Happy Holidays everyone! This time of the year is wonderful no matter what you celebrate. There is a distinct chill in the air now but the recipes listed below may warm you up. We hope you all have a wonderful December and a happy New Year.

Try these delectable recipes to add a little warmth to these cold December nights!

Candy Cane Cocoa

• 4 cups milk
• 3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 peppermint candy canes, crushed
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 4 small peppermint candy canes

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

• 1 pound fresh mushrooms
• 7 ounces crabmeat
• 5 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground savory
• ground black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, combine crabmeat, green onions, herbs, and pepper. Mix in mayonnaise and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese until well combined. Refrigerate filling until ready for use.
3. Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp towel. Remove stems. Spoon out the gills and the base of the stem, making deep cups. Discard gills and stems. Fill the mushroom caps with rounded teaspoonfuls of filling, and place them in an ungreased shallow baking dish. Sprinkle tops with Parmesan and paprika.
4. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and serve immediately.

The Fox has a great line-up for the Holiday season. Check out their website for the Nutcracker schedule!

http://www.foxtheatre.org/

Most Americans are busily buying gifts and decorating in preparation for Christmas, but pockets of residents here and there, along with many Europeans, will celebrate St. Nicholas Day on Friday. Sure, jolly old St. Nick has crept his way into many Christmas celebrations, but the real St. Nicholas was the inspiration behind the Dec. 6 holiday.

Reports are varied, but it seems St. Nicholas was born between 270 and 280 A.D. in what is now Turkey. Not much is known about him, but he became a priest and later the archbishop of the metropolitan church of Myra, according to Reformed Church In America's Web site.

Europeans have been celebrating the good saint for centuries, each country with its own twist on tradition. But it's the Netherlands' tradition that immigrated to the United States. According to songs about the holiday, St. Nicholas resides in Spain, spending most of the year recording the behavior of all children in a big red book.

In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas Eve includes festive family dinners, after which Sinter Klass (the Dutch pronunciation of St. Nicholas) often appears with his helper, Black Peter. They may offer cookies and candies, or give a mock lecture to children on good behavior.

In some traditions, St. Nicholas doesn't appear that night at all, but instead, a loud knock is heard and a bag of gifts is left on the doorstep. Later that night, St. Nicholas visits each house on a white horse. He listens through the chimneys to check the children's behavior, and then jumps down the chimney flue to exchange the carrot or hay left by the children in their shoes for a small gift or some candy. However, bad children don't receive such nice gifts. Instead, they will receive onions, coal -- or switches.

The tradition of children leaving shoes by the fireplace eventually evolved in to today's Christmas stockings.

According to The Holland Ring online, St. Nicholas Day is traditionally when people are expected to poke light-hearted fun at one another. They are also expected to make their gifts, or disguise them in a creative way -- or even hide them and leave a trail of clues. Gifts are traditionally accompanied by poems.

Courtesy of Laura Bobendrier
Staff Writer for WSBTV.Com

Toys for Tots is a wonderful organization really makes a difference in our community. Be an angel this year to a child and donate to a Toys For Tots station. You can drop off toys at Ga Tech or go to www.toysfortots.org for a detailed list.