Christmas Dinner Recipes

All of my favorite Holiday Dinner Recipes

My all time favorite Turkey Recipe found: here

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     This is the moistest turkey recipe I have ever tasted.  I didn't know it was possible for white meat to

     be moist and this was excellent.  And the flavor was great as well!  It is really easy and falls off the bone.

     The only draw back I found? It ties up the oven for a hours.

Easiest Ham Recipe:

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     Just follow the instructions on the package, BUT cook in the crock pot. 

Holiday Sweet Potato Recipe found: here

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     This Sweet Potato Casserole is amazing, and I am not a huge fan of sweet potatoes, but this is like

     dessert. Only cooks for 30 minutes and can be cooked in advance.

Holiday Vegetable Recipe found: here

{sorry for my poor picture}

    The perfect vegetable side.  Better and healthier than traditional Green Been Casserole.

 I personally don't like Green Bean Casserole, but even if you do, this is still excellent.  It is healthy and

     fresh and has great flavor.

Candied Walnut Salad found: here

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My all time favorite salad, perfect for every occasion.

Pears can be swapped for raspberries or strawberries.

Pretzel Jello Recipe found: here

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This side is really like dessert and always a hit.

Cranberry Bread with Cream Sauce found: here

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The cream sauce makes this.  And it is more dessert than bread, but it is excellent.

Graham Cracker Crust Jello

This is one of those recipes I had since I was a kid.  We weren't a jello family, but this was part of our holiday dinners and it is like dessert.

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Graham Cracker Crust Jello

Crust

1 ½ c crushed graham crackers

¼ c sugar

½ c melted butter

Mix together and pat into bottom of 9x13 pan. Chill until set.

Jello

3 pkg (3 oz each) strawberry jello

3 c boiling water

1- 16 oz pkg frozen strawberries (optional)

1 – 20 oz can crushed pineapple w/juice (optional)

8 oz cream cheese- softened

1 c sour cream

¼ c sugar

Directions

In large bowl dissolve jello in boiling water. Add frozen strawberries and un-drained pineapple. Pour half the mixture into a 9x13 pan and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. (make sure the jello is cool and starting to set before putting into the graham cracker crust or the crust will soften and start to float up into the jello) In mixer, beat cream cheese with sour cream and sugar; spread over chilled, set layer. Gently spoon remaining gelatin mixture on top. Refrigerate until firm. About 2 hours. (or you can use the cream cheese filling to top the jello instead of in the middle).

Cranberry Bread with Cream Sauce

It's called Cranberry Bread, but it is really cake and since it is bakes in a bunt pan...I think it should be called cake. We eat it for breakfast Christmas Morning, for dessert, for snacks...because it is so good, you end up eating all day.

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Cranberry Bread with Cream Sauce

2 c sugar

4 tsp baking powder

6 Tb butter

½ tsp salt

2 eggs

2 c milk

4 c flour

3 c whole cranberries (rinsed)

 

Directions:

Blend well; sugar, butter, eggs. In separate bowl mix together; flour, baking powder, salt. Add dry ingredients to sugar mixture alternately with milk. Stir in cranberries. Pour into greased and floured loaf pans (2) or bunt pan. Bake 45 minutes at 350’.

Cream Sauce (what makes it Divine)

1 c sugar

½ c butter

¾ c cream

1 tsp vanilla

splash of lemon juice

Bring to slow boil for 3 minutes. Stir constantly.

Candied Walnut Salad

This Salad is another favorite.  My cute sister in law made if for Thanksgiving a few years back and it is my favorite. (the image below shows pears, but she used strawberries and it was excellent)

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Candied Walnut Salad

½ c walnut halves

¼ c. sugar

3 c. mixed greens

½ c. dried cranberries

½ c. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

1 tbsp raspberry vinaigrette

1 tbsp white vinegar

1 tbsp olive oil

*Optional: Pears, Raspberries or Sliced Strawberries

Directions:

Candied walnuts: Place walnuts and sugar in a skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves into a light brown liquid and coats the walnuts. Remove walnuts from skillet, and spread them out on a sheet of aluminum foil to cool.

Salad: Place in a large salad bowl the mixed greens, cranberries, cheese, vinaigrette, vinegar, and olive oil. Toss gently; add candied walnuts, and toss again.

Baked Vegetables

These mixed vegetables are another new found recipe this year.  While visiting friends on vacations, they made these...and the flavor and texture was excellent.  So we added them to our holiday spread and will definitely continue it in the future.  They were easy, fast, and healthy!

{this picture doesn't do justice}

Baked Vegetables

green beans

broccoli

cauliflower

garlic clove, minced

olive oil

Parmesan cheese, shredded

1 lemon

Line cookie sheet with foil. Wash, cut, and prep vegetables. Spread vegetables over foil, drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with minced garlic and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 for 45 min. Remove from oven and squeeze juice of lemon over the top.

*I prefer to toss vegetables in bowl with oil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.

Ruth Chris' Sweet Potato Casserole

This is another recipe new to me this year...and it is also excellent! 

A friend brought this to a Holiday Recipe exchange and I will definitely make it every year in the future. 

And before now, I avoided all Sweet Potato Casseroles.

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Ingredients

Crust

1 c brown sugar

1/3 c flour

1 c chopped pecans

¼ c butter, melted

 

Sweet Potato Mixture

3 heaping cups mashed sweet potatoes

1 c sugar

½ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs, beat

½ c butter, melted

Directions

Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in mixing bowl. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and butter in a mixing bowl in the order listed. Mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish.

Bake for 10 min.

Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with crust mixture. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to set at least 20-30 min.

Brown Paper Bag Turkey

I'm not the biggest turkey fan.  I like it on sandwiches and I enjoy it for the holidays, but I have never been impressed with it.  Until this year.  A cute friend of mine, gave me this recipe and it made the most moist and flavorful turkey I have ever had.  It is easy, but it takes the oven for a while...but completely worth it!

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1.Thaw turkey as instructed on package.

2.Remove wrapper, giblets & neck from inside turkey cavity. Wash turkey inside and out.

3.Prepare spices by pouring salt, pepper, garlic, sage, etc. into medium bowl. Mix together and rub spices inside & outside of turkey. Be generous with spices. I usually use 4 good handfuls.

4.Oil the inside of large paper grocery bag. I use stick of butter.

5.Place turkey inside the bag. Staple closed. If turkey is too large put one on each end.

6.Place bagged turkey (with breast down) in roasting pan. I used a large stainless steal bowl works, as it keeps the juices up around the turkey.

7.Cover securely with aluminum foil.

8.Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Roast turkey for 30-45 min. (10-12lb. Turkey for 30 min, bigger turkey takes longer.)

*The purpose is to thoroughly heat the whole bird to eliminate the chances of salmonella*

9.Reduce heat to 250 degrees. Roast for remainder of time. 10-12lb turkey for 7-9 hours, a 20lb turkey for 10-12 hours. (I suggest using a digital thermometer...it helps insure it isn't dry.

10.Remove from oven with enough time to de-bone and make gravy

 

*After slicing, pour some of the juice over the meat.

Favorite Spritz Cookie Recipe

This is my favorite Spritz Cookie recipe.  It has a hint of orange in it, that really makes the difference.

Ingredients:

4 ½ c flour

1 tsp baking powder

dash salt

1 ½ c butter

1 c sugar

1 egg

2 tbsp orange juice concentrate

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. Sift flower, baking powder and salt. In mixer cream butter and sugar. Then add egg and mix. Add juice and mix. Stir in dry ingredients. Refrigerate about 20-40 min. until desired constancy for pushing out of Spritz Cookie Press.

*Not shown: My personal favorite, is to dip half the cookie in melted dark chocolate.

DIY Board Book

I saw a cute board book on chefmessy.com. And I loved the idea. 

I followed her tutorial for making it, but she suggests printing the pictures on card stock then using double sided sticky tape and a dollar store board book. 

I made a few minor changes.  I wanted the book to be a little more durable.  So I ordered my pictures from Walmart.  Real photos last longer through the chewing and drool. 

To ensure that the pictures would hold, I peeled off the outer layer of the board book and each of its pages. Until it was just card board. (it pulls off easily)

Then I Glued and Modge Podged the pictures on securely.

It was really quick and easy...and a perfect Stocking Stuffer idea!

Knock off Christmas Light Post

I saw this light post at Hobby Lobby decorated with greenery, berries and a bow...and loved it.

But the price tag was really high, $93 with tax.  So I decided to look around and it was worth it.

The entire Christmas Light Post was just under $22.50, including tax.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

So there are always left overs and initially I love making the traditional Turkey Sandwich with cream cheese, cranberry sauce, and gravy on homemade rolls.  But after that, left overs get a little old.  So here are a few of my favorite recipes that use Thanksgiving Left Overs.

Here are tons of recipes from Rachel Ray.
Recipes found: here
And another by Rachel Ray found: here


I like that their is more than just Turkey Casserole, where you still feel like it's the same thing.  There's Turkey and Rice recipes, Soups, Enchiladas, etc.

And when I just need something on the fresh side I like,
Turkey Salad with Cranberries found: here



*I also freeze left overs and I like to make stock and freeze it in ice cube trays.  9 ice cubes equals 1 cup.

Key words: Turkey leftovers, Thanksgiving leftovers, Turkey leftovers recipes, Thanksgiving leftovers recipes.

Season Crate

I love this crate...my dad and husband made if for me years ago on a whim and I still use it constantly.
I exchange Christmas tree clippings with berries, pine cones, and candles, for wheat grass and eggs in the spring. Summer I use wheat grass with pails, flags, flowers, and 4th of July decor.  Then in the fall twigs, leaves, gourds and pine cones. Or any other ideas I come up with.

How it was made...
10: 3 ft x 1.5 inch strips of wood.
5: for the base, two for each long side
1: cut into four, 9 inch strips, two for each short side.
Simply Nail together on each short end board.

Fall Decor

Book Pumpkins found: here

Coffee Filter Wreath found: here

Fall Wreath from Coffee Filters

As I was taking this wreath down, I realized I never posted the making of it.
And my photo really washes the color out...and the crazy wind removed a few of my branches and berries, but after the few months on my door, I still love it. 

Plus it was super simple and inexpensive.

Materials:
floral foam wreath
Coffee Filters (300 pack from dollar store)
Tea Bags (about 50, also from dollar store)
Hot glue gun
Ribbon, twigs, berries, etc as desired

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450' F.  Fill large pot or bowl with hot water and dump in 50 tea bags.  Let sit for 15 min. Then stir and squish them getting the water as dark as possible.
2. Drop in approx. 50 coffee filters.  Separate before putting them in tea. Stir around, add another 50 and repeat.
3. Wring out coffee filters and spread out on cookie sheet.  Place in hot oven to dry. Bake approx. 15 min. or until dry.
4. While they are in the oven, repeat step 2.
5. Continue through all of the filters.
6. Glue a ribbon on foam wreath for hanging purposes.
7. Once dry, pinch center of each coffee filter and glue to wreath.  Place them pretty close together and securely glue them. Don't worry about putting them on the back.
8. After gluing all filters on, glue on ribbon and decorations.

caramel apples

I recently went to a girls night where they made and tasted Caramel and chocolate dipped apples with different candy coatings.  They were amazing.  So we had some friends over and made some ourselves.
Completely easy and really good.

Ingredients:
7 green apples
7 Popsicle sticks
Wax paper, sprayed with Pam
1 bag of Kraft Caramels
1 bag of chocolate chips
1 bag of fun size candy bars, chopped not smashed (shown are Snickers and Butterfingers)

*You can mix up the type of chocolate chips. We did some milk chocolate and some dark.  White chocolate is excellent, but any kind work.  Also, instead of candy bars you can use crushed Oreo cookies, pretzels, etc.  And, a big hit was white chocolate with cinnamon and sugar over it....tasted like apple pie!

Directions:
Wash apples (and take off stickers!)
Insert Popsicle sticks.
Melt caramels in nonstick pan over medium heat. Once fully melted spread over apples with spatula. It doesn't have to be nice and pretty or smooth, because it will all be covered and not seen. Place on GREASED wax paper.  They will stick if not greased! Once all the apples have been coated in caramel, push down any bubbles in the caramel. Melt chocolate chips in microwave.  Heating in increments of 30 seconds, then mix.  Once melted and at frosting consistency, spread over the caramel layer.  Again, it doesn't need to look pretty. Immediately roll and pack with chopped candy bars.

I like to slice them to serve...that way everyone can have some of each flavor.

Thanks for voting...Butter Beer Won!

I just want to thank you all for voting for my Butter Beer Blog entry.

It won the Halloween Recipe Hop!

Thanks for all your votes and support!

And yes, the Butter Beer is excellent...so try it for Halloween!

Favorite Halloween Recipe Voting

So I was asked to enter the Butter Beer Recipe, from our Harry Potter Party, on this Halloween Recipe Contest.  I just entered it yesterday, and found out the deadline for voting is tonight.

So, if you liked the Butter Beer Recipe...or just want to show your loyal support, Go Vote!

Vote here: RecipeLionBlog 

Scroll Down until you find the Butter Beer Recipe and click the "like" button.

The Story of Booing

This is another one of the many times I should have taken a picture but I forgot.

A year ago I got some goodies and this cute poem from a friend ...

But the picture of the ghost and the typing were really blurry and just a bad copy.

So this year I decided to start this tradition up with our family and I revamped the paper.

These are what I came up with.

I cut out the ghost and the Story separately and attached them to some goodies.

Then we took the boys "ding-dong-ditching".

Although I ended up in the car with a crying baby, our older boy loved it.

So here they are.  I doubled it so you could print two per page.

free download and printable Story of Boo-ing found: here

*The ghost image I found for free at: freedigitalscrapbooking.com

Printable Halloween Recipe Cards

With all the fun fall recipes and goodies we have been baking and delivering

I decided to put together some festive recipe cards to share.

free download and printable fall recipe cards found: here

Take Along Car Mat

 Both the Travel Car Mat  and this Car Caddy  have been huge hits with my boys.

So for this last birthday, I combined the two ideas and came up with this Take Along Car Mat.

I like how it only holds 4 cars.  The "Car Caddy" I made held 8...which was bulky and too many to keep track of at restaurants, appointments, etc.  Then the Travel Car Mat, didn't tote the cars along.

So combine the two ideas...and perfection!

Well, I made mine with all the scraps from both previous car mat projects and it was quick and simple...The entire project took less than an hour. And for me cost virtually nothing.

Directions below and printable link at bottom.

Printable Directions found: here & here

Very Hungry Caterpillar 1st Birthday Party

 We enjoyed all the food described in the book

and lots of treats.

White Board Calendar

I am all about calendars, planners...anything to keep me organized. But if it is going to be out or seen, I want one that looks cute. And, I like it to be reusable. (Less cost and effort).

So, I took an old picture from a garage sale. Removed the picture, painted the plain oak frame black. 

Used some Scrapbook paper for the background. 

Then glued on this Calendar, this Grocery List Square & Reminder Square.

And there you have it...a Calendar, Grocery List, Reminders, Meal Planning, etc...all in one place.

For more information on how I use this calendar for Weekly and Monthly Meal planning click: here

Peach Cinnamon Rolls

These were amazing Cinnamon Rolls and perfect for fall.  We have had so many peaches around which I love.  Then with my love for this peach cupcake frosting, I have been looking for more ways to use both of them.  And I came up with this combination.

Make dough from this Recipe: allrecipes.com's Soft, Moist, & Gooey Cinnamon Buns

Roll out dough. Spread softened butter over dough. Sprinkle with Cinnamon. Mix 3 tbsp of sugar & 3 tbsp of brown sugar in small bowl. Sprinkle all 6 tbsp over the dough. Peal and dice 3-4 peaches, sprinkle over dough. Roll up and slice. Place on buttered pan, spaced 1-2 inches apart.  Cover with towel and let rise until about double in size. (About 45 min to an hour)

Bake for 18-22 min at 350. Let cool until just warm.  Spread this Peach Frosting over buns when warm.

Fall Jars

Filling Apothecary Jars.

Nothing brilliant or super creative here, but just a simple tip...

Use a drinking glass placed upside down in the center of the jar.

This takes up space and you don't see it.

Less Candy Corn needed, more money saved and less to store.

*I also save my candy corn and reuse it each year.

No, we never eat it...but saves money and effort on my part.

Book Pumpkins

So I saw this cute idea from Craftberry Bush and fell in love with it.

Whether it is the love for books, or the soft look they give on the traditional pumpkin...

I don't know but I loved them. So I made my own.

I did mine a little different than Craftberry Bush explained, but still very easy.

Materials:

-Old Book

-Tea

-Stick

-Ribbon

-Scissors

-Glue

-Stapler

Instructions:

1. First take an old book (or buy one at good will)

2. Rip off the cover.

3. Trace and cut the cover to make the template for "half" of the pumpkin

4. Cut the edges of the book with scissors, regularly referring to the template.

*I liked cutting thick sections so it roughed up the edges

5. Dip all of the page edges into pot of tea.

6. Glue and/or staple 5-10 of the front and back pages together.

Securing the book into a pumpkin shape.

7. Insert stick with hot glue into the binding.

8. Add Ribbon for the bow.

*I didn't glue mine.  I only stapled the pages and pushed the stick in without glue. 

This way I can easily undo it and store it.

Boo Pumpkins

Simplest project yet.

Some gourds, and a Sharpie.

(The gourds I used are actually from last year.  I just dried them out.)

Halloween Ideas

I love Holidays and I love Halloween...

So I have been collecting and working on several different ideas for this year.  

Some have been completed but most are still just on my list of to do. 

White Chocolate Covered Cookie Ghosts: here

Cookie Candy Corn:  theidearoom

Ghost Bags: bhg.com

Mummy Candy Jars: Parents.com

Dare You to Eat It: eighteen25

And for the decorations!!!

  Halloween Newspaper signs: deckthehallsofhomewithjoy

  Vintage Halloween Signs: RhonnaDesigns (similarly at Tia Pan)

  Witch Legs: 1.bp (similarly at Tia Pan)

  Vintage Halloween Party: hostessblog

  Pumpkin Spiders: goodhousekeeping

  Candy Corn Pumpkins: bhg.com

  Orange Wreath: etsy.com

  Fall Wagon: bhg.com

  Book Pumpkin: Craftberry bush

Coconut Cupcakes

These coconut cupcakes come from the Barefoot Contessa...and are amazing!  Which how much butter they call for, they better be amazing. The original recipe can be found: here

This also makes and amazing cake...or my personal favorite is using this cake batter with the Peach Cream Cheese Frosting recipe found: here!

Cake Batter
3 sticks butter, room temperature
2 c sugar
5 eggs, room temperature
1 ½ tsp vanilla
1 ½ tsp almond extract
3 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 c buttermilk
14 ounces coconut
Frosting
1 pound cream cheese at room temperature
3 sticks butter, room temperature
1 tsp pure vanilla
1/2 tsp almond
1 ½ pounds confectioners' sugar

Directions:

With electric mixer & paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy, about 5 min. With mixer on low, add eggs, one at a time, scraping down after each addition. Add vanilla and almond extract. Mix well.

In separate bowl, sift flower, baking powder, soda, and salt. In 3 parts alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces of coconut.

Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each liner to the top with batter (I only do ¾ full). Bake for 25 to 35 minutes and 325' F, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

Peach Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Peach Frosting

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I found an amazing recipe for these at: Week of Menus

Adapted a few things, since peaches were in season and fell in love with these cupcakes.

Ingredients:

Batter

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
3/4 c. very finely diced peaches
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup pureed fresh peach
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Frosting
1 cup of butter, softened
8 oz of cream cheese, softened
1/3 c. very finely diced peaches
1/3 c pureed peach
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-5 cups of confectioners sugar

Directions:

Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a large measuring cup or bowl, mix together buttermilk, peach puree and vanilla extract. Set aside until needed.Using an electric mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl until pale, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in peaches.
Mix in flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two batches of buttermilk mixture. Mix until just combined, scraping down bowl as needed. Scoop batter into lined cupcake tins.

Bake at 350' F, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 21 to 24 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool in tins for 10 minutes, and then remove cupcakes and place them on a cooling rack. Makes about 24-28 cupcakes.

To make frosting: In a large mixing bowl, mix butter until it is softened and uniform. Add cream cheese and beat together until it is uniform. Add vanilla extract and mix. Add peaches and peach puree and mix. Add 3 cups of sugar to the mixture and mix. Add more sugar if necessary. Mix again until mixture is creamy and spreadable. Add more sugar if necessary.
 
* I also made this in cake form...which was delicious. 
*Also, using the frosting above and the cake from Coconut Cupcakes found: here
   it made an amazing, cake!

Shellac Nails

After 3 weeks...I didn't even think to take a picture at the beginning.

Excuse my funny shaped toes, but I wanted to show these nails. After 3 weeks, they are flawless.  The only exception being the grow out at my cuticles.

I love nice nails, but I don't love paying for pedicures. Especially on my hands, where nail polish chips with in days or even hours. But after a sweet mother's day gift from my husband, I got to go have a shellac manicure for both my hands and feet. And I have never been as impressed.

 I chose color for my toes, shown above and a french manicure for my hands. They lasted well past the 2 weeks they promised. In fact, I removed my fingers' paint only because they grew out to the point you could see the whites of my own nails coming through. And I wasn't careful with them, I just did things as usual. And things that would cause chipping immediately with normal polish didn't do anything to these.

My toes were able to last longer since they were a color.  I just made sure not to push back my cuticles...postponing the grown out look as long as possible. And, I clipped my nails as they grew, so they weren't too long...and it didn't chip polish.  It kept them looking fresh.

So...in a nutshell, I highly recommend them.
So much, in fact, that I am looking into purchasing the equipment and supplies to do it myself. I'll keep you posted.

Shirt Re-do's

Old plain shirts...in desperate need of some sprucing.

Food Storage Labels

I reorganized my food storage.

I added labels so that it looks nice and organized

& for my underlying purpose: hoping it will help my husband know where to put and find items.

So...here they are:

Sample Picture

Free Download and Printable Food Storage Labels: click here

*print on regular 8.5x11 inch paper

Harry Potter Invites

These invites I didn't originally plan to share. 

First of all they are far from perfect. 

I threw them together when I realized I needed them immediately in the mail to give my guests time to plan and respond.

But also, and more importantly, they aren't fully my creation.

I took a jpg/picture of Owl Post Mail from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, edited out the name and address.  Then made a back to match.  Also, the background for my "message" side is from a coloring page found: here placed on paper from: kevinandamanda.

(her site and fonts are well worth browsing through as well.)

For the download below, I removed my writing...but the fonts I used were:

Aquiline: for the Names

Civilian: for the Address

The King and Queen Font: for the Party Message

Free Download and Printable Harry Potter Party Invitation click: here

*note: I added a border around each, so that there is room for error when cutting and printing.

Harry Potter Party

**Update: Thanks for all of your interest and since this party I recently threw a Harry Potter Mystery Dinner Party which you can find: here.  It includes a Printable Harry Potter Murder Mystery Script, lots of Printables and Tutorials. Hope you enjoy!**

With the final Harry Potter Movie coming out...

we decided to celebrate with a

First the invites...

Invite tutorial link found below.

Then to the festivities.

 The food was so much fun to create...and eat.

Butter Beer & Elixir of Life (water)

Mugs from Dollar Store. 

Drink Tags & Labels downloadable below.

Snitch Truffles, Piroshky Draughts, Ollivander's Original Wands & Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

Herbology Bites, Moon Stone Cookies, Rock Cakes, Chocolate Frogs, Hogs Head Cornish Balls.

Treacle Tarts, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Creams, Felix Felicis Spinach Cheese Dip, Polyjuice Potion,  & Cockroach Clusters.
All food labels downloadable below.

 Decorations included old books and text books, candles, grapes,

candelabras, Gryffindor banners, and Hogwart Emblems.

Also the Maraurder's Map, Bottles of Butter Bear, Platform 9 3/4, Hogwarts signs, and Gryffindor Banners.

Banners, signs, decor...all downladable below.

Click on Name below for the Recipe Link:
Butter Beer
Elixir of Life
Chocolate Frogs
Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans
Moon Stone Cookies
Olivander's Original Wands
Pumpkin Pasties
Rock Cakes
Golden Snitch Truffles
Treacle Tarts
Cauldron Creams
Cockroach Clusters
Felix Felicis Spinach Cheese Dip
Piroshky Draughts
Herbology Bites
Hogs Head Cornish Balls
Polyjuice Potion

Free Harry Potter Downloads and Printables:

Food, Cupcake and Drink Labels found: here *This link is UPDATED (1/13)

Signs found: here

Gryffindor Banner found: here

Harry Potter Banner & additional Signs found: here

***UPDATE 10-19-2012: I have added a page of blank food labels to print off as well as a page of 2 Butterbeer Bottle Labels.  Enjoy!

Printable Blank Food Labels Found: here
Printabel Butterbeer Bottle Labels (2 per page) Found: here

**UPDATE 12-8-12: I have gotten several emails requesting I "SHARE"Harry Potter Blank Food Labels, they are shared for everyone and "editable" on Google Docs, but they are a JPEG.  So if it helps they are below.  Just click on the image to enlarge and save to your computer. **

Invitations found: here

*Updated: Grace from Grace's Scrap Attic, contacted me about a few Harry Potter Party things and shared the AMAZING Harry Potter Party she threw.  She went all out and I highly suggest taking a look at her blog found: here

Other great sites with Harry Potter Resources:

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/diagonalley/

http://www.britta.com/hogwarts/recipes.html

http://www.hostessblog.com/2010/04/harry-potter-party-birthday-ideas-part-1/

linked to: Tip Junkie