KNEELING SANTA - A SWEET SWEET GIFT

I am unapologetic about my love for all things Christmas whether it be religious or secular.  But, like many people I find it very easy to get caught up in the commercial aspect of the season.  This precious little figurine of Santa humbly bowing before Baby Jesus is a gentle reminder for me of the true meaning of Christmas when it starts getting too hectic. 

This precious 4" figurine makes a sweet gift for yourself and/or someone on your list.  If you are interested in reading more about it or purchasing it, please click below...

Fontanini Santa Kneeling with Christ Child Figurine

                                                              ~ Debbie ~

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Pineapples & Palm Trees

CHRISTMAS BRUSCHETTA

Bruschetta is the perfect holiday appetizer with its festive mix of red tomatoes and green basil.  From a purist point of view this simple and original Italian recipe is what bruschetta is all about.  It comes straight from Italy by way of my daughter's friend, Lauren, who studied abroad.  She says the key to its delicious taste is in its fresh ingredients.  Served over a sliced and toasted baguette (whole wheat or multigrain even better),  it is a lick the platter clean holiday hors d'oeuvre!  Thank you Lauren :-) !

                                                            INGREDIENTS

 1 French Bread Baguette

6 Tomatoes

2 Cloves Garlic

10 Leaves Fresh Basil

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1:  Chop tomatoes.

STEP 2:  Chop basil.

STEP 3:  Chop garlic.

STEP 4:  Mix tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, salt & pepper together.

STEP 5:  Slice baguette on a diagonal angle and toast.

STEP 6:  Once toasted generously spoon bruschettta on top of baguette slices and serve.

NOTE:  This is an appetizer that cannot be made too far in advance of your guests arrival.  I usually like to have most of my menu prepared the day ahead of time.  But, bruschetta has to be made the day of and then hold off on placing it on the baguette until right before the guests arrive.  

                                                             Buon Appetito!
                                                                ~Debbie~

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POPPY SEED BREAD

This delicious loaf bread recipe comes straight from my mother's kitchen.  She has made it for years for her Christmas Church Bazaar, and it sells out as as fast as it hits the shelves.  And rightly so, my daughter and her husband call it "Sugar Cookie" bread because they say it tastes very much like a sugar cookie.  This sweet loaf gets its tanginess from the citrusy orange glaze that is drizzled over its top while still hot from the oven.  Once cooled, the glaze seals the bread keeping it moist for days.  It makes for a scrumptious homemade gift or the perfect guilty pleasure when you wake up to a cold winter morning! 

                                                              INGREDIENTS 

                                                                     Bread

                                                        3 cups all-purpose flour
                                                                 2 cups sugar
                                                                     3 eggs
                                                        1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
                                                                1 1/2 tsp. salt
                                                         1 1/2 tbsp. poppy seeds
                                                               1 1/2 cups milk
                                                          3/4 cup vegetable oil
                                                        1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
                                                        1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
                                                        1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring

                                                               Orange Glaze

                                                                3/4 cup sugar
                                                          1/4 cup orange juice
                                                         1/2 tsp vanilla extract
                                                         1/2 tsp almond extract

Makes 5 mini loaves or 1 - 5"x9" loaf

NOTE:  For gift giving you can buy aluminum mini loaf pans at most grocery stores.  The mini loaf pans that I used were ceramic from Michaels.

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:  Preheat oven at 350 degrees.  Then combine all 11 ingredients for bread in large bowl and hand mix until thoroughly blended.

STEP 2:  Spoon batter into greased loaf pan/pans filling to 1/2" from top of pan.

STEP 3:  Bake for 1 hour if using a 5"x9" loaf pan, 45 minutes for ceramic mini loaf pans or 35-40 minutes for  aluminum mini loaf pans.  Test for "doneness" using a toothpick.  Insert toothpick in the middle of the mini loaf.  When pulling toothpick out it should be clean or with moist crumbs, if loaf is done.    If the toothpick comes back out with wet batter on it put back in oven for another 3-5 minutes to finish baking.  Repeat process until toothpick comes out clean.

STEP 4:  While bread is baking, make orange glaze by combining all 4 ingredients for orange glaze into a small bowl and stir well until blended.  You will need to continue stirring occasionally for sugar to blend into orange juice thoroughly.

 
STEP 5:  Once bread is out of oven, cool for 10 minutes.  Then drizzle orange glaze over top of each loaf allowing the glaze to permeate through the loaf while still warm and creating a sugared orange crust once cool.

If you are gift wrapping bread, make sure it feels cool/cold to the touch before packaging.  Otherwise condensation will form inside the wrapped mini loaf. 

                                                              ~ Debbie ~

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Pineapples & Palm Trees                                                           

CHRISTMAS SHRIMP WREATH

This shrimp appetizer is one of my all time favorites.  Not only is it a crowd pleaser, but it dresses up the table as the perfect holiday centerpiece.  The best part?  It is really simple to make.  All you need is a styrofoam donut to make the shape of a wreath, kale and toothpicks to cover it, and finally shrimp and maraschino cherries to decorate it.  The secret to holding the kale in place is actually the toothpicks that are attached to the cherries.  Pretty fancy, huh?!?

                                                             INGREDIENTS

 
                                                           25 Large Shrimp
                                                   1 Jar Maraschino Cherries
                                                        1 Jar Cocktail Sauce
                                                             2 Bundles Kale
                                                    Styrofoam Donut (14"x2")
                                                           Fancy Toothpicks

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:  Start by covering the top of the styrofoam donut with the kale.  Some of the sides of the styrofoam will still show.  You will fill in the sides of the donut once you have finished covering the top.  Insert each piece of kale all in the same direction using toothpicks.  It will take a couple of toothpicks to hold each piece in place.  At this point you will not be adding the cherries to the toothpicks at this time.  Adding the cherries will be one of the last steps.  

After covering the top of the styrofoam inspect the sides (inside and outside) for any styrofoam that is still visible and fill in those spaces with additional kale.

STEP 2:  Leaving existing toothpicks in place that are holding the kale, add shrimp to top of styrofoam base using new toothpicks. 

  
STEP 3:  Now is the time to add cherries to the toothpicks that are holding the kale in place.  Look throughout the kale for toothpicks that are not attached to shrimp.  Then holding the kale in place with one hand, carefully pull out each toothpick one at a time adding a cherry and then replace the toothpick with the cherry attached back into the styrofoam. 

STEP 4:  Fill a small circular dish with cocktail sauce for dipping and place inside the donut hole.

 
         You now have a gorgeously delicious centerpiece all your guests will rave about!!!


                                                                ~ Debbie ~

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Pineapples & Palm Trees