Since COVID struck my brother and sister-in-law and I do not give each other presents, we make a decent financial donation to our local food bank to help those less fortunate. We are blessed and are at an age where we have everything we need. We do however give each other a lottery ticket. it's good to get back to the real meaning of Christmas. Blessings to you both and thank you for all your lovely videos
So funny that you're talkin about scaling back the Christmas decorations! We just spent all afternoon going through 10 containers of Christmas decorations that were my husband's family my family hours together and we end with two containers and the rest is all going to go! I can't do the overtop every room every door knob decorating anymore it just doesn't appeal to me! I'm more into the fresh greens and the tree and a little ceramic tree that my mother always had from the 1960s or 70s which I laugh when I see it because it reminds me of her and that's it I'm done with the over decorating! All about the simplifying
I’ve cut back on everything you mentioned except for sending Christmas cards. I know people who are heart broken if they don’t get Christmas cards. Receiving a card is so very important to them.
My kids are well into adulthood and we have no grandkids. Lol even though my kids are old none of us wanted to give up exchanging stockings. But so much of the seasonal candy and little gifts that go into stockings are really over priced for what they are. So to make the frivolous stockings a little more frugal and yet keep up tradition we added "2nd Chritmas". A few days after Christmas we celebrate 2nd Christmas which is when we exchange stockings and eat the leftovers. We buy all the stocking stuffers after Christmas when they are upto 90% off and then exchange stockings. We play games, give the stockings and have fun with out the pressure of a fancy dinner or dividing our time between multiple Christmas day visits. Another frugal idea. Every year I host a gingerbread night for my friends and their kids. Their kids are still young children. We were all finding that the stress of fitting it in during the hectic Christmas season was ruining the fun. So now we do it the week between Christmas and New Years. We get the gingerbread house kits at after Christmas sale prices. We are all more relaxed and casual and the event is much cheaper and more fun as a result.
For our Adult children we now do stockings only. Each person gets a name. We also only do four presents for our younger kiddos. One you want, one you need, one you wear and one you read.
Hello, sweet Emmy & Paul 💖 That chicken pasta dish looked amazing! I love capers. Our Christmas tradition was opening up stockings on Christmas Eve, and gifts on Christmas Day. Now, we dont do either one. We dont need STUFF, and realistically, Jesus could care less about our earthly traditions. It means nothing to Him, and does not glorify Him! So why do it? Christmas decorating is simple for me. I put up a little 4 foot tree with minimal decorations. This is for our pleasure of sitting around in the evening, with the glow of the beautiful tree and candles. Its a cozy setting for a hot cup of tea. Thanksgiving to us is about being thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon us: Salvation through Jesus Christ, Freedom in the country we live in, Health, Employment, food on the table, and a roof over our heads, and so much more that arent seen and we cant even touch! 💖🙏 Thank you for sharing, dear friends, Washington State🎄💖🙏🇺🇸
As my daughter were listening to this video we were decorating for fall. Had way to much! We decided that we would "share" with children and gradchildren - many memories attached with items we gave away, both for ourselves and the recipients of the little gifts. Thank you for the encouragement to share family memories!
Another inspirational video to remind everyone on the real meaning of the holidays. Also you stay true to your “frugal money saver” by adding frugal tips to keep those who need guidance to stay on a budget. I appreciate all your effort on putting out great content. Thank you!🥰
I'm cutting back on decorations my home. I started doing this last year, and it was a great relief. My home still looked festive with the decorations I put out on the mantel and the other few things I sat around and was super easy to put away when the season was over. Like you, I'm not yet ready to give up on Christmas cards because I still enjoy touching base with the wonderful people who have flowed in and out of my life over the decades. Addressing a card to each one reminds me to be grateful for the gift of their friendship.
Thanks for the idea on freezing the cookie bars. I have the same recipe and never thought of freezing them. I use white chocolate chips and cranberries on mine, just as good. One year I put m and m’s on them for my daughters.
My daughter's fiancee is very allergic to chocolate, so I adapted my magic bar recipe for him using peanut butter chips. 👍😃 And I like them even better than with the chocolate! 😋🌟💖
Emmy, my goal over the last few years is to not do so much cooking and baking. I get excited and plan too much and then get overwhelmed. Also too much food leads to either 2 things. Too much eating or too much waste.
I was also raised in a traditional Italian home and we stopped doing the "never ending" meal years ago for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I cut back to sending out Christmas Cards every few years instead of every year. The most significant savings I've had is cutting back on the amount of Christmas cookies I make. For years the family tradition was to make many different kinds of cookies, especially to give away to family to take home with them on Christmas day. I've gone to making small loaves of Cranberry Bread or some other type of quick bread. I spend less on ingredients and less time in the kitchen. They can be made ahead and they freeze well too. I make extra to keep on hand to give as hostess gifts if we are invited over to someone's home during the holiday.
In England the cheapest postal rate to send a standard size Christmas card is more than 80 cents, so it soon adds up hugely if you are sending out dozens of cards. Brits have cut back hugely on mailed cards. A lot of my cards now come by hand in the mail box from neighbours and only by post from far flung family and friends. We now receive approximately a third of the cards we used to do due to the ridiculous cost. Nowadays a lot of folks send text messages and email cards, which is very sensible - after all those cards just end up in the recycle bin after a couple of weeks.
As an adult, I often wonder what the point of putting up a tree is every year. My cats have a field day in it and it just gets in the way. I will skip that this year and will decorate outside as I think that adds to other's enjoyment. (Which makes ME happier!) Thanksgiving, we will make a nice roast chicken and a little dressing and a pie with a few sides. Christmas...I think I might like a lasagna. Or, maybe I will make some Beef Burgandy like my spouse enjoys. I want to make those magic cookies! I made some pumpkin bread tonight and the recioe called for a cup and a half of suger ( i cut that in half) and half a cup of oil (which I also cut in half!) and then a doubled the pumpkin-- turned out great and much healthier-- I mean that's a lot of oil and sugar!!!
The cookies look delicious! They look like a cookie that is sold at a local restaurant where I live. They go for $4 a cookie! I’m going to try these sometime!
Because I have 20 family members to buy for at Christmas, last year we started the tradition of drawing names. I was concerned that the family might not enjoy that as much. But come to find out they loved it! All the kiddos thought it was great, and the adults!
Hello and thank you so much for all of your helpful videos. I am cutting back on the amounts put into gifts. We have all we need but go overboard each year on gifts. This year we’re setting a monetary limit so we don’t feel obligated to overspend. The magic cookies are great but wanted to let you know of an even easier version called Seven Layer Cookies. In a 9x13 pan, melt a stick of butter in the 350 degree oven. When it’s melted, take it out of the stove and sprinkle your crushed graham crackers over evenly. Tap this down with a measuring cup evenly to form the crust. Sprinkle on your chocolate chips and some butterscotch chips, chopped nuts and shredded coconut. Tap it down lightly, then pour over your condensed milk and bake. It’s a little easier because everything is done in the same pan - no other bowls or saucepans. Just need a knife snd cutting board to chop the nuts and crush the graham crackers. Try it sometime and let me know what you think :-) Here’s wishing you and Paul and Dixie Belle a very Happy Thanksgiving!
I love your channel! I am going to try the chicken dish tomorrow. I quit decorating years ago. I have things out year long that I enjoy looking at. I have little $10 table top Christmas trees, I put one in every room and that’s all the decorating I do and I simply love it. I quit sending Christmas cards too a few years ago because of the time it took to sign and address each one. I didn’t enjoy it so I stopped. Our church youth group collects Christmas cards at church and they deliver them, no postage required, to everyone in the congregation. Our family has decided that we aren’t buying gifts- so my friends and I still get to go shopping and enjoy the ambiance of the season without the stress. We have lunch, shop, have warm cider, shop, have dinner and just enjoy each other’s company. It’s so relaxing and fun. I hate turkey- so I don’t make one. I will make something I enjoy making. Thank you for your tips and recipes!! You’re awesome
@@FrugalMoneySaver - The crockpot chicken was so good!! My house smelled wonderful and my husband said it was delicious. I am definitely making this again. Thank you 😊
Last year and again this year I made simple gifts for neighbors, co-workers, and friends with popcorn and hot chocolate packets from the Dollar Tree. I put them in recycled glass jars, added a tea light candle, and tied festive ribbon around them. I also make 2 ingredient fudge for presents. I have had my college age daughter and her friends over to decorate the tree, cookies, and gingerbread houses made from graham crackers and cheap candy. It's all fun!
We do breakfast casserole for Christmas morning with my parent's. It's one of our Christmas rituals. You could do a breakfast casserole in the crock pot.
After living overseas I had to learn to make everything from scratch. I made sweetened condensed milk using dry milk and sugar. Much easier than starting with liquid milk. Just need to hear the dry milk enough to melt sugar. I got my recipe from online.
Another great gesture is to give a gift of service. Paint a room inside the recipient's house. Help someone rake leaves. Assist someone in cleaning out their garage. It doesn't cost a thing, except a little bit of your time. Can't wait to try this chicken recipe. Thanks for the great videos. You and Paul keep it real.
We use to have the big Italian meal before the turkey also… I stopped that years ago…I also went from a big turkey to turkey breast ….and decorating the house has been downsized a lot 😊❤️🍁
Another great video we started at Christmas time a soup supper. With all the family dinners the soup was a welcome change. Make in the crockpot rolls and a fruit salad for dessert. We can just enjoy having family around. Bonus not alot of dishes.
My gifts are homemade apple butter that I canned in October. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with the family is a pot luck. I help my mother-in-law decorate her tree the day after Thanksgiving. My husband is a truck driver, so we'll be gone until the week of Christmas. Then we just spend time with family. Love your videos.
Those kinds of gifts include the gift of time and mean so much more to others. I grew loofahs this summer and am making homemade loofah soap bars this year for Christmas.
After not being able to visit anyone last year, Iam going to visit my Dad for 3 days ,christmas eve ,day and what we call boxing day. If anyone wants to visit they will be welcome.Then we will go home. So we'll and truly cutting down! We will put our tree up and our nativity and that's it! Wishing you both and Dixie a blessed Christmas xx
I have given up many traditions. Just does not bring me joy anymore. Let the wedding soup go, smaller tree, less decorations, no cards, less gifts. It just felt out of control. I appreciate your meal recipes. I have tried many of them and they are all very good. I would like to see how you make your anti pasta. Thanks!
Before covid we started to cut back on effort, meaning the host of the christmas "party" only had to do the main dish. We celebrate with the whole family from my husband's side and it worked like a charm, taking over a little of the costs and making the preps a bit easier on the host as well is a great idea to me. I layed the seed and my brother in law took it up. We're going to host this year and I'm cutting back on decorations since we're living in a tiny house but already started that process some years ago. Less is more. To us christmas is the feast of light so lots of candles will be used and Hygge is my main goal. I'm going to invest in the right candles because that's my choice, they'll last longer and the quality will count. I already bought some of the main course ingrediënts and am stocking up on canned vegs and bacon and such. I will make a yule log by myself from scratch to have with coffee or tea at the afternoon. I'm also only sending christmas cards to whom I got them last year's christmas and it's getting less and less but to those who put effort and money into sending us their blessings will get them in return. Oh and we stopped giving gifts years ago after us asking for it for years and years and years. The FIL's finally got the message. Take care dear Paul and Emmy and stay safe and thank you so much for your inspiring video's and tips! xo Vleer from the Netherlands.
Can you suggest an online recipe for that fabulous Netherlands "Honeyspice Cake"? My 84 year old father asked me if I can make it. There are so many variations online I don't know which is good.
Emmie, One way to cut back on the expenses of sending out cards is to send Christmas Postcards :) saves $$$ on postage. Or better yet send a Christmas picture of you and Paul as a postcard. Merry Christmas!
I love your videos - they really are encouraging. We used to have 2 full days of meals and entertaining at Christmas. But eating so much food and all the work that goes with it 2 days in a row was not that great, so we are now going to fit it all into one day, and go for a long walk the next! Thank you again for such interesting content.
Outstanding video! Brought back memories of Mom and Dad putting out the Ante Pasta-- the Lasagna-- and THEN Thanksgiving traditional feast! We were bursting from food and couldn't really enjoy the Turkey by the time dinner was served. I would eat a tiny breakfast because I knew what we were In for! Remember anyone baking the turkey 4 am back in the day growing up? I do! Don't ask! Lol
Wonderful video. I miss the big family gathers on holidays now that a lot of family has passed away. It’s just the 3 of us now and this year I’m going to make a small roasted chicken with normal sides. No bake cheesecake for dessert. Buying groceries and stocking up now. Plain and simple semi easy.my aunt used to make the desert you made and we always called them Hello Dollies. We always waited for her to bring them
I can empathize with Paul! We live in the country also and the leaves are the bane of my existence, lol. Wow! I'll have to try that chicken and pasta recipe. It's so easy! I only decorate the living room, with a small tree and some other decorations and I decorate the kitchen and we have a small lighted decoration we put in the kitchen window. We can't be seen very well from the road so we don't put a lot of effort into decorating outside. We stopped doing a huge Christmas dinner. I know people would probably gasp at that idea, but it's an awful lot of work at the end of the day. We eat Thanksgiving dinner at about 1pm for the same reason. And I certainly don't do a big breakfast on that day! I do a huge breakfast on Christmas morning. It's just Hubby, myself and the housemate so we're not opening a lot of gifts. We keep it simple but pleasant. I do send out about half a dozen Christmas cards but that's it. I have one friend in Europe that I wouldn't ever miss sending a really nice, fairly expensive card to. But the rest are discount store cards. I can remember helping my mother address all the cards she would send out when I was a kid. It was a lot!!! Both of my parents came from very large families. I make my own buttermilk but I didn't know you could make sweetened condensed milk. Learn something new everyday.
Such good ideas as always. I am scaling back on presents. I am trying to give experiences this year instead of things. I probably will still have to get a few presents for our granddaughter though in addition to doing some special things with grandma.
This is such an important conversation, about traditions. It is so wise to carefully consider and re-evaluate what we choose to do so that it's done with intention and not just by default. Thank you for this wonderful reminder, which applies to all seasons of the year, and all seasons of life.
I stopped doing Christmas cards year's ago, it was to much because people kept moving and I had to keep finding out the addresses. We usually put up a lot of lights but this year we'll put up a few but definitely not as many. The cookies look yummy!!!
Hey Emmy & Paul, you always brighten up my day ❤ That chicken & those cookie bars looked amazing! It's nearly midnight here in the UK and I could've eaten both 😋 The thing me & my partner are cutting back on this year is definitely the amount of food that we buy, our eyes are always bigger than our bellies at Xmas so we're getting just enough and not too much.
I'm actually cutting back on my decor this year & plan to pass down some stuff to my girls. I love doing Christmas cards but I'm cutting that back cuz I hardly get any back & postage is ridiculous. I think all my grands are getting cash this year. Their all getting older & I can't afford the games & stuff they play. I think they prefer cash anyways.
We are empty nester this year so we are not putting up a tree and going to the kids house for Xmas. I’m still baking cookies but we don’t need to have a tree will put out our Santa’s
When I was watching this vlog and heard your dog begging while you were eating I thought it was my dog. I even asked my husband what was going on with our dog Samantha. I had to laugh when I realized that the sound was from the vlog. Very good tips. You present things so well and tactfully as we are all different. My step-father was Italian and I remember holiday dinners we had at his sisters houses. Such fabulous food and such wonderful memories. A new member of the family a non Italian thought it was just going to pasta so he really filled up on it. Was so surprised when the “next course” came out
I always have left over spaghetti noodles. This is perfect to use those up the following day. Thank you for the idea. I did this years ago. My son is grown and lives out of state. I never decorated until after Thanksgiving because I wanted Thanksgiving to be Thanksgiving and I wanted him to come home at Thanksgiving and go back too college with the anticipation of Christmas to come. When I cut back at Christmas a few years ago I was still working full time at was exhausted trying to do it all. The kids came home and asked if I was ok? I told them I'm fine just I was ready to do less. (I used to put up 2 full sized trees and 3- four foot trees. I was crazy) I told them to go through, take what they want and sold the rest in a garage sale the following summer. I found I have done less and less for past 3 years. Now I've retired, moving to smaller home with much less stuff. It all works out.
Also thanks for the inspiration I always thought making sweetened condensed milk was difficult. So I googled how to make a vegan one since my husband's diabetic and can't have the sugar and we are mostly plant-based. And it's basically two ingredients coconut milk in the natural sweetener. So I'm going to try these bar cookies thank you!
Ty for the recipes! I found that we really made too much food period!! Which we have already cut back. There’s plenty that everyone takes food home with them and we still have some leftovers.
Ahhh! This hit me hard last year!!! I have decided that a little outside porch lights and garland, inside nativity scene on the piano and stockings is enough No more little things everywhere! And decorating cookies with friends is so fun!! But we don’t need to make 25 kinds!!! 🤯😉 Family activity with the kids worth my energy way more than lots of decorations
Hi the choc squares looked lovely .we normaly fill the fridges with what we call picky bits but this year havny got a house full so mu oartner and i said just have main meal pudding and sweet not all the packets of every thing you can think off thrn have cheese board if stay up late like usualy do thank you x
I have cut back on decor for sure. I’ve sold quite a bit on my personal Facebook page. I’m also cutting back all the extra gifts for people that aren’t close in my life. I may get friends (couples) a gift together of some kind but usually it’s a consumable and almost always is food. Thanks for the video I will have to try those bars sometime.
We have already quit decorating outside so we don’t have extra cost with the lighting outdoors as well as indoors. We no longer participate in the family White Elephant gift exchange. Not sure what we are going to cut back on for Thanksgiving.
Hi Emmy. I'm watching this from Alabama. I've had these at church dinners but in 38 years of marriage have never made them. I like your idea of cutting back on the chips and the unsweetened coconut. I think I'm going to make these with my little granddaughter this year. I'm a southern girl and I want to tell you that I really enjoy your videos and all the tips. My hubby will be retiring in a year or so and we're both really looking forward to it. I've been a full-time homemaker our whole marriage and look forward to having hubby around more. God bless you guys.
I stopped sending Christmas cards years ago. Postage just got to expensive and I'm widowed and on a limited budget. I do have all holidays. The family still likes to be home. With the cost of meat this year, I might have to figure something else to eat. I shop at Shoprite also on Long Island and normally get their prime rib but will see how far the prices go up.
I love your idea of using a large container to put in the freezer and put layers of different cookies inside as you do your holiday baking. I’m stealing this great tip!! Debi in Vicksburg, MS. 🥰🥰
The cookies look yummy! I am cutting back on most everything for Christmas this year including the amount of money I am gifting everyone! It's been very hard to come to that, but I hope all will understand. With 3 children & spouses, plus 6 grandchildren 3 with spouses and then 4 Great grands it is very expensive!!
We cut back on decorations on the outside of the house we don’t even have lights on the outside of the house my husband‘s physically unable to do it I could ask my son to stop by and do it but that’s OK we put up a Christmas wreath on the door and another big one on our picture window that’s enough for me Matter fact I just got that at a yard sale a real big Reef for a dollar your cookies look really good I think Im going to make that thank you for sharing that
I'm with ya- maybe it's my age, but it's a season of simplifying and doing what's most meaningful. Great advice to just stay away from shopping/buying temptation like dept stores and shopping channels. Keeping Christ our Savior the center of Christmas, amen🙏💖
I broke with a lot of traditions...we now have roast beef with carrots and potatoes for dinner and apple crisp for dessert. Nothing else! No cookies etc. It saves me so much in time and money, and it gets eaten up! The chicken dish looks wonderful...Little Girl Dog asked if Dixie likes it too?
Emmy I always enjoy your intro saying how you are debt free, mortgage free, but I'm curious. Have you and Paul been this frugal for your entire marriage? Or did you spend 'wildly' as newlyweds or new parents and have to learn to be more frugal. These recipes look so good!! Also curious as to when you start decorating for Christmas. Do you wait until after Thanksgiving? I do because I host Thanksgiving dinner and want our home to be festive in the Fall and Thanksgiving style. But the day after......!!!
Susan we have always been frugal...even before we married LOL! If you haven't watched our video "How we retired at 55" it answers a lot of questions about our frugality. We usually wait until the day after Thanksgiving but I'm ready to do it now LOL!
Sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar....all great kitchen hacks....(I'm a chef, btw!) :):) Great job in the kitchen, Emmy! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
I’ve been make this for 25 year with the can c for about 15 and found a recipe with dry milk. I think I like this recipe better because I have all this on hand. I make them for gift for my family. Thank you for a update recipe for m condensed milk.
I will still make a large Thanksgiving dinner, but Christmas dinner will be simple, like a roast or a gumbo. I probably won't decorate much this year outside, but will still put up a tree. I have a question for you: what do you do with all of those leaves? Do you compost them? Also, your layered dessert is an oldie but definitely a goodie😊(we're about the same age, so I can say it😊). Thank you guys for your videos. They are enjoyed so much!
Thanks for the chicken recipe, it looks and sounds delicious. I often get bored with chicken so it’s great to have a new recipe to try. This Christmas we will be having a picnic at the beach for Christmas lunch. For Christmas night dinner we will have a roast and vegetables plus one desert. We used to have enormous meals with 20+ people, but it got too much and we now enjoy our simpler celebration.
Tradition! Well, yes, this is a whole 'nuther pot-of-coffee conversation! My hubby & I do not feed into that! :) We've learned, simple is better! :) Great video! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
I have made the sweetened condensed milk and was surprised how easy and how good it was. I wanted to make it out of lactose free milk because I am lactose intolerant. It worked great.
We are remodeling this year, so decorating the house and buying Christmas gifts will be very minimal if anything. I will probably go a little overboard next year, once everything is (hopefully) done. LOL! I love your idea of making treats ahead of time and freezing them. That takes so much pressure off! The crockpot chicken looked really good, too. My husband is trying to cut back on carbs 😭 but maybe I could do zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice instead?
Since COVID struck my brother and sister-in-law and I do not give each other presents, we make a decent financial donation to our local food bank to help those less fortunate. We are blessed and are at an age where we have everything we need. We do however give each other a lottery ticket. it's good to get back to the real meaning of Christmas. Blessings to you both and thank you for all your lovely videos
Love that so much! Good for you!
Holy moly! That is a boatload of leaves! 😂😂😂
So funny that you're talkin about scaling back the Christmas decorations! We just spent all afternoon going through 10 containers of Christmas decorations that were my husband's family my family hours together and we end with two containers and the rest is all going to go! I can't do the overtop every room every door knob decorating anymore it just doesn't appeal to me! I'm more into the fresh greens and the tree and a little ceramic tree that my mother always had from the 1960s or 70s which I laugh when I see it because it reminds me of her and that's it I'm done with the over decorating! All about the simplifying
Exactly! Us too! Thanks Nancy!
I agree with simplicity. The less busy we are, the more we can focus on the meaning of the holiday.
Exactly Jonna! thank you!
I’ve cut back on everything you mentioned except for sending Christmas cards. I know people who are heart broken if they don’t get Christmas cards. Receiving a card is so very important to them.
Yes very true. Especially elderly people I know.
My kids are well into adulthood and we have no grandkids. Lol even though my kids are old none of us wanted to give up exchanging stockings. But so much of the seasonal candy and little gifts that go into stockings are really over priced for what they are. So to make the frivolous stockings a little more frugal and yet keep up tradition we added "2nd Chritmas". A few days after Christmas we celebrate 2nd Christmas which is when we exchange stockings and eat the leftovers. We buy all the stocking stuffers after Christmas when they are upto 90% off and then exchange stockings. We play games, give the stockings and have fun with out the pressure of a fancy dinner or dividing our time between multiple Christmas day visits.
Another frugal idea. Every year I host a gingerbread night for my friends and their kids. Their kids are still young children. We were all finding that the stress of fitting it in during the hectic Christmas season was ruining the fun. So now we do it the week between Christmas and New Years. We get the gingerbread house kits at after Christmas sale prices. We are all more relaxed and casual and the event is much cheaper and more fun as a result.
Melissa I LOVE your ideas!! I may have to share them! Great idea to share gifts after they are marked down!
Good fun advice Melissa
I just adore the "paul approved!" Segment !
Thanks so much!
For our Adult children we now do stockings only. Each person gets a name. We also only do four presents for our younger kiddos. One you want, one you need, one you wear and one you read.
Love that Michelle!
Hello, sweet Emmy & Paul 💖
That chicken pasta dish looked amazing! I love capers.
Our Christmas tradition was opening up stockings on Christmas Eve, and gifts on Christmas Day. Now, we dont do either one. We dont need STUFF, and realistically, Jesus could care less about our earthly traditions. It means nothing to Him, and does not glorify Him! So why do it? Christmas decorating is simple for me. I put up a little 4 foot tree with minimal decorations. This is for our pleasure of sitting around in the evening, with the glow of the beautiful tree and candles. Its a cozy setting for a hot cup of tea.
Thanksgiving to us is about being thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon us: Salvation through Jesus Christ, Freedom in the country we live in, Health, Employment, food on the table, and a roof over our heads, and so much more that arent seen and we cant even touch! 💖🙏
Thank you for sharing, dear friends,
Washington State🎄💖🙏🇺🇸
LOVE THAT!!! Beautifully said Heidi! Thank you!
@@FrugalMoneySaver 💖🙏
Thank you Heidi for your comment
I wish more people thought like you
Jesus is the reason for the season
As my daughter were listening to this video we were decorating for fall. Had way to much! We decided that we would "share" with children and gradchildren - many memories attached with items we gave away, both for ourselves and the recipients of the little gifts. Thank you for the encouragement to share family memories!
Thanks for sharing!! I love that so much!
Less Christmas decorations and less gifts. 🎄🎄🎄
I love the idea of reviisiting old holiday traditions . This is so smart.
Thanks Dawn! Hope all is well my friend!
Another inspirational video to remind everyone on the real meaning of the holidays.
Also you stay true to your “frugal money saver” by adding frugal tips to keep those who need guidance to stay on a budget. I appreciate all your effort on putting out great content. Thank you!🥰
Yes! Thank you Sheryl!
I'm cutting back on decorations my home. I started doing this last year, and it was a great relief. My home still looked festive with the decorations I put out on the mantel and the other few things I sat around and was super easy to put away when the season was over. Like you, I'm not yet ready to give up on Christmas cards because I still enjoy touching base with the wonderful people who have flowed in and out of my life over the decades. Addressing a card to each one reminds me to be grateful for the gift of their friendship.
Love that Alice! It does remind us of our loved ones with each card sent!
Thanks for the idea on freezing the cookie bars. I have the same recipe and never thought of freezing them. I use white chocolate chips and cranberries on mine, just as good. One year I put m and m’s on them for my daughters.
Sounds great! Yes, they freeze beautifully!
My daughter's fiancee is very allergic to chocolate, so I adapted my magic bar recipe for him using peanut butter chips. 👍😃 And I like them even better than with the chocolate! 😋🌟💖
We are here watching. Ray was moved to Rehab Tues. Thanks for praying. Great video thank you.
YAY!! So happy to hear that Save! Will keep praying for him to heal!
Emmy, my goal over the last few years is to not do so much cooking and baking. I get excited and plan too much and then get overwhelmed. Also too much food leads to either 2 things. Too much eating or too much waste.
So true Tonya! Thank you!
Emmy, I absolutely HATE making that soup every year and you have given me the OK
to STOP the madness. Thank you so much!
YAY!!! Georgie I'm going to ask your kids after Christmas if you caved and made it LOL!! Be strong!!!
I was also raised in a traditional Italian home and we stopped doing the "never ending" meal years ago for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I cut back to sending out Christmas Cards every few years instead of every year. The most significant savings I've had is cutting back on the amount of Christmas cookies I make. For years the family tradition was to make many different kinds of cookies, especially to give away to family to take home with them on Christmas day. I've gone to making small loaves of Cranberry Bread or some other type of quick bread. I spend less on ingredients and less time in the kitchen. They can be made ahead and they freeze well too. I make extra to keep on hand to give as hostess gifts if we are invited over to someone's home during the holiday.
Yes, I love baking! It's what we give as gifts as well!
In England the cheapest postal rate to send a standard size Christmas card is more than 80 cents, so it soon adds up hugely if you are sending out dozens of cards. Brits have cut back hugely on mailed cards. A lot of my cards now come by hand in the mail box from neighbours and only by post from far flung family and friends. We now receive approximately a third of the cards we used to do due to the ridiculous cost. Nowadays a lot of folks send text messages and email cards, which is very sensible - after all those cards just end up in the recycle bin after a couple of weeks.
Makes total sense!
Oh I’ll need to give that pasta dish a go, something my kids would love for sure :)
As an adult, I often wonder what the point of putting up a tree is every year. My cats have a field day in it and it just gets in the way. I will skip that this year and will decorate outside as I think that adds to other's enjoyment. (Which makes ME happier!) Thanksgiving, we will make a nice roast chicken and a little dressing and a pie with a few sides. Christmas...I think I might like a lasagna. Or, maybe I will make some Beef Burgandy like my spouse enjoys.
I want to make those magic cookies! I made some pumpkin bread tonight and the recioe called for a cup and a half of suger ( i cut that in half) and half a cup of oil (which I also cut in half!) and then a doubled the pumpkin-- turned out great and much healthier-- I mean that's a lot of oil and sugar!!!
I agree! I am always looking for ways to cut sugar and fat too!
Love love love the 1940’s cookbook!
The cookies look delicious! They look like a cookie that is sold at a local restaurant where I live. They go for $4 a cookie! I’m going to try these sometime!
Because I have 20 family members to buy for at Christmas, last year we started the tradition of drawing names. I was concerned that the family might not enjoy that as much. But come to find out they loved it! All the kiddos thought it was great, and the adults!
Such a great way to do presents! Thank you!
Hello and thank you so much for all of your helpful videos. I am cutting back on the amounts put into gifts. We have all we need but go overboard each year on gifts. This year we’re setting a monetary limit so we don’t feel obligated to overspend. The magic cookies are great but wanted to let you know of an even easier version called Seven Layer Cookies. In a 9x13 pan, melt a stick of butter in the 350 degree oven. When it’s melted, take it out of the stove and sprinkle your crushed graham crackers over evenly. Tap this down with a measuring cup evenly to form the crust. Sprinkle on your chocolate chips and some butterscotch chips, chopped nuts and shredded coconut. Tap it down lightly, then pour over your condensed milk and bake. It’s a little easier because everything is done in the same pan - no other bowls or saucepans. Just need a knife snd cutting board to chop the nuts and crush the graham crackers. Try it sometime and let me know what you think :-) Here’s wishing you and Paul and Dixie Belle a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks Melody!
I love your channel! I am going to try the chicken dish tomorrow.
I quit decorating years ago. I have things out year long that I enjoy looking at. I have little $10 table top Christmas trees, I put one in every room and that’s all the decorating I do and I simply love it.
I quit sending Christmas cards too a few years ago because of the time it took to sign and address each one. I didn’t enjoy it so I stopped.
Our church youth group collects Christmas cards at church and they deliver them, no postage required, to everyone in the congregation.
Our family has decided that we aren’t buying gifts- so my friends and I still get to go shopping and enjoy the ambiance of the season without the stress. We have lunch, shop, have warm cider, shop, have dinner and just enjoy each other’s company. It’s so relaxing and fun.
I hate turkey- so I don’t make one. I will make something I enjoy making.
Thank you for your tips and recipes!! You’re awesome
Let me know how the chicken was! Thanks for sharing!
@@FrugalMoneySaver - The crockpot chicken was so good!! My house smelled wonderful and my husband said it was delicious. I am definitely making this again. Thank you 😊
Last year and again this year I made simple gifts for neighbors, co-workers, and friends with popcorn and hot chocolate packets from the Dollar Tree. I put them in recycled glass jars, added a tea light candle, and tied festive ribbon around them.
I also make 2 ingredient fudge for presents.
I have had my college age daughter and her friends over to decorate the tree, cookies, and gingerbread houses made from graham crackers and cheap candy. It's all fun!
Lynn this all sounds wonderful!! Love the ideas!
We do breakfast casserole for Christmas morning with my parent's. It's one of our Christmas rituals. You could do a breakfast casserole in the crock pot.
Very true!
After living overseas I had to learn to make everything from scratch. I made sweetened condensed milk using dry milk and sugar. Much easier than starting with liquid milk. Just need to hear the dry milk enough to melt sugar. I got my recipe from online.
Sounds great!
Another great gesture is to give a gift of service. Paint a room inside the recipient's house. Help someone rake leaves. Assist someone in cleaning out their garage. It doesn't cost a thing, except a little bit of your time. Can't wait to try this chicken recipe. Thanks for the great videos. You and Paul keep it real.
Thanks so much Jeanne!
I would like to have all leafs. Leaf compost is pure gold. Best soil ever.
Yes, it is!!
We use to have the big Italian meal before the turkey also… I stopped that years ago…I also went from a big turkey to turkey breast ….and decorating the house has been downsized a lot 😊❤️🍁
I think a turkey breast would be a great idea...BUT I love turkey soup from all the bones LOL!
Another great video we started at Christmas time a soup supper. With all the family dinners the soup was a welcome change. Make in the crockpot rolls and a fruit salad for dessert. We can just enjoy having family around. Bonus not alot of dishes.
Sounds great! Wonderful!
I enjoy the holidays and used to do such much, not as much anymore, just being with family is enough. 🦃
So very true Beth!
My gifts are homemade apple butter that I canned in October. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with the family is a pot luck.
I help my mother-in-law decorate her tree the day after Thanksgiving. My husband is a truck driver, so we'll be gone until the week of Christmas. Then we just spend time with family.
Love your videos.
Those kinds of gifts include the gift of time and mean so much more to others. I grew loofahs this summer and am making homemade loofah soap bars this year for Christmas.
Oh Loofah soap bars sound amazing! So cool that you grew them!!
Thanks so much for sharing!
We are having a price limit for presents. Something small that people need.
Love that!
After not being able to visit anyone last year, Iam going to visit my Dad for 3 days ,christmas eve ,day and what we call boxing day. If anyone wants to visit they will be welcome.Then we will go home. So we'll and truly cutting down! We will put our tree up and our nativity and that's it! Wishing you both and Dixie a blessed Christmas xx
You as well Jeanne! Thank you!
I have given up many traditions. Just does not bring me joy anymore. Let the wedding soup go, smaller tree, less decorations, no cards, less gifts. It just felt out of control. I appreciate your meal recipes. I have tried many of them and they are all very good. I would like to see how you make your anti pasta. Thanks!
I stopped filling stockings once the kids turned 18. Saves so much money and time!!
We still do them because it's just the 3 of us...Paul loves his stocking LOL!
Before covid we started to cut back on effort, meaning the host of the christmas "party" only had to do the main dish. We celebrate with the whole family from my husband's side and it worked like a charm, taking over a little of the costs and making the preps a bit easier on the host as well is a great idea to me. I layed the seed and my brother in law took it up. We're going to host this year and I'm cutting back on decorations since we're living in a tiny house but already started that process some years ago. Less is more. To us christmas is the feast of light so lots of candles will be used and Hygge is my main goal. I'm going to invest in the right candles because that's my choice, they'll last longer and the quality will count. I already bought some of the main course ingrediënts and am stocking up on canned vegs and bacon and such. I will make a yule log by myself from scratch to have with coffee or tea at the afternoon. I'm also only sending christmas cards to whom I got them last year's christmas and it's getting less and less but to those who put effort and money into sending us their blessings will get them in return. Oh and we stopped giving gifts years ago after us asking for it for years and years and years. The FIL's finally got the message. Take care dear Paul and Emmy and stay safe and thank you so much for your inspiring video's and tips! xo Vleer from the Netherlands.
Great comment! Thank you for all your insight!
Can you suggest an online recipe for that fabulous Netherlands "Honeyspice Cake"? My 84 year old father asked me if I can make it. There are so many variations online I don't know which is good.
Emmie, One way to cut back on the expenses of sending out cards is to send Christmas Postcards :) saves $$$ on postage. Or better yet send a Christmas picture of you and Paul as a postcard. Merry Christmas!
That’s a great idea thank you so much!
Christmas breakfast isnt really a thing in Australia. maybe with the heat we just dont bother with all the baking of breakfast?
I love your videos - they really are encouraging. We used to have 2 full days of meals and entertaining at Christmas. But eating so much food and all the work that goes with it 2 days in a row was not that great, so we are now going to fit it all into one day, and go for a long walk the next! Thank you again for such interesting content.
You are so welcome Elizabeth! thank you!
Outstanding video! Brought back memories of Mom and Dad putting out the Ante Pasta-- the Lasagna-- and THEN Thanksgiving traditional feast! We were bursting from food and couldn't really enjoy the Turkey by the time dinner was served. I would eat a tiny breakfast because I knew what we were In for! Remember anyone baking the turkey 4 am back in the day growing up? I do! Don't ask! Lol
Yes!! My mom and grandmother would be up before the sun prepping food!! Such glorious memories!
Isn't the leaf blower the best invention ever? I feel like master of the yard and sidewalks. 😂
So does Paul!
I love love LOVE your one pot cooking ideas. Thank you! I need to get better at going no waste with food. Thanks for the ideas!
You are so welcome!
This is my fave part of Tuesday💗
So sweet Jenn! Thank you!
Those magic bars looked so good. I will have to try them. We are just buying for family, no outside gifts. Thank you.
You are so welcome! Thank you Patricia!
Girl, you look fab in red! :)
So kind, thank you!
Wonderful video. I miss the big family gathers on holidays now that a lot of family has passed away. It’s just the 3 of us now and this year I’m going to make a small roasted chicken with normal sides. No bake cheesecake for dessert. Buying groceries and stocking up now. Plain and simple semi easy.my aunt used to make the desert you made and we always called them Hello Dollies. We always waited for her to bring them
Oh Lisa thank for sharing!!
I can empathize with Paul! We live in the country also and the leaves are the bane of my existence, lol.
Wow! I'll have to try that chicken and pasta recipe. It's so easy!
I only decorate the living room, with a small tree and some other decorations and I decorate the kitchen and we have a small lighted decoration we put in the kitchen window. We can't be seen very well from the road so we don't put a lot of effort into decorating outside.
We stopped doing a huge Christmas dinner. I know people would probably gasp at that idea, but it's an awful lot of work at the end of the day. We eat Thanksgiving dinner at about 1pm for the same reason. And I certainly don't do a big breakfast on that day! I do a huge breakfast on Christmas morning. It's just Hubby, myself and the housemate so we're not opening a lot of gifts. We keep it simple but pleasant.
I do send out about half a dozen Christmas cards but that's it. I have one friend in Europe that I wouldn't ever miss sending a really nice, fairly expensive card to. But the rest are discount store cards. I can remember helping my mother address all the cards she would send out when I was a kid. It was a lot!!! Both of my parents came from very large families.
I make my own buttermilk but I didn't know you could make sweetened condensed milk. Learn something new everyday.
Barbara thanks for sharing!!
I love this video.
I'm definitely adding this pasta dish to my meal plan rotation.
Thanks Emmy and Paul.
Angela it really is delicious!
Such good ideas as always. I am scaling back on presents. I am trying to give experiences this year instead of things. I probably will still have to get a few presents for our granddaughter though in addition to doing some special things with grandma.
That's a great idea! I'm sure she will love that Lisa!
This is such an important conversation, about traditions. It is so wise to carefully consider and re-evaluate what we choose to do so that it's done with intention and not just by default. Thank you for this wonderful reminder, which applies to all seasons of the year, and all seasons of life.
Yes, we re-avulate all the time...it really helps!
This year my family just gave gift cards this year. We all brought a dish.
So fun and smart!! Thank you!
So many leaves! 🥰😍🌈✌🏾
UGH! LOL!
I stopped doing Christmas cards year's ago, it was to much because people kept moving and I had to keep finding out the addresses. We usually put up a lot of lights but this year we'll put up a few but definitely not as many. The cookies look yummy!!!
I agree! I still do that too!
Hey Emmy & Paul, you always brighten up my day ❤ That chicken & those cookie bars looked amazing! It's nearly midnight here in the UK and I could've eaten both 😋 The thing me & my partner are cutting back on this year is definitely the amount of food that we buy, our eyes are always bigger than our bellies at Xmas so we're getting just enough and not too much.
Good for you! I think we all tend to think we need more food than we do LOL!
I'm actually cutting back on my decor this year & plan to pass down some stuff to my girls. I love doing Christmas cards but I'm cutting that back cuz I hardly get any back & postage is ridiculous. I think all my grands are getting cash this year. Their all getting older & I can't afford the games & stuff they play. I think they prefer cash anyways.
Some great ways to save for sure!
We are empty nester this year so we are not putting up a tree and going to the kids house for Xmas. I’m still baking cookies but we don’t need to have a tree will put out our Santa’s
Love that! Simple and lovely!
When I was watching this vlog and heard your dog begging while you were eating I thought it was my dog. I even asked my husband what was going on with our dog Samantha. I had to laugh when I realized that the sound was from the vlog. Very good tips. You present things so well and tactfully as we are all different. My step-father was Italian and I remember holiday dinners we had at his sisters houses. Such fabulous food and such wonderful memories. A new member of the family a non Italian thought it was just going to pasta so he really filled up on it. Was so surprised when the “next course” came out
LOL!! I love that! Tell Samantha Dixie says hello!!
Well after reading these comments I think I’m gonna scale back our outdoor decorations a LOT so I can enjoy my indoor ones.
LOL! You do what works for you! I love my outdoor decorations!
We have scaled back on cards, cooking baking, and decorating. Allows more time to focus on true meaning of holidays and cherished time with family.
I not make cookies or candy any more. My kids bring that kind of things . lol
Absolutely right Julia! Thanks!
That's wonderful they do that Patricia!
I always have left over spaghetti noodles. This is perfect to use those up the following day. Thank you for the idea. I did this years ago. My son is grown and lives out of state. I never decorated until after Thanksgiving because I wanted Thanksgiving to be Thanksgiving and I wanted him to come home at Thanksgiving and go back too college with the anticipation of Christmas to come. When I cut back at Christmas a few years ago I was still working full time at was exhausted trying to do it all. The kids came home and asked if I was ok? I told them I'm fine just I was ready to do less. (I used to put up 2 full sized trees and 3- four foot trees. I was crazy) I told them to go through, take what they want and sold the rest in a garage sale the following summer. I found I have done less and less for past 3 years. Now I've retired, moving to smaller home with much less stuff. It all works out.
Thank you for sharing that!
I didn't send Christmas card last year and only received a handful. Dad and I go out for Thanksgiving dinner and there's no cleanup!
Doing what works for you is always best!
Daisy is so vocal when paul takes a bite! She wanted some!!!
She's always begging LOL!
Also thanks for the inspiration I always thought making sweetened condensed milk was difficult. So I googled how to make a vegan one since my husband's diabetic and can't have the sugar and we are mostly plant-based. And it's basically two ingredients coconut milk in the natural sweetener. So I'm going to try these bar cookies thank you!
I was wondering about a vegan option as well, glad you commented. My daughter has a dairy allergy.
I had a dog named Dixie, And your recepies are the best.
😊 thank you
Ty for the recipes! I found that we really made too much food period!! Which we have already cut back. There’s plenty that everyone takes food home with them and we still have some leftovers.
So true Jackie!
We call them Hello Dolly bars. I used to make them every year and bring them in to work for everyone to share.
Yes, they are good!
I only put up a tree. I only do that for my special needs son. Christmas is his favorite. He loves Santa.
Love that Wanda! I like the tree too!
Enjoy all your videos!! Single mom of two from edmonton Alberta canada Your tips help my house hold so much so thank you!!
YAY! So happy to hear that! thank you!
Ahhh! This hit me hard last year!!!
I have decided that a little outside porch lights and garland, inside nativity scene on the piano and stockings is enough
No more little things everywhere!
And decorating cookies with friends is so fun!! But we don’t need to make 25 kinds!!! 🤯😉
Family activity with the kids worth my energy way more than lots of decorations
I love that! It's true I cut my cookies back to about 4!
I have 30 bins of Christmas so I need to scale down for sure. Wish me luck. Lol
You can do it Diane!!
Hi the choc squares looked lovely .we normaly fill the fridges with what we call picky bits but this year havny got a house full so mu oartner and i said just have main meal pudding and sweet not all the packets of every thing you can think off thrn have cheese board if stay up late like usualy do thank you x
Sounds great! Love the idea of a cheese board!
I have cut back on decor for sure. I’ve sold quite a bit on my personal Facebook page. I’m also cutting back all the extra gifts for people that aren’t close in my life. I may get friends (couples) a gift together of some kind but usually it’s a consumable and almost always is food. Thanks for the video I will have to try those bars sometime.
They are yummy!
We have already quit decorating outside so we don’t have extra cost with the lighting outdoors as well as indoors. We no longer participate in the family White Elephant gift exchange. Not sure what we are going to cut back on for Thanksgiving.
Sounds great! Enjoy the holidays!
Hi Emmy. I'm watching this from Alabama. I've had these at church dinners but in 38 years of marriage have never made them. I like your idea of cutting back on the chips and the unsweetened coconut. I think I'm going to make these with my little granddaughter this year. I'm a southern girl and I want to tell you that I really enjoy your videos and all the tips. My hubby will be retiring in a year or so and we're both really looking forward to it. I've been a full-time homemaker our whole marriage and look forward to having hubby around more. God bless you guys.
That's how I felt about Paul! Couldn't wait to have him home!! God bless you as well!
I stopped sending Christmas cards years ago. Postage just got to expensive and I'm widowed and on a limited budget. I do have all holidays. The family still likes to be home. With the cost of meat this year, I might have to figure something else to eat. I shop at Shoprite also on Long Island and normally get their prime rib but will see how far the prices go up.
Maureen I love that everyone comes home to you!!
I love your idea of using a large container to put in the freezer and put layers of different cookies inside as you do your holiday baking. I’m stealing this great tip!! Debi in Vicksburg, MS. 🥰🥰
Thanks so much! 😊
Great video! I am definitely going to make the chicken dish. It looks delicious!
I love all your shows but especially love to watch you cook. Your so through. Your a brilliant teacher.
Thank You.
Thanks so much Christine!
The cookies look yummy! I am cutting back on most everything for Christmas this year including the amount of money I am gifting everyone! It's been very hard to come to that, but I hope all will understand. With 3 children & spouses, plus 6 grandchildren 3 with spouses and then 4 Great grands it is very expensive!!
Sounds great! I'm sure people will understand!
We cut back on decorations on the outside of the house we don’t even have lights on the outside of the house my husband‘s physically unable to do it I could ask my son to stop by and do it but that’s OK we put up a Christmas wreath on the door and another big one on our picture window that’s enough for me Matter fact I just got that at a yard sale a real big Reef for a dollar your cookies look really good I think Im going to make that thank you for sharing that
Thanks for sharing Nancy!
Y'all make the most helpful videos. Thank you!
Susan thank YOU!
I'm with ya- maybe it's my age, but it's a season of simplifying and doing what's most meaningful. Great advice to just stay away from shopping/buying temptation like dept stores and shopping channels. Keeping Christ our Savior the center of Christmas, amen🙏💖
Absolutely! Thank you!
Brilliant
Thanks Bridget!
I broke with a lot of traditions...we now have roast beef with carrots and potatoes for dinner and apple crisp for dessert. Nothing else! No cookies etc. It saves me so much in time and money, and it gets eaten up! The chicken dish looks wonderful...Little Girl Dog asked if Dixie likes it too?
Tell Little Girl Dog Dixie loves chicken lol!!
Emmy I always enjoy your intro saying how you are debt free, mortgage free, but I'm curious. Have you and Paul been this frugal for your entire marriage? Or did you spend 'wildly' as newlyweds or new parents and have to learn to be more frugal. These recipes look so good!! Also curious as to when you start decorating for Christmas. Do you wait until after Thanksgiving? I do because I host Thanksgiving dinner and want our home to be festive in the Fall and Thanksgiving style. But the day after......!!!
Susan we have always been frugal...even before we married LOL! If you haven't watched our video "How we retired at 55" it answers a lot of questions about our frugality. We usually wait until the day after Thanksgiving but I'm ready to do it now LOL!
Sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar....all great kitchen hacks....(I'm a chef, btw!) :):) Great job in the kitchen, Emmy! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Thanks so much! 😊
I’ve been make this for 25 year with the can c for about 15 and found a recipe with dry milk. I think I like this recipe better because I have all this on hand. I make them for gift for my family. Thank you for a update recipe for m condensed milk.
You are so welcome! Thank you!
I will still make a large Thanksgiving dinner, but Christmas dinner will be simple, like a roast or a gumbo. I probably won't decorate much this year outside, but will still put up a tree. I have a question for you: what do you do with all of those leaves? Do you compost them? Also, your layered dessert is an oldie but definitely a goodie😊(we're about the same age, so I can say it😊). Thank you guys for your videos. They are enjoyed so much!
Yes, we use some as compost, some to weatherize delicate plants, and some just go on the lower part of our property to decompose.
Ooh similar to a chicken picatta…your chicken dish looked fantastic. Will have to try that out.
It was! So much easier though!
Thanks for the chicken recipe, it looks and sounds delicious. I often get bored with chicken so it’s great to have a new recipe to try. This Christmas we will be having a picnic at the beach for Christmas lunch. For Christmas night dinner we will have a roast and vegetables plus one desert. We used to have enormous meals with 20+ people, but it got too much and we now enjoy our simpler celebration.
Sounds absolutely wonderful!
Oh and I LOVE the idea of saving butter wrappers to grease pans. I am going to do this from now on. 😁
Yes, just make sure you rotate them and keep them nice and cold in the fridge!
Tradition! Well, yes, this is a whole 'nuther pot-of-coffee conversation! My hubby & I do not feed into that! :) We've learned, simple is better! :) Great video! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Thanks for sharing!!
I have made the sweetened condensed milk and was surprised how easy and how good it was. I wanted to make it out of lactose free milk because I am lactose intolerant. It worked great.
Yes, I was so surprised!!
Those cookie bars look DELICIOUS!!!! 🌈✌🏾
They are!
We are remodeling this year, so decorating the house and buying Christmas gifts will be very minimal if anything. I will probably go a little overboard next year, once everything is (hopefully) done. LOL! I love your idea of making treats ahead of time and freezing them. That takes so much pressure off! The crockpot chicken looked really good, too. My husband is trying to cut back on carbs 😭 but maybe I could do zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice instead?
That's a great idea! The sauce was amazing!