By Staff
Santa has been good to us this year.  Our office will be closed Dec. 21-Jan. 3.  We will reopen Jan. 4.
Clip the following list of Holiday Hotlines to call while we are closed.  It offers lots of helpful cooking tips. For assistance call:
We have a great list of the best stocking stuffers; stop by our office and pick up the following
The Auburn Cookbook – $10. Contains many traditional recipes that were modified to contain less fat, Cholesterol, sodium and sugar.  A nutritional analysis is provided for each recipe.
Cooking Alabama’s Wild Game – $4. This book provides information on cooking methods for venison and recipes for game birds and small game.
The Food Preservation in Alabama – $7. This book provides information on canning, freezing
The 2010 Money Management Calendar- FREE – The calendar will help you plan and control your expenses for the year. The money management starts with budget suggestions and easy-to-follow explanations of how to use a checking account and other helpful information.  Charts for each month and timely tips can help you with your finances.
2010 Sharing Holiday Secrets –FREE. A collection of recipes ideal for the holidays or any special occasion.
These stocking stuffers are available in both Atmore and Brewton. Stop by our office (behind Southern Pine Electric Cooperative) in Brewton and Central Farm Supply in Atmore and pick up your copies of each.
Here are some great kid-friendly Christmas recipes your children can help prepare during the holidays.  They were developed by Families, Food &Fitness Community. Enjoy!
Edible Snowmen
1 box Ritz crackers
1 container low-fat cream cheese
Tiny slices of carrots, apples
Box of raisins
Each child should get three Ritz crackers, approximately 2 tablespoons of cream cheese, and a small pile of slice fruits, veggies, and raisins.  Spread cream cheese over all 3 crackers.  Decorate using available foods.
Holiday Jigglers
2 8-ounce boxes of regular or sugar-free green and red gelatin mix
2 1/ 2 Cup boiling water
Holiday-themed cookie cutters
Mix gelatin and water and pour into a 13”x9” Pyrex dish.  Chill.  Once it is completely firm (approximately 3 hours), cut into shapes with the holiday cookie cutters.  Keep chilled until ready to serve.  Makes 24
Reindeer Chow
1 jar creamy peanut butter
3 cups rice cereal
3 cups corn cereal
3 cups pretzel sticks
2 cups peanuts
1 bag Christmas M&M’s (optional)
Slowly melt peanut butter in double broiler.  Combine remaining ingredients together in large bowl then pour peanut butter over mixture and mix well
Santa Claus Punch
1 package 3 ounce cherry regular or sugar free gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 can frozen lemonade
3 cups water
1 quart 100% cranberry juice
12 ounce club soda
Dissolve gelatin in boiling water.  Wait to cool then combine remaining ingredients.  Lime slices or cherries may be added to the mixture for festive Christmas colors.
Magic Fruit Salad (Use fruit your family likes, here’s an idea to start)
1 /2 pound seedless grapes (about 1 1/ 2 cups)
1  20-ounce can pineapple chunks with juice
2 bananas
2 kiwi
1 3/ 4 cups fat-free milk (skim)
1 4-serving size sugar-free instant lemon or vanilla pudding mix
Rinse grapes.  If young children will be at dinner cut the grapes in half to prevent choking.  Drain juice from pineapple (put in refrigerator to drink later).  Peel and slice kiwi.  Put grapes, pineapple and kiwi in a large bowl.  Peel the banana and cut into bite size pieces.  Pour the milk over the fruit.  While slowly stirring the fruit mixture, sprinkle in the pudding mix.  Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes and serve.