semi homemade cooking-christmas (2004)

EVERY SINGLE TIME.

NOW, IN YOUR GROCERY STORE, YOU ALREADY HAVEA CHOCOLATE CREAM ROLL.

NOW, I WANT YOU JUST TO TAKESOME WHIPPED TOPPING.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IN HERE JUST 1 TEASPOON OF VANILLA.

JUST ABOUT A CAP FULL.

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO TAKETHIS AND VERY GENTLY STIR THIS ALL TOGETHER.

AND WHAT THAT VANILLADOES FOR YOU IS IT JUST CUTSTHE PACKAGED TASTE.

NOW, THIS YOU'RE GOINGTO JUST GO ALL OVER THE CAKE WITH, NICE AND THICK.

AND YOU NEED TO GET, OF COURSE, THE FRONT AND THE BACK.

IT'S QUICK --IF YOU'VE GOT 5 MINUTES, YOU'VE GOT A YULE LOG.

CLEAN UP ALL OF THE EDGES, AND KIND OF ROUND IT OUTAROUND THE LOG.

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEEDA KNIFE AND A FORK, NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO DIGINTO THIS RIGHT NOW, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOUNEED, THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED, TO DECORATE THIS WITH,AND CHECK THIS OUT.

YOU'RE GOING TO DRAG THE FORK VERY LIGHTLY ACROSS THE TOP, JUST LIKE THAT.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO THISALL THE WAY AROUND THE LOG.

I'M GOING TO DRAG THESEALONG THE EDGES.

JUST TAKE YOUR BUTTER KNIFEAND START IN THE CENTER, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPIRAL OUT.

GO LIKE THIS, LIKE THAT.

AND NOW FOR THE OTHER SIDE,SAME THING.

JUST GO IN HERE, START IN THE CENTER, AND WORK YOUR WAY AROUND.

THAT'S IT.

NOW FOR THE DETAIL.

THIS IS JUST COCOA POWDER.

AND ALL I WANT YOU TO DO ISLIGHTLY DUST THE TOP OF YOUR CAKE.

LET'S TALK ABOUTTHE ROLL ON THE SIDE.

TILT THIS UP A BIT,JUST A LITTLE BIT.

DON'T LET ITSLIDE OFF THE PLATE.

AND THEN WE'LL DO THE SAME FORTHE OTHER SIDE.

LET'S TALK ABOUTHOW TO DECORATE THIS WITH THOSE SWEETLITTLE MUSHROOMS.

THOSE MUSHROOMS ARESO SIMPLE TO MAKE IF YOU JUST SOME CANDY KISSES AND SOME LITTLEBABY MARSHMALLOWS.

AND THEN YOU NEED A TOOTHPICK.

PUT THE TOOTHPICK RIGHT THROUGHTHE MARSHMALLOW AND THEN RIGHT UPINTO THE CHOCOLATE.

AND THEN THIS GOES ONTO THE LOGJUST LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO.

ISN'T THAT GREAT? NOW, I HAVE A COUPLE MOREALREADY DONE OVER HERE.

AND NORMALLY MUSHROOMSGROW IN A FAMILY, AND THEY GROWAT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS.

NOW, TO MAKE THISREALLY SPECIAL, YOU CAN ALSO USE SOME POWDEREDSUGAR ON THE TOP OF THESE MUSHROOMS.

ISN'T THAT GREAT?THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

NOW, THIS IS GOING TO GO INTOTHE REFRIGERATOR TO SET UP BECAUSE, REMEMBER,IT IS WHIPPED TOPPING.

AND BY THE WAY, YOU COULD ALSOPUT IT IN THE FREEZER AND MAKE A FANTASTICFROZEN DESSERT.

LET'S TAKE OUR HAMRIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN.

OH, LOOK AT THIS, YUM.

WELCOME BACK TOA SEMI-HOMEMADE HOLIDAY.

AND WHAT HOLIDAYWOULD BE COMPLETE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE SOME COOKIESAND SOME COCKTAILS? FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOINGTO SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE A SANTA SLEIGH COCKTAIL.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO USE1/2 CUP OF BRANDY.

AND 1/2 CUP OF AMARETTO, WHICH IS GOING TO GIVE THISA NICE, NUTTY TASTE.

THIS IS ABOUT 2 CUPS OF EGGNOG, SO I'M GOING TO PUT THE WHOLECONTAINER IN HERE.

I LOVE NICE, THICK,RICH EGGNOG.

AND THIS ICE CREAM IS GOING TOMAKE IT EVEN MORE THICK THAN IT ALREADY IS.

JUST A TEASPOON OF NUTMEG.

THIS GOES RIGHT IN HERE.

AND THEN 1/2 CUP OFTHE VANILLA ICE CREAM.

THAT'S ABOUT TWO SCOOPS,BY THE WAY.

ONE, TWO.

NOW, IF YOU'RE SERVINGTHE KIDDIES, YOU CAN JUST ELIMINATETHE ALCOHOL.

THAT WOULD BEDELICIOUS FOR THEM IF YOU WANTED TO MAKEA NON-ALCOHOLIC VERSION OF THIS.

POP THIS ON AND THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO PULSE IT.

LET ME SHOW YOUA NIFTY LITTLE TRICK TO SUGAR YOUR GLASS.

WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS JUST TAKEMY FINGER AND GET IT WET WITH A LITTLE BITOF THE BRANDY AND GO AROUND THE RIM.

AND THEN SET THAT INSIDE A SUGAR GLASS.

AND THAT IS HOW YOU GET A BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL-LOOKINGSUGAR RIM.

ALL RIGHT, I HAVE TO TASTESOME OF THIS EGGNOG.

I'LL BE DRINKING THIS WHILE I'MMAKING THOSE COOKIES FOR YOU.

AND I'M GOING TO GARNISH THISWITH JUST A LITTLE CANDY CANE.

THIS MAKES IT FESTIVEAND BEAUTIFUL.

AND EVERYBODY WILL THINK THIS CAME RIGHT OFF OFSANTA'S SLEIGH.

LET'S TALK ABOUT COOKIES.

FIRST YOU'VE GOT TO START OFFWITH A HALF A STICK OF BUTTER.

GO AHEAD AND JUST MELT THAT.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH AND POP THIS INTOA NICE, BIG BOWL.

TO THIS JUST GOES SOME FLOUR.

CREAM CHEESE.

IT MAKES IT TASTE LIKEIT'S FROM SCRATCH AND IT'S BEEN SITTING INYOUR REFRIGERATOR FOR 3 HOURS.

AND ALL YOU NEED OF THAT IS JUSTA 1/3 OF A CUP.

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEEDONE EGG.

AND THEN COME IN HERE AND JUST COMBINE ALL OF THISTOGETHER.

TAKE THIS CREAM CHEESEAND REALLY USE THIS AS YOUR BINDER.

NOW, OUR BUTTER IS DONE, SO IWANT TO POP THAT IN HERE NOW.

AND NICE AND MELTED.

20 SECONDS ON THAT BUTTER,THAT'S ALL YOU NEED.

SEE HOW FAST THIS RECIPE IS? I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I GOT THIS IDEAFROM THE SAME WOMAN, MY BEST FRIEND COLLEEN, WHO GAVE ME THE IDEA TO DECORATETHE KITCHEN.

SHE'S GOT THREE KIDS,SHE'S A SINGLE MOM, SHE WORKS HER LITTLE TUSHY OFF.

SO THIS IS A GREATRECIPE FOR HER BECAUSE SHE CAN GIVE THOSE KIDSA FUN CHRISTMAS TREAT WITHOUT ALL OF THAT LABORTHAT IT NORMALLY TAKES WHEN YOU HAVE TO BAKEFOR THE HOLIDAYS.

NOW YOU WANT TO GO IN HEREAND SEPARATE YOUR DOUGH.

YOU WANT TO SAVE HALF OFTHE DOUGH JUST AS IT IS.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO THEN TAKERED FOOD COLORING.

NOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOUSOMETHING.

YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO USEALMOST THIS ENTIRE BOTTLE TO GET THE RED COLOR THAT YOUWANT FOR A CANDY CANE.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UPWITH PINK DOUGH.

AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS CANDY CANES WITH PINK DOUGH.

NOW, THAT ISA GREAT COLOR OF RED.

THESE ARE GOING TO BEFANTASTIC COOKIES.

WHAT I WANT TO ADD TO THIS ISA LITTLE OF PEPPERMINT EXTRACT.

A TEASPOON, MAYBEA TEASPOON AND A HALF.

AND IF YOU FIND THATYOU NEED IT ANY THINNER, YOU COULD ALWAYS USE SOME WATER.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS GOINGTO BE GREAT.

I ALSO LIKE THAT BECAUSE ITGIVES IT A NICE FLAVOR.

SO COME IN HERE AND JUST GET A NICE LITTLE BALL OF THIS.

ROLL THIS OUT JUST LIKE SO, EVENLY.

YOU WANT TO HAVENICE, LONG STRIPS.

AND WE CAN DO THE RED NOW.

I WANT YOU TO PICK THEM UP,AND LITERALLY LIKE YOU ARE BRAIDING THEM, THEN PINCH THE BOTTOM TOGETHER.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP DOINGTHAT ALL THE WAY UP THE CANDY CANE.

THE ONE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGTHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IS THAT YOU DON'T MAKEYOUR STRANDS TOO THIN, OTHERWISE THEYWILL JUST FALL APART.

BUT IF THEY BREAK, JUST RE-ROLL THEM AGAIN.

SUPER.

NOW WITH A KNIFE, I'M GOING TO TAKE THISAND JUST CUT THIS SO THEY ALL MATCH.

AND CUT ABOUT THERE AND TAKE THAT OFFSO EVERYTHING MATCHES.

AND YOU HAVE BEAUTIFULCANDY CANES THAT ARE GOING TO BAKE UPIN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

I ALREADY HAVE SOME IN HERE.

LET ME PULL THESE OUT.

NOTICE THAT I HAVE THE RACKON THE VERY TOP SHELF BECAUSE THEY ARE FRAGILE, THEY TAKE A VERYSHORT TIME TO BAKE, AND YOU DO NOT WANT THEMTO BROWN ON THE BOTTOM.

POP THESE OVER HERE TO COOL.

AND I'M GOING TO TAKEMY COCKTAIL, THESE COOKIES, AND GO PUT ON THE TABLE,SET UP MY BUFFET.

AND I WILL SEE YOUIN A QUICK LITTLE MINUTE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

FOR A SEMI-HOMEMADE HOLIDAY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME SIMPLESUGGESTIONS FOR DECORATING AND FOR ENTERTAINING.

I EVEN HAVE AN IDEA FOR YOU FOR CARDS TO SEND OUTFOR THE HOLIDAYS THAT YOU CAN EMBELLISH YOURSELFIN JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK BETTERTHAN PROFESSIONAL.

BUT FIRST LET'S TALK ABOUTTHE ORNAMENTS.

I HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFULORNAMENT KIT FOR YOU THAT ALLOWS YOU TO PERSONALIZEYOUR ORNAMENT ALL BY YOURSELF.

NOW, IF YOU WANTTO DO WORDS LIKE "WISH" OR "PEACE" OR MY FAVORITE "LOVE," THERE ARE THESE WONDERFUL LITTLEPEEL AND STICK PLASTIC PIECES IN HERE WITH THOSE WORDS.

YOU PUT IT RIGHTONTO YOUR ORNAMENT, AND THEN YOU JUSTSPRINKLE THE GLITTER OVER, AND VOILA, YOU'VE GOTA BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SENDING CARDS BECAUSE EVERYBODY SENDS CARDSAT THE HOLIDAY.

I JUST WENT DOWNTO THE CRAFTS STORE, AND THIS IS WHAT I GOT -- BEAUTIFUL PEARLESCENTCARD STOCK.

AND THEN WHAT YOU DO IS, YOU OPEN UP THESE SCRAPBOOKING EMBELLISHMENTS.

AND ALL YOU DO IS PUT ITRIGHT ON YOUR CARD.

THEN FOR A GIFTAND AN ORNAMENT IN ONE -- THIS IS PERFECT TO EMBELLISHTHE TREE WITH -- THEY ARE PLASTIC ORNAMENTSTHAT JUST SIMPLY POP TOGETHER.

FOR INSTANCE,YOU COULD PUT IN HERE MAYBE A PRETTY LITTLE DIAMONDRING, GUYS, WOULD BE NICE.

PUT THAT IN THERE.

YOU COULD PUT IN GIFT CARDS.

YOU COULD PUT IN MONEY.

IN FACT, MY NEPHEW SCOTTY,CAN I JUST TELL YOU, HE LOVES MONEY.

SO I PUT MONEY IN HIS ORNAMENT.

NOW, LET'S TALK QUICKLYABOUT NAPKINS, AND THEN I'VE GOT TO RUNAND GET READY FOR TONIGHT.

THIS IS ACTUALLYJUST A CLOTH NAPKIN AND A GOLD COASTER.

AND ADORNED WITH A BEAUTIFUL,TINY, BABY ORNAMENT.

ISN'T THIS A GORGEOUSAND ELEGANT TOUCH? I JUST LOVE IT.

NOW, I HAVE TO RUN BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE HEREIN JUST A SECOND.

BUT BEFORE I GO, I WANT TO WISHYOU A HAPPY, HAPPY HOLIDAY AND TO REMIND YOU TO KEEP ITFUN AND FESTIVE, KEEP IT WITH FRIENDSAND WITH FAMILY, AND ALWAYS KEEP ITSIMPLE AND SEMI-HOMEMADE.

I'M SANDRA LEE, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

BYE-BYE.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.

Vitac.

Com.