Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Eggs Benedict

 
Every Christmas morning I serve eggs benedict after the gifts are opened, and this year I set a record and poached 48 eggs!  Everyone loves to indulge in this special brunch item and it is actually a relatively convenient selection for me because all the hard work is done the day before.  On Christmas Eve I line up my un-toasted, split English muffins on parchment-lined cookie sheets.  I fry enough bacon to allow for 2 slices each muffin half (you can also use pea-meal bacon or ham) and then top with softly poached eggs.  Next, I spoon on hollandaise sauce (I use Knorr brand to make it a bit easier on myself but prepare it with only half the butter listed - 1/4 cup) and sprinkle with some paprika (I let everyone add their own salt and pepper to taste.)  After all the muffins are complete, I cover and refrigerate until brunch time and then re-heat the eggs benedict at 375 degrees F for about 20 minutes.  Everyone is hungry by then and I don't have to spend the morning in the kitchen (since I'll be there all afternoon!).  And yes, the eggs even stay soft!  This is a Christmas tradition I have created that I will never get out of since the whole family is anticipating eggs benny that morning!  It's one of the things they look forward to most!

December 31st is always the day I convert all my file folders to the next year's date and box up the old paper work.  It's the perfect time to get organized for the year ahead AND change the batteries in the smoke detectors!  I hope everyone has a wonderful, healthy, safe, and happy New Year!

Gift Cards

I took the term 'gift cards' literally when I made this set of 4 note cards for my mother-in-law for Christmas.  I kept the colours neutral and added no sentiment so they could remain generic and she could use them for any occasion.  I wanted a natural look to suit her style and the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set (Stampin' Up) co-ordinated perfectly with my Naturals Ivory base (which I embossed with the Cuttlebug) and Chocolate Chip accessories.  I only had Whisper White envelopes but I stamped a matching image on each one to try to tie them together with the cards.  I made a belly band with a "For You" stamp from the Say It With Scallops set.  Finally, I packed them up in a cello sleeve I'd saved from some packaging to make them look presentable for gift-giving.  I think she appreciated the thought but upon opening said "When I'm dead they will find these just like this because I won't want to use them!"  Hopefully it's because she thinks they are too nice to give away!
  

With Sherry (Sherry Trifle)

  Another Christmas tradition for us (and many other British descendants) is Sherry Trifle for dessert.  I have made this for years and years after growing up with it for years and years.  I start with a purchased jelly roll, sliced up and covering the bottom of a pretty glass bowl. Next, I add 1/2 cup of dry sherry to soak into the cake (this is the best part!)  Then a layer of fruit is added on top - I have always used a can of drained mandarin oranges and sliced bananas.
A custard component is the next layer of the dessert.  I favour the traditional British Bird's Custard, which I make (easily, with no risk of scorching) in the microwave using the dessert recipe on the back of the container (versus the sauce recipe).  Licking the bowl after this step just takes me right back to my childhood!  I refrigerate the concoction at this point until right before serving.  This allows the custard to set up.  Finally, I top the whole dessert off with sweetened whipped cream and either cherries on top or some reserved mandarin segments.  I made two bowls of trifle this year (one for Christmas dinner and one for Boxing Day) and each serves a lot of people - the bowl weighs a ton!   It looks so pretty too and that's why you use a glass bowl to show off the layers. 
  

For Sherry...

Molasses Crinkles

Here's one last video recipe from my 2009 Christmas series - and it's a good one!  These cookies are spicy and molasses-y, two flavours I can't resist in a cookie.  They are simple to make and are a holiday tradition in my home...I don't know why I never make them at other times of the year (I should!) but they are so scrumptious that I kept eating them frozen from the freezer before the guests arrived for Christmas!

Molasses Crinkles

3/4 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp salt

1-1/4 cups raisins

sugar for rolling

375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes

I have another dessert recipe to post here this week and then it's time to get down to business.  I'm sure everyone feels they over-indulged somewhat over the holiday months so I am thinking about starting a "healthier recipe" series of videos - it will help me cut back on some tempting treats and get back to a healthier routine before spring comes around again!  Dropping a few pounds now is a great way to avoid that shock when the big winter coats come off.  So join me in 2010 for some recipe make-overs that are nutritious and delicious!  (But I'd still give the molasses crinkles a try!)

Spinner Happy Birthday

I had so much fun making this card!  I used the Cricut Expression machine along with the Wild Card cartridge.  I cut the card, envelope, liners, and frame all at 5".  The card liner is actually a spinner circle with a small hole where you attach it to the card base with a brad.  Then you can use your finger to spin the circle and reveal your greeting, message, or pictures in the window.  My mind is swirling with ideas of ways to use this card!  With image stamps you could customize this for any occasion...or I was thinking you could use a punch to cut little photos of the recipient - or whatever you wanted - almost like a Viewmaster!  It'd also be a cute way to give an "experience gift", like little pictures of a city you want to visit, or a meal at a special restaurant, or hints for a special night out (eg. dancing shoes, theatre masks, music note, hearts... )  In this card I wrote a birthday greeting sentence in single words (using the Stampin' Up Everyday Flexible Phrases stamp set) with a little heart at the end...spin the wheel and reveal the message!  So much fun!

Cupcake Holder

My mind is brimming with ideas about ways to use this adorable cupcake holder I cut with the Sweet Treats cartridge and the Cricut.  Each icon in the handbook has its own cupcake holder and different embellishment cuts for each.  You can't see in the photo, but this particular one has 4 borders that you cut and apply to the top of each side.  It took a bit of experimentation to get the right-sized holder: fortunately my son had one left-over, stale cupcake from a batch he made(!) and took to his class, so I just wrapped it in plastic and used it as a guide.  I wanted it to be secure in the holder yet visible at the top.  It turned out that 5" was the perfect size.  I think if this were a fresh, unwrapped cupcake you would be able to put it in (and take it out) without messing up the icing!

I just played around with decorating mine, and since I used the Delicate Dots paper I stamped a heart from the Polka Dot punches stamp set and punched it out with my new Heart Punch from Stampin' Up.  The Welcome baby is from the Short & Sweet stamp set and is just to show that you could use these for any occasion: baby shower, bridal shower, birthday party favours, Valentine's Day, anything!  Sooooo cute!   

Merry Christmas Craft!

  I made this envelope to hold a gift certificate - a little effort in the presentation hopefully makes it a bit more personal!  I cut the Quotes envelope (using the Cricut and the Wild Card cartridge) at 7" (the "fit to page" size for a 12x12 piece of paper) using patterned paper and the Merry Christmas phrase at 5".  I added some felt ribbon and a few glittery snowflakes punched with the new Limited Edition Snowflake Pocket Punch from Creative Memories.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year and thank you so much for visiting my blog for the past 11 months!  I appreciate all the lovely comments and I hope I have inspired you in some way - in the kitchen or the craft room!  Thank you, and all the the best to you in 2010!

- Angie
 

Merry Christmas!

Peanut Brittle Table Favour

I cannot resist homemade peanut brittle (ok, any peanut brittle!) so I knew I'd better pack up the batch that I made, fast, so I wouldn't eat it all!  I made these little cello packs as table favours for the "adults", since the kids are getting the Snowman Soup.  Using Garden Green ink and patterned paper was a nice change and I think it works well with the Close to Cocoa topper.  Yum!  Yum!