Christmas Breakfast

I have talked about crafty ideas, making ornaments as well as sock cupcakes.  I have even talked about kitchen gadgets and their "other uses".  With all this Christmas shopping and planning, I think we forgot to eat???  Let's talk about Christmas morning and breakfast.  Breakfast is my family's favorite meal.  We don't go a day without breakfast in this house.  I wake up early, do my Yoga routine, then hit the kitchen to make breakfast.  But on Christmas, I am not staying in the kitchen all day long.  I want to enjoy the fun/excitement of Christmas morning and the kids opening up their presents too.  Here are some suggestions for quick breakfast on Christmas morning:

1.  Baked French Toast Casserole:  (courtesy of Paula Deen)

   This recipe is something you can make the night before and put in the oven Christmas morning while everyone is unwrapping their presents.  This time-saver will allow for you to enjoy the morning with your family.  I add some vanilla to this recipe to give it some added flavor.  You can even add cardamon which take this casserole to a whole new level.

2.  Doughnuts:

This recipe is courtesy of me.  My kids absolutely love these little treats.  I buy the small buttermilk biscuits that have 10 biscuits in it.  I cut the middle out of it each one before submerging them in hot peanut oil.  You have to watch them closely since they cook fast...only takes about 15-20 seconds or less for each side...so don't walk away.  You can use a fork to flip them and when finished, place on a wire rack to drain/cool.  My family likes cinnamon sugar doughnuts, so after the doughnuts have cooled some, I shake them in a bag of cinnamon/sugar/cardamon.  I also make different dipping sauces to accompany the doughnut. If you want to get fancy, you can dip the tops in chocolate or vanilla icing and top with sprinkles or even peanuts.  The ideas are endless!

3.  Casseroles:

Breakfast casseroles such as the baked french toast casserole is probably the easiest thing to prepare for your holiday brunch.  If you want something with some more protein in it, try this Country Breakfast Casserole courtesy of Food.com.  You can make the sausage the night before and prepare this dish quickly so you don't miss out on all the holiday fun.

  

You can serve these yummy breakfast ideas with some fruit and don't forget to set your coffee maker so your coffee will hot and ready to enjoy!  

Moral:  Who says the kids have to have all the fun on Christmas morning!

Sock Cupcakes

Happy Holidays!

Today, Santa's Little Helper, me, was determined to wrap the kids Christmas presents before they got out of school this week for Winter break.  So, I started with the small stuff...socks!  My girls love socks so I bought a bunch of them.  But...how was I going to wrap them?  How else does a fellow baker wrap her Xmas presents let alone a Cupcake Lover...just like Cupcakes of course!  I got out some cupcake boxes I had and commenced to make me some Sock Cupcakes...they baked to perfection!

Check out how to make these here.

Moral:  When someone gives you socks....make Cupcakes!

Crafty Christmas Ideas



I have been thinking about what I will do for this year's Crafty Christmas at the Powell House.  I have seen some really fun crafts in my holiday crafts research.  I thought I would help you this year if you are planning to make your Christmas time crafty.  Crafts don't have to be time consuming or even need too many supplies.  Some of the ideas utilize stuff you have either in your pantry, your office or your kitchen.  I hope you find a craft to do and make it a tradition in your house. 

DIY Sweater Wreath:
I saw this idea on The Today Show and thought this was a really good idea especially if you have any old sweaters in your closet.  You can also go to Goodwill and try to find wool sweaters to use for this project.  You can also cut the sweater in long strips and tie it around a small foam wreath. 



Button Wreath Ornament:  This ornament is compliments of Martha Stewart.  You can buy a bunch of buttons and the color schemes are endless.  This is a great craft for young kids with some assistance.  I definitely think this one is on my Craft list.



Now for the Crafts that come from your kitchen...

Cookie Puzzle:  Many of us will make cookies this Christmas.  So what better to do with the cookies than to make a cookie puzzle!  This creative idea is a great gift for that puzzle lover in your life.  This craft can also double as a game and a snack!

Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies:  Now this cookie is great for using that gingerbread cookie cutter!  I absolutely like this idea.  Each person can get 2 cookies and enjoy decorating them two different ways.  Genius! 

Another craft goes on the list for me!



And for Peppermint Lovers everywhere...

Peppermint Ornament:

I don't know about peppermints in your house, but they don't last at all in my house.  But, this craft idea gives you something to do with those round peppermint candies.  The ideas are never end with this craft, so go crazy with the decorations!

I love all these ideas!  I may need 2 days of Crafty Christmas this year!

More great ideas to come, so look for Crafty Christmas Ideas Part 2!

Not Just Cupcakes!

When I started this blog, I intended to discuss cupcakes.  But then, I did not want to limit my blog to just cupcakes since I don't just bake, but I can also "throw down in the kitchen"!  So, my readers can expect not only to read about cupcakes and all things "Frosted" as the name of this blog suggest, but can look forward to other recipes. 

My daughter, Tyra, came home with a recipe for biscuits that she made in her home economics class.  I have struggled with making homemade biscuits for the longest time.  I can make yeast rolls which I learned from my mother, but not biscuits.  Until one day, Tyra made biscuits for breakfast.  She cut the shortening into the flour, kneaded the dough, rolled it out, and cut the biscuits into perfect circles.  I was impressed.  The biscuits rose to perfection as they waited to be put in the oven.  The end result...we enjoyed the best tasting biscuits that were flaky and darn right Delicious!  Some of us just put butter on them, others put raspberry or strawberry jam on them, while my husband and I put some homemade honey from BeeCause ( I received this honey as a gift from one of my clients who, yes, has a bee farm ) all over the top of our buttery biscuits.  I must brag...I have a biscuit maker in the family! 

Here's goes Tyra's recipe and go figure...it is not a cupcake recipe!

Biscuits:

(makes 12-16 biscuits)

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2/3 cups milk

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Measure and sift dry ingredients together.  (Sift flour before measuring)
3. Cut shortening into dry ingredients with a pastry blender or two knives until it looks like bread crumbs.
4. Make a well and add all the milk at once.  Stir with a fork until the dough follows the fork around the bowl. 
5. Knead biscuits on a floured countertop about 25 times.
6. Pat out dough about 1/2 inch thick.
7. Cut out with a floured biscuit cutter or small glass.
8. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes.
9. Brush with melted butter. 

I hope you enjoy this Not-A-Cupcake recipe from my kitchen to yours...