Category Archives: Christmas

by | December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!snowI hope you all have a wonderful, blessed day with family and friends.chrishmash

Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

am20Merry Christmas!

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by | December 29, 2010

Savory Christmas Bread Pudding!

     Feeling nostalgic for Christmas yet? That’s where I come in – to take you back to that magical time, four whole days ago, so you can live in the peaceful, magical feeling that Christmas always brings.

Silent night, holy night.
All is calm, all is bright.
     Christmas Eve always brings the reading of “The Night Before Christmas“, viewings of “A Christmas Story” and the prepping of foods for Christmas Day. It’s been a tradition in our family, since before I was born, to have Eggs Portugal on Christmas morning. This savory bread pudding has tender pieces of sausage, strings of cheddar cheese, delicate mushrooms and nutty whole wheat bread.
 Eggs Portugal
8-10 slices whole wheat bread, cut into cubes
3/4 lb grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 lb sausage, browned
4 eggs
1.5 tbsp prepared mustard (aka yellow mustard)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
5 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained
2.5 cups milk (I use soy)
1/4 cup apple juice
     1. Butter a 9×13″ casserole dish.
     2. Place bread cubes in bottom of dish and top with cheese, then sausage.
     3. Beat the eggs with milk and mustard and pour over the top.
     4. Refrigerate overnight. (VERY IMPORTANT!)
     5. Before baking, stir together soup, apple juice and mushrooms and pour over the top of the casserole.
     6. Bake at 300 F for 2 hours, uncovered.
     7. Enjoy with a glass of apple juice or cider. (Also VERY important to enhance enjoyment!)
NOW it feels like Christmas!

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Filed under A Christmas Story, Christmas, eating makes me happy, Eggs Portugal, Grand Tetons, ornaments, savory bread pudding, The Night Before Christmas

by | December 23, 2010

Molasses-Spiked Sirups Kager!

     Sirups Kager are Danish spice cookies that are overloaded with butter, sugar and spicy goodness. This year, I attempted to recreate an old family recipe and make it a little healthier. They turned out delicious, but I think from now on I’ll let Christmas cookies be fatty and overly sweet the way they’re supposed to be. However, if you’re looking for a semi-healthy alternative to the fat and sugar-laden cookie, read on!

Molasses-Spiked Sirups Kager
1 cup (2 sticks) vegan butter, softened
1 cup LOOSELY packed brown sugar
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
1/4 cup agave nectar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp baking soda mixed with 1 tsp water
3-4 cups whole oat flour, as needed
     1. Cream vegan butter with sugar, molasses and agave nectar.
     2. Stir in cinnamon, cloves and baking soda mixture.
     3. Add oat flour a little at a time, mixing well after each addition until a stiff dough forms.
I recommend only using 3 cups of oat flour, otherwise the cookies will taste powdery.
     4. Roll dough into a log in wax paper and refrigerate for at least one hour.
      5. While waiting for the dough to firm up, take a spatula, scrape out any remainder of dough from the mixing bowl and consume – it’s vegan and safe to eat!!!
     6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
     7. Take the dough out of the refrigerator, unwrap and slice into 1-inch thick segments.
     8. Bake until lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes.
     I was pleased overall with how these turned out, but I still prefer the traditional version. The oat flour made the texture a little powdery, but the flavor was amazing! The combination of molasses and agave in place of corn syrup (as the original recipe asks for) really adds a powerful aroma of spice, and an added benefit of healthy iron, calcium and potassium (plus MUCH more!) to each crispy little cookie.
What’s your favorite Christmas/holiday cookie?

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Filed under agave nectar, blackstrap molasses, Christmas, Christmas cookies, Danish spice cookies, molasses, oat flour, raw dough, Sirups kager, vegan

by | December 22, 2010

Not Your Standard Mall Fare!

     Have you ever been to the food court at your local mall? If you haven’t (which is doubtful), let me be the one to break this to you: it sucks. It sucks unless you’re looking for nothing but deep-fried, mechanically separated meat that has been sitting under heating lamps for hours – if you’re into that, then please, close this page at once!

     If you have GOOD taste, however, let me introduce to you what mall food can really consist of:

MALLS have this stuff? It’s true!
Ahi tuna stack with Ponzu sauce and fried wontons.
Sweet potato fries with garlic aioli.
Crispy beef with garlic, balsamic, cherry sauce and hot chili peppers.
(This stuff will literally melt on your tongue!)
Garlic-orange chicken with tempura peppers.
Chopped garden salad with lime vinaigrette.
Lemon-garlic roasted chicken over arugula and grilled corn.
Lemony shrimp in Amazing-Heaven-Sent Sauce (I named this one myself).
Dessert. Nothing better than teeny chocolate-mint sticks!
     As you can see, mall food doesn’t have to be painful and gut-wrenching. My parental unit took me out to this delicious feast at Nordstrom’s restaurant “Blue Stove“, and completely made my Christmas season. There is nothing better than spending quality time with your loved ones over a glass of red wine and a delicious array of tapas-sized dishes. We were past stuffed and full of joy and love after this feast.
     On a second, and even better note, I’ll be turning in my two-week notice tomorrey! I’ve never been more happy to leave a job in my life! I am so sick of retail, and ready to move upward with my new job as an artist’s assistant – more details on that coming up soon!
What are your favorite family-oriented meals during the holidays?

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Filed under ahi tuna, Blue Stove, chopped salad, Christmas, family, grilled shrimp, mall, Merry Christmas, Nordstrom, orange chicken, Ovation, red wine, roasted garlic chicken, sweet potato fries