My Culinary Awesomeness...

Today my mom had a group of girls from work over for their annual Christmas Party. I love to bake and cook and just do things for parties, you couldn't pay me to cater something but I just like doing it for myself (and in this case my mom). We went grocery shopping the other night and I got started in the kitchen this morning. We agreed on meatballs and sauce, a fruit tray with cream cheese and marshmallow fluff dip, a veggie tray shaped like a Christmas tree, and a bread bowl type thing with dip in the middle. For dessert we had Christmas cookies, cherry bread, plum pudding with rum sauce, and candy cane and skor fudge.





My first picture is of the bread bowl dish, I got the recipe from the Pillsbury website; it's called Spinach Dip Crescent Wreath. I've attached the link bellow for the recipe. I was actually really impressed with the dip itself, I like spinach dip but I'm picky. I loved how the bowl was edible, it was not only environmental conscious but also easy clean up. I'm taking a moment to brag over my holly garnish...my husband always tells me one day I'm going to end up cutting a finger off when I cut things...but to every one's surprise I didn't. : p

The next dish I prepared was one of my favorites, I love veggies and dip and this was a neat little way to display them. Again I got the idea from Pillsbury's, but I added a bit to the tree. It turned out great and I was lucky to remember to snap some pictures of it before everyone dug into it.

My mom got the cherry bread from a local store called Taste Of Country. It's my favorite store to go to when I'm home, it has all these neat little home things. For the past couple of years we've gotten tree ornaments for our animals, they write their names on each of them for us. Off topic a bit but oh well. So with the bread platter I topped it off by making Christmas cookies. To most of the world they are known as shortbread cookies, to my grandma they are known as scotch cookies. I have some of my fondest memories making Christmas cookies with her. The mess we'd make in her kitchen, and on ourselves. All the decorations we'd put on them and the variety of cookie cutters we'd use. It's something I'm proud to have the ability to do, because most of the women in my family can't bake...at least not like my grandma and I. I might post the recipe later on, but for now I'm keeping it my little secret. he he

The last of the desserts that I made was fudge, I love making fudge. It's so easy to make variations from the same recipe. I use the Carnation Evaporated Milk Fudge recipe. And I usually just buy the can of milk and rip off the label to get the recipe while I shop but this year I was really disappointed to find that Carnation has chosen to put an assortment of other recipes (milkshakes) on the labels. So, I had to resort to the very helpful Internet; not that I minded...I'm just a creature of habit. lol For one batch I did the regular recipe but then place a couple tablespoons of crushed candy canes in and then topped it off with some bigger pieces of candy cane. I have to say once I tasted it all I could think of was how good it would be if I had of made my mint fudge with the candy canes. Can you say good. And speaking of mint that was also a big disappointment for me. I couldn't find any mint chocolate chips at the grocery store...and I can't even say it might have just been the store because this is the second time I couldn't find them. So, this time I opted for skor chocolate chips, and it turned out to be amazing. Not all the chips melted so it made it crunchy which was a nice change. As I mentioned above I've attached all the links for the recipes I've used....hope you enjoy them as much as I know we did.

Spinach Dip Crescent Wreath

Christmas Tree Vegetable Platter

Carnation Fudge

Christmas Cards



You fill a bag with candy and place inside.

 I've been back home in Ontario for over a month now, and it's been really nice not to have any obligations like a job or anything else. I've been able to help my Grandma out whenever she needs it, and go on trips with her; I have to say this looks to be one of the best Christmas' for me. My Grandma is like a second mom to me, and it's scary coming to the realization that she's not going to be around forever...so I've thoroughly enjoyed this time.

With that being said, lately my mom has been coming up with little things I can do around the house, like decorating, baking, cleaning; just to name a few things. But this week I had a really fun task to do...Christmas card making! I absolutely love making cards, I can't explain why without sounding a tad bit crazy but I just love it. She gave me a template of another card of what she wanted, and we went from there. This merely gave me another reason to take a trip to the most wonderful store in the world...MICHAEL'S! Not that I think you should have to have a reason to go there, it just makes it easier to explain to your husband why you bought what you did... : p

My mom is a very matchy matchy person, she doesn't like to mix a lot of colours together, which made this kind of hard as I'm the complete opposite. I love to through in different colours, textures and hues together. But together we got some really good items to make the cards, and they're not like the original at all. 



I'm an embossing God...I kid, I kid. : p




An up close look at the details...



I got my sparkle...in ribbon.




My mom loved them so much she wants me to do some more for her work but in red, which I had to say I'm excited about. I think I'll post a step-by-step look at how I made them, not that I think it's that hard to figure out...but meh.

I'm off to listen to more Christmas music and to do some knitting, I had an idea for a new cowl...yes I'm addicted to them lately. : )

Tis the Season

I always tell people my favorite holiday is Boxing Day (Dec. 26). As a shopaholic it gives me such a thrill to be out and around looking for the best deals on items. I love it! But my favorite season is the Christmas season, as soon as November 1st hits I start getting my decorations out, playing holiday music, baking, and so many other things. I still remember making a mess at my Grandmothers baking Christmas cookies as a little girl. And to this day I still take time to go over and make a mess.

And even though I've been home now for almost a month I'm still not in the Christmas spirit...at least not until this morning. I woke up to S-N-O-W! I was so excited, a crisp white blanket has covered the city and it's perked me right up. So, today I've spent the day cozed up on the couch, watching movies and attempting to knit.

I've been wanting to make a cowl for myself, something big and warm to wrap around my neck for the winter. And I've been wanting to make something myself but I have been having the worse time finding a stitch pattern I love. I had this great green yarn that I used for my previous cowl but came to the sad conclusion today that it's not the stitch patterns I'm not liking it's the yarn itself. There's just something about the yarn that's just not what I want. And it's so sad because it's a beautiful, soft yarn.

I'm off to find some yarn more fitting and to make myself a nice big cup of hot chocolate. Enjoy this season and I hope you all have as many happy memories and traditions as I do.