As with all Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, this is another tasty one. As soon as I get a new cookbook, I grab my pack of post it notes and go off somewhere alone to enjoy the book. This was one especially FUN because I LOVE the entire Christmas season and go all out with decorations, host a huge open house and more! I love the sights and sounds of the season, the fun new foods to create as well as preparing the traditional foods.
As you can see by the below picture, I found just a FEW new ideas! I can't wait to try all of them. The book is geared toward Christmas but I found a lot of recipes that you could make anytime! So it isn't just for Christmas!
Chapter 1- Cozy Christmas Brunch:Quiche Muffins, 24-Hour Never-Fail Cheese Souffle, Whole-Wheat Gingerbread Pancakes, Jenn's Creme Brulee French Toast (I am making this for Father's Day and will post the recipe & pictures after that), Jingle Bell Java, Snowflake Hot Cocoa, Kitchen Cupboard Waffles, and Snickerdoodle Muffins.
Chapter 2- Chill-Chasing Soups & Breads: Winter Artichoke Soup, Nana's Slovak Christmas Eve Soup with Homemade Noodles, Poppy Seed-Cheese Bread, Easy Oatmeal Rolls, Lori's Kid-Friendly Chili, Fiesta Bubble Bread (making this on Friday and will post pictures & recipe), Holiday Posole, Mom's Lefse and Colonial Brown Bread.
Chapter 3-Caroling Party Supper: Swiss Alps Casserole (making on Friday and will post recipe and pictures after that), Brazilian Rice & Beans, Ginger-Panko Fried Chicken, Mexican Baja Quiche, Kentucky Hot Browns with Mornay Sauce (making this next week and will post pictures and recipe), Chicken Pizzaiola and Barbecups.
Chapter 4-Classic Christmas Dinner: Easy-Made Braciole, Winter Squash Risotto, Cauliflower Gratin and Red-Top Salad.
Chapter 5-Festive Holiday Fare: Bread-Bowl Crab Dip, Pine cone Cheese Ball, Figgy Tapenade, Snow-Covered Cranberries, Cannoli Dip, Blue Cheese & Buffalo Chicken Dip, Mushroom Poppers, Beer Cheese Spread, Evergreen Cheese Ball, Holly Jolly Kabobs, Vada's Christmas Eve Wassail, Snowed-In Snack Mix, Grinch Cocktail and Make-Believe Champagne.
Chapter 6-Sweet Treats to Share: Grusti, Fudgy Brownie Cookies, Grandma's Vanilla Balls, Cobblestone Cookies, Aunt Barbara's Gingerbread with Butterscotch Orange Glaze, Kipplens, Triple-Chocolate Coffee Brownies,
Coffee Cream Fudge, Tres Leches Cake, White Chocolate Mousse Trifle and last but surely not least, Peppermint Ice Cream Truffles!!
Here are a few recipes. Check back over the weekend and next week for a few more recipes that I have planned. Those recipes will count in the giveaway so you have to check them out to get your extra entries!
2 c. powdered non-dairy creamer
1 1/2 c. baking cocoa
1 1/2 c. instant coffee granules
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
In a bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well. Store in an airtight container. To serve, add 3 tablespoons to a mug and add boiling water to fill. Makes about 30 servings.
My take on the recipe: I topped mine off with whipped cream, more nutmeg and gingerbread marshmallows! Yummy! This is perfect for that afternoon pick-me-up anytime of the year. We bought extra gingerbread marshmallows at the end of the season and just keep them in our freezer to pull out for cups of coffee or hot cocoa all year long. I can't wait to give this as gifts.
2 c. whipping cream
6 c. milk
1 t. vanilla extract
11-oz pkg. white chocolate chips
Garnish: whipped cream, chocolate syrup, candy canes, crushed creme de menthe things
In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except garnish. Cover adn cook on low setting for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, until chocolate chips are melted. Stir before serving; garnish as desired. Makes 12 servings.
My take on the recipe: I love the idea of having this in the crock pot. I have a hot cocoa and hot drink station at my open house with Christmas mugs that I have collected over the years, people give me as gifts or from garage sales. I have about 100 mugs that I bring out every Christmas season. Each year people come and find their favorite mug and fill it with their favorite warm beverage. I also have all different toppings available including marshmallows, whipped creams and various chips and stirs.
1/4 c. boiling water
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. ground cloves
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1/2 c. light molasses
3 c. all purpose flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
In a large bowl, pour boiling water over butter. Add spices, brown sugar and molasses; mix well. Beat in flour; chill dough thoroughly. Roll dough out on a floured surface to a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters; place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 for 10-12 min. Cool completely. Frost or ice. Makes 2-4 dozen depending on size of cutters.
My take on the recipe: It is a good one! Everyone loves sweet gingerbread men. Make it fun and don't ice them. Instead let your guest do it when they come over to your home. They will have a lot of fun making their own gingerbread person or animal!
Want to win a copy of The Christmas Table Gooseberry Patch? Enter below on the easy Rafflecopter form. I give you a lot of options so enter as few or as many as you want. Come back over the weekend and in another week because I will post more recipe from the cookbook which will give you more entry options! Good luck and Merry Christmas!
My favorite Christmas memory is going to my grandmother's house on Christmas Eve. Her neighbor always stopped by dressed as Santa Clause to give us candy. At the time I didn't know it was her neighbor but thought it was the real Santa Clause. :)
ReplyDeleteLast year my husband walked out on the family taking all the money out of our accouts.
ReplyDeleteI sat our children down told them we would not be having a christmas this year and why.
We agreed that our being together was the most important thing.
Our small rural village that we live in surprised us, when as a group they brought to us a Christmas.
We have a very very special group of people that live in this village and we take care of our native sons and daughters
We would always bake cookies the night before santa came and set them out for him. eclairre(at)ymail(dot)com
ReplyDeletemy fondest memory is when my grandpa used to dress up as santa clause every christmas eve .. we were non the wiser that he really was not santa.. RIP Grandpa!!!
ReplyDeleteI learned that the book has 224 pages
ReplyDeleteI love gooseberry patch!!!
ReplyDeleteMy memories are of my mom cooking that wonderful christmas dinner, and when I was old enough to help her now she is gone but the traditions are carried on with my sister and I because we made a family cookbook just the year before my mom passed. I'm so glad we did.
ReplyDeletetsdalton816@yahoo.com
We love sausage maple rolls we can't make enough of them.
ReplyDeleteSausage Maple Rolls
1 lb. country sausage, browned and drained.
1 lb maple bacon
1 8oz. pkg softened cream cheese
1 loaf pullman bread slice horizontally.
Brown sausage and drain. Mix in cream cheese until well blended. Spread mixture onto bread slices then cut in half. Roll each half up then wrap in bacon. Slice into pinwheels. Place on baking sheet and bake until bacon is cooked and heated thru. These are time consuming but well worth it.
tsdalton816@yahoo.com
My most favorite Christmas memory involved my parents letting us kids open one little gift Christmas Eve. We grew up poor and this was a very big thing in our house. I continued that tradition with my young son and husband. We always open a little something, usually after the excitement of the day has started to wind down and it's just the three of us again. I cherish it so much. It allows me to really capture my family's smiles and eyes when they choose their gift. The next day we're so busy and so much family, I just remember those faces from the night before. PRICELESS!
ReplyDeleteremember growing up with a silver tinsel tree and thought it was the grandest thing ever. also loved the 4 colored rotating spotlight we had shining on it. loved shutting off the lights and watching the tree chance colors.
ReplyDeleteremember growing up with a silver tinsel tree and thought it was the grandest thing ever. also loved the 4 colored rotating spotlight we had shining on it. loved shutting off the lights and watching the tree chance colors.
ReplyDeletelink to my fav. Christmas goodie recipe.
ReplyDeletehttp://abis-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/2011/11/1st-day-of-christmas-baking.html
I have memories of sneaking up before morning, tiptoeing into the living room to see of Santa had come yet. And like all kids, my mother would catch me every time and send me back to bed!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite recipe is the Original Chex Party Mix. Here is a link to that recipe
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chex.com/Recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=6709&CategoryId=343&t=1
A great Christmas memory is going to my Grandma's and being able to spend time with my cousins...and us all stringing cranberries and popcorn to hang on her tree. Also loved seeing my grandma's dining room buffet lined up with homemade cakes for us all to enjoy. Those were wonderful Christmases.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite recipe is what I call Pink Fluff. I mix together a can of condensed milk with a large Cool Whip. Add in a can of Cherry Pie Filling, a large can of crushed, drained pineapple, and a cup of chopped pecans. I love this stuff.
ReplyDeletefavorite memory is my little kids getting up at 5 in the morning and opening their gifts
ReplyDeletefavorite recip is my sweet bread
ReplyDeleteA Christmas Memory...my sisters and I used to practice little skits and songs to perform on Christmas Eve...ciao4now64 at yahoo dot com.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteI remember getting Walton's dolls for Christmas! My sister and I got the whole family and mom thought the Grandma doll was so cute.
ReplyDeleteI remember Christmas when my mother used to put small bundles of wheat under the edge of the Christmas table cloth to bring fertility and wealth to the coming year. Happy Holidays! Arlene Marie Pitts
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmas recipes is for Cinnamon Vanilla Hot Chocolate. Make your favorite hot chocolate and add a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla for every 8oz cup. DO NOT DRINK without topping it with whip cream and red and green sprinkles!! Arlene Marie Pitts
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, on Christmas Eve it was a tradition to have "slush" and cheese/crackers while we watched Christmas movies. It was always a lot of fun - very fond memories!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway opp!
(luvcooking2 at yahoo dot com)
A couple of years ago I was in the hospital with pneumonia at Christmas time. My husband brought me home late Christmas eve to my children's delight.
ReplyDelete$16.95 for the cookbook.
ReplyDeleteOur tradition has been to go to the local festival of trees where local businesses decorate Christmas trees. We always choose a favorite one and have tons of fun!
ReplyDeleteOur traditional cookie shooter cookies and recipe: http://through-my-is.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-cookies.html
ReplyDeleteWe love Christmas in our house! Usually it starts with the arrival of Agent Elf on the Shelf and his mischievous antics including a nice cup of homemade hot cocoa. I can't wait to get my hands on this new cookbook to come up with new ideas for this years holidays!~ :)
ReplyDeleteI always loved having my Mother's wonderful food. Her fruitcake cookies were the best.
ReplyDeleteWhen my son was about 3, he called police toy cars "woowoo" cars, because that was the sound they made. He got several that year, and my silly neighbor didn't understand, and went everywhere looking for woowoo cars. That was the Christmas of the "woowoo" cars, and I'll never forget it.
ReplyDeleteI always loved getting up at 3 or 4 just to run downstairs and take a peak. It felt like an eternity waiting for our parents to wake up. Even after we knew the "truth" they still waited until we were asleep to put the presents out. It was still wonderfully magical :)
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a very large, and poor, family but my Mom always did everything in her power to make Christmas magical especially for the two youngest children (me and my sister). I remember one year there was a lot of pounding of a hammer and the whirring of her sewing machine happening in her bedroom. We tried to get in her room several times but was always stopped before we could get a peek. On Christmas morning that year there were two beautiful dolls, with fashionable wardrobes and storage chests, with hangers and drawers for each of us. Now as an adult I understand what was going on in her bedrooms that year. She spent all of her extra time and talent to make sure her two baby girls had a Christmas to remember. And I do remember and always will. I love you Mom!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmas memories is of my son Nick. When he was 3 he came in upset. He asked if everyone left cookies for Santa. When I said most people do he said santa was going to get a stomachache from eating only cookies. We endedup leaving Santa a tuna sandwich.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas. I have so many good memories of the family getting together to celebrate with Aunts and Uncles and cousins. We did it every year when I was young.
ReplyDeletemargaretches@yahoo.com
making cookies with my mom and now with my boys :)
ReplyDeleteI loved going to my Grandma and Grandpas house on Christmas afternoon and just hanging out with all my family :)
ReplyDeleteChristmas memory ... Always waiting to go downstairs Christmas morning with my brother and sister !!!! And usually finding one BIG Teddy Bear that was always for me = )
ReplyDelete