Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017

Calling all holiday foodies to enter the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017. Prizes and Giveaway. Find tasty recipes for the holiday season. #Recipe #Contest #Giveaway #MTCRC

Tis the season to indulge in great food for every occasion. With all the end-of-year celebrations and festivities, we are always being asked to bring a dish or goodie of some kind. So, why not share your recipes and be inspired by others? And even better, you can put on your competitive cap and have a chance at winning the recipe contest.

We have three prizes, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, so, bloggers, enter as many recipes as you would like among the various categories. You will find everything you need to celebrate the holidays with great taste.

EVERYONE is welcome to enter the GIVEAWAY! We have a $100 CASH Prize for the giveaway. That is above and beyond our recipe contest prizes. So, let’s have some holiday fun!

Sugared Cranberries and Cranberry Syrup Recipe

A Sweet and Tangy Recipe for the Holiday Season

To start off this yummy event, I am sharing my Sugared Cranberries and Cranberry Syrup. One recipe, two sweet and tangy holiday treats. This super easy Sugared Cranberries recipe also makes a delicious Cranberry Syrup. They are perfect for snacking, light and refreshing. They make a great takeaway gift for guests and are a fabulous addition to a holiday cookies and goodies exchange. Find the full RECIPE HERE!

Now, onto the contest and giveaway!

Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017

A big Thank You! to the co-hosts for supporting the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017, and making this event possible. Please check out their blogs and follow them on social media!

Lorelai – Life With Lorelai – Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter / Instagram

Alli – An Alli Event – Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter / Instagram

Emily – Domestic Deadline – Pinterest / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Leanna – Of Faeries & Fauna Craft Co. – Pinterest / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Audrey – That Recipe – Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter / Instagram

Jennifer – Satsuma Designs – Pinterest / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Ashley – Sweetpea Lifestyle – Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook

Jeannee – Centsably Creative – Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Kristen – The Road To Domestication – Facebook / Twitter

Lynn – Back To The South – Pinterest / Instagram

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this delicious recipe contest. With 548 recipes entered, this is a fantastic resource for your holiday cooking, as well as all year long. So, now, it is our pleasure to announce…

The WINNERS

3rd Place: $50 Prize

Mulled Apple Cider Recipe from Jenna @ The Urben Life

2nd Place: $75 Prize

Sour Cream Cookies Recipe from Kris @ Big Rigs ‘n Lil’ Cookies

…and drum roll please…

1st Place: $150 Prize

White Chocolate Tiramisu Trifle with Spiced Pears Recipe from Deb @ Just Short of Crazy

Check out the Winners of the 2017 Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest! #recipes #holiday #MTCRC

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Our GIVEAWAY WINNER is Michael Hurt — $100 PayPal CASH

Congratulations to ALL of our winners!

Recipe Contest Details:

Contest OPEN for Entries – October 15, 2017, through November 8, 2017.
One recipe from each category will be selected as a Finalist.
Finalists will be announced on November 10, 2017.
Winners (1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place) will be announced November 15, 2017.

Prizes:

All prizes paid USD via PayPal.
1st Place – $150
2nd Place – $75
3rd Place – $50

Rules for Recipe Entries:

Must be a Blogger to Enter.
Recipe must be linked to the direct blog post where the full recipe is published.
You may enter as many Recipes as you like.
You may enter in various categories. Be sure the recipe fits the category.
You must include your Email when linking recipes. Winners will be notified via Email.
If you are a winner, you must be able to accept prize via PayPal.
Recipe photos may be used for promotional purposes. All credits will be given to the original source.

Giveaway:

No Blog necessary to enter the Giveaway!
ENTER the GIVEAWAY at the bottom of this post!
Chance to WIN $100 USD PayPal CASH!!!

The Finalists

Congratulations to the finalists! One recipe was chosen from each category. These recipes have the chance of winning the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prize! Good luck. The Winners will be announced on November 15, 2017.

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Check out the FINALISTS in the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest. #Prizes #Giveaway #MTCRC

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Look below to see all the recipes entered in the contest and be inspired for your holiday celebrating!

APPETIZERS

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SALADS & COLD SIDE DISHES

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HOT SIDE DISHES

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MAIN DISHES

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DESSERT

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COOKIES

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CANDIES

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DRINKS & COCKTAILS

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I’ve entered! Join the Merry ThanksChristmas #Recipe #Contest and #Giveaway! #holiday #MTCRC

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Giveaway!

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Thanks for having fun with us at the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest 2017. It’s great to get everyone ready to celebrate the holidays with delectable food and drink. Happy Holidays!

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Halloween Candy Display Ideas To Delight

Get creative with your Halloween candy. Check out these frightfully fun and easy Halloween Candy Display Ideas and delight your trick-or-treaters! #Halloween

Thanks to Oriental Trading for providing some of these products.

Halloween Candy Display Ideas To Delight

Easy, Creative and Frightfully Fun

Halloween is always a frightfully good holiday. I love to decorate and make things extra fun for anyone who stops by, especially the cutest little trick-or-treaters. One way I do this is by displaying my Halloween candies. Why just have candy tossed in a bowl, when you can make it festive? Check out these easy and creative ideas…

Bubbling Cauldron of Candy

Make your cauldron bubble using a package of Stretchable Spider Webs. I used a large cauldron and edged it with the webbing, pulling and fluffing it out, then place a bowl in the top of the cauldron that was large enough to sit at the top. I fluffed the spider webbing over the edge of that bowl and filled with candy. The spider web is lightweight and flutters in the breeze for a really cool effect.

Hanging Cauldron

This idea takes a smaller cauldron, a hanging plant stand, plant chain, and hook. We drilled holes below the lip of the cauldron to put the chain through and attached it to the hook. Then, the cauldron just hangs from the stand. Fill it with Halloween Candy.

Jack-O’-Lantern and Black Cat Display

These adorable Halloween Candy Buffet Buckets come in a set of three sizes — perfect for separating treats. I used one for candy, one for glow bracelets and Halloween card, and one for mini flashlights and holiday pencils. Placed on a table with a black plastic tablecloth and Halloween Silhouette Table Skirt, pumpkins and one of my Silhouette Cat Yard Stakes.

Frightfully fun #Halloween Candy Display Ideas delight your trick-or-treaters! #ad #candy #decor

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It’s not hard or expensive to make Halloween frightfully fun with these spooktacular Halloween Candy Display Ideas. They are great for parties too — Enjoy!

Want more Halloween fun? Don’t miss:

The Legend Of The Jack-O’-Lantern

The Pumpkin Prayer – Halloween Activity

Carving & Lighting Tips and Tricks – Pumpkin Carving

Halloween Mantel Decor Orange, Black, and Purple

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Easy DIY Table Runner

A simple and creative table runner could be just what you are looking for to bring a little something extra to your table or buffet. This is a great idea for any party.

Easy DIY Table Runner

Change It Up for the Holidays and Re-Use It Too!

Last Thanksgiving, we hosted the family dinner. Now, I have hosted many large family parties for holidays and other occasions over the years; but this time, I had a much smaller house to make the most of in a functional and pretty way. I no longer had the drop-leaf tea cart or extra buffet to use for additional serving space, and that meant my table had to be special without a centerpiece taking up valuable space.

I love setting a beautiful table, and making it all festive and seasonal, so what was I going to do? I plowed through my tote of Autumn decor, and found some silk leaves in all the gorgeous autumn colors. And then, I had a fantastic idea–I could create a lovely table runner with these leaves!

To make this idea be functional, I needed to construct a table runner and not just throw loose leaves all over the place. Loose leaves would be a mess and a nuisance as guests passed dishes around the table. But, I also did not want to ruin my silk leaves. I wanted to use them again. So, here’s what I came up with…

Simple creative Table Runner perfect for your next party! #DIY #Tablescape #TableRunner

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Easy DIY Table Runner

Here’s What You Need:

Silk Leaves (Snowflakes, Hearts, Shamrocks, Flower Petals, Stars, Cupcakes, Dinosaurs, or any shape of choice–think Die Cuts)
Tape

How-To:

If you have items of different colors or sizes, separate them by color and size.
Take a couple of pieces and turn them upside down on your work surface.
Tape the pieces together so the tape will not show from the front side.

Add one piece at a time, taping them together until you have constructed the length or shape table runner you like–the possibilities are endless.

Carefully flip the runner right side up, and place on your table.

Could this project be any simpler? I don’t think so. And, I have to tell you, my table runner was a huge hit at Thanksgiving.

I love the way the runner has a little depth with the openings left in the design and the ruffled, not quite flat lay of the leaves. Our food platters sat atop the runners easily, but the leaves poked out in vibrant bursts of color, absolutely stunning. I used leaves in other areas for decoration, so it all tied together nicely.

If you have the room, a centerpiece would be wonderful, and imagine how lovely a few candles would be.

Packing away the table runner was easy-peasy. Simply remove the tape, and throw it away. I placed my silk leaves back into their boxes, and they are ready to use again next year. I wonder what I’ll do with them then?

If you are looking for something fun, different, functional, and super easy for your holidays or special occasions, this is a great table runner idea! An idea even the kids can help make. So, give a little pop to your decor.

Easy party idea that fits any theme. Get Creative! #DIY #PartyIdea #Entertanining

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I’d love to see what you create…

Here’s a Printable Tutorial of this DIY Project:

5 from 1 reviews

Easy DIY Table Runner

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Creating a DIY Table Runner for any holiday or special occasion.

from: Life With Lorelai

Ingredients:

Silk Leaves (Snowflakes, Hearts, Shamrocks, Flower Petals, Stars, Cupcakes, Dinosaurs, or any shape of choice--think Die Cuts)
Tape

Directions:

If you have items of different colors or sizes, separate them by color and size.
Take a couple of pieces and turn them upside down on your work surface.
Tape the pieces together so the tape will not show from the front side.
Add one piece at a time, taping them together until you have constructed the length or shape table runner you like--the possibilities are endless.
Carefully flip the runner over and place on your table right side up.

3.5.3208

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Sugared Cranberries And Cranberry Syrup Recipe

One recipe, two sweet and tangy holiday treats. This super easy Sugared Cranberries recipe also makes a delicious Cranberry Syrup. #Cranberry #Recipe

Sugared Cranberries & Cranberry Syrup Recipe

One Recipe, Two Sweet and Tangy Holiday Treats

If there is a fruit that screams Thanksgiving and Christmas, its cranberries. The beautiful red balls of tartness can be used for so many things from foodstuffs to decorating. So, when I ran across this idea for Sugared Cranberries on Pinterest last year, I had to give it a try.

Sugared Cranberries are always a huge hit at our Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers. Of course, the cranberries are set out for snacking, but everyone’s favorite part is the goodie bags. The small cellophane bags filled with Sugared Cranberries and tied with ribbons for my guests to take home. They also received a small Mason jar of Pumpkin Spice Syrup. Yum, yum, yum!

Sugared Cranberries are amazing and they have become a must-have for our Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations. Your family will love them. Give them a try.

Sugared Cranberries Recipe

All you need for this recipe is Fresh Cranberries, Granulated Sugar, Water, and Ultra-Fine Baker’s Sugar. Do Not skimp-out on this ingredient. Regular sugar will clump and not work well. It is a very simple recipe and takes very little time–minus the steeping time.

Add Granulated Sugar to Water in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until sugar dissolves and makes a syrup. DO NOT BOIL. Stir in Fresh Cranberries. Transfer berries and syrup to a container, cover, and refrigerate. Let cranberries steep for 8-hours to overnight.

After steeping, drain cranberries well. Do Not pat dry. Clinging syrup helps the Ultra-Fine Baker’s Sugar adhere to cranberries. Reserve Cranberry Syrup for later use. Coat cranberries with ultra-fine sugar a few at a time. Place Sugared Cranberries single layer in shallow pans. Shake occasionally to roll cranberries around for even drying. Leave at room temperature for 1-hour or until dry.

CAUTION: Do Not layer or pile cranberries too heavily. They are very delicate and will pop.

These refreshing sweet-tart treats have a nice little pop in your mouth. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Download the Printable Recipe

5 from 1 reviews

Sugared Cranberries & Cranberry Syrup

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Sugared Cranberries - A perfect holiday treat. When you make this simple recipe you get the bonus of having Cranberry Syrup leftover.

from: Life With Lorelai

Type: Dessert

Ingredients:

2 Cups - Granulated Sugar
2 Cups - Water
2 Cups - Fresh Cranberries
3/4 Cups - Ultra-Fine Baker's Sugar

Directions:

Combine Granulated Sugar and Water in a small saucepan over low heat.
Stir mixture until sugar dissolves, making a syrup. Bring to a simmer and remove from heat.
DO NOT BOIL, or cranberries may pop when added.
Stir in cranberries.
Transfer cranberries and syrup to a container.
Cover and Refrigerate.
Allow cranberries to steep in syrup overnight or at least 8-Hours.
Drain cranberries using a colander or strainer over a bowl. Reserve the syrup.
Pour Ultra-Fine Baker's Sugar into a shallow pan.
Add well-drained Cranberries a few at a time. (Do Not pat dry. Clinging syrup helps adhere sugar to berries.)
Coat cranberries with sugar.
Spread Sugared Cranberries loosely and single in a shallow pan.
Let stand at room temperature for 1 or until dry.

Notes

This recipe is easily doubled or tripled. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
CAUTION: Do Not layer or pile cranberries too heavily. They are very delicate and will pop.

Cranberry Syrup:
Use the cranberry syrup to stir into tea, add to pancakes, muffins, or cakes. Refrigerate in a Mason jar or container for up to 1 month.

Gift Idea:
Place sugared cranberries into small cellophane bags tied with ribbons for a nice gift for your holiday guests.

A Life With Lorelai Recipe 2014 https://lifewithlorelai.com/

3.5.3226

One #recipe, two sweet and tangy #holiday treats – Sugared Cranberries and #Cranberry Syrup.

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