Friday, December 10, 2010

Picture Perfect: Dips & Punch Recipes


Tiramisu Dip -- In a perfect world, even dessert is dippable.

No Utensils Required - Entertaining - Top Stories - CHOW
No Utensils Required. Savory or sweet, classic or inventive, dips are for everyone. Dip. It's a command! You must dip...




Martha Stewart's Eggnog {4 minute video}

My favorite Eggnog recipe is compliments of Martha Stewart. I've been making this delicious recipe for years and it's simply fabulous for a party. To learn how, please watch the video link posted above.

Serves 26
12 large eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups superfine sugar
1 quart whole milk
1 1/2 quarts heavy cream
3 cups bourbon
1/2 cup dark rum
2 cups cognac
Freshly grated nutmeg

Directions
In a very large bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and pale yellow. Gradually add sugar to yolks. With a wire whisk, beat in milk and 1 quart cream. Add bourbon, rum, and cognac, stirring constantly.

Just before serving, beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into mixture. Whip remaining heavy cream until stiff and fold in. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

From The Martha Stewart Show, December 2007





Eggnog and Christmas Punch Recipes - Photo Gallery - Photo 1 ...
From rum punch drink recipes to Christmas drink recipes, SAVEUR's favorite crowd-pleasing party beverages.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

All Things Gingerbread



Photo: Tiny White Daisy's





Photo: The Cookie Shop

Ho Ho Ho – It's Gingerbread Time! « The Cookie Shop
Dec 1, 2009 ... Ooh, I love the idea of a honey gingerbread cookie! I wish I had the time to make all these great cookies I've been seing online lately! ...





Gingerbread Cookies « Annie's Eats -
Dec 16, 2009 ... It turns out that my mom was definitely right when she told me as a child that my tastes would change over time. I remember as a kid thinking gingerbread cookies looked absolutely delicious – and then I tasted one...




Gingerbread Pinwheels
These cookies are a holiday twist on traditional pinwheels, in which plain and chocolate doughs are swirled together.

Recipe: Gingerbread Pinwheels



Gingerbread Ornaments
These ornaments are very adorable, with a tasty looking gingerbread person with white frosting embellishments. Perfect for hanging on your Christmas tree!






The Gingerbread White House

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Thanksgiving Bloopers


Illustration by Chris Hall


Your 10 Funniest Thanksgiving Bloopers + the Most Common Disasters ...
Here now, by popular request, is a list of our favorite stories from the Thanksgiving Bloopers from Bon Appetit magazine!

There are some very funny cooking stories in this article but my personal favorite is this one from Kerri of New Jersey:

"Casserole Soup"

A couple of years ago, my younger sister decided she was finally brave enough to join in the family tradition of everyone making a dish to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. We suggested she make a green bean casserole since it is easy (the recipe is right on the can) and inexpensive (a little condensed soup and frozen green beans).

On Thanksgiving day she walked in with a huge roasting pan and set it on the counter. I asked her how it came out and she said, "okay, but it cost more money to make than I thought." She uncovered the dish to reveal a gray, gelatinous, green-specked mass sprinkled with a few fried onions on top. I calmly asked, "sweetheart, did you follow the recipe?"

"Yes!" she replied, "I just can't believe how much soup it takes to make it!" I grabbed an extra can of green beans we had to see what had gone wrong and there it was: (2) 10oz cans cream of mushroom soup. Without much experience, she had thought it said 10 cans, not 10oz cans!

We put the dish out on the table with everyone else's dish because she had put so much effort into it. Everyone took a big gray scoop of it, and no one in our family has thought about green bean casserole the same way again. - Kerri, Ewing, NJ

Monday, December 6, 2010

Bygone Era Christmas Gifts



Nostalgic Carol Mugs Pottery Barn
$6.50 each

These beautifully illustrated drawings borrowed from vintage Christmas cards and carols adorn our holiday mugs. Collect all eight of these mugs for a set!




Nostalgic Carol Plates, Set of 4 Pottery Barn
$29.00

With the nostalgic appeal of Normal Rockwell drawings, the illustrations on our stoneware plates perfectly capture that magical feeling of Christmas from a bygone era. Each of our eight collectible plates features a different Christmas scene. To create them, our designers replicated images found on vintage holiday cards from the 1940s and arranged them with clippings of classic Christmas carols...




Antique-Silver Salt & Pepper Shakers Pottery Barn
Salt & Pepper Shakers. $19.00

Vintage silverware that’s been passed down for generations inspired this heirloom-quality salt and pepper shakers.



Etched Mercury Cachepot Pottery Barn
Mercury Cachepot. $10.00 – $19.00

Our cachepots were handblown using techniques developed in the 19th century, then etched in traditional patterns.






Ticking Stripe Ruffled Guest Towels, Set of 2 Pottery Barn
$19.00.

Set a welcoming tone in the powder room or guest bath with our guest towel sets. Our yarn-dyed Ticking Stripe Towels are edged with a ruched ruffle. Free Shipping Catalog/Internet Only Monogramming Available.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christmas Tree Toppers




Glittery Star
The traditional Christmas star becomes a shimmering beacon when coated with silver glitter and outlined with wired tinsel roping.

Make This Tree Topper





Beautiful Christmas Decorations from Martha Stewart.com
Doily Star Tree-Topper
This doily tree-topper conjures images of folktales and snow-dusted forests.


Make This Decoration





SALE-Lighted Tree Topper - Angel - 9in- Christmas - Vintage
JuJuToo $12.00 Etsy




Isn't she adorable!

SALE-7in Tree Topper-Vintage - Angel - Christmas
JuJuToo $7.00




Thursday, December 2, 2010

A Red & White Christmas


Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies Recipe at Epicurious.com
Peppermint buttercream is sandwiched between homemade chocolate cookies; then the sandwiches are rolled in crushed candy canes.







Better Homes & Gardens

Red-and-White Christmas Cake
Your guests will be delighted with this cake inside and out! As a centerpiece, it resembles a sumptuous snowball. Inside is an ever-favorite classic -- the red velvet cake -- made more delicious for the holidays with a raspberry filling.


View Red-and-White Christmas Cake recipe

















Good Housekeeping


Red and White Christmas Decorations - Red Christmas Decorating ... - Nov 30
Christmas Decorations in Red and White. Put a peppermint twist on the holidays with this crisp, classic combo.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Decorate with winter berries



White winter berries on display.


Source:
Rippled Glass Bud Vases,
Set of 3 $29.00 Pottery Barn





Country Living Magazine

Table top with fresh greenery, clusters of red winter berries and little green apples






Photo credit: Frances Janisch, Good Housekeeping

A circle of winterberry branches brightens a mantel scene.









Photo credit: Thomas J. Story, Jess Chamberlain Sunset Magazine


For more ideas please go to:
Decorate with winter berries - Sunset
Great ideas for no-fuss holiday decor that's all natural