Happy Holidays Cookie Exchange!!!

Happy Holidays to everyone who reads this blog. We hope you are having a good holiday season. Last month we  gave you some advice on the holiday dinner. This month we are going to suggest a good old fashion cookie exchange.  This is a great party to have with your friends for a cold winter day.  You spend time with your friends and bake cookies and exchange recipes. Then you eat what you made while watching some holiday movies.

We have some suggestions for cookies that you can bake. Crisco has the best home made Chocolate Chip Cookies and Sugar Cookies recipes.  Sugar Cookies are fun because you get to decorate them how ever you want them.

Here are the recipes:

http://www.crisco.com/recipes/ultimate-chocolate-chip-cookies-2102

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/crisco-ultimate-chocolate-chip-cookies.html

http://www.crisco.com/recipes/ultimate-sugar-cookies-2099

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/crisco-ultimate-sugar-cookies.html

If you have someone, who is diabetic here is a great Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies.  We got this recipe from the American Diabetic Association.

http://www.diabetes.org/mfa-recipes/recipes/2013-11-cranberry-oatmeal-cookies.html

If you have some friends, who can’t eat gluten here is a recipe from Betty Crocker for Sugar Cookies.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/gluten-free-christmas-sugar-cookies/d3ab2026-54a3-4ff5-9c81-3f38b30acd89

If you have friends who are Vegans, here is Betty Crocker’s Vegan Sugar Cookie recipe.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/vegan-sugar-cookies/45ab6889-511a-4345-9391-9ea5c00c8d4a

If you don’t want to make from scratch but still want to bake that is where Pillsbury Ready Made Cookies come in handy. 

http://www.pillsbury.com/products/cookies

If you and your friends aren’t good at baking at all but still want homemade, type cookies, you could always get fresh cookies from your favorite bakery.  It is just as good as if you made them yourself.

What goes better with cookies on a cold winter day is hot chocolate.  To make it a little more special you should just melt some chocolate peppermint candy in it.

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/peppermint-hot-chocolate.html

If you have any left over cookies, you should get some Tupperware or Rubbermaid containers for your friends to take some home.  When you store the leftover cookies you should place a slice of white bread in the container.  This helps keeps the cookies from getting hard and stale.  The cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, keeping them soft longer.

http://www.tupperware.com/

http://www.rubbermaid.com/

The goal is just to have fun with your friends.


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Have a happy and safe holiday season!!!

Thanksgiving 2015

This week is the start of the holiday season. This is also the time of year people have dinner parties to celebrate the season.  One of things that can be frustrating about hosting a party is that these days everyone have different dietary concerns. You have to make sure that everyone has something to eat. We will give you some suggestions that could help you if you are going to host a dinner party. It might also help you if you are attending one. Just some tips that you may or may not know already. 

The tradition meal of the season usually includes turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, salad, rolls and some pies.  You will also want to include some other vegetables for people who might not be able to eat the traditional foods.  Have some roasted vegetables but make sure for your vegetarian guests you do not use any meat products or anyone else who might not be able to eat the traditional meal.

If you are serving stuffing this year instead of making it with chicken soup stock make it with vegetable soup stock. Then your vegetarian guest will be able to enjoy this food too. Another tip for the stuffing do not cook it in the turkey as there may be guests who are allergic to turkey or have some other medical reason they can’t eat it.  Just cook the stuffing in a casserole dish.  You do not have to make 2 separate stuffing if you use vegetable stock then everyone can enjoy it.

You may have guests who have Gout and can’t eat turkey. For them you might want to serve a small chicken as well or make a small pot roast.  Chicken is easier because most grocery stores do sell chickens already prepared and all you have to do is warm it up.  Just have another option. If you do have vegetarian guest coming to your dinner they do have vegetarian options for faux turkey. It is the same with the gravy if you use any part of the turkey in it. You might want to check out some options for gravy that might have turkey. Such as chicken turkey. Most vegetarian options come with little packets of gravy in it.

Then there is mashed potatoes.  If you want to satisfy your vegan guests or guests who are have lactose intolerance  maybe make some baked potatoes or sweet potatoes. They will not be able to eat the butter or milk in the mashed.  Mashed potatoes made from scratch are gluten free. If you make sweet potato casserole you will not want to use marshmallows as the have gelatin and vegetarians will not eat it.

Green Bean Casserole made with Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup is not vegetarian. You can make the soup from scratch.  We will give all the recipes at the bottom of this blog. Another thing to know is the Frenches Onions aren’t gluten free. As we said before you may want to just make some roasted vegetables just so that people have vegetables to eat. 

You will think salad should be easy to serve. Just make sure it doesn’t have cheese in it. Also have some dressing  options for your guests who are diabetics.  They do have low sugar dressing.

Now comes to the dessert part of the evening.  Again you will may have diabetic guests. Make sure to have no sugar desserts. 

To be a good host is to make sure that everyone at your dinner party has something to eat. Talk to your guests with dietary concerns and see what they can and can not eat.  Then when you have the party and you are serving each dish make sure that everyone knows what each food item is.  Don’t point out that it is made for the person with the special guest as that is rude to single them out. Make sure this person feels welcome.  If you do not want to do this then don’t invite these people to your party.

If you are person with dietary needs make sure your host knows.  This way they won’t feel bad if you just sit there and not eat anything.  They might think it is their cooking and not the fact you can’t eat what they made.

We hope these tips have helped you.  Do you have any that we may have left out?

Turkey

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/turkey.html

Vegetable Soup

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/vegetable-soup.html

Stuffing

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/stuffing.html

Mashed Potatoes

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/mashed-potatoes.html

Green Bean Casserole

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/green-bean-casserole.html

Vegetarian Options

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/vegetarian-turkey-options.html

Let's not forget the Pumpkin Pie

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/pumpkin-pie.html

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Have a happy and safe holiday season!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween!  Do you have plans for this holiday?  Are you dressing up and going trick-a-treating? Are you going to a party?  Will you be staying home and watching Halloween movies?  Well, if you are staying home we have a suggestion for you.

This year why not watch the movie Fun Size. It is a cute Halloween theme movie. This 2012 movie stars Victoria Justice as  Wren a high school senior. On Halloween she and her friend April (Jane Levy) are so excited when they get invited to Aaron Riley’s party (Thomas McDonell). He is the popular boy. Wren’s mom has other plans for her.  Her mom Joy (Chelsea Handler)  is going to a party with her much younger boyfriend Keevin (Josh Pence) and tells Wren she has to take her little brother Albert (Jackson Nicoll) trick-a-treating. Wren reluctantly takes Albert. Albert gets into all sorts of trouble stealing candy from the neighbors. Later that night they take Albert to a haunted house.  That is where he goes missing.  Wren and April go to look for him with the help of their friend Roosevelt (Thomas Mann) and  Peng (Osric Chau).  You will need to watch the movie to see what happens.

You can watch this movie while enjoying your fun size candy that you may have gotten this Halloween.  What is your favorite candy,  Hershey’s Candy Bars, M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way’s, Three Musketeers, etc?

http://www.paramount.com/funsize/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009AMAM0M/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

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Watching "Back to the Future 2" on the Real October 21, 2015

Watching "Back to the Future 2" on the Real October 21, 2015

If you are a fan of the 1980's  movie trilogy “Back to the Future” you should know the date October 21, 2015. In the second movie, that is the date that Marty McFly goes into the future with Doc to save his kids. That date will be here this coming Wednesday and what better time to re-watch at least the second movie.  If you have never seen “Back to the Future” why not watch all three.

Robert Zemeckis not only directed but co-wrote “Back to the Future.” Steven Spielberg is one of the Executive Producers.  The  movie stars Michael J Fox as Marty McFly as teenager who is friends with Doc Brown, an inventor played by Christopher Lloyd. Doc Brown’s latest invention  is time travel. He turns a Delorean  into a time machine.  He sends Marty through time. In the first movie Marty goes from 1985 back to 1955 to when his parents met. In the second movie Marty goes into the future 2015 to help his future family.  In the third and last of the trilogy Marty goes way back to 1885 to save Doc.

These movies are family friendly so you can watch with your children.  Compare to what they said in the movie what this year would be like to what it really is.  In the movie Marty’s future family has a re-hydrated Pizza Hut Pizza.  Even though we do not have the technology to have that we still have Pizza Hut so why not get some take out.  Don’t forget the Pepsi Perfect.  Pepsi will be creating the bottle just for this special occasion. 

The official Back to the Future website

http://www.backtothefuture.com/

http://www.backtothefuture.com/movies/backtothefuture2

To order the trilogy

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011Q0H3JS/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

To order Pizza Hut

https://order.pizzahut.com/home?

To know more about the special collector’s Pepsi Perfect bottle.

http://www.pepsico.com/

http://www.pepsico.com/live/pressrelease/great-scott-they-did-it---pepsi-perfect-is-here10052015

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The Breakfast Club and Popcorn

The Breakfast Club and Popcorn

Late August and September are when children go back to school. We have picked a movie that fits with this time of year.  It is a John Hughes’ film, “The Breakfast Club.”  This year is the 30th anniversary of when this film opened.  This film teaches us that just because you think someone is different that you doesn’t mean they are. 

The Breakfast Club takes place at Shermer High School in Shermer, Illinois.  One Saturday Morning in March, 

five teens  have detention at the high school.  These teens have nothing in common because they are all from different cliques at the school.  There is Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald) who is the snooty rich girl. Andrew Clarke (Emilio Estevez) who is the championship wrestler.  Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), he is the straight “A” student. Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), she is an extremely shy outcast girl.  Last but not least there is John Bender (Judd Nelson).  He is the typical bad boy. Then there is the very strict Assistant Principal Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason). He is in charge of detention. He still has a lot to learn about kids. As the day progresses these teens find out how much they really do have in common. 

Just get out the popcorn and enjoy the movie. What is your favorite type of popcorn? Just plain or with tons of butter?  Maybe you like caramel popcorn. Do you microwave your popcorn or have an air popper?  Maybe you use Jiffy Pop?  When you eat popcorn when watching movies what do you like?  Let us know.

The Breakfast Club

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RJXKUVA/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Orville Redenbacher's

http://www.orville.com/popcorn-kernels

Jiffy Pop Popcorn

http://www.conagrafoods.com/our-food/brands/jiffy-pop-popcorn

Pop Secret

http://www.popsecret.com

ACT II

http://www.actii.com/

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Last Weekends of Summer, Outdoor Movies and Food Trucks

If you are looking for something to do on these last weekends of the summer of 2015 why not check out some activities at your local park. One thing they have are free movies. You can bring a picnic meal and enjoy the movie.

If you do not have this in your area then you can do this at home.  If you have an electrical plug outdoors then set  up a TV and DVD player. Rent or Stream some movies, set up some lawn chairs and prepare a picnic meal. Have your friends over to your house. If you do this at home and you hear that it will rain that day you can always bring the fun indoors.

Here is a list where you can find some movies in the park.  They also have concerts in the park.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/free_summer_movies

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/movies/

http://www.miami.com/see_a_movie_under_the_stars

http://stlouis.about.com/od/eventsfestivals/tp/free_summer_movies.htm

http://laist.com/2015/03/19/outdoor_movie_screenings_2015.php

If you want something different for the meal to bring to any outdoor activity why not try a gourmet food truck. You get food to go. 

http://www.findlafoodtrucks.com/

http://nyctruckfood.com/

http://www.miami-food-trucks.com/

What is great about this activity is that it takes place at night.  In most parts of the county it is much cooler at night.  If you haven’t had a chance to get out this summer take the time these last few weeks before Labor Day weekend and go have fun. Then come back and tell us.

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Baseball, Hot Dogs and More

We hope you are having a good summer.  Summer is when some may enjoy spending time outdoors. You may go to the beach or a park.  Some go to an amusement park.  You may participate in or attend summer sports games.

One outdoor activity some may enjoy is baseball. In July there was the just the All-Star games for  Baseball League. The American League beat the National League in the Major League. Some of the many foods that you can enjoy when you go to the stadium to see a game in person are Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Cotton Candy or even some Cracker Jacks.  What foods do you enjoy the most when you have a chance to go to a game?

One of the good movies about Baseball is the movie “A League of Their Own.” It is a movie about the  All-American Girls Softball League.  You may not know but during World War II women were asked to come play  baseball. The reason was that Major League Baseball would continue while the male players were away fighting in the war. This was happening all around the country during that time in all of the businesses in the country.  The real problem came when the men came back and women who found they enjoyed working were forced to quit.

This movie was director by Penny Marshall of “Laverne and Shirley” fame.  It stars Geena Davis as Dottie Hinson and Lori Petty as her sister Kit Keller. This movie also has Tom Hanks as The Peaches Manager, Jimmy Dugan. Some of the baseball players are Rosie O'Donnell as Doris Murphy, Madonna as Mae Mordabito. Megan Cavanagh as Marla Hooch and Penny Marshall’s daughter Tracy Reiner as Betty Spaghetti Horn.  Penny’s brother Garry Marshall plays Walter Harvey. Garry you will know from many of the movies and television show he directed and produced. For example “Happy Days”, “Laverne and Shirley” and “Pretty Woman.” Then there is Jon Lovitz as Ernie Capadino. He is the baseball scout who went around the country to find the women to play in the league. Here is more about this movie.

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/a-league-of-their-own.html

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0800177258/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

http://www.aagpbl.org/

http://mlb.mlb.com

If you are going to watch this movie why not make some of the snacks that you get at the stadium. Hot Dogs are really easy to make at home. Here is how.

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/hot-dogs-and-more.html

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July 4th 2015

July 4th is the day we celebrate the day they signed The Declaration of Independence.  The main way we do this is by attending a fireworks show.  The safest thing to do is to watch the show at home on TV.  

NBC will be airing "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular."

http://www.nbc.com/macys-4th-of-july-fireworks-spectacular

http://www.macys.com/campaign/fireworks/index.jsp 

On PBS you can watch "A Capitol Fourth."

http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/home/

http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/about/the-concert/

You may be either hosting a BBQ or attending one.  To make it a special day why not have a patriotic dessert.  We have a few ideas.

Betty Crocker's Firecracker Red White and Blue Cake

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/firecracker-red-white-and-blue-cake/bbbeeab8-2f8c-4aab-a837-a1a7fd7a7901

If you don't want to bake you can always pick up plain sugar cookies at your local bakery or grocery store along with some red, white and blue icing or sprinklers and decorate the cookies yourself.

If you want something healthier how about red (Strawberries or Raspberries), white (Bananas can stand for the white part it can be off white) and blue (Blueberries) colored fruit decorated in a flag pattern on a platter.  If you don't want to do that you can always order one from Edible arrangements.

https://www.ediblearrangements.com/

Please have a safe holiday.  Do not drink and drive.

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Father's Day and a Pancake Breakfast

The third Sunday in June is the day we honor Fathers.  That is the day to celebrate your Father or the person who is the Father Figure in your life.

For Mother's Day we suggested you make breakfast for your mom then why not do the same for your Father.  The best breakfast which is great for the family is a Pancake Breakfast.  You can make Pancakes, Home Fries and not to mention Bacon.  If your Father is vegan or is allergic to eggs then just like we suggested for mom you can make him oatmeal with soy milk.  If your Father can't have gluten there are pancake mixes that are gluten free.  If you don't want to stand over a hot stove that day it is okay to make frozen pancakes.

While it would be great to make this special meal for scratch but it is okay to take the easy route and use mixes or frozen food your Father shouldn't mind.  If you does then make it from scratch.  I am going to tell you about some products that will make it easy for you.

First there is Aunt Jemima. You should remember this from your childhood. They have a whole bunch of products from pancake mixes, frozen pancakes and syrups.

http://www.auntjemima.com/

If you need Gluten Free Items then check out Bisquick. They have a line of Gluten Free items.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/bisquick

Last but not least there is Log Cabin. They have Gluten Free Syrups.

http://www.logcabinsyrups.com/

For the Home Fries the easiest thing to do it by them from OreIda.  You can buy the Roasted Potatoes and add some veggies.

http://www.oreida.com/

If you Father doesn't want you to cook then go out to eat.

I Hop is known for their great pancakes.

http://www.ihop.com/

If you are on the east coast then you can always go to your local Diner.  If you don't have one The Waffle House is a great place.

http://www.wafflehouse.com/

If you are on the west coast you can go to Carrows

http://www.carrows.com/

Enjoy spending the day with your Father.

Ferris Buller's Day Off

Ferris Buller's Day Off

It was 30 years ago on, June 5, 1985, that High School Senior Ferris Bueller took the day off from school.  This movie was released in one year later.  Ferris Bueller'sDay Off was not only written and produced by John Hughes but he also directed this 1986 comedy blockbuster.  The movie is about how  Ferris Bueller (MatthewBroderick) cons his parents (Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward) into thinking he is so sick that they let him take the day off from school. We follow along and actually see what he actual does on his day off.  His sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) knows that Ferris is lying but can't prove it. The principal of the school Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) is also after Ferris and want to catch him in his lie. This movie also stars Alan Ruck as Ferris' hypochondriac and depressed best friend Cameron who along with Ferris's girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) goes along for the adventure.  We should also mention Ben Stein as the teacher taking attendance.

The other thing in this movie that is famous is that you see some of the iconic Chicago landmarks. Parts of this movie was also filmed in Los Angeles.

Here is a list of the locations in this movie:

http://www.movie‑locations.com/movies/f/ferris.html#.VXdbL0YyfEZ

One of the most famous scenes from this movie takes place during the Von Steuben Parade.  Ferris sings  Wayne Newton's "Danke Schoen" then The Beatles' "Twist and Shout."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaIjYvIayj0&feature=youtu.be

  

Want to know a little more about the movie click here.

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/ferris-bullers-day-off.html

What would go great with this movie is a Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza.  You can get one delivered.  What is your favorite restaurant to get pizza?  If you want you can make one at home. Here's how.

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/chicago-style-deep-dish-pizza.html

Tell us what you like most about this movie? What do you do on your day off?

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Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is not only a day off of work or school for you but it is also the day we remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country.  Please take a moment and remember not only our military who have died  protecting our country but also the families they left behind.

If you are near military cemetery you can plan and go and visit.  Visit the ones who don’t have anyone to remember them.  

Here is information on Arlington Cemetery.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/

Here is information on what else you can do to support the troops and their families.

http://www.military.com/

Mother's Day Breakfast or Brunch

Mother's Day Breakfast or Brunch

Sunday is Mother’s Day.  For those of you who are Mothers, then we want to wish you a very happy day. Being a Mother is one of the hardest job in the world and your children should know that.  We hope that you get to spend the day relaxing and being waited on hand and foot.  Show your children this blog we will teach them how to make your day special.

A Mother should start this day with breakfast in bed.  If you don’t want to eat in the bed, that is okay, but someone in your life should make you breakfast. If you don’t want them cooking in your kitchen, then they can always take you out to brunch. 

We think the best place for brunch is The Cheesecake Factory. They have a very extensive menu that everyone can find something for everyone to eat.

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

The next best place to go is Marie Callendar’s

http://www.mariecallenders.com/

If you don’t like these suggestions then you can find a great place on Yelp.

http://www.yelp.com/

If you want to attempt to make breakfast at home, but can’t cook, you may want to order take-out from a  restaurant.

You can try to cook the breakfast yourself for your mother.  Make it simple, scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast.    If your mom is a vegetarian or is allergic to eggs, pork or potatoes, then find out what she normally has for breakfast and serve that.  You can serve her oatmeal with soy or almond milk and some fruit.  Even easier a fruit bowl.  You can stop by Whole Foods and pick something up.

Here are the recipes:

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/scrambled-eggs-bacon-hash-browns-toast.html

Whatever you do, make sure that your Mom has a relaxing day.  If you are cooking at home, then clean up after so she doesn't have to.  Remember your Mom is one of the reasons you are here.  We need to celebrate her.  If you were raised by someone other than your Mother, this is the day you should remember them too.  Don’t forget your Grandmothers because if it wasn't for her your own Mother wouldn't be here.  If you do not live near that Mother figure in your life then pick up the phone and call them.

Once again to all the Mothers out there have an amazing day.  We hope you get to spend it the way you want to.  Then tell the Fathers out there his day will in June and he will be honored on that day.  This day is just for Mom.