Friday, December 30, 2011
Final Friday of 2011
I can't believe it's the last weekend of the year. Where did it all go? It's been so nice getting to know you all. Thanks for all your support, lovely comments, and for getting me hooked on some seriously good blogs all over the world!
Wishing you all a fantastic New Year's weekend. Here's to a perfect 2012 for all!
Back soon,
janis
x
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Baked
Well hello everyone! How was your Christmas? I've spent the last 6 days bed or couch bound due to a Yuletide cold/flu (what is the difference anyway?). I did pop out to my mom's for Christmas day, but that was it. Hope you managed to breeze through the holiday bug free!
I tried out a recipe for our New Year's Eve get together. Yum. Have you made yorkshire pudding before? I grew up eating it pretty much every Sunday, but only recently starting making them myself. I thought I'd make mini ones, then top them with a mushroom compote along with a little gruyere cheese. Bite (maybe two!) size and perfect for a cocktail party.
Mini Yorkshire Pudding with Mushroom Compote - makes about 24
1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
4 oz all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, beaten
about 1/3 cup vegetable oil for mini muffin tin
Mushroom Compote: You might want to double this recipe. I did.
4.5 oz mixed mushrooms, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1.5 teaspoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 tablespoons red wine
3 tablespoons olive oil
To make yorkshire pudding: Preheat oven to 425f. In a medium bowl, sift together flour and salt. Make a well in the flour mixture, and whisk in the 3 beaten eggs. Add the milk, a bit at a time, while whisking away. Your batter should be a little thicker than unwhipped whipping cream. Refrigerate batter for 30 minutes.
Allow to cook for 15-20 minutes, until puffed high and golden brown. Really try not to open the oven door while cooking, as they may flatten. Place on a wire rack to cool.
To make compote: In a large pan, on medium low, heat up your oil, then add onion and garlic. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms, red wine and thyme, and cook for another 10 minutes.
I'm definitely going to make these for the party. Pretty easy and, if you're not shooting the process, or getting over a yuletide bug, it takes no time at all. ;)
Back soon!
Janis
Labels:
baked,
christmas,
cocktail party,
mushrooms,
new years eve,
yorkshire pudding
Friday, December 23, 2011
Joyful Friday
If you're celebrating Hanukkah, I hope you have a great one too!
Thanks for checking in with me this week, and for leaving such lovely comments. It means a lot!
I'll be back next week...
janis
x
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Yarn + Trees
Happy Hump day before Christmas!
I found myself, last minute, in Seattle late Monday night into the very wee hours of Tuesday. We saw Prince play at a nightclub, after his arena show. Wow and wow. Absolutely amazing. I was 5 feet away from that magical man. The show wrapped up at 4am and on the way home (2.5 hours away), we saw this spectacular display of yarn bombing. They looked beautiful in the dark with no one around.
I feel like knitting our tiny tree, in our back yard, a Christmas sweater now ;)
Back soon!
Janis
I found myself, last minute, in Seattle late Monday night into the very wee hours of Tuesday. We saw Prince play at a nightclub, after his arena show. Wow and wow. Absolutely amazing. I was 5 feet away from that magical man. The show wrapped up at 4am and on the way home (2.5 hours away), we saw this spectacular display of yarn bombing. They looked beautiful in the dark with no one around.
I feel like knitting our tiny tree, in our back yard, a Christmas sweater now ;)
Back soon!
Janis
Monday, December 19, 2011
Baked
Where have the last few weeks gone? Is it really Christmas this weekend? Wow.
I've made some mocha shortbread for a little get together. Nothing like a coffee/chocolate combo. FYI, I have made these with gluten free all purpose flour and they taste the same. If you do use a gluten free flour, make sure to add 1/4 teaspoon of guar gum as well.
Mocha Shortbread - made about 22 cookies with the tree shaped cutter
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup icing sugar
1 1/2 cups + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 teaspoons instant coffee granules
Preheat oven to 300F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface and cut out whatever shapes you like. Place on baking sheet, one inch apart, and bake for about 20 minutes. That's it. Done. Easy. Delicious.
Do you heaps of baking on the agenda for the week? Do you try something new every year, or do you have your family traditions that you can't do without? Let me know!
Back soon,
janis
Labels:
baked,
chocolate,
christmas,
cookies,
shortbread
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Weekend Observations
Friday, December 16, 2011
Joy to the World, it's Friday
The week got away from me! How was yours? I leave you this week with something I wish I had right now.
By the way, I did a post earlier in the week, over at the Poppytalk. I still have 15 more of these to make for our family Christmas dinner ;)
Have a lovely weekend! Back soon.
Janis
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