Hallmark Channels Celebrity Good Life

Daniel Craig & Hugh Jackman Team Up For Charity

Movie stars Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman delivered big this holiday season for charity when they took part in the annual Broadway fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The annual fundraiser, now in its 21st year, pits 60 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies against each other in a fundraising competition.

During the six-week period, more than 4.6 million dollars were raised, led by the Broadway play "A Steady Rain," staring Craig and Jackman.

 
The two men donated personal items, signed posters, Playbills and the chance for backstage photographs. The best-selling item from the show turned out to be the nightly sale of the t-shirts the two stars wore during each performance, selling for as much a $5,000. All told, Craig and Jackmanwere responsible for raising $1.5 million.

  
Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS is the nation's leading industry based HIV/AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. To find out more about the charity, you can visit the website at http://broadwaycares.org

CHRIS HARRISON WANTS TO GET YOU TO THE ALTAR IN 2010

Chris Harrison has one incredible New Year's resolution for 2010.

"It's to get as many people married as I possibly can," he declares to The Plus. (Feel free to put us on that list, Chris!)

The host of the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise will be in his hometown to ring in the New Year. "We always do New Year's in Dallas," Chris shares.

"Our big tradition on New Year's Day is to go to my brother's house with old college and high school friends, watch football and eat our black-eyed pea for good luck."

Says Chris of the Southern belief that black-eyed peas brings on prosperity, "My mom told me to do it, so I have ever since." 

Sounds like your mom is one smart cookie, Chris. 

How to Make Hoppin' John for New Year's Day

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Hoppin' John is a traditional black-eyed pea and sausage soup served on New Year's Day. Typically a southern dish, the custom of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is said to bring good luck throughout the New Year. On New Year's Day or any other day Hoppin' John is a simple and delicious meal.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need:
    * Large stock pot
    * Dried or frozen black-eyed peas
    * Water
    * Long grain rice
    * Ham hock, bacon or sausage
    * Vegetables

Step 1: Soak or par boil one bag of dried and sorted black-eyed peas. You can also use one bag of frozen black-eyed peas which makes this a much quicker meal to prepare.

Step 2: Rinse the peas and cover with four cups of cold water.

Step 3: Add one ham hock, left over chopped ham slices or four to five pieces of good bacon. Some places in the south substitute some spicy sausage for the ham.

Step 4: Add one large can of stewed tomatoes, one chopped onion, a chopped green pepper, several cloves of garlic and salt and pepper. This is where you can get creative. If you like other vegetables like carrots or celery, add those as well. For a little spice, add a chopped jalapeno pepper.

Step 5: Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cover and simmer for one or two hours or until the peas are swollen and tender. If using frozen peas, you'll only need to simmer for about thirty minutes.

Step 6: Rinse two cups of long grain rice in a strainer until the water runs clear. Add to pot, turn up the heat and bring to a boil.

Step 7: Boil for one minute and reduce heat to a very low simmer. Cover pot and simmer for fifteen minutes or until rice is tender and much of the liquid is absorbed.


Tips & Warnings
* Sauté onions, garlic, carrots and celery before adding frozen peas.
 
* Good Hoppin' John is more like a thick stew than soup. Served with cornbread or biscuits it's a hardy meal on its own.

* Don't prepare many side dishes with this meal. This is a very filling dish that goes well with just a light dessert.

Coconut Chocolate Chip Biscotti

This biscotti recipe is a little different from most: they are not crisp. They’re softer and chewier than typical biscotti, great for dessert or as a breakfast treat with a cup of coffee. If coconut isn’t your thing, feel free to leave it out.

Total Time: 1 hour
Hands Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
2-1/4 cups flour     
1 cup sugar     
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon     
3/4 teaspoon salt     
1/2 teaspoon baking powder     
1/2 teaspoon baking soda     
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk     
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons brewed coffee, cooled    
1 large egg yolk     
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract     
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips     
1 cup angel flake coconut

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, blend the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda. In a small bowl, blend together the condensed milk, 1/3 cup of the coffee, the egg yolk and vanilla.

Stir the coffee mixture into the flour mixture, mixing with your hands or a wooden spoon until blended. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons coffee to completely bind the dough. Stir in the chocolate chips and coconut flakes. Divide the dough into 2 balls.

On a floured surface, mold each ball of dough into a log about 12 inches long and 1-1/2 to 2 inches wide.

Transfer the logs to the baking sheet and bake in the center of the oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the temperature down to 300F

When the logs are cool enough to handle, cut crosswise, and on a diagonal, into slices about 3/4 inch thick. Lay the slices on their sides on the baking sheet.

Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes (if you want a crisper cookie, bake another 5 minutes). Cool on a rack. Store in an airtight container or freeze in airtight storage bags.

Servings: Makes about 30 biscotti.

Hallmark Channel December Premieres & Highlights

DEBBIE MACOMBER’S MRS. MIRACLE HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE WORLD PREMIERE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)  Feeling in over his head when it comes to being a single dad to twin six-year-olds,  Seth Webster (James Van Der Beek) is in desperate need of a nanny. At his lowest point,  the miraculous Mrs. Merkle (Doris Roberts) appears and proves herself to be more-than-adept at handling the boys. Mrs. Merkle – or ‘Mrs. Miracle,’ as the twins dub her – not only cooks  and cleans, but wields a mighty snowball-throwing arm and always seems to know the right thing to do in order to help all three members of the Webster house.  HALLMARK CHANNEL’S HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN continues when the Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle” premieres Saturday, December 5 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C).

CHRISTMAS IN CANAAN HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE WORLD PREMIERE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)  In the rising heat of the Civil Rights Movement, Daniel Burton (Billy Ray Cyrus), a widowed farmer struggling to make ends meet, forces his young son, DJ (Zak Ludwig), who has begun to show racist tendencies, to spend time with his black classmate, Rodney (Jaishon Fisher), leading to an unexpected friendship. As the years pass and racial tensions in their town build, an unforgettable Christmas will teach the boys the importance of hope and the true meaning of family. HALLMARK CHANNEL’S HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN continues when “Christmas in Canaan,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie based on the book by Grammy® winner Kenny Rogers and Donald Davenport, premieres Saturday December 12 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C).

THE THREE GIFTS HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE WORLD PREMIERE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C)  Jack and Cherie Green (Dean Cain and Jean Louisa Kelly) run a wooden toy company which brings joy to kids everywhere, even though they have no children of their own to share it with. But when Jack’s aunt (Mimi Kennedy) arrives with three boys (Dylan Sprayberry, Alex Zubarev and Spencir Bridges) who need a place to stay while the orphanage she runs undergoes renovations, the Greens suddenly find themselves watching over the renowned troublemakers. As the holidays approach, Jack and the misfits he’s reluctantly watching over find that they all have a little to learn about growing up and taking responsibility. Reginald VelJohnson costars in “The Three Gifts,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie which premieres Saturday, December 19 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C) as part of HALLMARK CHANNEL’S HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN.

SMOKEY ROBINSON TRIBUTE ON ICE  Cable Television Premiere  Monday, November 30 (6p.m. ET/PT, 5C)  The sound of blades cutting through ice and air will be juxtaposed with the unforgettable, silky-smooth voice of ‘the world’s greatest poet,’ Smokey Robinson. The legendary singer, songwriter and producer will perform live as a stellar cast of Olympic, World and National figure skating champions pay homage to one of the music world’s greatest contributors. Catch skating all-stars Brian Boitano (pictured), Todd Eldredge, Jennifer Robinson, Steven Cousins and more in the two-hour Cable Television Premiere of “Smokey Robinson Tribute on Ice,” Monday, November 30 (6p.m. ET/PT, 5C).

A DIVA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL Hallmark Channel Premiere Thursday, December 3 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C) Vanessa L. Williams stars in this modern-day reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol as Ebony Scrooge, one of the world's most successful pop singers, who is personally miserable and makes those around her equally unhappy. As she prepares to work her staff through Christmas to get ready for a world tour, Ebony is shown the error of her ways when she is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Kathy Griffin costars in the Hallmark Channel Premiere of “A Diva’s Christmas Carol,” part of HALLMARK CHANNEL’S HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN, Thursday, December 3 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C).

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION ON ICE Cable Television Premiere Monday, December 7 (6p.m. ET/PT, 5C) Bing Crosby may have dreamt of a white Christmas, but this year Brian Boitano and friends will be heralding in a holiday of rock and roll! As the holidays approach, celebrate with the sounds of silver bells, blades gliding across the ice and the wail of electric guitar. Legendary rock bands REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield (pictured) will perform live as a star-studded cast of Olympic, World and National figure skating champions celebrate the wonders of the holiday season. The two-hour Cable Television Premiere of “Holiday Celebration on Ice,” part of HALLMARK CHANNEL’S HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN, is  Monday, December 7 (6p.m. ET/PT, 5C).

121ST ANNUAL ROSE PARADE Friday, January 1 Countdown to the Rose Parade (10a.m. ET/9C/7a.m. PT) Commercial-Free Parade Presentation (11a.m. ET/10C/8a.m. PT) Parade Encores (1p.m. ET/12C/10a.m. PT) HALLMARK CHANNEL’S HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN marches on when The New Year’s tradition older and more famous than the Times Square Ball Drop itself comes to Hallmark Channel! “The 121st Rose Parade,” hosted by Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards, features spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, high-stepping equestrian units and, of course, the majestic floral floats that the parade has become famous for over the years. The commercial-free presentation airs Friday, January 1 (11a.m. ET/10C/8a.m. PT) and encores in its entirety at 1p.m. ET/12C/10a.m. PT. In addition, Hallmark Channel will present the one-hour special, “Countdown to the Rose Parade,” Friday, January 1 (10a.m. ET/9C/7a.m. PT), which captures the excitement of last-minute activity from the Pasadena, CA parade site, where more than 900 volunteers will have labored for a combined 80,000 hours to bring the amazing, gorgeous New Year’s Day spectacle to life. Photo: The newly announced Tournament of Roses Royal Court. Left to right: Princess Ashley Thaxton, Princess Kinsey Stuart, Princess Katherine Hernández, Princess Michelle Van Wyk, Princess Natalie Innocenzi, Princess June Ko, Princess Lauren Rogers

JINGLE ALL THE WAY Hallmark Channel Premiere Friday, January 1 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C) Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has promised his son, Jamie (Jake Lloyd), that he will get him anything he wants for Christmas. Unfortunately for Howard, Jamie wants a Turbo Man action figure, which is sold out of every store. Howard plans to do whatever it  takes to find his son a Turbo Man, but when he clashes with another, equally-determined father (Sinbad), it’s a holiday fight to the finish! The Hallmark Channel Premiere of “Jingle All The Way,” part of HALLMARK CHANNEL’S HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN, is Friday, January 1 (8p.m. ET/PT, 7C).

Easy Hot Appetizers

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Impress your guests with a hot appetizer tray that will look and taste as if you slaved over a hot oven for hours. Creating hot appetizers can be easy if you have the right ingredients and keep your secret recipe under wraps. Use quality ingredients to make your food shine and warm up any pre-prepared appetizers in the oven before serving.

Casual Party Appetizers
Create easy, hot appetizers when you have the gang over to watch the game or for a casual open house. Make pigs in a blanket for a quick hot appetizer. Purchase mini hot dogs and two packages of pre-made crescent roll dough. If you can't find mini hot dogs, purchase a package of regular hot dogs and cut them in half.

Pop open the crescent dough package and lay dough out on a flat surface. Separate dough along perforated edges then slice the separated pieces again with a sharp knife.

Place one mini hot dog in the middle of one piece of dough and roll. Line an ungreased cookie sheet with the rolled hot dogs and cook according to package directions.

Serve an easy hot cheese dip at your next open house or casual affair. Cook 1 clove of minced garlic and ¼ cup finely chopped onion in 1 tbsp. of margarine. Add 1 tsp. of cornstarch and ¾ cup of beer or milk. Cook until thickened. Add a combination of cheeses such as 2 cups shredded American cheese and one 3 oz. package of cream cheese, diced. Stir the mixture until the cheese melts.

Pour hot cheese dip into a serving bowl and serve with large chunks of cut up brown bread or tortilla chips.

Elegant Party Appetizers
Serve an appetizer platter of bacon-wrapped scallops at your next dinner party. Preheat oven to broil. Cut 10 to 20 uncooked sea scallops in half and wrap with a fresh spinach leaf. Wrap a piece of uncooked bacon over the spinach and secure with a small wooden toothpick. Sprinkle scallops with 1 tsp. sea salt and 1 tsp. freshly ground pepper. Lay scallops on a foil-lined cookie sheet and oven broil 3 or 4 inches away from the heat for six minutes on each side or until the bacon is crispy. Arrange on a large platter then squeeze fresh lemon over the top.

If you are looking for an elegant hot vegetarian appetizer, try tomato mozzarella bruschetta. Preheat oven to broil. Purchase two loaves of fresh French bread and cut into pieces. Brush each piece with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle each slice with ½ tsp. kosher salt and ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper. Place one ½ in. slice of fresh mozzarella on top of each piece of bread. Top mozzarella with one ½ in. slice of vine ripened tomato. Add one more slice of fresh mozzarella on top of the tomato and top each slice with one small basil leaf.

Place bread slices on a foil lined cookie sheet and broil for three or four minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Fresh Tomato Herb Salsa

If you have access to other than red tomatoes, use them to make an attractive multicolored salsa.

Total Time: 40 minutes
Hands Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
6 tomatoes, finely chopped
1 orange or yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
1 small Vidalia onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or oregano (optional)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and let sit for 30 minutes before serving.

SERVINGS: Makes 4 cups

Quick and Easy Party Foods

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There is a lot to do when preparing for a party. One task, preparing the party food, is essential to the success of the event. It helps to have a few quick ideas in your recipe repertoire, to pull out when entertaining or when entertaining on a moment's notice. But, just because time is limited, it doesn't mean you can't prepare party food that is sure to delight the guests.

Tortillas
Flour tortillas provide the base for quick and easy party foods. Cheese quesadillas can be thrown together in a matter of minutes. Begin by laying a flour tortilla on a microwave safe plate, cover with some shredded cheese, cover with two more flour tortillas, add some more cheese and cover with another tortilla. Repeat and then microwave until the cheese is melted. Cut into triangles before serving. To spice up the quesadillas, add onions, peppers or tomatoes with the cheese.

A flour tortilla can also be buttered with cream cheese and herbs, rolled tightly, and cut into bite sized circles. Secure each piece with a toothpick. Another way to use the tortillas is to roll meat and vegetables in one, and then cut into three pieces and secure each piece with a toothpick.

Cream Cheese
Save money and time by making your own cream cheese dip, using a food processor. Add cream cheese to the food processor, and season with herbs and spices, such as garlic and diced dill. Process the cream cheese until blended and serve with crackers. If you use fresh garlic, add the garlic to the processor and dice before adding the cheese. Equal amounts of cream cheese and imitation crab and a dash of Worcestershire can be diced and blended in a food processor to make a crab dip. The dip can be served with crackers, or spread over a flour tortilla, and rolled up tightly and cut into bite sized servings.

Fruit
Serving up a colorful, healthy and delicious party appetizer begins with fresh fruit. Use whole berries and grapes, which require no preparation beyond rinsing in cold water. Other fruit, such as apples, can be sliced and rinsed in orange juice before adding to the tray. An orange juice wash will help some fruits, such as apples, to resist browning. Quickly mix up a 15 oz. jar of marshmallow cream and an 8 oz. package of cream cheese to make a fruit dip.

Garlicky Potato Dip

This garlicky potato dip is based on a Greek dish called skordalia, which in Greece is served as either a side vegetable or a dip. We’ve left the potato skins on in our version, but if you think your guests or family would object, then cook the potatoes whole and peel them when they’re cool enough to handle. And if can’t find baby spinach, just shred larger spinach leaves.

MENU SUGGESTION: Serve with fresh vegetable dippers: Fennel and green pepper would go particularly nicely.

Total Time: 45 minutes
Hands Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
2 large russet (baking) potatoes (1-1/4 pounds), well scrubbed and cut into 1-inch chunk
8 cloves garlic, peeled
2 teaspoons salt
4 cups packed baby spinach (5 ounces)
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice (1 or 2 lemons)
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions
In a medium saucepan, combine the potatoes and garlic with 4 cups of cold water (or enough to cover by 1 inch). Add the salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the spinach, cover and let sit for 2 minutes.

Reserving the cooking water, drain the potatoes, spinach and garlic, and set them aside in a medium bowl to cool slightly. Then, with a potato masher or fork, mash everything as smoothly as possible (this dip should be fairly chunky).

Stir in the oil, lemon juice and pepper. Add 1/3 cup of the reserved cooking water (if you want a thinner consistency, add more). Taste for salt and add more if needed. Serve warm or at room temperature. (If you’ve made the dip ahead and refrigerated it, give it a stir and see if it needs a little milk or water to loosen it up.)

Servings: Makes 4 cups.

How to Prepare Finger Foods

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A party featuring finger foods is easy on both guests and host. Guests are free to walk around with their plates, while the host is freed from gathering enough silverware, preparing a complete menu and providing a place setting at the table for each guest. Preparing finger foods is especially easy if you select two main types and create several varieties of each.

Things You'll Need:
    * Assorted breads
    * Assorted sandwich fillings
    * Garnishes for trays
    * Sandwich spreads
    * Pizza dough
    * Pizza sauce
    * Assorted pizza toppings
    * Corn meal

Mini Sandwiches
Step 1: Assemble all of the ingredients for your mini sandwiches in one spot. Choose a variety of breads such as loaves of party rye, miniature croissants, small dinner rolls and tiny bagels. For fillings, set out bowls and plates with such items as tuna or chicken salad, thinly sliced ham and turkey, cream cheese mixed with black olives and chopped pecans, pulled pork and assorted cheeses cut into small squares. Also set out sandwich spreads such as mayonnaise and mustard.

Step 2: Create sandwiches a couple of hours before the guests arrive. Using a mix and match method, simply make a large variety of sandwiches by, for example, making chicken salad sandwiches on each type of bread, ham and cheese sandwiches on each type of bread and so on. Store sandwiches in the refrigerator on cookie sheets, covering them with slightly dampened tea towels. Do not stack the sandwiches or the trays.

Step 3: Line party trays or platters with leaf or romaine lettuce just before serving. Arrange the sandwiches on the party trays so that each tray features a variety of bread types. Leave a small space between each sandwich so that you can garnish the tray with such items as green and black olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber wedges or other vegetables.

Mini Pizzas
Step 1: Gather together all of the ingredients for your mini pizzas in one spot. You might make your own pizza dough from scratch, but you can also buy pizza dough from a local restaurant or store. You will also need pizza sauce, shredded cheese and a variety of pizza toppings such as pepperoni, crumbled sausage, olives, chopped onions and mushrooms.

Step 2: Roll out the pizza dough and cut into four-inch rounds using a jar lid for a cutter. Brush the tops of the pizza dough with olive oil to prevent soggy crusts. Spread the pizzas with sauce, sprinkle on the cheese and add different toppings to each pizza. Since these are small, one topping will be sufficient, and the pizzas will be readily identifiable.

Step 3: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Sprinkle corn meal on a baking sheet and place the mini-pizzas on top of the corn meal. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the crust is the bottom is golden and the edges are evenly browned.

Tips & Warnings
* Rather than baking pizzas ahead of time, bake them periodically throughout the party.