Find Out How to Build a Beautiful White Christmas Reindeer - Woodworking Project

It seems that even those of us that aren't all that artistic seem to become more creative around the Christmas season. This is where you see the wood working tools being taken out of storage and some really nifty ornaments showing up.

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One of the most admired outdoor ornaments is the white Christmas reindeer made from a simple sheet of 4ft.x8ft. exterior grade plywood. No need for a lot of tools either as an electric jig saw will do just fine. One thing you may want to plan on is that just making one of them doesn't fit the picture. You need at least two and if you feel really creative go ahead and make as many as you like.

There are many places on the internet that you can find quite a few patterns with some variations to them. If it's your first woodworking project then stay with a simple basic pattern. You can get fancier on your next ones.

So to get started. First, lay your pattern out on the plywood. If you follow the layout instructions that came with your pattern, you will not have much waste of wood. You will find that you can make two reindeer out of just this one sheet of plywood. Now this is the simple way of doing your set but beware because once this set is done you can bet the neighbors and friends are going to being giving some hints on how they would like some. Therefore, to save yourself some work later on make a wood pattern from your paper pattern. You will find it's much easier to work with. Luan material is good for this.

If you feel that, you don't want to ruin your pattern by tracing over it then make a paper pattern using graphite paper. Then you can tuck the original away and use it again when your temporary one is no good.

Now using your jigsaw and taking some time just follow the lines of the pattern you traced on the wood. You are going to see an area that has been marked for the slot so be sure you do a perfect cut here so the pieces will interlock properly. Now once this is done and your project is taking shape give them a quick sand and you are ready to add some life to them. You may be a little confused with all the parts that you now have before you but just follow the step-by-step instructions for assembling them.

These little guys are going to be outdoors so you want to give them a good coat of high quality outdoor paint. You may find that its necessary to give them two or three coats but that doesn't take all that long. After your final coat of white and it's dried well then paint on the features and give it a couple of coats of urethane. Then out to the yard they go to say merry Christmas to all.

Find Out How to Build a Beautiful White Christmas Reindeer - Woodworking Project

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Christmas Sweets

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Come one, come all! Yes, it is the cooking season, I mean holiday season, so get ready to get your money's worth out of your kitchen this Christmas with cooking your feasts for your family.

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Everyone looks forward to the feast, but what I look forward to most is the obscene amount of sweets and pastry that will be placed in front of me and the little restraint that I must show towards them.

Here are three of my favorite Christmas sweet specials that you should try this holiday season:

· Brownie Bonbons Recipe
· Candied Orange Peels Recipe
· Choco-Cherry Truffles Recipe

Brownie Bonbons

For making the perfect brownie "bonbons" you need a package of brownie mix (the more chocolately the better) and a half a cup of crushed candy canes. The first step is to make the brownies, just like any brownies before. Take them out of the oven a little before they are done and roll them into small balls. Then crush up the candy canes and roll the brownie balls into the candy canes, completely coating them. Let them cool and then serve!

Candied Orange Peels

To make candied orange peels you need the peels of three large oranges, a cup of water, two table spoons of corn syrup, and 3 cups of sugar. First take your peels and cut them into strips, about a quarter inch wide. Then boil a pot of water with the corn syrup, and sugar until completely dissolved. Simmer the orange peels for forty minutes, then let cool on a cookie sheet, and wait for them to cool. Enjoy!

Choco-Cherry Truffles

Just the word truffle makes me start to drool. Truffles are one of those foods that everyone loves, so you won't go wrong if you decide to try this recipe. Melt the semisweet chocolate in with the milk and salt in a saucepan (watch carefully as it tends to burn). Next, stir in the liquor, cherries, and nuts. Allow this mixture to cool and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour. The next part requires you to scoop out balls of chocolate. Then cover these balls of chocolate with melted white chocolate and sprinkles.

Christmas Sweets

For More Information

If you would like more information about Christmas recipes, other recipes, or cooking tips contact www.cdkitchen.com today to make your kitchen a personal paradise!

Joseph Devine

The Many Ways to Cook Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

Boneless skinless chicken breast is the most popular cut of poultry in the United States and with good reason: they are low in fat, quick and easy to prepare and extremely versatile. This wonderful cut of poultry can be grilled, sauteed, broiled, poached, fried and baked. There is a downside however to this cut of meat: they are rather low in fat. You may be asking: "What is wrong with that? That makes them healthy right?" Yes, they are a healthier way to eat, but because they are low in fat, they are also low in moisture and that makes them very susceptible to over cooking. Nothing is less appetizing than a dry and overcooked piece of meat.

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There are two ways to make certain your chicken is not overcooked. The first way, and the most accurate in my opinion, is to use an instant read thermometer. I own a handy little electronic thermometer with a voice alert feature. It is extremely accurate and has never let me down. The other method for checking doneness is by pricking the meat with a fork. If the juices run clear, then it is done. I think the first option is much safer, but you can be the judge.

There are literally hundreds of combined recipes and methods for cooking chicken breast, far too many to cover in this article, so I will talk about two very popular methods.

One of the easiest and tastiest ways is to marinate and grill them.

Below is a great marinade recipe:

GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST WITH CITRUS HERB MARINADE

INGREDIENTS:

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons of Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons of Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
1/3 Cup of Freshly Chopped Parsley
1/3 Cup of Freshly Chopped Basil
1 Clove of Garlic Minced
1 Teaspoon of Salt
1/4 Teaspoon of Freshly Cracked Black Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Mix together everything, accept the chicken breasts, in a large bowl. Step 2: Add chicken to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for several hours. Step 3: Get you grill nice and hot and oil the grates to prevent the chicken from sticking. Step 4: Grill chicken about 4 minutes per side or until done.

Another fantastic way to cook chicken breasts is by baking them in foil in the oven. The foil helps keep the meat nice and moist while cooking. What you put inside the foil is only limited by your imagination, but to make things easier, I have included a great recipe below.

CHICKEN WITH SUN DRIED TOMATOES AND KALAMATA OLIVES

INGREDIENTS:

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

10 - 15 Kalamata Olives Pitted and Chopped
8 - 10 Sun Dried Tomatoes Cut Into Thin Strips
4 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons of Freshly Chopped Basil
2 Tablespoons of Freshly Chopped Parsley Salt and Pepper to Taste

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Preheat Oven to 450 Degrees F

Step 2: In a bowl, combine the olives, tomatoes, basil, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Step 3: Cut 8 Squares of Aluminum Foil (Cut them large, about 18 inches square)

Step 4: Grab 2 squares of foil and place one on top of the other.

Step 5: Grease the foil with some olive oil

Step 6: Place a chicken breast in the center of the foil and spoon some of the tomato and olive mixture on top

Step 7: Loosely fold the foil over the chicken forming a tent and seal tightly

Step 8: Repeat this process for the remaining chicken breasts

Step 9 : Place the wrapped chicken breasts on a baking sheet and place in the pre-heated oven

Step 10: Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until done. To check for doneness, cut a small slit in the foil to allow the steam to escape and then carefully unfold the foil. Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer. The internal temperature should read 160 degrees F.

Step 11: Let the chicken breasts stand for about five minutes before serving.

The Many Ways to Cook Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

Ralph Serpe is a passionate home cook and webmaster for http://www.chefability.com: free cooking recipes and tips. Visit today for more quick and delicious chicken breast recipes

Building A Custom Chopper Motorcycle, Where Do You Start?

So you want to build a custom chopper? I do too, so the first question I asked myself, is where do I start. Should I make a business plan, a schedule, a financial statement, or should I just buy my wife some flowers and blindly proceed? I guess I should do all of the above but not necessarily in that order.

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I will start by trying to justify this purchase and or endeavor, to do this I will make a list of my reasons for building a Chopper. 1) I want to ride a custom chopper, a totally cool stretched out, fire breathing, gas eating, pavement pounding, old lady scaring, 2 wheel monster. 2) I want to be able to say "I built that" when someone asks me where I got that totally sick bike. 3) I want to be able to customize the bike beyond the standard add on parts I can get for my current bike a Harley Davidson Fatboy. 4) I want to be able to make this dream come true, meaning I need to be able to pay for it. A ,000 chopper is out of my current budget. 5) I have been talking about this for 5 years so why don't I get to it and stop doing all the talking and start doing some building.

Now I have a few reasons on paper a will look at my options, then make a plan, a schedule, and find some extra money.

Let's start with a my build options, and plan on a slow and steady approach. I realize I will need to do a lot of research before I start. I have 4 basic options, a kit bike, a rolling chassis, a start from zero build, or an extreme makeover of a current motorcycle.

Option 1) If I start with a motorcycle kit I maybe the farthest ahead from a mechanical perspective, and farthest behind from a financial point of view. What do I mean by this, well a kit bike has all the parts it just needs paint, labor, gas, oil and some love. The problem a complete kit bike will cost me ,000 dollars right up front. This is a bit out of my spend a ton of money now then not be able to ride a bike for a year or two thinking. If I get a kit, I maybe able to get it together faster, as I will be motivated and have all the parts ready to go. As a first bike I think this is a very good option, when you consider all the expensive mistakes I may make along that way. One drawback to this option is the amount of customization I can do to the bike as it is put together. Because all the parts are in the kit, I may resist the urge to get new bars or different sheet metal, or other parts.

Option 2) Start with a Rolling chassis, this is the middle of the road option, spend a lump sum of money, about 1/2 of what the overall bike will cost and get a basic setup that all works together.

A Rolling chassis kit consists of a Frame, 2 wheels, the forks, and triple clamps and bars, all build and configured to work together. Add a motor and a transmission and all the major workings of the bike are in place. This setup helps avoid some of the major work needed to mix match and fit these items together. This option also allows for a ton of customization in the parts that people see and the parts that give a bike it's personality. For me this is a very serious option to consider. I would only have 1/2 the cost and 1/2 the parts sitting around and gathering dust until I get time to get it together.

Option 3) Find each and every part one at a time and build a completely custom motorcycle. I know I could do this, but I also know I will encounter more unexpected and possibly expensive issues with this type of build. This option would give me a bike that no one would ever duplicate. This could be very good or this could be very bad. What if some possible combination of frame, motor, forks, or wheels didn't work together? It would not be discovered until the motorcycle was all together. I think this option is better left to the serious professional who build bike all night long, as the are working on other peoples bikes, and running businesses during the day. I may consider this for my second custom chopper.

Option 4) Take an existing bike and start cutting and changing it. This is maybe as involved as chopping and re-welding the frame to create a new rake and angles. Or it could mean just getting a new frame and using the engine, transmission, and various other part to build a new machine. I like this idea, and I think it would be a lower cost alternative to all new custom parts. With this option you are also able to keep the current registration and title if the frame is not replaced. This is also a lower cost option because a lot of the miscellaneous parts can be reused.

I know that in one page all the possible combinations of Custom Chopper build can't be completely explained, I just hope this information give you something to start with and build on. It has help steer me in the direction of a rolling chassis, so I better get shopping.

Building A Custom Chopper Motorcycle, Where Do You Start?

Ian Parish is an avid motorcyclists and Jeeper. He has been involved with both sports for the past 20 years. He has jumped into building a custom chopper full force and is assembling that parts and the plan, on his website MyChopperBlog.com. Check out the website as I need all the help I can get. He is the owner of RedJeepClub.com and MyChopperBlog.com

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Johnny Cakes

Belizean food is easy to prepare, physically filling and delightfully delicious.  How about a dish of Johnny Cakes - a cross between what the American people traditionally or culturally know as biscuits and/or pancakes and traditionally a favored  food item breakfast dish in Belize.    However, Johnny Cakes are also, for many people, a standard, even a favorite bread that is consumed during lunch and dinner meals.  They are excellent with refried beans, cheese that is melted, crumbled or sliced.   A cultural Belizean food indeed; seldom is a meal eaten in a Belizean home without Johnny Cakes!

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JOHNNY CAKES

2 lbs. Flour 1/4 lb. Shortening 4 tsp. Baking powder 2 tsp. Salt Cream from 1 coconut, or 1 tin Coconut Cream (8 oz.)

Method: Place flour in mixing bowl and add all dry ingredients. Work in shortening with fingers. Gradually add coconut cream and mix until dough handle easily without being too sticky, or dry. If too sticky, add a bit more flour. Knead until smooth. Cut into desired size (golf ball size works well) and shape into a ball. Let rest about 10 minutes, then flatten to about 1/2" thickness onto baking sheet. Prick top with fork four or five times.

Bake in preheated oven at 450 degrees F. until golden brown, or about 15 minutes. Once cooked split open and butter while hot.

Johnny Cakes are also good for when one has the munchies, pop one in the microwave or eat it cold, like bread and butter spread a bit of jam, jelly or your favorite fruit preserve on top. How delicious!

Johnny Cakes

Do you like to surprise your none Belizean friends with your favorite native foods at social functions, picnics or other gatherings? Would you like to share your recipes with the whole wide world? If so, please email me at:

webmaster@belize-vacations.net

If you share a recipe and wish to remain anonymous your privacy will be respected. If not you will be given credit for your contribution. Belize has many great recipes for all occasions.As proud Belizeans let's share our rich cultural heritage, which includes our food recipes, with the whole wide world! ~Anthony Benjamin ~ http://www.belize-vacations.net Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings as well as building niche websites. His favorite place to retreat, write and build websites is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his master website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com

Creative Shoebox Diorama Ideas For the School Season

Shoebox Dioramas are a part of every school year and in just about every grade they serve as a wonderful learning tool. They are used to learn the arts and crafts of making things and they are used to also learn about subjects. This article shows you some creative ideas from both the arts and crafts aspect and the learning aspect.

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The Arts and Crafts of Shoebox Dioramas
 
There are a lot of common ways to make a shoebox diorama and they include tape, glue, construction paper and all the regular assortment of arts and crafts stuff but there are a few things you can do to make a diorama just a little bit special. Here is a list of ideas:

• If you are doing an underwater scene you can cover the front of the box with Saran Wrap or thin plastic. This gives the diorama an underwater feel
• Use string to utilize the full three dimensions inside the box; suspend objects from strings or tie strings from side to side and top to bottom and attach objects to the strings. This works well for flying objects like bird, pterodactyls or even clouds and stars.
• Cut slots in the back and top of the box and use this to insert objects that you can move across the diorama. Make a bird, boat, comet or some other type of moving object then attach a tab to the back of it. Insert this tab in the slot then you can grab the tab from the back and slide the object across the diorama. This adds a nice little interactive element. This works well with all kinds of things from a rising sun, flying bird, erupting volcano or just about anything else that would move.
• Think outside the shoebox! There is no need to run out and buy a new pair of shoes if you don't have a shoebox. A more than adequate box can be made from scraps of cardboard or even a few cereal boxes cut and taped together. And there is no need to make a typical shoebox shape. Be creative in the shape you make. It adds a dimension of interest to the project. Half round, amphitheatre shapes are commonly used for dioramas and look great.
• Achieving Depth - The most common trait of an average shoebox diorama is that it has a decorated background and objects placed on the bottom surface.  You can add an attractive touch by decorating a strip of paper that is about two inches wide with a foliage pattern then attach this to the inside bottom of the diorama about an inch from the back wall - it reaches all the way from the left side to the right side. This adds a lot of depth and makes it look much more interesting.
• Using alternate materials - You don't have to use cardboard or boxes. As an example, if you are doing a polar bear or penguin diorama you could use white packing Styrofoam.  If you are doing a desert scene you can apply glue to the bottom of the diorama and sprinkle real sand on it.

Theme Ideas and Learning Tools
 
The biggest point of a shoebox diorama is to show a natural habitat of something. In the process of drawing and cutting out the various objects a child is learning about the habitat. This is great but you can take it to new levels with a little thought and a little creativity. 

• Freezing a moment in time - A diorama is a moment in time and you can focus on this. Some good examples are you can have a meteor streaking across the sky of a dinosaur diorama; this explains a theory of extinction. Or you can show a large predator fish about to eat a smaller fish as it is eating something even smaller. This dramatic moment in time is a good display of the food chain.
• Interactions in a habitat - The focus of a diorama is often to correctly identify and place the right objects for a natural habitat but you can take this to a new level by focusing on the interactions within the habitat. The upper layer of canopy in a rainforest blocks out sunlight from the lower layers and this is an important aspect of the rainforest. A coral reef provides shelter for many creatures in the sea and a diorama can display this.
• Adding a Fact Sheet - This is a great tool that should be added to every diorama. You should make a fact sheet that can be glued to poster board and stood up near the diorama. The sheet explains the basic facts of what the diorama is about.

Diorama Ideas
 
Here are some ideas you can use as a theme for your diorama:

• The Natural Habitat of just about any creature like fish, polar bears, black bears, penguins, wolves, humans, dinosaurs, camels, lions, tigers, monkeys, elephants, dolphins, and well you get the idea!
• A Desert theme complete with pyramids, mummies and camels is fun
• A Rainforest is a good diorama for teaching about diversity and the interaction of species
• An astronomy diorama complete with sun, planets, comets, and stars in the background
• A medieval Castle scene complete with catapult or dragon
• Underwater scenes are always popular
• Arctic themed dioramas are fun because of the creative options for snow and icebergs

Whatever diorama you choose to make you should take a little time to make it different and unique and there are lots of creative ways to do that. Have fun with your project!

Creative Shoebox Diorama Ideas For the School Season

Visit the author's diorama site where you can find lots of videos, tutorials, and ideas for making dioramas. Diorama Man