New Years Day Drink

here is a drink that I serve every New Years Day before the meal. its very simple but worth every sip:

Mimosa (cocktail)

Info:

A Mimosa is a cocktail-like drink composed of one part champagne (or other sparkling wine) and one part thoroughly chilled citrus fruit juice, usually orange juice unless otherwise specified (e.g., "grapefruit [juice] mimosa"). It is traditionally served in a tall champagne flute with a morning brunch as hair of the dog or to guests at weddings.

Ingredients:

1 Part Champagne
1 Part Orange Juice
1 Med Size Orange halved and sliced
Mint Leaves

Mix OJ & Champagne then pour into Champagne Flute and then place orange slice on rim of glass or directly into mixture.

Garnish with mint sprig and enjoy

Quick Jambalaya

Most of my recipes are all made from scratch but every now and then I am in the mood for some jambalaya but don't have the time to make it from scratch. here is a quick Jambalaya I came up with using items from the shelf:

Ingredients:

1 Box Zatarains Jambalaya Mix
1 can rotel tomatoes and diced chilies (store brand works just as good)
1 small Onion diced
1/2 cup diced bell peppers
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon Cajun seasonings
1 pound meat or seafood as per directions from the box

the only change for the directions on the box is that I use 1 can of rotel to replace 1 cup of the 2 1/4 cups of water called for on the box

placed onion, bell pepper, rotel, water and seasons in to medium pot. bring to a boil and add meat and Zatarains jambalaya mix.

cook for 25 minutes or till rice is tender then serve

I find that its just as good as home made and in only 30 minutes

Food and Cooking Tips

Here are a few tips I have used in the past for cooking and food preparation:


Mushrooms should be wiped off with a damp cloth and not washed under the faucet since they are like sponges and will absorb the water.

If your soups and sauces are too thin or watery, try adding a few instant potato flakes as a thickener.
Save bacon drippings and use to season vegetables, eggs, soups and sauces. They add meat flavor.

Unless the recipe calls for a specific size, assume that all eggs used in recipes are Grade A large. Using medium or extra-large eggs could throw a recipe off.

Real vanilla flavoring is only necessary if what you are making is vanilla flavored such as vanilla ice cream.  Otherwise, imitation is fine and less expensive!

If you accidentally put too much salt into your dish, you can re-balance the saltiness by adding chopped potatoes, tomatoes, or even a teaspoon of sugar. This will help bring the saltiness back down to a normal level.

My Annual Christmas Party

I know my posting have been a bit erratic lately but that tends to happen with all of us for the holiday season. so I decided that I need to post the link to my annual Christmas party. I hope everyone enjoys it and I am going to be posting on a more regular basis now that things have started to settle down. so sit back, relax and enjoy the video

Annual Christmas Party

Christmas Centerpiece for Table

This year I change up my holiday centerpiece for Christmas. normally I use a large read poinsettia in a large glass bowl. I decided to change it up a bit so here is what you will need.

inexpensive door wreath
gold poinsettia (any color that you prefer)
Table Runner

Place Table runner down center of table
Center the wreath on the table runner
Place Poinsettia in center of the wreath

 

 



Eggnog Recipe for the Holidays

Please note that this eggnog is a potent alcoholic beverage. Please encourage the members of your party to bring a designated driver if they plan on drinking. To lower the alcohol in the recipe, use lower proof whiskey and/or rum, or substitute a cup of milk for every cup of alcohol removed.

Ingredients	8 servings	16 servings	24 servings
Fresh Eggs (separated into yolks/whites)	4	8	12
Sugar (divided into 2 equal parts)	1/2 cup (1/4c, 1/4c)	1 cup (1/2c, 1/2c)	1 1/2 cups (3/4c, 3/4c)
White Rum (dark works)	1 cup	2 cups	3 cups
Milk (Whole or 2%)	1 1/2 cups	3 cups	4 1/2 cups
Whiskey (Bourbon or Canadian)	1 cup	2 cups	3 cups
Heavy/Whipping Cream (divided into 2 equal parts)	1 cup (1/2c, 1/2c)	2 cups (1c, 1c)	3 cups (1 1/2c, 1 1/2c)
Ground Nutmeg (strongly recommended)	Enough to sprinkle on servings. Consider whole nutmeg nuts and grinder

Eggnog Recipe Instructions
You are doing things gently and slowly to preserve the eggnog's fluffiness. A good whisk for the stirring and a high speed mixer for the egg-whites and cream helps this process immensely. Notes on taking this to a party below.

1. Separate eggs into yolks and whites in separate bowls. I put the whites into the mixer and the yolks into another bowl.
2. Beat egg-yolks with 1/2 of sugar, set aside.
3. Beat egg-whites until stiff, then mix in other 1/2 of sugar.
4. Pour the yolks into the whites and mix together slowly.
5. Stir in white rum slowly. I've tried dark rum and it works.
6. Stir in milk slowly
7. Stir in whiskey slowly (Bourbon, Canadian, Sour Mash. I use Jim Beam or Jack Daniels)
8. Stir in 1/2 of cream slowly
9. Whip rest (1/2) of cream and fold it into the mixture carefully. 
10. Serve at room temperature by ladling the eggnog into cups and sprinkle nutmeg on the top.

 

Entertaining Ideas

Whether your party is spur-of-the-moment or planned in advance, a party tray can be the perfect solution for your entertaining needs. Try these easy party tray tips and ideas at your next celebration. Dip Tray Chips and crackers are great for dipping. But try shaking it up a little with celery and carrot sticks, raw green beans, squash slices and broccoli florets. Appetizer Tray With more guests, comes more variety. Plan for an assortment and ask guests to bring their favorite bite-sized dishes for a potluck style tray. For eight or more people, serve four different meats and cheeses, pastries or sandwiches. For fewer than eight people, one or two varieties will work. Cheese Trays When planning a cheese tray, combine mild and sharp flavors such as cheddar, Havarti and Muenster. Mellow and spicy meat, like smoked turkey and peppered roast beef, make a great pair. You can also combine sweet and tart flavors like bagels and Danishes. Do the same for spreads by including a standard mayonnaise as well as hot mustard or sweet relish. Fruit Trays Who can resist fresh fruits? Go exotic with a tray of pineapple, guavas and kiwi or stick with crowd-pleasing favorites like strawberries, grapes and watermelon. Add yogurt, caramel or melted chocolate as dip options. Dessert Trays From cookies to brownies, make dessert a breeze with a wide selection of dessert trays. You can bake these bite-sized goodies or take them home from many grocery story bakerys. Planning for a Crowd? The followign chart will help with how much you will need depending on the amout of the people that are attending:

Holiday Center Piece

Each year I create a table center piece for my annul Christmas party. if you have a large bowl or tall vase you can use that to start, then fill with extra Christmas ball and surround with a inexpensive wreath that can be purchased at any store during the holiday season.

Breakfast Table Center Piece

Holiday Ham

I am sure that everyone wish's that the holiday ham you buy came with extra glaze. here is a recipe I have used in the past and its as good if not better then what comes with the ham. so I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.

Ham Glaze

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

Zest and juice of 1 orange

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

6 to 8 scrapes of fresh nutmeg, using a rasp

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

Use with a 6-7 pound spiral cut ham

 

mix together the brown sugar, honey, orange zest, 1/4 cup orange juice, pumpkin pie spice, and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper

 

 Line a pan with enough aluminum foil to wrap the ham and then pour half of the glaze over the ham allowing it to sink into the slices. Tightly wrap the ham in the foil and place on a rack in a roasting pan. Fill the pan with an inch of water and roast in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F, about 20 minutes per pound.

 

heat the remaining glaze on medium heat, whisk until small bubble appear all over and then remove from heat. 

 

Remove the ham and then pour the glaze over the ham and cook for 15 minutes uncovered.

 

 

 

 

On to the next holiday event

I am hoping that everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving with family and friends. so now that that one is over it on to the Christmas season. so here are a few things to keep in mind for hosting the most anticipated holiday season:

Getting your home ready for the Christmas Season

Decorating your home for the holidays goes hand-in-hand with getting ready for guests – whether those visitors are planned or impromptu. So, as you start to consider your décor themes, think about updates that can be made around the house to make your guests feel even more at home.

Keep this checklist in mind as you get started:

* Give your decorations a checkup. By pulling out your holiday decorations well ahead of time, you can save yourself the stress of last-minute surprises like broken platters or light strings with half the bulbs burnt out. If you find items that are broken or in disrepair, don’t throw them out - make a few quick fixes instead. Repair broken items with reliably tough adhesives like Gorilla, which come in a variety of formulas, from clear-drying epoxy to wood glue and more. Replace burnt out bulbs individually, rather than buying entire new strands.

* Stock your pantry. During every holiday this season, food will be a major focus. Be prepared for the biggest days by having all the ingredients you need in your pantry, freezer and - closer to the actual events - your refrigerator. From spices to stock to sweet treats, it’s better to have everything on hand rather than risking the chance of the grocery store being closed or dealing with the long, hectic holiday lines. It’s also a great opportunity to make sure that you have enough supplies on hand to feed guests who stay for a few days at a time, from breakfast to dinner and dessert.

* Freshen your linens. Guest rooms often go dormant during the quieter seasons of the year, and need a bit of airing out before the hosting season. Keep a few sets of linens freshly laundered - one on each bed and a couple in the closet - to avoid stale smells. Make sure you also have a few extra blankets clean and ready to use as throws, and don’t forget to vacuum or clean window treatments, where dust easily collects.

* Get in the spirit. Add to your home’s seasonal spirit by making a few crafts or gifts to decorate the main rooms, as well as guest rooms. Get creative with craft store items, or try “up cycling” thrift store or yard sale finds into holiday décor that’s uniquely yours. Visit www.pinterest.com/gorillaglue for project ideas and www.gorillatough.com for a guide to which glues work best on a variety of materials, from ceramics to plastic to paper.

* Be ready to entertain. Being a good host means being prepared for last-minute fun. After the big meal is finished and everything is cleaned up, you and your guests will have time for some extra fun. Set out DVDs, board games and books that will keep guests of all ages entertained.
One of the best parts of celebrating the season is the opportunity to spend time with loved ones. Getting your home ready for guests will make them feel more comfortable when they arrive  and give you a new sense of holiday cheer.