with a scoop of whipped cream.

5 Minute Triple Layer Cookie Cream Pie

What You'll Need:
Milk
2 4-serving size packages of pudding mix (The recipe calls for Chocolate, but you can mix & match with great results!)
1 tub of whipped cream, thawed, divided
1 pie crust- either graham cracker or Oreo cookie, depending on the flavor you go for.
10-12 sandwich cookies

This pie is super easy, and goes over VERY well.
Mix 1 box of pudding according to directions, and add the 2nd mix in. Do not add extra milk!
Set aside 3 cookies, then break and crumble the rest.
In a bowl, mix half the pudding mix with half of the whipped cream, and the cookie crumbles.
In the pie crust, smooth the plain pudding across the bottom. Top with the cookie, pudding, whipped cream mix.
Top the pie with plain whipped cream. Break the remaining 3 cookies into halves, and insert into the top of the pie. Keep cold until you serve.

Notes:

First off, do not use canned whipped cream- it melts!

When I was first given this recipe, it was called the Oreo Cream Pie. I used chocolate pudding, an oreo crust, and oreo cookies. Over time, I came to realize that the flavors could change easily, by using different types of sandwich cookies, puddings, and crusts. Here are some ideas:

Oreo Double Chocolate: Oreo Cookies, Oreo Crust, Chocolate Pudding & Chocolate Whipped Cream
Strawberry Vanilla: Vanilla cookies, Graham crust, vanilla pudding & Strawberry whipped cream
Oreo 2: Oreo cookies, Oreo crust, 1 box vanilla or Oreo pudding, 1 box Chocolate pudding- for this one, prepare the puddings apart using half the required milk in each package. mix the cookies in with the Vanilla or Oreo pudding OR the chocolate pudding, and layer it.
Butterscotch Vanilla: Use butterscotch pudding, with vanilla cookies & a graham crust.

I'd love to hear more ideas! This pie takes about 5 minutes to make, and there is almost always a little left over mix to dip cookies into. I remember one Christmas eve where the kids and I sat around dipping oreos and watching Christmas specials.

Both recipes are easy for kids to help make, and tasty, kid approved flavors. The pie is a fantastic addition to any holiday meal, and can be done easily, quickly, and best of all, frugally.

Thanksgiving Cookies

As Halloween dawns on us, I am already looking towards Thanksgiving. Over the past few years, my family has started to make our own traditions. In 2003, I let everyone know, gently, that my little family was going to stay home on Thanksgiving, instead of traveling the 70 minutes to my Grandparent's home. My Grandma was very supportive of us starting our own traditions.

In 2004, we went back to doing Thanksgiving with family, and in retrospect, I am glad we did. My Grandma passed away on October 27th, 2005, so 2004 was our last Thanksgiving together. This time of year is hard for me, as her passing was unexpected, and close to Halloween. We said our final good bye's on November 1st, 2005.

From 2005 on, we have had our own, quiet Thanksgiving at home. We go all out, and make a huge meal, and eat off left overs for days. It's far more relaxing than when we were running around, driving all over the place. It's good for us, because we have our own traditions now.

Meanwhile, here are more fun kids recipes for Thanksgiving.

Pilgrim Hat Cookies

What You'll Need:
Fudge Strip Cookies
Melting Chocolate
Large Marshmallows
Yellow Decorating Icing with a Piping Tip
Toothpicks

Optional:
Individual cellophane bags
Twist Ties or Ribbon
Cardstock Tag

1. Melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, or on the stove top- adult supervision required!
2. Lay out several cookies ahead of time, with the fudge side up, and the striped side down.
   
3. Insert a toothpick into the flat side of a marshmallow, and dip them in chocolate, coating all sides.
4. Moving quickly, press the coated marshmallow onto the middle of the cookie, and let it cool there.
5. Once all of these are done, and the chocolate has hardened, use the yellow icing to pipe a square 'buckle' onto the front, like on a pilgrims hat.
6. If you want, you can wrap these individually in a cello bag, and tie with a twist tie, or pretty ribbon. Attach a cardstock tag with a name on it, and these can be used as place setting tags! The Thumbprint Turkey Placecard design would look nice on these.

Pilgrim Hat Cookies 2

What You'll Need:
Fudge Strip Cookies
Miniature Peanut Butter Cups
Yellow Icing
Mini Orange Chiclet Gum, or Orange Icing

Optional:
Cellophane Bags
Twist Ties or Ribbon
Cardstock Tags

1. Using a rubber spatula, spread icing on the top of the peanut butter cup, and set the cup upside down onto the fudge side of the cookie.
2. Using a piping tip, line the outside of the peanut butter cup with yellow icing.
3. Place a chiclet in the yellow icing to make a 'buckle', or pipe orange icing in a square over the yellow icing to form a buckle.
4. If you want, you can wrap these individually in a cello bag, and tie with a twist tie, or pretty ribbon. Attach a cardstock tag with a name on it, and these can be used as place setting tags! The Thumbprint Turkey Placecard design would look nice on these.
   

Pilgrim Hat Cookies 3

What You'll Need:
Chocolate Wafer Cookies, such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers
Miniature Peanut Butter Cups
Yellow Icing
Orange Icing

Optional:
Cellophane Bags
Twist Ties or Ribbon
Cardstock Tags

1. Using a rubber spatula, spread icing on the top of the peanut butter cup, and set the cup upside down onto the cookie.
2. Using a piping tip, line the outside of the peanut butter cup with yellow icing.
3. Pipe orange icing in a square over the yellow icing to form a buckle.
4. If you want, you can wrap these individually in a cello bag, and tie with a twist tie, or pretty ribbon. Attach a cardstock tag with a name on it, and these can be used as place setting tags! The Thumbprint Turkey Placecard design would look nice on these.

With all these fun, east to make cookies, your treat will be the most talked about at the table!

Thanksgiving Kids Crafts

These are more of those craft ideas that can help keep little hands busy while the adults make their Thanksgiving Feast. It would also make for a fun school craft while talking about Thanksgiving.

Harvest Necklace

What You'll Need:
Thread or Fishing line
Needle
Cheerios
Dried Fruit- Raisins, Apricots, Apples, Cranberries, etc
Popped Corn

This is a simple project, just stringing things on a thread. Set each child up with a length of thread or fishing line, knotted on one end, and threaded through a needle on the other side.

Let the kids do an assortment or pattern of the foods provided on the thread. When it's close to full, take it off the needle, and tie together like a necklace for the kids to wear, and snack on!

Candy Cornucopia

What You'll Need:
Sugar Waffle Cones
Fruit Shaped Candies or cereal or Nuts & Dried Fruit
Decorating frosting with a writing tip

Have the kids or an adult write their names on the side of the waffle cone. Once it's dried, let the kids scoop some candies or dried fruit & nuts into the cone for their own cornucopia Thanksgiving treat!

Thumbprint Turkey Placecards

What You'll Need:
Ink pads in various fall colors- browns, golds, oranges, reds, and yellows
Black & Red Marker
Construction Paper or Card Stock

• Press a thumb into the inkpad and then on paper to print a turkey's body. Use the same technique with fingertips to create a head and feathers.

• Use markers to add a beak, wattle and feet.

• Complete the cards by writing in guests' names

Most of all- have fun, and enjoy your upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday!

Thanksgiving Turkey Treat Holder

Once Halloween passes, it's all too easy to rush right past Thanksgiving, and zoom towards Christmas. Planning, decorating, shopping... it can take over! Thanksgiving is a holiday rich in tradition, and family. Here is a craft idea I found online today, that I think would make for a fun weekend project. It would be inexpensive, and would make for a fun addition to any Thanksgiving table this November!

Turkey Treat Holder

What You'll Need:
Small Terra Cotta Pots- probably votive candle sized.
Sheets of foam or felt in red, yellow, orange, & brown
Googly eyes
Glue
Candy

• Start by cutting 5 "feather" shapes from the red, yellow, & orange colored foam or felt. You'll want an assortment, with 5 total 'feathers'.
• Cut a heart shape from the red foam or felt, and a small triangle from the orange felt or foam.
• Next, cut a long oval from the brown foam or felt. This will be your turkey's head.
• Glue the googly eyes in place on the head, near one end. Glue the orange triangle just below it, with one of the points aiming towards the side.
• Glue the heart onto the bottom of the pot, so that the two rounded humps stick out like feet.
• Glue the feathers into place on the back, over lapping them from the center outward in a fan shape.
• Once the eyes & beak are dry, glue the head onto the front of the pot.
• When the turkey is completely dry, fill with candy, and set them out.
  

If you are having a large gathering, these would make for a good craft to keep the younger group busy while the adults make the meals.

Thanksgiving Treats

Thanksgiving is coming faster than I anticipated. Already, I'm looking forward to the lazy day at home with Nick and the kiddos, a warm house, food on the table, and the parade on TV while Nick and I make a wonderful Turkey dinner.

One thing I plan to do this year with the kids, is make some edible Turkey's out of cookies and candy. They're super adorable, and the kids will love them! We've never tried them before, but they look super easy to make.

What you will need:

• Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, or Oreo style sandwich cookies
• Candy Corn
• Chocolate frosting
• Hershey’s Whoppers
• Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
• White tubed frosting

First, you take the cookie, and 6 pieces of candy corn, and insert them into the sandwich frosting, tip first, so that it creates a tail fan.

Next, take the frosting, peanut butter cup, and whopper, and let's make a body. Unwrap the peanut butter cup (actually unwrap two- one to use, one to eat), and turn it on it's side. Smear a bit of frosting onto the top, and press the whopper into it.

From there, you will want to use the white frosting to create two eyes, and a small mouth on the milk ball- you'll want the smaller flat side of the peanut butter cup facing outward.

From there, cover the larger flat side of the PB Cup with more frosting, and press it onto the cookie, towards the bottom away from the tail fan. Use a second cookie to lay flat, and use frosting to secure the bird to the bottom cookie, so it has a 'stand'.

You can play around with other items- some people break the tip of a candy corn off, and use it for a beak on the whopper for the turkey.


For the next treat, you will want:

• Round, baked sugar cookies
• Chocolate or Vanilla Frosting
• M&M Mini's
• Orange tubed frosting

Frost a rainbow type arch along one side of the cookie, and start laying out candy corn on it, to create a tail fan- these can either stick out past the cookie, or be completely on the cookie.

Using more frosting, secure 2 M&M Mini's in the middle to use as eyes.

With the orange tubed frosting, use the small round piping head, and pipe on two feet, and you have adorable Turkey sugar cookies for Thanksgiving!