Holidays Archives

Experiment in Cupcakes – Box Cake from Scratch and Boiled Frosting

Recipes in this Post

I had a dream, yes I had a dream. I dreamed of cupcakes with blue buttercream frosting.

I’m not much of a cupcake person, but they are nice if you’ve got a lot of kids. They are easy because you don’t really need a plate, and you don’t need a knife, and you don’t have to worry about someone saying their piece of cake is too small or too big. All the cupcakes are the same size.

Usually, I make a butter cake, similar to a 1234 cake, but it makes a three-layer cake, and that was just too much for cupcakes. I know that a regular box of cake mix makes enough for cupcakes, but I don’t like things that come in a box. So I made my own box cake with fresh ingredients.

Hoppin’ John – New Years Day Lucky Food

Almost every year, I bake a ham for Christmas so that I can have the bone for New Year’s Day. Of course, this year I roasted a goose, so I had no ham bone. Luckily, my good friend Stevie Lewis saved me the bone from his family’s Christmas ham. From this bone, I make Hoppin John, an old Southern dish of black-eyed peas, ham, and rice. With it, I serve steamed Kale and cornbread.

There is quite a long tradition with this meal. The black-eyed peas are said to represent coins, the kale is green like money, and the cornbread is golden to represent gold. Eating this for New Year’s Day is supposed to bring good fortune for the New Year.

Well, it might not bring any more money into your purse, but it is very economical. It’s a break for all the heavy holiday foods. It’s also very good for you. Black-eyed peas are high in protein, iron, zinc, and potassium. Kale has anti-cancer properties. Cornbread, if you don’t put tons of butter on it, is also good for you.

The Year in Review – Appetizers, Drinks and Light Meals to Bring in the New Year

Well, December 25 is over, and now all we have to wait for is the New Year celebrations. I thought I would make a list of some recipes that have been popular this year, or you might want to make for your New Year’s Eve event.

Every year, I make a special New Year’s Day dish, but I’m going to hold that one for another post, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I think that you might find yourself making some of 2011’s most popular recipes for your own festivities.

How to Roast a Goose in an Electric Roaster

Roast goose is a welcome change from the usual holiday fare. Goose is a good choice for a smaller gathering. The fat can be saved and used in a variety of dishes. This recipe is part of my Dicken’s Christmas Dinner Menu.

Dicken’s Christmas Sides – Chestnut Stuffing and Christmas Salad

Fruit Chestnut Stuffing and Christmas Salad go very well with a roast goose for a Dicken’s Christmas dinner

Christmas Plum Pudding with Hard Sauce

Christmas Plum Pudding with Hard Sauce is a traditional holiday dessert that originated in England. It is very rich and a show stopper when it comes flaming to the table. This recipe is part of my Dicken’s Christmas Dinner Menu.

Spanish Peanut Butter Cocoa Cookies

So, this morning, I got a while hair up my rear. Whilst thinking about making waffles for breakfast, I looked in my pantry and spied a jar of peanut butter, a can of Spanish peanuts in their skins, and a box of Dark Hershey’s cocoa. Reese’s peanut butter cups jumped to mind.

The choice of peanut butter is important in this recipe. Don’t go for the extra cheap peanut butter that has no flavor. Since the recipe has Spanish peanuts, you will want to use creamy style peanut butter, Jif is my favorite.

Mystery Apple Cream Cheese Tart

This Apple Cream Cheese Mystery Tart is a rich dessert with a surprising crust and filling. It’s perfect for a fancy dinner, maybe Christmas. It’s no mystery that this delicious apple cream cheese tart is simple to make from cream cheese, apples, and Panko bread crumbs.

First Advent Sunday – Trim the Tree

We celebrate the First Sunday of Advent by trimming the Christmas tree and decorating the house.

Pirate Party Appetizers

Pictures and recipes for appetizers for Spane’s 8th Pirate themed birthday party. Fruit boats, cucumber boats, a cheese ball skull, cannon balls (rum balls), and a Jolly Roger cake to complete the theme.

Recipes in this Post

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