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The Great Christmas Breakfast Debate

Holiday Habits, Recipe Box 8 Responses »

Dec 042012

When I was a kid, every Christmas morning my mom would make a huge batch of hot cocoa and a towering pile of buttered toast. And that was breakfast. Cocoa and toast. Simple, but I loved it. I still do. But when I got married, that was one of the first Christmas traditions to go out the window. See, my husband tolerates hot chocolate and considers toast an accompaniment to breakfast, not the main course. So, while a cup of hot cocoa and a couple slices of toast might do for an average Tuesday morning, it certainly wouldn’t do for Christmas breakfast.

As much as I loved my mom’s Christmas breakfast tradition, I have to say I agree that it should be something a little more special. Now 13 years and four children later, we still haven’t settled on that one perfect breakfast. Here are a few of the options we’ve tried.

Candidate #1: Pioneer Woman’s Baked Cinnamon French Toast

I loved this one. But even after baking it for longer than the recommended time, it was still too much like bread pudding for most of my texture-sensitive crew.

Candidate #2: Blueberry Buttermilk Breakfast Cake

Everybody loves this one. I’ve made it several times now. The only think keeping this not-too-sweet breakfast cake from rocketing to the top of the list is the fact that fresh blueberries are hard to find in December. I’ve made it with frozen blueberries and it works, but it isn’t as good. The frozen blueberries don’t mix well into the batter without turning the whole thing purple and the frozen berries are more tart, so they don’t work as well in the lightly sweetened cake. Still on the list though, because it is a family favorite.

Candidate #3: Cinnamon Scones

I don’t have a photo of these one because I haven’t made them in a while. I use the Simple Scones recipe from Allrecipes and modify it a little bit. I leave out the raisins and add a teaspoon of vanilla and a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Then instead of plain sugar on the top, I sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar. Pioneer Woman also has a recipe for cinnamon scones that sounds good, but very sweet.

Candidate #4: Mimi’s Christmas Breakfast

This is the photo from Confessions of a Former Couch Potato, the source of the recipe. Mine didn’t look anything like that. I know I did a couple different things wrong. First, I forgot to put the bacon on top til after it was baked. Second, I baked it too long. But see how she hers has this nice bread layer on the bottom and then a cheesy gooey layer on top? Mine didn’t work like that. The bread floated to the top and the eggs went to the bottom, and the cheese just cooked on top of the bread. I don’t know what happened. I’m still drooling over her photo though, so I think I’m going to have to try it again.

So friends, what are your favorite Christmas breakfasts?

My Pinterest finds

Housekeeping Habits, Recipe Box 3 Responses »

Feb 022012

Okay, is it me or does anyone else get hungry when you go on Pinterest.

My food board is probably my favorite board, but I also discovered this trick a few years ago and was thrilled to find it on Pinterest to share with others. If you are still frying bacon…girl, this will revolutionize your life.

Cook bacon in the oven. Cover cookie sheet with tinfoil first. cook 375 for about 20 min.

Now another favorite board is my “For the Home” board.

I love this pantry door. I could never have it in my house, because my pantry does not look like this. Mine looks like eight children ramble through it daily.

I love this stove. I need this stove.

Finally, because I love quotes I will end my post with a favorite…

Fun Food for Football Watching

Habits for a Happy Husband, Habits for a Happy Wife, Recipe Box 1 Response »

Oct 062011

Ah, fall! Time for falling leaves, cooler temperatures, and FOOTBALL! Whatever your favorite team, there’s one thing we can all agree on…watching football on tv is made all the better when accompanied by a delicious snack. Below I’ve included two of my favorites… one for the men, and one for ladies. (Although I enjoy both of these!)

Hearty Red Chili

For the men… Shh! This delicious dish tastes like it cooked all day, but it really only takes about 30 minutes!
In large saucepan, cook ¾ lb. ground beef, 1 cup chopped onion, ½ cup chopped green pepper, and 2 cloves garlic until meat is brown. Drain fat. Stir in one 16 oz. can diced tomatoes (do not drain); one 16 oz. can dark red kidney beans, drained; one 8 oz. can tomato sauce; 2 to 3 teasp. chili powder; ½ teasp. dried basil; ¼ teasp. salt; and ¼ teasp. ground red pepper. Cover; simmer 20 min. Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream; tortilla chips optional. Makes 4 servings. I always double it, as it’s even better the next day!

Greek Spinach Melts

For the ladies… (adapted from Pampered Chef “Seasons Best” cookbook, Fall/Winter 1996).
Begin with a loaf of delicious San Francisco sourdough bread. Ahh, really we could stop right there (after a little butter is added). But we’ll keep going…if you do not, as I no longer do, live within 60 miles of San Francisco, take heart…there are places you can buy sourdough bread almost as good as that sold in the City by the Bay. My favorite local sourdough bread is found, believe it or not, at Walmart. It’s a 24 oz. square loaf called California Sourdough, and it’s often on the day old bread rack.
Slice half of that loaf (if it comes already sliced, all the better) and spread the slices out on a baking sheet. Put them into the oven at 350 just long enough to crisp them up a little…do not let them turn brown. Now take the baking sheet out of the oven and set it aside.
Defrost one box of frozen, chopped spinach. Now take the spinach out of the box and squeeze it vigorously in a clean kitchen towel. Place it in a bowl along with one chopped plum tomato, ¼ cup chopped red onion, 2 garlic cloves (pressed), ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, ¼ cup each mayonnaise and sour cream, ½ teasp. dried dill weed, and ¼ teasp. salt. Mix together and spread onto pre-toasted bread slices. Bake 10 min. at 350, or until heated through.

What favorite recipes do you have for football watching?

~ by Kim, The Daisy Muse

Fallish Fun: Caramel Apples

Habits for Happy Kids, Holiday Habits, Recipe Box 3 Responses »

Oct 042011

At our house, making caramel apples is one of those things that we must do at least once every fall. It is so easy and fun for all ages. YUM!

This is really more of a procedure than a recipe. I usually start with the recipe from the bag of Kraft caramels for the basic caramel apples.

1 bag Kraft caramels
2 tablespoons water
4 medium apples (the recipe says 5, but I can never get 5 out of one bag of caramels)

Heat caramels and water in saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until caramel is melted and smooth. Meanwhile, wash and thoroughly dry the apples, and remove the stems. Push popsicle sticks into the stem side of the apple. Dip apples in caramel, spooning caramel over apple to coat evenly. Scrape excess off the bottom of the apple. The original recipe suggests setting the apples on buttered waxed paper, but I have found that a greased silicone baking liner works much better. Refrigerate the apples for one hour.

Then you jazz them up a bit…

The possibilities are endless. I got most of these ideas after browsing the array of $6 apples at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. If little ones are helping (of course!) have the apples caramel-dipped and all the fixins’ chopped up and ready to go ahead of time.

my personal favorite – dip chilled caramel apples in melted white chocolate, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar
drizzle melted chocolate over caramel apples, then sprinkle with nuts
coat caramel apples in chocolate and then roll in your favorite candy or cookie…chopped Oreos, Snickers, M&Ms, etc…

A few tips:

I like to use tart apples to balance the sweetness, but you can use any kind of apples you like.
A half a bag of chocolate chips is plenty for 4 apples.
Melt your chocolate (white or regular) in the microwave, at 50% power, with 2 tablespoons shortening for perfect drizzling/dipping consistency
Let the melted chocolate cool to lukewarm before dipping apples. This will prevent the caramel from melting and oozing off the apple.
Slice the apples before eating them. I know it isn’t as much fun if you don’t eat it off the stick, but it is a lot less messy!
Caramel apples will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, if they last that long. Let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before eating.

Recipe Round Up on Pinterest

Recipe Box 5 Responses »

Aug 302011

Pinterest Deliciosity! I am a practical gal and like simple recipes. As Kendra shared in her post yesterday, a really great way to keep track of recipes is by pinning your favorites or ones you’d like to try on Pinterest. I’ve listed some recent favorite recipes below. But, you can view even more recipes on my Pinterest Deliciosity board. Here are two recipes I’ve pinned that we’ve tried just in the last week.

Oh my! Guacamole Hummus. Two fine ingredients in harmonious flavor.

There are so many fun food ideas to make with the children. Like Phyllis’ Edible Sand made with Golden Oreos and served up in a sand bucket. Click here.

Those, plus these, would definitely make for a happy home: Continue reading »

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