Innehållsförteckning för December/January 2023 från Country Woman

As many of you know, Country Woman was first published more than 50 years ago, in 1970. Since then, hundreds of thousands of readers have welcomed the magazine into their homes and their hearts. My own heart is heavy right now, because I have some sad news to share: This will be the last issue of Country Woman. Saying goodbye is never easy, but I feel incredibly lucky to have played a small part in the publication’s legacy, and I know that my teammates—brilliant art director Jessie Sharon, rock star designer Lulu Rader and eagle-eyed editor Ellie Piper—feel the same way. We’ve pulled out all the stops to make sure that this final issue is one of our best ever. It’s packed with 18 of our favorite seasonal recipes, including…

GOOD NEIGHBORS Ask Jennifer Williams if she has any children, and she’ll reply, “Just the thousands I’ve had over 33 years of teaching.” The Danville, Virginia, resident is so dedicated to her kids that she converted the guest room in the house she shares with her husband, Scott, into a classroom for extracurricular tutoring. And then there are her book giveaways, which Jennifer hopes will eventually total a million volumes. Jennifer says her project began with an observation. She noticed how often kids would ask to keep the books she read with them because they didn’t have access to books at home. “There’s no denying that you can tell kids who are exposed to books, or have books, by the vocabulary they use, the way they carry themselves, or how…

Ornament Trees WHAT YOU’LL NEED • Spray paint • Plastic foam cones (in a variety of sizes) • Ornaments (small, medium and large varieties) • Greening pins Hot glue gun • Optional: Garland, pearls and ribbons of your choice SPRAY-PAINT cones, then let dry. PLAY with your ornament arrangement by using greening pins to attach them to the cones. (Hint: Place the large ornaments first, then medium then small.) GLUE ornaments to the cone and surrounding ornaments when you’re satisfied with the arrangement. EMBELLISH with garland, pearls and ribbons if desired. Threading the Memories I have been blessed to inherit vintage Christmas ornaments from my grandmothers. It would be impossible for me to keep track of where each ornament came from, so I attached a tiny piece of colored thread…

1 Holt-Howard Christmas cookies are popular treats and gifts. This cookie jar captures their seasonal magic with a stylized font and bright coloring. Even better is the miniature Santa holding a sign that says “Just Take 1.” He pops up whenever the lid is lifted. It’s a delightful example of Holt-Howard’s genius for whimsy. Worth: $100 to $265. 2 Depression Glass Many glass manufacturers who were struggling to stay afloat after the stock market crash of 1929 began to make molded pattern glass, which came to be known as Depression glass. It was often sold by the crate to businesses, which in turn used it to reward their loyal customers for coming back week after week. Pink, pale blue, green and amber were the most common colors. Unusual colors and…

Mocha Buttercream Yule Log Prep: 30 min. • Bake: 15 min. + coolingMakes: 12 servings The filling recipe for this traditional treat came from an aunt and the frosting was my creation.—Rosie Flanagan, Buchanan, MI 5 large eggs, separated, room temperature 2/3 cup sugar 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 3 Tbsp. baking cocoa FILLING 2 Tbsp. plus 1 1/2 tsp. all-purpose flour 1/2 cup whole milk 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional MOCHA FROSTING 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 Tbsp. baking cocoa 1 tsp. strong brewed coffee Optional: Confectioners’ sugar, chopped walnuts 1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks at high speed until light and fluffy, 4-6 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating…

I started downsizing recently and spent a day sorting through boxes and bins in my attic. Hidden among the report cards and hockey trophies was a small bundle of papers bound in yellow ribbon. They were letters my mother had sent me during my first year at university. My mother was quick-moving and sometimes quick-tempered. She treated herself to a cup of tea whenever she finished one of the many tasks on her to-do list. She had only an elementary school education and English was not her first language, but she loved to write. LETTERS FROM HOME Mom’s letters were simple and direct, just like her. Even pride was expressed simply, factually: “Your name was in the Herald yesterday for the dean’s list. I haven’t seen it yet, but Peggy…

Celebrate the arrival of sweater weather by painting a basket to look like a winter pullover. » First, pick up a basket or two from a local craft or department store. » With a pencil, rough in the outline of a design. You can copy one of the ones shown here, or create your own. » Squeeze some fabric paint, in colors of your choice, onto a paper plate. » Use a flat brush to apply the paint, wiping away smudges with a damp rag. » Once the paint has dried, fill the basket with seasonal decor, such as birch branches or a potted pine tree.…

Q: How do you keep your favorite recipes organized? When I find recipes that I’d like to make, I file them in folders organized by food type. If I make a recipe and decide that it’s a keeper, I move it into a photo album that I treat like a personal cookbook. ROSE GREENSTE. GENEVIEVE, MO I mostly find new recipes online these days. But I still keep paper recipes that I’ve inherited from three generations of family members in tins and binders with plastic page protectors, to keep them safe. GLENDA FERGUSONPAOLI, IN I’ve collected recipes for almost 70 years. When I retired, I had my favorites published as a cookbook. It’s a great memento for my children, and I bring it with me when I travel for the…

Snow Pea Holiday Wreath Takes: 25 min. • Makes: 20 servings Santa Claus himself might stop to sample this pretty-as-a-picture finger food spread! Crunchy green pea pods and juicy red tomatoes add a natural, fresh, holiday note to any buffet table.—Carol Schneck, Lodi, CA 1/2 lb. snow peas, strings removed 3 oz. cream cheese, softened 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 1/4 tsp. seasoned salt 2 cups grape tomatoes 1. In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups water to a boil. Add the snow peas; cook, uncovered, just until crisp-tender and bright green, 1-2 minutes. Drain and immediately drop into ice water. Drain pods and pat dry. 2. In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic powder and seasoned salt. Place bowl in the center of a serving platter. Arrange pods…

I HAD BEEN ON THE HUNT FOR A VINTAGE Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar for ages and was thrilled when I finally found one at an estate sale. There’s an old hairline crack on the jar’s back, but that just means it was well-loved. And because the jar was slightly damaged, I was able to purchase it for a steal. I now proudly display it in my kitchen! Also on display is a navy cookie jar from the 1970s. When I was a teenager many years ago, my family and I used to vacation in a rental home by the beach. One year my mother decided to bring this jar back with us from our vacation, and it soon became one of her most prized possessions. After a lot…

Tell us about yourself. As a kid I couldn’t wait to get out of the city and head to the country to spend weekends with my cousin. My husband and I bought our first farm in the ’90s. We ran a boarding facility for horses, and a hay business. Now we’re retired and living on a hobby farm, soaking up the country life. What are your hobbies? I love antiquing, crafting and gardening. I’m also learning how to quilt. What do you love most about the holiday season? It’s such a nostalgic time of year—I always end up thinking of holidays past and present and reminiscing with other family members about them. I like the sense of anticipation that comes with the season too, knowing that you’re going to spend…

As temperatures drop and the holiday season nears, the fresh greens and whites of winter begin to replace the blazing russets, yellows and plums of fall. Comfy layers—and plenty of them—become a must. Whether in the primary bedroom, kids’ rooms or guest room, or even on the couch, it’s time to pile on plush pillows and warm blankets to create the perfect spot for those essential naps this time of year. When planning winter decor, the holidays often claim the spotlight. But this coldest of seasons offers so many additional opportunities for making our homes cozy. Here are some of my must-have pieces for winter decorating: Greenery: Choose from wreaths, boughs, sprigs, garlands and swags of pine, cedar, spruce, eucalyptus or magnolia. Faux greenery makes decorating effortless, but consider using…

WHEN WORKING WITH AIR-DRY CLAY ... • Look for DAS air-dry clay, which cracks less as it dries than “natural clay” does. • Invest in a clay tool kit. They can be picked up from most craft stores for less than $10. • Remember that thicker clay is easier to work with. • Apply lotion to your hands before kneading the clay. • To get pieces of clay to stick together, use a knife or sharp-edged tool to score marks in the clay where the pieces will meet. Then wet the pieces with a bit of water before joining them. • Remove any imperfections with a bit of water. • Periodically turn the objects over as they dry. Tealight Tree Votives WHAT YOU’LL NEED • Thick paper, or cardboard •…

Food, family, friends & kitchen comforts GATHERING PLACE When I was growing up, Christmas celebrations always revolved around Clara and Elsie, my favorite aunts on my mother’s side, who went out of their way to make the holiday memorable for each of their many nieces and nephews. In 1937, they began inviting the extended family over on Christmas Day for dinner and a gift exchange. The first year they formally invited all of us, but after that no invitations were needed—we just kept showing up. Both Clara and Elsie worked as maids for wealthy families in the city of Wausau, Wisconsin. Clara always chose large Christmas trees, as she had many ornaments to hang. Underneath the tree, she and Elsie would lovingly arrange beautifully wrapped presents. While the adults worked…

Honey Gingerbread Trifle Prep: 25 min. + chillingBake: 25 min. + coolingMakes: 12 servings When you add gingerbread to a trifle, your guests are sure to ask for the recipe!—Tami Kuehl, Loup City, NE 1 cup sour cream 1 cup honey 1 large egg, room temperature ¼ cup canola oil 2½ cups all-purpose flour ½ tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. ground ginger ½ tsp. ground cinnamon PUDDING LAYER 2 cups 2% milk 1 pkg. (3.3 oz.) instant white chocolate pudding mix PUMPKIN MOUSSE LAYER 1 cup 2% milk 1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) instant pumpkin spice pudding mix 1 carton (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat sour cream, honey, egg and oil until well blended. In another bowl,…

1. New Addition My cousin, Winter, was born on Dec. 14, just in time for Christmas. My husband dressed up as Santa for this picture! BRITTANY TATYREK ANDRADEHITCHCOCK, TX 2. O Christmas Tree! We harvested our own tree last year. My wife, Danielle, is pictured here with 3-year-old Paisley. MATT COOPERMOUNT HOOD PARKDALE, OR 3. Snow Day Stella, my granddaughter, loves making snow angels in my backyard this time of year. KATHY MCMILLEN HEATH, OH…

1. Share photos and stories with us using the online form at countrywomanmagazine.com/submit. 2. Note to which department you’re submitting, and whether the material has been published before. However, your item may be selected to run in any section of our magazine, or elsewhere. 3. We do not return submitted materials. Although we are unable to acknowledge receipt of any submissions, we’ll let you know if they’re published. 4. We accept high-resolution digital images. Digital images should be about 4x6 inches at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch, or about 1 00x1800 pixels. Photos must be in focus and of good quality. Please send submissions only through our online form. 5. If we print your submission in the magazine, we will send you a complimentary copy of the…