Another scenario is when the summer camp is the first time for your kids to experience being away from the family and at home. They could definitely get excited but there is still a feeling of anxiousness, by just a thought of being away from home and being in a new environment. Homesickness could be the prevailing feeling at that time. But as parents, it is our act of love of helping them prepare for this first time experience.

Preparing Your Kids to Go Away for Summer Camp

Image via: Etsy

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Here are some tips in preparing your kids for a sleep-away camp:

Prepare them emotionally

• Firstly, let your kid get exposed to away-from-home trips like sleeping over at a friend’s or relative’s house. Through this, they can visualize on what to expect during the actual summer camp.
• Help them familiarize the venue of the camp by taking a tour around the camp, or researching on the internet. Familiarity will decrease anxiety.
• Have them think about the good things they can get out of the camp like meeting new friends, swimming and bonfires.

What to bring and pack

• Make sure that your kids have all the necessary materials that are important in their new environment.  It could lessen homesickness and also prepare them for a new environment without parents!
• Avoid packing expensive items. Children might not be able to take care of all these things. Then don’t forget to label everything.  Ask for a checklist from the camp to ensure you bring do and don’t items.
• In packing the clothes, bring only that is enough for your kid. Take note on the activities so you can bring the appropriate clothes like swimwear. Also, plan for varied weather.
• Pack toiletries carefully because they may spill when inside traveling.

Image via: Kids Room.Pinterest

Pack a little bit of home

• You can let your kids bring a small family photo and their favorites like a pillow or toy, as this would help them feel at home in a new environment.

Take time to talk with your kids for about what to expect based on what you experienced during your time. It helps them prepare for the incoming summer camp. Your kids will enjoy knowing that summer camp can be fun for all. Making new friends, learning new activities, and no parents can be fun for a little while… tell them how much fun you once had at summer camp!

For more summer ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Merry Christmas Eve to you and your family! We continue today with our DIY Holiday Saturday with wonderful ideas for Christmas day brunch. Whether you will be hosting friends and family for Christmas, or you will bring a dish to an Christmas brunch, Food Network has some great recipes!

Image via: Food Network

Last week, I helped you get your Christmas dessert ready, and today Bobby Flay gives you brunch ideas in a You Tube video, then make some of these yummy brunch items. Isn’t it great to already know what delicious meal you will have ready for tomorrow? From french toast to Cinnamon buns… I’m in heaven!

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Bobby Flays Holiday Brunch

Food Network’s Brunch Ideas

Almost Famous Cinnamon Buns

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup plus 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the bowl
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

For the Filling:

• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for the pan
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the Glaze:

• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Make the dough: Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until it reaches about 100. Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar (don’t stir). Set aside until foamy, 5 minutes. Whisk in the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla.

Whisk the flour, the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, the salt and nutmeg in the bowl of a stand mixer. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until thick and slightly sticky. Knead on medium speed until the dough gathers around the hook, 6 minutes. (Add up to 2 more tablespoons flour if necessary.)

Remove the dough and shape into a ball. Butter the mixer bowl and return the dough to the bowl, turning to coat with butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 1 hour 15 minutes.

See how to form these Cinnamon Buns

Hash Brown Eggs

Ingredients:

Onion
Grated potato
Butter
Cheddar Cheese
2 Eggs
Salsa

Directions

Fry 1 cup each chopped onion and grated potato in a cast-iron skillet with butter until crisp. Add 1/2 cup grated cheddar and crack in 2 eggs. Bake at 425 degrees F until set; top with salsa.

French Toast Panini with Grilled Bananas

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 medium orange)
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cognac (optional)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt
• 8 slices Texas toast or other thick white bread
• 3 large ripe bananas
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Confectioners’ sugar, for garnish
• Pure maple syrup, for garnish

Grilled Steak and Eggs with Beer and Molasses

Directions

Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, orange juice, vanilla, cognac, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of salt in a bowl.

Place the bread in 2 shallow baking dishes in a single layer. Pour the egg mixture over the bread; let soak for 10 minutes.

Ingredients

For the sauce:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 medium onion, finely diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup lager-style beer
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

For the steak and eggs:

• 2 1-pound strip steaks (1/2 inch thick)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 4 grilled eggs (recipe below)

Directions

Make the sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and garlic and saute until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients; bring to a boil, then simmer until the sauce is reduced to 2 cups, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat a grill to medium-high. Season the steaks with salt and pepper and rub with the oil. Grill for 3 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with the beer-molasses sauce and the grilled eggs.

Grilled Eggs:

Place a cast-iron skillet on the grill; add butter, oil or bacon drippings. Crack in eggs and season to taste (the Neelys use a blend of paprika, sugar and onion powder, plus salt and pepper). Cook until the edges are crisp but the yolks are still runny, 2-3 minutes.

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/diy-holiday-saturday-82-the-perfect-holiday-brunch-recipes-the-food-network-video/feed/ 0 21609 https://stagetecture.com/diy-holiday-saturday-81-how-to-create-the-top-5-christmas-desserts-video/ https://stagetecture.com/diy-holiday-saturday-81-how-to-create-the-top-5-christmas-desserts-video/#respond Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:38:54 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=21321 What are you making for your Christmas desserts this season? If you need to jump start your holidays with Christmas dessert ideas, we have just the ones to give you a start! Look at these 5 top Christmas desserts we know you’ll love.

How to Create the Top 5 Christmas Desserts

Image: The Girl Who Ate Everything

Today, let’s kickoff our holiday DIY Saturday’s with dessert… hey why save the best for last? Do it first! I found Southern Living’s – Top 5 Christmas Desserts. Watch a You Tube video on the top 5, and then get the recipes below them. Many of these desserts you can make now, freeze, and have ready for Christmas entertaining, enjoy, and happy baking!

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You Tube – Top 5 Christmas Desserts from Southern Living

1. Rudolph’s Christmas Sugar Cookies

Recruit your children or grandchildren to help you decorate these festive reindeer cookies. Break pretzels into antler shapes and add chocolate chips for eyes and a red cinnamon candy as a nose.

Start with refrigerated sugar cookie dough to make these adorable reindeer cookies. Kids can help place Rudolph’s eyes, mouth, and antlers.

Ingredients:

1 (16.5-oz.) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
36 pretzel twists
36 semisweet chocolate mini morsels# 18 red cinnamon candies

Preparation:

1. Freeze dough 15 minutes.
2. Roll dough to a 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut dough with a 3-inch round cutter, and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using thumb and forefinger, pinch opposite sides of each slice about two-thirds of the way down to shape face.
3. Break curved sides away from center of each pretzel twist to form antlers. Press bottom of 1 set of antlers on each side at top of each reindeer face.
4. Bake at 350° according to package directions or until lightly browned. Remove from oven; press in 2 chocolate mini morsels for eyes and 1 red cinnamon candy for nose. Let cool 1 minute on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks; cool 20 minutes or until completely cool.
5. Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies: Omit pretzels, chocolate mini morsels, and cinnamon candies. Freeze dough 15 minutes. Roll dough to a 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface, and cut with a 3-inch Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° according to package directions or until lightly browned. Remove from oven, and cool as directed. Frost tops of cookies with ready-to-spread vanilla frosting, and sprinkle with red and green colored sugars and sprinkles.

2. Pecan Squares

Use salted butter and bring the filling to a rolling boil before pouring it over the crust.

If you like the taste of pecan pie, you’ll love this easy alternative. Serve the squares with vanilla ice cream for an over-the-top dessert.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2/3 cup butter

3 tablespoons whipping cream
3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

Preparation:

1. Sift together 2 cups flour and 2/3 cup powdered sugar. Cut in 3/4 cup softened butter using a pastry blender or fork just until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture on bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
2. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool.
3. Bring brown sugar, honey, 2/3 cup butter, and whipping cream to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in pecans, and pour hot filling into prepared crust.
4. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool completely before cutting into 2-inch squares.

3. Caramel Cream Cake

Enjoy tender coconut-pecan cake layers filled with caramel pastry cream. The top and sides of the cake are spread with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with toasted coconut and pecans for an impressive (but super-easy) finish.

Ingredients:

1 cup finely chopped sweetened flaked coconut
1 recipe Pecan Pie Cake Batter
1 recipe Pecan Pie Filling
1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting
1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted

Garnishes: raspberries, fresh mint sprig

Preparation:

1. Stir 1 cup finely chopped coconut into Pecan Pie Cake Batter; spoon batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch cake pans.
2. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
3. Spread Pecan Pie Filling between layers. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle top and sides with toasted pecans and toasted coconut. Garnish, if desired.

4. Chocolate-Mint Cake

This rich holiday cake is a show-stopper that will become a family holiday classic recipe.

Don’t be tempted to substitute peppermint extract for the peppermint oil used in this recipe. Peppermint oil, available from cake-supply stores, has an intense, highly concentrated flavor like that found in chocolate-covered peppermint patties.

Ingredients:

Chocolate Velvet Cake Batter
1/2 recipe Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil
Chocolate Ganache

Preparation:

1. Spoon batter evenly into 2 greased and floured 10-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire rack.
2. Stir together Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and peppermint oil until well blended. Spread frosting mixture evenly between cake layers. Spread Chocolate Ganache evenly over top and sides of cake.

5. Chocolate-Citrus Cake with Candied Oranges

A rich whipped chocolate ganache filling is the happy surprise when you slice into this decadent chocolate layer cake. Frost with a 7-Minute Frosting and decorate with festive candied orange slices, citrus leaves and cranberries.

Ingredients:

Parchment paper
2 (4-oz.) bittersweet chocolate baking bars, chopped
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot brewed coffee

Whipped Ganache Filling
Seven-Minute Frosting
Candied Oranges

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round pans. Line bottoms of pans with parchment paper. Lightly grease parchment paper.
2. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals.
3. Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until well blended (about 3 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
4. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. (Mixture will be thick.)
5. Stir vanilla into hot coffee. Gradually add coffee mixture to batter in a slow, steady stream, beating at low speed just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.
6. Bake at 350° for 38 to 42 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack, and let cool completely (about 1 hour).
7. Spread Whipped Ganache Filling between layers, spreading to edges of cake and leveling with an offset spatula. Gently press top cake layer down, pressing out a small amount of Ganache Filling from between layers, and spread filling around sides of cake, filling in any gaps between layers. Spread Seven-Minute Frosting over top and sides of cake. Swirl frosting using back of a spoon, if desired. Top with Candied Oranges. Garnish, if desired.

Whichever Christmas desserts you plan on making this season, enjoy the time making, baking, giving and eating! Happy Holiday baking to you and your family!

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.