Morning Show Notes - Thursday, December 23rd

-Will we have a White Christmas this year? Maybe! Forecasters are saying there is still some uncertainty about the track of the winter storm headed for the Deep South. The Atlanta area may see 1 to 3 inches of snow on Christmas Day. News 12 Meteorologist Tim Strong told us this morning that Augusta could see a few snowflakes on Christmas Night. If you plan to travel this weekend, keep an eye on the forecast.

-Aiken was the last stop on our Christmas Cheer Tour yesterday and it was the biggest one. It took three SUV's to haul away all of the warm clothing donations! Thanks to everyone who helped this year. We set a goal of 1,000 pieces and think we may have met it, if not surpassed it. Our friends a A Love Project are handling distribution of the items and will give us an update on the project soon.

-We talked about special Christmas memories this morning. Cleve remembers moving to Aiken at Christmastime around 15 years ago. They had no money for presents because of moving expenses, but they did have a Christmas tree and popcorn. Cleve cooked popcorn on the stove and it created so much smoke, that the family had to evacuate and let the house get some air. Now you know why Cleve doesn't do much in the kitchen! Share your Christmas memories on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-We'll be off on Christmas Eve Day, but we're leaving you with plenty of Christmas music to celebrate the season. We're taking Monday off too, but you'll be able to enjoy some of our favorite conversations from the past year. The Mindbender and the Cheapie of the Week return on Tuesday. John will be with you and is cleaning out the prize closet, so there's no telling what you could win!

Morning Show Notes - Wednesday, December 22nd

-Cleve was test driving a spiffy new stainless-steel 88.3 WAFJ coffee mug this morning that we'll be using as part of a prize pack for Cleve's Coffee Club that starts on Tuesday, January 4th. It's a lifetime dream come true for Cleve, as he gets to give away coffee on the radio! Stay tuned for details on you can be a part of the club!

-If you love Third Day, you'll love a deal on their latest album, Move. It's on sale at iTunes right now for $6.99.

-You've seen the video of the flash mob singing the Hallelujah chorus at a Philadelphia Macy's? If not, it's at the bottom of http://www.wafj.com/. A group in California tried to do something similar which led to a mall evacuation. Some people break glass when they sing, but these people made the ground shake. Read more

-John's family started a new Christmas tradition last year of baking a birthday cake for Jesus. This year, Evan is trying to decide whether Jesus would like to have a Spiderman cake or a Batman cake. Share your Christmas traditions on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-We shared another quick and easy recipe today in Simple Cooking. See how to make Creamy Chicken Noodles in the post below this one.

-Comedienne Anita Renfroe joined us this morning and shared what Christmas is like with her family. She'll be in Aiken on March 12th for Girls Night Out with Mandisa, and those tickets would make a nice Christmas gift for the lady in your life. You can print them from home when you buy them through our website.

Listen to our conversation with Anita Renfroe:
Part 1
Part 2

Simple Cooking - December 22nd

Creamy Chicken and Noodles

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Yield: Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

1 (0.6-oz.) envelope Italian dressing mix

1 (8-oz.) package wide egg noodles

2 tablespoons butter, softened

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. Remove 1 Tbsp. Italian dressing mix from envelope, and set aside; reserve remaining mix for another use.

2. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain well, and return noodles to pan.

3. Stir in 2 Tbsp. butter, and toss to coat. Stir in chopped chicken, next 3 ingredients, and 1 Tbsp. dressing mix. Cook mixture over medium-high heat, tossing to coat evenly, 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately.

**John recommends doubling up on the amount of italian dressing mix and parmesan cheese that is called for in the recipes. This will add an extra flavor punch.

Found in Southern Living February 2007

If you have a quick and easy recipe to share, send it to john@wafj.com. Please include a daytime phone number. If you use yours, you'll get a thank-you gift.

Morning Show Notes - Tuesday, December 21st

-There's a new way of telling the Christmas story that has gone viral. What would it had been like if Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in 2011? Check out "A Social Network Christmas." This would be a great tool for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with those you know who need to hear it.



-Research has found moms spend about 42 hours on preparing for Christmas --with 20 hours and 13 minutes of that time spent fighting the shopping crowds. This is a busy shopping week. How do you handle the crowds? Join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Augusta has a new way to save money with a site called Groupon. You can get certificates for products and services at local and national merchants for a heavily discounted price. There's a new deal each day at www.groupon.com/augusta. The Augusta Chronicle also does something similar with their Daily Deal at http://chronicle.augusta.com/.

-Natalie Grant had her third child, Sadie Rose, on Friday. She was a week early, much to Natalie's relief, and is very healthy. After meeting her little one, Natalie tweeted "I'm so in love, I feel as though my heart could rupture." See Sadie's picture

-A family Christmas classic, The Polar Express, comes on at 9:00 tonight on ABC Family. You can actually ride on the Polar Express in Bryson City, NC. Read more

-There's a new app for iPhones and Droids that will help you keep up with the gift cards you receive for Christmas. Swagg lets you put the information into your smartphone, ditch the plastic and scan a computer-generated barcode on your phone at select merchants. You can also give gift cards from one smartphone to another. Read more.

-Coming Up Wednesday: We'll be talking about Christmas traditions and would love to hear about yours. Plus, tickets to a Girls Night Out with Anita Renfroe and Mandisa would make a great Christmas gift for the woman in your life and you'll have a chance to win 'em when we chat with Anita between 7:40 and 8:00. Also, try your hands at another quick and easy recipe in Simple Cooking with John and Cleve at 8:10.

Morning Show Notes - Monday, December 20th

-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: The average woman goes through 4 different ones of these in her lifetime. What is it?
A: Hair colors

-The last Christmas Cheer Tour stop is this Wednesday from 11 to 1 at the Hobby Lobby in Aiken. Please bring new or gently used warm clothing to help those in need this winter.

-Cheapie of the Week: Paula Myers of Martinez correctly guessed that it is Hershey's Kisses. They are on sale for $2.50 a bag with your Extra Care Card at CVS. When you buy 2 bags, you get $2 back in Extra Bucks. Plus, use the $1 off 2 coupon from http://www.coupons.com/ and it's like getting 2 bags for $1 each.

-Our friends from Doctors Hospital joined us this morning with some healthy recipes for your Christmas day meal. They did a great job of taking some traditional favorites and making them healthier, without sacrificing the taste.

Download the recipes We've made them available in Microsoft Word format.

Listen to our conversation with Chef Andy and Erin, the nutritionist:

1. Ham and Soup
2. Appetizers
3. Side Dishes
4. Desserts