This egg nog quick bread recipe is a wonderful hostess gift or as part of a Christmas gift basket with some homemade jams and preserves. Generally when I do a gift basket I like to use three different loaves, two bags of coffee beans, some tea, and a couple of small jars of preserves. Add a couple of vintage teacups and it really is a wonderful gift.
You can make this eggnog bread in large or in small loaves. Just make sure that you make the glaze after the bread has come out of the oven or …read more

Week 7. You didn’t really think I was going to forget, did you? These Hermits are an old, old recipe…but still awesome good. They keep really well unless the kids find out where you have them stored.
1/2 c unsalted butter
1 c brown sugar
1 egg
2 tbs water
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
3/4 c mixed candied fruit
1/2 c raisins (I prefer currants or dried cranberries here)
1/2 c coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
Cream together butter and brown sugar. Add egg and water and beat well. Stir dry …read more

O.k..it is week 5 of the Christmas Cookie (and baking) Countdown! I know alot of people have commented on their blogs about how weird I am to be doing Christmas now. Yeah, I DO check my links.
That’s o.k…I have alot of Christmas to do, and my life is busy. Really busy. I will even be as bold to say that it is busier than most. Preparing for Christmas early allows me to have a peaceful, stress free holiday with my family, and to be generous with my gifts. I enjoy not having to …read more

Well, it is almost October. Most people are just now starting to think about the giant candy holiday coming up and it won’t occur to them that Christmas and Thanksgiving are just around the corner until Nov 5th or 6th. By then they will have to scramble to get done and we will be finishing up!
I suggest that you start picking up flour and sugar as you see it on sale now. You know that you are going to be using more than usual over the next few months so keep it in stock in large quantities. …read more

 
We interrupt your journey to chocolate nirvana to remind you that it is now only 16 weeks until Christmas and there are lots of cookie recipes you can freeze ahead now to help keep your holidays a little more stress free.
Checkerboard cookies are some of my favorites. They look great in gift baskets and on cookie plates and they freeze very well unbaked. When ready to bake just le them thaw a few hours in the fridge, slice and bake! No mess to clean up.
Checkerboard Cookies
1 cup softened unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
2-1/4 cups …read more