Are you feeling refreshed after a fun-filled holiday weekend? Maybe you're a little weary after shopping, cooking, travelling and lots of celebrating this week. Well, with the New Year festivities just a few days away we'd like to remind you about this great round up of recipes for you to try and enjoy! Our favorite is the stress free brunch which you can make ahead, it's a great idea at any time of year! Thanks to resident food blogger Julie Grice of Savvy Eats Blog for these festive options to try in your kitchen, they are unique and stress free!
For that perfect winter warmer with a little pick-me up don't forget to enter our fabulous giveaway to win the king of coffee grinders, the Virtuoso Coffee Grinder ($250) and some amazing new Full Circle Coffee Machine Cleaning products available only at Williams-Sonoma. Enter a recipe AND/ OR a comment for a chance to win, see below for entry details.
Great Breakfast Ideas
Whether you're entertaining or just adding a little something new to your breakfast repertoire, here are some great recipe ideas and ways to plan a stress free brunch.
Take a look at 14 Special Breakfasts for your Christmas Morning
Pictured: Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls from Two Peas and Their Pod
Homemade Food Gifts
If you need a last minute something to bring along to a party or just a little something personal for a friend or neighbour, here are some inspired food gifts for friends, hostesses, and of course your favorite foodies.
Read Last Minute DIY Food Gifts
Pictured Vanilla Orange Candied Cranberries from a Spicy Perspective
Delicious Winter Warmer Drinks
Lastly who can resist a hot sweet drink this holiday. The perfect festive beverages use seasonal flavors and ingredients to create a memorable way to warm up this winter!
Try these great recipes with your friends and family this year in 11 Warm Beverages for Cold Days, our favorite is the Grown-up Hot Chocolate! Yum!
Pictured: Grown-Up Hot Chocolate with Homemade Bailey’s Marshmallows from How Sweet It Is.
This Weeks' Recipe Giveaway
Now to accompany your New year's brunch or dessert what could be better than great cup of coffee with a seasonal blend of freshly ground beans brewed to perfection. There is nothing quite like that smell of fresh ground coffee filling your home. This week we have a fabulous Virtuoso Coffee Grinder ($250) and some Full Circle Coffee Machine Cleaning products to give away, so you can spruce up your French press, drip or espresso maker in no time.
All you need to do to be entered for a chance to win: Submit your favorite holiday dessert or brunch recipe to SheSpeaks Recipes OR add a comment to this blog post, by 6pm December 29, 2011. You can enter a recipe AND a comment and you will have two entries to win!
Giveaway Prizes:
Virtuoso Coffee Grinder- $250 Value
Full Circle Coffee Machine Cleaning products available exclusively at Williams Sonoma.
The contest starts Dec 21, 2011 and ends Dec 29, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. Must be a US resident. No purchase necessary.
GOOD LUCK!
Overnight french toast casserole is easy and great for breakfast or brunch. You need one loaf of french bread, 8 eggs, two cups of half and half, one cup of milk, two tablespoons of sugar, one teaspoon of vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Slice the loaf of bread into 20 slices. Spray a 9x13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the other ingredients together with a whisk. Layer the pieces of bread in the pan, pour the mixture over the bread slices, cover with foil, refrigerate overnight. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Fresh fruit is also good with it.
I love roasted nuts! Very easy, almonds & pecans, tsp of salt, cup of sugar, some cinn. & nutmeg. bake for a hr at 250F. YUMMY!!!
Eggnog French Toast! So easy to make and you can freeze any leftovers. Use eggnog like you would milk when making french toast, add egg and some Cinnamon. Most of all enjoy your family and friends and have a few laughs.
Maine Breakfast- for a large family Hard Boil 1 dozen eggs In a separate pan mix 2 cups flour- 1.5 cups milk- chop up some ham (1/2 lb.)-and four cups of your favorite cheese Toast 10 slices of bread- once mixture is boiling above- pull off stove- add pepper and salt- then throw in pieces of chopped up toast.... Cut up the eggs- while they are still warm- and throw into a bowl and serve- It fills a family up!
My husband made the most amazing french toast casserole for Christmas Brunch. We also had eggs, ham, bacon, biscuits, gravy and wonderful fellowship. Happy HOlidays!!!
My husband made the most amazing french toast casserole for Christmas Brunch. We also had eggs, ham, bacon, biscuits, gravy and wonderful fellowship. Happy HOlidays!!!
I enjoy homemade rolls. Take 2 active yeast and put in hot water (1 cup) for 5 min. Add 2 eggs, 2/3 melted butter and 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 cup of flour. mix well. Add flour a little at a time until you have added 4 cups. Batter will be hard to mix so you have to use your hands. Put in the fridge for 4 hours. Take out and roll out into balls and set on buttered cookie tray. Cover for 1 hour or more. I like it to sit out for hours to rise. Then bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes depending on your oven. Only let bake when they are slightly brown. They are soft and fluffy. Don't over cook. I had to take mine out as early as 8 min. so watch carefully. I butter the top with butter after I remove from the oven
The Virtuoso coffee grinder looks excellent! I love the idea of food gifts too (I wouldn't mind if somebody gave me those Vanilla Orange Candied Cranberries!). Thanks for all the ideas and link.
My favorite warm drink not just for the holidays but perfect fall and winter is Caramel Apple Cider. I use apple cider bought from a local orchard, warm up a glass of cider, add a spoonful or 2 of caramel syrup, stir and then top off with some cool whip or heavy whipping cream in a can and then optional but oh so delicious is drizzling a lil caramel syrup over the whip cream!!!! Oh la la..pretty and delicious and much cheaper to make it yourself at home than paying $$$ at a store. :)
My favorite breakfast ideas are: sausage hashbrown casserole and a sugar crusted vanilla french toast...
What i love to drink during the Holidays is a Mexican drink called, " ponche" it a hot drink that takes several hours to make. The ingredients are mostly fruit like, raisins, pineapple, cut up sugar canes, dried plums, cinnamon sticks, whole canned guavas, and tejocotes. If anyone is interested in knowing how to make it please let me know. It's very tasty. Thanks
I used the cruising through the holidays with fly lady it was so helpful
Love Love Love a warm beverage in the winter. Winter in Montana - nothing makes it more cozy then a nice hot cup of Joe or hot chocolate. Would love to win these!!
This looks like a great coffee grinder. Thanks for the opportunity.
Breakfast ideas are great! I tried a few! I so need that coffee grinder though! Would make it easier on me to have my own then to borrow a friends every time I need to grind!