Eggnog French Toast

**Tinsel Trees**

The catchphrase in Austin is "Keep Austin Weird", and many take offs utilize the same construction:  Keep Austin Reading, Keep Austin Growing, ect.  Weirdness is common here in the capitol.  A couple years ago I first noticed the Tinsel Trees on Loop 360 (Capitol of Texas Highway).  Cedar trees along the right of way miracously burst into holiday festivity draped with holiday decorations.  Many of the trees sport glittering garland.  I drive this stretch of roadway home from work most days and enjoy the panoramic views of the hill country. 

For some reason, this year I decided to do some research into this bizarre annual tradition. 

A coworker stated the tradition of decorating a tree on the right of way started as a way to share the holiday with those who may not have the means of affording a tree.  I think its a sweet idea.  My biggest concern with these trees is the litter.  So much of what is on the trees is plastic which is the worst thing for birds and small animals.  Birds, especially, cannot digest plastic bi-products, and as a consequence, eventually the plastic builds up in the stomach and kills the bird.  As the Texas weather breaks apart the cute glistening decorations, the bits and pieces end up somewhere.

So, to keep from being a complete Grinch on the matter, let me offer instead a suggestion:

Environmentally friendly trees.....

October 31, 2008

10 Kid & Pet-Friendly Edible Christmas Tree Ornaments

If you have young children or pets running around the house, edible tree ornaments may be the answer to keeping them safe this holiday season. Making these treats are not only just for beautifying your tree, but they can be a great family bonding time. Also they make great Christmas favors when friends & family come over. Check out the recipes below and share your edible ornament ideas with us.
1. Popcorn Balls – Follow the directions to your favorite popcorn ball recipe, wrap in cellophane and tie a ribbon around the top. Make a loop out of the ribbon to hang on the tree.
2. Dried Fruit Ring Ornaments – Materials: Dried Fruit, egg & ribbon. Thinly slice apples and pears into rings and pop them into a low oven and allow them to dry out. Once dry, you can simply tie a ribbon through the hole or you can brush egg white onto the fruit rings and sprinkle them with coarse sugar before adding the ribbon.
3. Rice Krispie Treat Ball Ornaments – Follow the recipe for the original rice krispie treats but instead of smashing them in the pan, make 3″ balls, wrap in cellophane and tie a ribbon around the top, making a loop to hang on the tree.
4. Gumdrop Ornaments – Materials: Toothpicks broke in half, Gumdrops, 2-3″ styrofoam balls & ribbon. Insert one end of a toothpick into a gumdrop and the other end into the Styrofoam ball. Repeat until the ball is covered with gumdrops. Tie the ribbon around the ball to hang it on the tree.
5. Angel Ornaments – Materials: Sugar ice-cream cone, Three-ring pretzel, Royal icing (blend 1 egg white with 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar), Colored sugar, Tootsie Pop, Life Saver and red candy heart. Using scissors, cut off 1/2 inch from the cone’s point. Ice the cone and pretzel, then roll them in colored sugar. For the head, insert the lollipop’s stick into the cone. Using the icing, affix the Life Saver to the head and the pretzel to the back of the cone. Add icing features and a candy heart.
6. Candy Glass – Materials: Cookie Cutters, Hard Candies & ribbon. For a mold, wrap the bottom and sides of a cookie cutter with foil. Set on a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Fill each cookie cutter with a single layer of candies. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes, or until melted. Add sprinkles, cool for 2 minutes, then use a chopstick to poke a hole near the top for hanging. Once cool, remove from the mold and hang with a ribbon.
7. Pretzel Garland – Materials: Pretzels dipped in white chocolate & ribbon. Thread one pretzel onto the ribbon and tie the end to the pretzel. Continue weaving on pretzels until the ribbon is full. Secure the ribbon to the last pretzel and hang.
8. Life Saver Wreath – Materials: Shoestring licorice & life savers. Use scissors to cut a piece of shoestring licorice 12 to 15 inches in length. Next, carefully string on about 15 Life Savers. Gather the ends of the licorice together and tie them into a bow to form a wreath.
9. Snowball Bundles – Materials: White chocolate covered malt balls, plastic wrap & white ribbon. Cut pieces of the plastic wrap in six inch squares and lay flat on the tabletop. Place approximately a half dozen of the malted milk balls in the center, gather the edges of the plastic wrap around the candy, twisting at the top to form a pouch of milk balls. Tie a length of ribbon around the gathering to close it, leaving a good length of ribbon left trailing from one end (a total length of about 6” of ribbon should do). Loop the remaining ribbon and tie off to form a hanger for the ornament.
10. Gingerbread Men – Follow the directions to your favorite gingerbread men recipe. Poke a hole in the head before baking with a straw. When the men are completely cool, add a ribbon through the hole and hang on the tree.