happy hour: christmas cheers

our little sock monkey ornament

well, can you believe it?  christmas is just 2 days away!  every year it surprises me just how quickly the holiday season goes...and it always goes faster than i remember or expect.  in honor of this very special time of year, i've collected a few recipes to "cheers" over just in time for christmas.

peppermint hot chocolate (picture credit here)

i found this awesome recipe on two tarts for peppermint hot chocolate.  it's the perfect wintry treat to warm up with on a snowy morning : )

me & olive on the tree farm

mulled wine (picture credit here)

mulled wine is easy to make and tastes like christmas-in-a-glass.  check out this super simple recipe {here} that will delight all your holiday guests.

our tree : )

christmas cocktail (picture credit here)

and, if you're really looking for some holiday cheer, check out the 12 cocktails of christmas - guaranteed to impress.

my mermaid ornament

wishing you a very merry christmas from our home to yours!

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foodie wednesday: christmas breakfast

for christmas breakfast, my mom often makes an egg strata.  for those of you who are unfamiliar, egg strata is sort of like a savory bread pudding filled with ooey-gooey cheese and other deliciousness.  as you can tell from the recipe below, we always improvise...and it always turns out great!  another bonus?  you can make it in advance and bake it the day-of.  or, you can even bake it in advance and just reheat it in the oven on christmas morning.  it makes the whole house smell fabulous!

credit {here}

here's what you'll need:

1/2 a loaf of day-old crusty bread (we like to use rosemary focaccia)
2 onions chopped

approx. 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (a hearty, pungent cheese like swiss or cheddar tends to work best)
4-6 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk or half & half
mustard, worcestershire or ranch dressing to taste
salt & pepper
butter or olive oil

View full recipe

preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

1) while oven preheats, saute onions in either olive or butter over medium heat.

2) in a large, buttered oven-safe baking dish mix together chunks of bread, sauteed onions, cheese (saving a bit for the top) and season with salt and pepper.

3) in a bowl, beat eggs with milk (or cream) and season with salt, pepper and either mustard, worcestershire or ranch.  totally your choice, but traditionally my mom uses worcestershire sauce : )

4) pour egg mixture over bread mixture and press bread to make sure it absorbs egg mixture thoroughly. sprinkle top with remaining cheese.

5) bake for 30-45 minutes until golden brown on top and eggs are set. 

credit {here}

this makes approximately 8 servings, so there will be plenty of leftovers to enjoy later or the next day.  keep in mind, above is a very "basic" strata recipe, so don't hesitate to add your own personal flare.  mix in roasted tomatoes, fresh herbs or crumbled chicken sausage to really impress.  yum!

merry christmas breakfast!

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happy hour: super chocolaty hot cocoa

today is finally feeling like december here.  there's frost on the fields and a chill in the air.  i love it!  since it's finally cold enough to enjoy a steaming cup of cocoa, i wanted to share my hot chocolate recipe that i make every year.  i always improvise this recipe, but below is the general formula i follow (feel free to get creative with it if the mood strikes you : )

credit {here}

2 cups eggnog

3 cups milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 cup cocoa mix (ghirardelli's mix is great!)

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

marshmallows

chocolate chips

1. place dry ingredients (cocoa mix, unsweetened cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon) in a medium pot and pour eggnog over. whisk until combined over medium heat.  the liquid should be velvety smooth.

2. add milk slowly while whisking continuously. allow hot chocolate to come to desired temperature.

3. place a few chocolate chips in the bottom of each mug and pour hot chocolate over top. garnish with marshmallows.

credit {here}

option: stir with a candy cane for mint hot cocoa!

this hot cocoa is best if enjoyed fireside while watching white christmas with bing crosby.

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have yourself a merry little christmas

it's christmas eve, and there's magic in the air.  i wish you all a wonderful christmas and the happiest of new years.

my holiday gift to you...the gift of song : )
(music automatically plays on my blog, so you'll have to scroll to the bottom to pause it.)

in the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, 

earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

merry, merry christmas!



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