On Saturday we're going to help my cousin pry her tree out of a too-small storage closet and try to fluff it into some semblance of beauty. I was thinking it would be fun to make it a tree trimming party, but she doesn't really appreciate that kind of thing, kind of like a grade-school kid, a lot of the nuances of life are lost on her, but because she is an adult, it's more noticeable. For one thing, being older, her digestion is delicate so most things bother her stomach. Kids would eat pretty much anything sweet, and I would like to think they would be enchanted by the holiday spirit, but not Betsy. Oh, she enjoys the idea of receiving presents, and likes to look at Christmas lights, but she basically wants us to come in, get the tree finished, and leave.

If we were going to make it a party, though, here's what I would make.

Christmas Scent
3 (4-inch) cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
1/4 cup whole cloves
(Whole allspice)
1/2 lemon
1/2 orange
1 quart water

Combine in a tea kettle or saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer as long as desired. Check often and add more water as needed. Mixture may be stored in the refrigerator and reused several times. Note: this isn't edible.

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I have no idea how this next one will taste because there is a lot going on here calorie-wise. It might be better for you than the store-bought apple dip because it doesn't contain high-fructose corn syrup (as if that was worse than all this cream).

Dip for Apples

1 cup sour cream
1 cup whipping cream
4 ounces brandy
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix together and refrigerate overnight. Serve with fresh sliced apples, grapes, or any fresh fruit.

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Here's another fruit dip with fewer ingredients.

Marshmallow Fruit Dip
8 ounces cream cheese (or Neufchatel)
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow cream
Fresh fruit

Mix the cream cheese and marshmallow together with the mixer and chill. Fruit: sliced apples, pears, strawberries, grapes, bananas, etc. Also good with vanilla wafers.

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I like the sound of this cracker one.

White Cracker Sandwiches
1 box Hi Ho or Ritz crackers
Peanut butter
1 package white almond bark

Spread peanut butter between two crackers to make a sandwich, then dip in melted almond bark. Place on waxed paper until set.

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No idea if this next recipe will 'work' because the soft ball in water test doesn't usually apply to recipes with flour in them. Not much there - I think I'll try it and let you know.


Sugared Pecans or Walnuts

2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon flour
5/8 cup milk (good luck with measuring - it's just shy of 3/4 cup)
1 tablespoon butter
Juice and grated rind of 1 orange
3 cups pecans or walnuts

Mix the sugar and flour well. Add the milk and butter and cook until it forms a soft ball in water. Add the orange juice and rind and continue cooking until it forms a soft ball again. Pour over the nuts in a big bowl and stir until the mixture coats and clings to the nuts, which must then be broken apart.

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Last year when we went over to Betsy's for tree decorating I took some Christmas music on CDs, but her CD boom box turned out to be non-functioning and all she could get on it was an AM radio station. She was blissfully unaware, happy with what she had, so I didn't make a big deal about it. She has a VCR but doesn't know how to use it, even after I set it up for her and tried to write out directions like a cookbook for it.

But it soon became obvious that she will never be able to use it, and her 'staff' don't want to get involved with helping her, so she's out of luck. Her family bought it for her when she lived in a group home, and the other people living there knew how to use it, so she never learned. In fact, she can't learn. She's got a great memory and can do simple math, but can't adjust the thermostat in her apartment.