Eggnog Pancakes!

Oh Christmas, it seems like we always wait so long for it and then within a few hours it's all over and done with.

One of the things I most look forward to during this holiday, is the food, and you can't think of Christmas in the States without thinking of Eggnog.

Truthfully I had never tried it until I moved to the USA back in 1998, the only reason I even knew it existed was from all the hollywood movies we would watch.

But, it's since become one of my favorite Christmas pleasures.

Apart from drinking it, one of my favorite ways to serve eggnog is in pancakes and these are SO fluffly and airy, they rise up beautifully.  We have it for Christmas morning breakfast or even for dinner if we're too full from the Ham or the Turkey.

It doesn't mean you're only allowed to have it at this time of the year, go ahead and try it ANY time, they are delicious.

Eggnog Pancakes

Ingredients

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 2 eggs
* 1 1/2 cups eggnog
* 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg if desired. In another bowl, beat eggs, eggnog and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle. Turn when bubbles form on top; cook until second side is golden brown.

Notes:  I use the Shamrock Farms or Southern Comfort Eggnog

8 Days of Christmas - #3 Sweet and Saltines

Well this is just crack, there's no way that you can eat just one and walk away, frankly there's no way you can eat just two or three and walk away.  They are THAT addicting.

I am not going to post the whole recipe as it's already on my blog, I'll just link you to it.  Enjoy!

8 Days of Christmas - #1  Peppermint Bark
8 Days of Christmas - #2  Homemade Caramels
8 Days of Christmas - #3  Sweet and Saltines

Sweet and Saltines 

8 Days of Christmas - #2 Homemade Caramels

These are not only easy to make but I promise you will never buy store bought caramels again.  So So good.

8 Days of Christmas - #1  Peppermint Bark
8 Days of Christmas - #2  Homemade Caramels

Credit: Southern Plate

Creamy Caramels

• 1 Cup sugar
• 1 Cup Butter or Margarine
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup dark corn syrup
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

Line an eight inch square pan with heavy aluminum foil. Butter foil and set aside. In large sauce pot, place sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil slowly for four minutes without stirring and then remove from heat. Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Return to medium heat and place candy thermometer in pot. Cook, stirring constantly, until thermometer reads Soft Ball Stage (238 degrees). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Pour into prepared pan. Allow to cool until able to handle. Cut into one inch squares and place each square (which will look like a blob at this point) in the center of a wax paper square, roll up and twist ends.

Green Chile Cheeseburger Casserole

Yum.my!

That's all I can say about it.  My kids gobbled it down and thought it was super delicious, hubby said it was really good and I said nothing because I was too busy shoving it down my throat.  So good.

I recently came across a blog named The Cooking Photographer and I fell in love, mainly because the author lives in Idaho and that's where I want to be, but also because of the great easy delicious food she graces the posts with....like this one.

Give it a try, I bet your family will love it.

Green Chile Cheeseburger Casserole

Credit:  The Cooking Photographer

Ingredients1 ½ pounds extra lean ground beef
½ an onion, diced
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 (7 ounce) can diced mild green chiles
1 (15 ounce) can Garacias Nacho Cheese Mexican Cheese Sauce, medium or mild (I used medium)
1 heaping cup shredded chipotle cheddar cheese, or cheddar cheese of your choice
About 1 pound frozen shoe string french fries
A sprinkle of salt for fries

Instructions1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Get out a 9x13 inch Pyrex pan and a large skillet.

2. Cook the ground beef, onions, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and fresh ground pepper together over medium high heat until no longer pink, Strain off the fat and place the meat mixture back in the pan.

3. Add the chiles and nacho cheese sauce to the pan and stir into the meat. Cook for about four minutes on medium low until combined and warmed through.

4. Pour the meat mixture into the 9x13 inch pan. Spread out and top with shredded cheddar. Top with frozen fries and sprinkle lightly with salt.

5. Bake for 30 minutes.

8 Days of Christmas - #1 Peppermint Bark

Can you believe it?  Only 8 days left until Christmas, where has this year gone?

I was going to do the 12 days of Christmas to stick with tradition but I've been so busy around here that I haven't really had a chance to sit down and compose a post.

I've been baking and baking and baking some more, not only for us here at home but for gifts for friends and teachers and so forth.  It's been crazy busy but there's nothing more pleasant than a Christmas Kitchen.

So here we go folks.....the 8 Days of Christmas.   From today until Christmas Day, I will posting a recipe for goodies, who knows maybe it will inspire some of you to get into your kitchens and whip up some delicious gifts for those you love.

First on the list............Peppermint Bark.  Oh yeah, you know I wouldn't let that one go.  This is so so so easy to make and so so so easy to eat too LOL

Use dark, milk or white chocolate, whichever you prefer, I used White chocolate for this batch but my next one is Milk Chocolate.

8 Days of Christmas #1 - Peppermint Bark

 

Peppermint Bark

1 bag of white chocolate chips

1 tablespoon shortening (don't have to use it, I actually learned this trick from my friend Jen and it really does make the chocolate melt easier)

10 or more candy canes

Place white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 30 seconds...stir.  Microwave for another 30 seconds...stir again.  Repeat until white chocolate is melted.

Crush candy canes, remember to leave some big pieces.   Place the candy cane pieces into a metal strainer and shake them into the melted white chocolate, stir.  

Line a cookie sheet (jelly roll pan) with wax paper.  Pour the white chocolate onto cookie sheet and sprinkle the remaining candy cane pieces on top of the white chocolate.

Place in the refrigerator until firm.  Break into chunks.

Watch hit disappear!  My first batch is GONE!  Now I have to make the second one.  

Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

Hot out of the oven, there is nothing better than an oatmeal cookie, whether it's paired with chocolate chips or raisins or cinnamon.

I made these this afternoon as an after school snack for my kids.  The house smelled divine.

My favorite way to eat these? Warm and dipped into a glass of milk. *drool*

Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

Credit:  Taste of Home

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon Spice Island® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats

Directions

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in oats.
• Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
  
  
  
  
  Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks. Yield: 4 dozen

Bread Rolls

I love my KitchenAid, I use it pretty much every single day, no matter what I'm making.

I think my favorite recipes to make though are for bread dough, I love that I don't have to sit there and knead and knead and get all messy, though I DO once in a while still make bread that way, just because I love the whole process.

I found this recipe online while looking for a quick and easy way to make rolls.  These turned out pretty good.  I had a bit of a hard time when it came to adding the 1/2 cup flour increments and waiting for it to pull away from the sides of the bowl.  It just seemed like I added an enormous amount of flour and the rolls turned out a bit too doughy for my liking.

BUT they're still delicious and the kids and I slather on some butter and strawberry preserves while they were still warm.  Yum!

Molly's Rolls
Credit: Real Mom Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 package yeast(2 1/4 teaspoon)
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/2 T salt
• 1 egg
• flour

Directions: In mixer combine yeast, sugar, and warm water; let grow until bubbly(about 5 minutes). Add milk and mix. Mix in oil and egg. Slowly add 2 cups flour, mix and then add salt. Add 1/2 cup flour at a time until it comes away from side of bowl. Let rise in mixing bowl for about 30 minutes. Form rolls as desired and place on a greased cookie sheet. Let rise and additional 30 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. (Rotate pans after 7 minutes.) Brush hot rolls with melted butter.

Menu Plan - Week December 6th

Keeping things extremely simple and quick this week, it's such a busy time of the year and I needed a break from anything that would keep me in the kitchen for too long.

Here we go, nice and simple:

*Monday*

Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Veggies

*Tuesday*

Chicken Curry

*Wednesday*

Bean and Ham Soup

*Thursday*

Chili Dogs w/ Seasoned Fries

*Friday*

Impossibly Easy Taco Pie

*Saturday*

Pork Roast with Buttered Spaghetti Noodles

*Sunday*

Honey Ham, Mashed Potatoes