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Decorating Easter Eggs
Glittered, beribboned, or stenciled eggs are a beautiful alternative to the traditional solid-color variety. Whichever style you choose, an Easter egg tree offers a perfect way to display your handiwork.Preparing the DyeThe easiest way to dye eggs is with liquid food coloring. Bring 3 cups of water
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The Seder Ritual: The Order of the Seder
These Hebrew terms lay out the sequence of the seder, which has been the basis for Passover celebrations for thousands of years. First, the table is set and the candles are lit.KadeshThe first of four cups of wine is poured; the blessing is said to sanctify the feast day.
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Crepe Paper Easter Bunnies
Beautiful and durable, crepe paper lends itself to countless applications. In fact, a strip of crepe paper conforms perfectly to an egg's shape. Glue bands of it to a bunch of eggs, affix tiny crepe blooms, and pile them in a bowl for a simple, elegant display. You also can use the paper to create l
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How to Make an Easter Bunny Garland
These cheerful decorations multiply quickly, thanks to their simple construction. To bring some festive cheer to your dessert table, march the rabbits across a garland, sit them atop cupcakes, or use them to offer sneak peeks into gift bags.TipPosition templates close together on vellum to get the m
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Seder Table Settings
In addition to displaying the main seder plate, incorporate some of the symbolic foods of Passover into individual place settings. (Carafes of wine can double as place-card holders.) With everything in reach, guests will have what they need during the reading of the Haggadah, keeping the passing of
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How to Make Cheeky Chicken Egg Creatures
This brood is all smiles, er, beaks as they pose for a family portrait to welcome their latest addition. (The photo hanging behind them was taken before the baby was born.) Mr. Rooster crows that his new son is a good egg, and Mrs. Chicken is pleased that both children inherited the family's felt fe
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Clover Cookies for St. Patrick's Day
Sprinkle a little luck on sugar cookies this Saint Patrick's Day!Begin by creating a clover stencil: Draw your own or use our template, and cut out the shapes. Next, sift together 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon green powdered food coloring. Position stencil over unbaked sugar-cookie dou
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Quick Jambalaya for Mardi Gras
Jambalaya, a one-pot New Orleans favorite, always includes meat or seafood and vegetables; this easy rendition is full of chicken, spicy andouille sausage, bell pepper, and onion.Prep: 10 minutesTotal: 60 minutesServes: 4
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Shamrock Party Accessories
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with this shamrock-inspired craft.Rinse the pink ink from a heart-shaped rubber stamp, and use it (and a green ink pad) to add shamrocks to napkins, coasters, and more.
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How to Make an Irish Stout Ice Cream Float
This Saint Patrick's Day, enjoy a cocktail version of a root beer float: vanilla ice cream topped with Irish stout. With the ice cream sweetening the rich beer, the float is as much a dessert as it is a drink. Scoop ice cream into a pint glass, and pour in enough stout to fill it. One pint of ice cr
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New Year's Countdown Toast
When you're waiting for midnight on New Year's Eve, pass Champagne in glasses marked with numbers representing those anticipated last ten seconds. Self-stick numbers, available in office- and art-supply stores, jazz up flutes for the occasion. On January 2, either peel off numbers (use a cotton ball
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Lucky Foods for the New Year
Around the globe, there are New Year's food traditions thought to bring happiness, health, and prosperity to those who embrace them. You don't have to live in a certain part of the world to partake in such felicitous customs, and you don't have to be superstitious, either. Express your hopes and wis
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Holiday Stain Removal Guide
Along with the delightful food and drink of the holidays come the inevitable spills. Before you part with your favorite blouse or table linens, use our guidelines to ensure its survival until the next festive occasion.Unless noted otherwise, treat all stains ASAP. If impossible, blot with clean, dry
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Host a Fuss-Free Holiday Cocktail Party
Why not try a new take on the old cocktail party? By stocking the pantry and making hors d'oeuvres ahead of time, you can pull off a festive affair in only an hour or two. This easy-for-the-hostess menu is ideal for an impromptu after-work party that's tucked between booked weekends. Start with one
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How to Plan a Holiday Potluck Party
Who said the holidays have to be hectic? With a bit of planning, you can cut down on the kitchen chaos when guests arrive with dishes that require last-minute preparation.5 Weeks Before: Decide which dishes you will prepare. For large holiday potlucks, the host typically makes the turkey, ham, and
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Quick Bites for Entertaining
There's no need to run to the deli or wonder what to make for that get-together. Get the party off to an appetizing start with these bite-size cocktail-hour snacks. Count on two or three bites per person; each recipe can easily be doubled for a large crowd. If you want to serve all three appetizers,
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How to Make Entertaining Easy
This party season, keep things simple -- and healthy -- with five festive recipes that only look complicated.Hosting a holiday party sounds fun, in theory. But when the time comes to actually plan and execute it, the stress of entertaining often consumes the joy of being surrounded by your nearest a
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9 Ways to Prep for Houseguests
A few comforting touches added to your home will make your family and friends feel special when they come to stay.1. EssentialsWith the addition of a few niceties, your spare bedroom will be as inviting to visitors as a fine hotel room. Set out essentials such as towels and an alarm clock, then prov
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How to Roast and Peel Chestnuts
The sweet, comforting scent of roasting chestnuts is an instant pick-me-up on a cold evening. Want to roast them at home for the holidays? Here's how.How to Select and Slice ChestnutsChestnut season runs from early October through late December. Look for healthy, unwrinkled shells and a glossy brown
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Holiday Planning Checklist
Call it the holiday shuffle: The four or five weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's that seem to fly by in a blur of activity can leave even the most experienced hostess breathless. The solution? A week-by-week plan of action that spreads out the tasks you need to accomplish while making space f