hostess gift

come holiday time

we get invited to quite a few

parties

and because

my momma raised me right

i never go empty handed

never

this year

i will have these in hand

hot cocoa on a stick and simple vanilla marshmallows

(recipes can be found here and here)

if this looks cute to you

it is only an invitation away!

pumpkin spice cocoa on a broomstick

apparently, 

i live under a rock

or maybe

i don't go down the correct aisle at target

but

it took 2 different posts, from food blogging friends

for me to understand

that there is something in the store called

pumpkin pie spiced kisses

by hershey

and it got me thinking

my hot chocolate on a peppermint stick

was a huge crowd pleaser during the cold snap of winter

maybe

i should do something similar with the pumpkin pie kisses

so i present to you

pumpkin spice cocoa on a broomstick
(printable recipe)

this is great in a hot cup of milk, but also really lights up a strong cup of coffee

mmmm scrumptious

1 bag hershey pumpkin spice kisses--unwrapped

3/4 cup white chocolate

1/4 cup powdered sugar

additional white chocolate for dipping (optional)

melt the kisses and white chocolate in the microwave for 20 seconds. give it a good stir and then put in microwave for 10 seconds at a time until it is melted and smooth. do not overheat. you do not want the chocolate to get hot.  the heat of the bowl will eventually warm and melt the chocolate. have a bit of patience...it will serve you well in the taste and the set up of the chocolate.  add the powdered sugar and stir until smooth.  pour chocolate mixture into small molds, ice cube tray, mini-muffin tins, or paper cups, and insert a wooden stick, or candy stick, or straw. it is really up to you.  place in refrigerator to set up.  once firm, remove from refrigerator and molds and keep as is, or dip in chocolate.  stir into hot milk or strong coffee for a delightful pumpkin spice treat.

picnic on parade

on the eve of 2009

we are lucky enough to live on the rose parade route

so every new year's eve

gathering begins

people begin to gather on the streets

setting up camp

lighting fires

preparing for a sleepless night

and

lots of childish fun

and then once dark falls

the floats begin to arrive

people bustling about

readying those famous floats

testing out the mechanics

and

adding the final touches of flourish

all this happens

on our doorstep

and there is no sleep to be had

no fighting the crowds

so what we do

is enjoy the heck out of it

but

i have found that

new year's day comes rather quickly

and i am usually in need of food and coffee

as i rush out the door

as the live action of the floats, bands, horses and cheer of the crowd

begins

so

i pack a breakfast

easy and ready in an instant

in as long as it takes for me to brew a pot of coffee

i have a well balanced meal

that i greedily eat

while others watch in envy

Breakfast Picnic

everything needs to be made in advance 1 or 2 days ahead of time and put together before you head out the door

Frittata Sandwich
(printable recipe)

1/2 potato or leftover baked potato--sliced

a few thin slices of onion

olive oil

handful of grated cheese

4 eggs

pinch basil

Tbs milk

salt and pepper

baguette or hard roll

up to 2 days before serving.  Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and grated cheese.  Take a small (5 or 6") skillet and add a glug of olive oil. Keep on low and cook potatoes and onion until soft and beginning to brown.  pour in the eggs and cook on low until it is cooked through. it is meant to look like a round omelet.  I pop mine into a 350 oven to finish cooking, so i can move on to other things

remove from pan, put on a plate and pop in fridge until you need it.

when ready to make the sandwich, toast a baguette, place a wedge of frittata on top and wrap. You can add more cheese or some bacon if you are so inclined. You can also add any of that to the frittata while you are cooking it.

Rich and Creamy Yogurt

2 cups non-fat plain yogurt

cheesecloth

strainer

bowl

vanilla

honey

apples for dipping

line the strainer with cheesecloth and place over a bowl.  Pour in yogurt, tie up the cheeescloth with a bit of twine and place the whole contraption in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.  This will drain most of the moisture from the yogurt..making it thick like that expensive yogurt, but a lot cheaper.  Add vanilla and honey to taste...or eat it plain with berries on top. I also use this like cream cheese. It is amazingly rich and delicious!

Coffee Cake

recipe in a previous post

you can also make some Cocoa

from this post

just heat some milk in the microwave

stir and enjoy

Put it all in a fun container, a lunch pail, or a paper sack

and enjoy the parade

your stomach will thank you

hot cocoa on a peppermint stick

while stalking around the internet late one night

i came across this

givers log

a great website with darling and wonderful ideas

 i knew immediately that I wanted to make these

and today i found the time 

which is silly

that i thought i needed to put aside time

because these are so very easy

and yet

so delightful

here's a gift idea

make some of these

and a batch of marshmallows

add a quart of milk in a bottle

and a couple of festive mugs

or not

and some christmas carols downloaded from here

and you have a really nice gift

that is also practical

because

you can't drink diamonds

Hot Chocolate on A Peppermint Stick
(printable recipe)

8 oz good bittersweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

pinch of salt

-sift the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt.  In a bowl over a double boiler melt the chocolate (for precise instructions click here).  It is important not to let the chocolate get too hot. It should be JUST melted--and not piping hot. Remove the bowl of chocolate well before the chocolate is completely melted.  This is important. What you are trying to do is keep the chocolate in "temper"--this will allow it to harden with a nice sheen--as well as easily pop out of whatever mold you will be using.

Add the sifted ingredients to the melted chocolate and stir until it is incorporated and has a nice sheen.

Use a pastry bag or spoon into your mold of choice.

I used a silicon canele mold...but you can use ice cube trays, shot glasses, tartlet tins, mini-muffin pans...lots of things.

Use anything you want for the stick...i used mini candy canes, but you can use spoons, lolly sticks, cinnamon sticks, fun vintage plastic stir sticks, funky skewers...

One cocoa on a stick will turn a steaming mug of milk 

into a delicious chocolate mustache-forming mug of cocoa

top with homemade marshmallows

and enter 

a place i like to call bliss

where diamonds

are 

just another unnecessary extravagance