Chrissi B! Let's start with an idea ....

Hello Summer? The temps have turned warm again, just as I was getting excited about the aspect of Autumn. Maybe next week ....We live in hope of cooler temps and lucky us, day light savings time. The magical day of the year when we each gain an extra hour of fun or maybe even some stolen sleep.

This time of year, I tend to think holidays. Do you too find yourself wondering about greeting cards and recipes? Do meal plans dance in your head along with calorie counts and shopping lists? The holidays offer so many possibilities ....Lists of wants verses lists of needs.

With many of our friends, family and neighbors facing challenging times this year, maybe it is the perfect time to cut down on the large gift lists and scale up on the opportunities to donate time, toys or services to those of us who are feeling festive.

A few simple tricks that I have found:

• Donating a food basket may be a bit easier if you preshop a bit. When my favorite grocer offers specials on dry goods or holiday needs, I purchase extra and store them in another pantry in our garage. When I am ready to donate to our local church pantry, I simply gather the finds of my prior grocery store excursions and send "Cutest Hubby" off with the boxes of good.


• Each year the store Kohls, offers a wonderful selection of children's books and stuffed animals for only $5., each. The offering is current and changes each season. We purchase these items as they appear in the store and again keep them in a storage box. When our local toys for tots and other charities begin collecting we have a good start on our donations.


• Each year, our family adopts another family through a local charity and gives them Christmas. "Cutest Hubby" and I cut down on our own gifts to celebrate a family of children who really "need" a bit of Christmas. I have to share, this is my favorite part of the holidays ...from the shopping to the wrapping, it is pure joy!


• Share a gift of baking. So many of us have no time to make cookies. So many of us hate to make cookies or cakes. If you find yourself loving to bake holiday treats, share them with someone you know is overworked and may not have the time to bake. If you feel so inclined, host a cookie party and share recipes, cookies and friendship all in the name of the holidays. Use the best ingredients you can afford, the results will impress even you.

If you have an idea to inspire that you would like to share, email me and I will share them too. Together we can make the holidays a bit more relaxing and not so taxing. ....enjoy!

Here is a recipe to start you thinking for the ever popular brownie...let's try it together ....

Mrs. Quinn's Easy Brownies are the rich fudgy kind
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Ingredients:
3/4 cups melted butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped, toasted nuts
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preparation:Heat oven to 350 degrees, grease a 13x9" pan. Beat butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla in a large bowl. Mix in cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine. Stir in nuts and chips. Pour into pan. Bake Mrs. Quinn's Easy Brownies for 20-22 minutes.

Carroll Pellegrinelli, About.com