Sparkles for the New Year

There are only 6.5 hours left of 2010. Today we slept in, had homemade doughnuts for breakfast (they didn't turn out as good as I had hoped, but there is always a next time), prepared the house for guests, visited with Chrissie at her work place, went grocery shopping, and painted my nails a beautiful shade of sparkely pink. They make me smile every time I look at them. ;) I hope everyone has a happy, happy new year!

Snow Days

The day after Christmas, I measured 8 inches of beautiful snow in our yard! Typically snow days are filled with hot chocolate, snow creme, popcorn, movies ... you get the idea. But this time, my dear Tony was fighting a cold. So we consumed lots of hot tea, soup, vitamins, medicine, and sleep. However, we did sprinkle it with a nice little walk and a quick snowball fight. I even made a 5 minute little snowman. We'll call him a Charlie Brown Snow Man. :)

Christmas Day

We stayed cuddled in our high thread count sheets and read this devotional by Doug Wilson. A great way to start the morning. Up and dressed we spent the morning at my parents - opening gifts, drinking coffee, tasting cappucino cookies, and eating candy from our stockings. The afternoon was spent with Tony's family - had a fabulous lunch, opened gifts, enjoyed time with neices and nephews. Then we crawled back into those cozy sheets and took a little nap. In the evening we went to my parents house for another fabulous dinner and a round of skip-bo! It was all perfect!! :)

German Christollen Bread

This beautiful, yummy bread showcased itself well at our Christmas Eve celebration. It was a first time recipe for me and it turned out fabulous. Christollen is traditionally served during the Christmas season in Germany and the slight folding of the dough symbolizes the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes. Brilliant! Cooking with Rosie's tutorial was extremely helpful, but as with almost every new recipe I tweaked it here and there to make it my own, or rather to accommodate for the ingredients I had on hand. :) See my recipe below...

Traditional German Christollen Bread

as made by me

Homemade Candied Fruit Peels

4 oranges

2 lemons

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Christollen Bread

1 1/2 cups raisins

3/4 cup golden raisins (or currants)

4 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice

4 1/3 cups unbleached flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/2 tsp yeast

3/4 cup half and half

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup candied fruit peels

1/4 cup slivered almonds

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

Glaze or frosting of choice

Fruit Peels: Grate the peel from the oranges and lemons in a large saucepan and cover with water. Boil over medium heat for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water. Boil until the mixture reaches 230 degrees F on a candy thermometer, or when a small amount dropped in cold water forms a soft thread. Add the boiled peels and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Drain. Spread the peel pieces out on parchment and let dry for several hours.

Bread: 

1. The night before soak all the raisins in the orange juice.  
2. The day of dissolve the yeast in 1/3 cup warm half and half. Let rest for 15 minutes. 
3. Combine flour and salt in bowl and make a well in the center.
4. Melt 1 1/2 sticks of butter. Stir in the sugar, eggs, remaining milk until well combined. 
5. Pour this mixture and the yeast mixture into the center of the flour mixture. Stir together with a fork. When the dough becomes thick, use your very own clean hands to incorporate the rest of the flour. 
6. Knead the dough for 5-8 minutes on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to an oiled bowl. Cover and let it rise for 2 hours in a warm place. 
7. Punch the dough down and add the raisins, candied fruit, and slivered almonds. Work them into the dough with your hands. Cover and let rise another 2 hours. 
8. Preheat the oven to 400* F. 
9. Gently transfer the dough onto a working surface. Shape it into a long log, then gently flatten it a bit. Then take the long side and fold it over to create a crease. 
10. Bake at 400* for 15 minutes. Cover with tinfoil, reduce the heat to 350* and bake for another 40 minutes. 
11. Drizzle remaining 1/2 stick melted butter on top. Cover with your favorite glaze or frosting. I just did a simple powdered sugar & milk glaze. 
12. Slice into it and enjoy!! 

Happy cooking to you... 

My List Came True

I am now the happy owner of these lovely things. All Christmas gifts from my very sweet, ever so kind husband! The prettiness of it all is definitely intensified in person. :) The apron has already accompanied me in making a batch of chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, then in hosting the Christmas Eve meal. And I have cheerfully scooped flour with my new measuring cups. Thank you so much, Tony!! X's and O's to you!!

A Merry Christmas Eve

As in the past years of our married life, we hosted a Christmas Eve celebration for my family. All was in attendance, except Brittany. She was greatly missed! We delved into yummy mexican food, christollen bread, cookies, and hot chocolate. A few gifts were opened, including an awesome tea set from Matthew to the family. Of course we had to try it on the spot. The Chai tea was amazingly tasty. The Scrabble Slam card game was also opened; we had to try that too. {Well, to be honest. Tony & I had tested this gift-to-Joey the night before ... You know; just to make sure it worked.} ;) I had all intentions of getting a family shot, as we have done every year in the past ... but that didn't happen.

After our company went back to their homes, Tony & I snuggled into the living room and exchanged our own gifts. It was a special time for just the two of us!

Dreaming of my little garden

Today I received my Seed Savers catalog in the mail. Isn't the cover just beautiful? It was like opening an early Christmas present. :) This means it is almost time to start planning for my Spring garden. I flip through the catalog and want to grow a lot of everything ... but then I remind myself that I am still very much a novice. My little garden of 2010 was good to me and even gave me little eggplants, herbs, and tomatoes well into the beautiful days of Fall. Loved it and can't wait to do it all over again! Although I miss the fresh produce, I love love love this time of year. Only four more days until Christmas! Nearly all my presents are wrapped and sitting under the tree and I can't wait for family (and my ever so kind husband) to open them! :) Tony is officially on his winter break from school, plus he'll have some days off work. It is so very, very nice! Perfect season for warm soups, homemade sour dough bread, chocolate chip cookies, advent reading, cuddling, movie watching, shopping, singing, and more! :)

Easy Christmas Centerpiece

In a matter of minutes I created this beautiful cranberry centerpiece for our holiday table. These would be beautiful at a winter wedding with floating candles on top. Here's how you do it: gather some vases and jars. Any size or dimension will do. Fill with water. Place a piece of greenery in the bottom and top it off with cranberries. Yes, it is that simple. And it makes eating dinner with friends all the more special. Tonights feast will include "Oxford Roast with Gravy Galore", mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans, homemade cranberry sauce, and a family recipe of sourdough biscuits. Candles are lit around the house, Christmas music is playing, and our dear friend Marcus is almost here to spend the weekend with us. :) I'm thinking there will be italian hot chocolate served later tonight topped with homemade whipped cream and sprinkled with mini chocolate chips. Praise God from whom all blessing flow!!!!

Lex's Italian Hot Chocolate

This is fabulous and a perfect treat for these wonderful winter days!

Click here to view the recipe.

Free pancakes with my love

Last night we enjoyed a yummy meal at our local house of pancakes. We sat in a little booth made for two. Talked, ate, checked facebook, talked some more.... and to make it even better, my dinner of blueberry whole grain pancakes, topped with bananas and a side of scrambled eggs was completely free. Jealous? Well don't be. Because you can get one too when you join the pancake revolution. :) 

Raisin Spice Cake

Raisin Spice Cake

(inspired by Gooseberry Patch Christmas)

14oz raisins

2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1/4 cup butter, grated

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 cup half & half
1 tsp baking soda

2 cups unbleached flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

Place raisins in a medium saucepan; add water to cover. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Blend brown sugar, eggs, butter, and coconut oil together in a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the half & half; stir well and set aside. Dissolve baking soda in remaining half & half. Throughly combine flour, brown sugar mixture, backing soda mixture, and spices. Add raisins and stir. Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 9" round cake pans. Bake at 350* for 35-40 minutes, or until center tests done. Enjoy!!