The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

One Week To Go-What'll We Do?

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

It seems everyone is hurrying to have all the preparations made for Christmas. Even though some celebrate Christmas early, and others celebrate after the 25th, a day is selected and a deadline must be met with our list of to do's.

Quill Editor, Shirley Linder, took time to pull out one of the recipes from last week's Christmas Book and made them. She said it was quick and easy and so very good with the sweet and salty tastes mixed together. It was the Bugle Bites recipe put in the book courtesy of Betty June Mapes of La Harpe. It only takes 3 ingredients - A box of salty Bugles, a sack of red and green M&Ms and some white Almond Bark, melted. If only I had had room for the picture of these cute little easy treats, but here is the picture of how they look when they are finished.

It would be a fun project to do with your grandkids or with the entire family and makes great gifts for kids or students going back to college.

Another colorful and easy recipe that I read was a traditional appetizer before the Christmas dinner was the Waldorf Salad. It is so easy and refreshing. I took a couple Weirs red Jonathans and a couple of Golden Delicious apples (boy am I going to miss Weir's) and washed and cored them, and sliced up the remainder with the pretty skins still on.

I added 2 stalks of fresh chopped celery, 3/4 cups chopped walnuts, and sweet Holiday red grapes cut in half and then I sprinkled the entire bowl of fruit with 2 tablespoon of real lemon juice to keep the apples fresh and give an extra crisp taste.

Usually it calls for 1 cup of mayonnaise, but I love the fresh taste without the extras. Serve it on a a salad plate ontop a lettuce leaf.

I found out when I was in Texas, that there's a caramel whipped cream topping, and when it is added on top, it gives it a little carmel apple taste and some sweetness, plus it is a lot lighter in calories.

Remember, whatever you make, it will be great, for it's the company of friends and loved ones together celebrating Christ's birthday that is the real focus of Christmas.