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Start Your Own Holiday Traditions

4. Take advantage of the snow

After a big snowstorm, take the whole family sledding. Plan special extras like bringing along a Thermos of hot chocolate or having homemade soup when you get home. Then, make a fire, serve hot cider or holiday punch and play board games for the afternoon.

Here’s a cider recipe from my mom that’s a holiday hit:

Charlotte's Hot Spiced Cider

Ingredients:

1/2 gallon apple cider

1 quart cranberry apple juice

1/2 cup orange juice

Juice of a lemon

8-10 whole cloves

4 cinnamon sticks

1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar, to taste

Directions:

It is best to make the cider a day ahead. Heat all ingredients in a large pan and stir it until the sugar melts. Refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, reheat and ladle into cups. (Remove the cloves and cinnamon sticks.)

Meet our Experts:

In raising their children, Cheryl Tallman & Joan Ahlers became tired of the search for all-natural, hassle-free ways to feed their children. In 2002 they developed their own products and launched Fresh Baby, a product line that includes homemade baby food kits, baby food cookbooks, baby food and other items. Fresh Baby was selected by Entrepreneur Magazine as a "Hot Company to watch" in 2004. They have also won an iParenting award and were finalists in the 2004 Natural Products awards. You can visit their company at FreshBaby.com