Keep your Holidays Happy!
Ever since I can remember, the last two months of the year have always been my favorite. Celebrating with family, eating delicious home cooked meals until you’re about to explode, decorations hung from every place imaginable and of course… the loads of presents both given and received! During those last 60 days of the year, it feels like everyone is full of all sorts of happiness, including me… until of course… I add up the receipts and look at my account balances and see how much I spent!
The financial burden of the holidays, after buying countless presents for your loved ones, can take the “happy” out of “holidays!” One way I deal with the stress is to plan ahead and start holiday shopping well in advance. I found quite a few deals earlier this year and was able to avoid the holiday shopping traffic most people dread. Another idea is a Christmas Club account, where a certain portion is deducted from your pay check and is set aside in a savings account until October when it becomes available for you to use. Lastly, many of my relatives love to receive sentimental gifts…such as DIY projects or a photo in a nice frame. (What better use of all the selfies I took?!) This is not only a great way to save money but also let’s my creativity shine through! This time of year my glue gun is smoking!!
Not only are finances scarce during the holiday season, but it seems as if time also travels faster in those last few weeks of the year. My husband and I are very fortunate to have our families so close to home… but it also means we are constantly going from one occasion to the next. In today’s world, everyone is in a go-go-go mentality, so I encourage you this holiday season to try to slow down a little and enjoy these moments you have with the ones you love most.
In order to save you both time and money during the festive months, check out this simple five step recipe for the world’s best apple pie! (Thanks Mom!) This is a gift many would be sure to remember!
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Pie Bag of apples Store bought pie crust (I use Pillsbury) 3/4c sugar 2T flour 1t cinnamon Dash of salt & nutmeg (optional) |
Crumble Topping 1/2c flour 1/2c sugar 1/2t cinnamon 4T margarine (I use Blue Bonnet) |
Before you begin: Preheat oven to 400 degrees and thaw pie crust to room temperature.
- Peel and slice one bag of apples (10-12 apples) and place in large bowl.
- Mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt & nutmeg pie ingredients in separate bowl and then stir into apples.
- Place the pie crust in a pie pan, press down edges of pie crust and add apple mixture to the pan. The apples will be heaping so press down to compress.
- Mix together flour, sugar, cinnamon crumble topping ingredients in medium bowl and then cut in (using a pastry blender or two butter knives) margarine. Place crumble topping mixture on pie.
- Place tin foil on tray in oven (to prevent spillage) and wrap tin foil around the edges of the pie crust (to prevent overcooking). Bake for 45 minutes… remove tin foil around pie crust… bake an additional 15 minutes. Let cool or serve warm.
