DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   Put on a pot of coffee and gather the girls for a morning getaway. Mocha latté fans will love the rich and creamy flavor of these make ahead bars. Ingredients   Chocolate Crust 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened 1 (3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened 2/3 cup sugar 6 large eggs 1/3 cup whipping cream 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules 9 (1-oz.) semisweet chocolate baking squares 1 tablespoon plus 1 tsp. vanilla extract Garnishes: powdered sugar, chocolate-covered coffee beans, thawed whipped topping Preparation 1. Prepare Chocolate Crust as directed. Increase oven temperature to 375°. 2. Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 to 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. 3. Microwave whipping cream in a 1-cup microwave-safe measuring cup at HIGH 30 seconds or until very hot. Stir in coffee...

    Want a better way to enjoy those fast food favorites of yours?   Cook or bake some of your favorite takeout treats on your own, without having to go out and get them!  Think of how much money you will save. So, here they are, some of  the top 10 secret recipes of all time! 1. McDonald’s Big Mac Ingredients Sauce 1/4 cup Miracle Whip 1/4 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons french salad dressing 1/2 tablespoon sweet relish 2 teaspooons dill pickle relish 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon dried, minced onion 1 teaspoon white vinegar 1 teaspoon ketchup 1/8 teaspoon salt The Rest 1 regular sized sesame seed bun 1 regular sized plain bun 2 beef patties (2 ounces each flattened to bun size) 2 tablespoons Big Mac sauce 2 teaspoons reconstituted onions 1 slice real American cheese 2 hamburger pickle slices 1/4 cup shredded lettuce Directions To make the sauce, mix together all the ingredients about one hour before using. ...

History of the Iditarod     The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race first ran to Nome in 1973, after two short races on part of the Iditarod Trail in 1967 and 1969. The idea of having a race over the Iditarod Trail was conceived by the late Dorothy Page . In 1964, Page was chairwoman of the Wasilla-Knik Centennial and was working on projects to celebrate Alaska's Centennial Year n 1967.     She was intrigued that dog teams could travel over land that was not accessible by autos. In the early 1920's, settlers had come to Alaska following a gold strike. They traveled by boat to the coastal towns of Seward and Knik and from there, by land into the gold fields. The trail they used is today known as The Iditarod Trail, one of the National Historic Trails as so designated b the U.S. Congress. In the winter, their only means of travel was by dog team.     The Iditarod Trail soon became the major thoroughfare through Alaska. Mail wa...

   This diy comes from www.thenewnew.blogspot.com .  I very ingenious idea if you love to mess around with clay and sculpt your own holiday figurines and other misc. items.  It's also alot cheaper that buying fimo clay (they are the ones that make most of the polymer clay you find at arts and crafts stores)  at the craft store. Have fun and make something today! Homemade Polymer Clay At different points over the last few years I've played around with different kinds of homemade "clay." My favorite is a polymer clay also known as cold porcelain. Its main ingredients are cornstarch and white PVA or Elmer's glue. I like it because it's smooth and a little bit elastic to work with and dries extremely hard. It's also relatively non-porous so it takes paint really well. And it doesn't degrade over time like baker's clay or salt clay does. I've used it to cover blown-out chicken eggs for Christmas ornaments, as well as to make various and...

The Institute of Holiday Studies has released the top ten fears that people face during the Holidays. Parkaphobia - The fear that you will circle and circle the parking lot for ever, never actually making it into the mall. You will run out of gas on the 100th time you circle and you will slowly starve to death in your car. Planeaphobia - The fear that someone in your family will actually expect you to pick them up at the airport, when you even offer to pay for their taxi, no matter know much it costs. Similar to parkaphobia, you will be doomed to circling the airport for ever, while their plane is an hour late, they stop for a Latte' on the way to the baggage counter, then spend two hours looking for their lost bag, which will come in tomorrow, meaning you get to make another trip to the airport. Giftaphobia -You and your new boyfriend are exchanging gifts for the first time on Christmas. You both promised to keep it simple. But what does ...

   You can't compare it to any other competitive event in the world. A race over 1150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. She throws jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast at the mushers and their dog teams. Add to that, temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs and side hills, and you have the Iditarod. From Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, each team of 12to 16 dogs and their musher, cover over 1150 miles in 10 to 17 days .     It has been call the "Last Great Race on Earth" and it has won worldwide acclaim and interest. German, Spanish, British, Japanese and American film crews have covered the event. Journalists from outdoor magazines, adventure magazines, newspapers and wire services...

   This extra-moist recipe is loaded with ripe bananas and ready for you to steal a quick bite. February 23rd is National Banana Bread Day, so do your patriotic duty and get to baking. Your taste buds will thank you. Ingredients 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 medium-size ripe bananas, mashed 1/2 cup sugar 1 large egg, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted Vegetable cooking spray Preparation 1. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. 2. Stir together bananas and next 4 ingredients; add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Gently fold in walnuts. 3. Pour batter into a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. 4. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Coo...