Christmas Eve Breakfast and a Last Minute Easy Gift Idea!

My girls and I love to decorate gingerbread men for Christmas, and I found this recipe for gingerbread pancakes, and the lightbulb went off!  I think they are so cute!  This would also make a great gift in a jar if you're looking for a last minute present.

Once you ladle the batter on your griddle or pan, start decorating quickly.  I used a snowflake sprinkle mix and it kept its color, unlike the white chocolate chips I tried first--they burned and made the faces look charred and scary--NOT what you want to give kids for a fun and sweet breakfast!

*Recipe adapted from this recipe for Gingerbread Pancakes from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients 

Original recipe makes 10 pancakes       

Makes servings USMetricAdjust Recipe (Help)

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour                                                                     
• 1 teaspoon baking powder                                                                     
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda                                                                     
• 1/4 teaspoon salt                                                                     
• 1/2 teaspoon ground dried ginger                                                                     

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon                                                                     
• 1 egg                                                                     
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract                                                                     
• 1/4 cup molasses                                                                     
• 1 1/2 cups water
• *1/2 teaspoon cloves
• *2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

 

Directions

1. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a bowl; set aside. Beat the egg in a separate mixing bowl with the vanilla, molasses, & brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the water until completely incorporated. Stir the flour mixture into the molasses mixture until just combined.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium-high heat. Drop batter by large spoonfuls onto the griddle, and cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry. Flip, and cook until browned on the other side. Repeat with remaining batter.

I served these with butter and pure maple syrup and they taste like Christmas!  Keep in mind these are not light and fluffy like regular pancakes due to the molasses but they are wonderful!  The mix would make a delightful gift for neighbors or friends--you can also include a jar of molasses and bottle of syrup to complete the gift.

Merry Christmas!!

 

Homemade Holiday--Salted Caramel Sauce



TODAY, I'm guest blogging over with Shannah at Just Us Four.  If you're looking for a quick homemade holiday gift, check out my post for Salted Caramel Sauce.  You won't be disappointed!  Friends have offered to pay me for it--but then it wouldn't be a gift.  'Tis the season, and I love it!

Please follow this link for the recipe and directions:

http://www.justusfourblog.com/2013/12/guest-blogger-salted-caramel-sauce/


There's a lot more to discover:

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Merry Christmas!

Super FUN Giveaway in Time for Christmas!!

Most of you know how much I LOVE to cook.  I also enjoy quirky things that stimulate my brain.  A friend of mine at Marbles the Brain store approached me about two fun items that do both!  And today, YOU get the chance to win them just in time for Christmas.

First, we have the Obsessive Chef Cutting Board .  When you're frustrated because you can never get the angles quite right when chopping your vegetables, this board comes to the rescue.  Here's the description from the website:

There are those cooks who brazenly toss in a handful of diced onions, a dash of salt, a pinch of paprika without measuring a thing. All the power to them, you say. But you prefer an approach that’s more accurate, that’s more precise, that unapologetically crosses the line to downright obsessive. The Obsessive Chef Cutting Board is for you. Made of strong, long-lasting beech wood, this absurdly precise cutting board is marked with exact measurements to ensure you serve finely julienned zucchini, not just your garden-variety julienned kind. Makes the perfect gift for the fanatical foodie in your life.      

Brain Health Expert Says:

"Exercise parts of your brain important for fine motor coordination when you carefully slice veggies to exact measurements. "

 

Isn't this GREAT!?!  It would be perfect for the person in your life who loves to cook!

 

 

 

 

Next is a challenging hand-eye coordination game. It's called Oakey Dokey and I think this would be fun once you've obsessively chopped your vegetables.  You can play alone or with a friend. 

 

Website description:

 

Looking for just the right kind of toy to keep your hands busy and mind stimulated? Want a diversion that doesn’t promote early-onset carpal tunnel syndrome from excessive joystick, mouse, or smart phone action? Enter Oakey Dokey, a game of hand-eye coordination and madcap skill that will occupy minds and hands of all ages, genders, and abilities. Just drop the two included, naturally grippy corks on any flat surface and get them to land end up to score points. The first player to score 21 points (exactly!) wins the game – but be careful not to go bust or your opponent will have a chance to catch up and steal sweet victory from your grasp!

 

 

I know you'd love to have these for yourself, or to give to a friend. 

 

While you're shopping, be sure to check out some other super fun cooking-related items from Marbles the Brain Store:

 

 

Foodie Fight Trivia Game

 

Molecular Gastronomy Kit

TO ENTER: 

Like House of Frolic and Mirth on Facebook

Get an extra entry for Tweeting about the Giveaway  (can be done daily for additional entries!)

And another for Commenting on this post (comments are moderated so may take awhile to show)

The giveaway ends on November 27th at 12 midnight, the winner will be announced on Black Friday. *Open to residents of the continental US only.

Have fun!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bacon Makes Everything Better...............Now I Believe it!

 

 

 

I stumbled upon a recipe for fudge with bacon and immediately KNEW I had to make it.  I mean it has BACON, CHOCOLATE, and they could be eaten at the same time!  This is so delicious, even my preschooler asks for more. 

I tweaked this recipe just a bit.  Plus, I'm stubborn and don't own a candy thermometer so by default I had to guess how long the cooking time should be, but it worked.  It can for you, too.

 

MAPLE BACON FUDGE

 

You'll need:

 

1/2 pound of good smoked bacon

1 tbsp real maple syrup

2 1 oz squares of unsweetened chocolate (I like Baker's brand)

3/4 cup milk

2 cups of white sugar

3 tbsp butter, sliced

2 tbsp vanilla extract

 

Directions:

1. Cook bacon until crisp, crumble into a small bowl, add the maple syrup, and toss to glaze the bacon.  Set aside.
2. Stir milk and chocolate in a large saucepan over low heat until chocolate melts and mixture is thoroughly combined, 2 to 3 minutes; stir in sugar all at once. Whisk mixture, trying to clean the sides of pan as much as possible.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer inserted into the middle of the fudge reads 236 to 238 degrees F (110 to 115 degrees C), or candy forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. *This process could take 30-40 minutes.  Remove from heat as soon as candy hits the correct temperature and stir in glazed bacon, reserving 1/8 cup for the top (optional).
4. Place butter squares onto fudge mixture and pour vanilla extract over the top. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
5. Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil and coat with butter or vegetable oil spray. When fudge has cooled for 10 minutes, stir in the butter and vanilla extract thoroughly & pour into the prepared pan.  Sprinkle the reserved bacon on top and gently press it into the fudge.
6. Refrigerate for 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Cut into small bite-sized pieces to serve.

You won't believe how good this is. 

If you're a fan of salty & sweet food combinations, do not hesitate and make this immediately.  It might become your newest favorite, and this would make a fantastic addition to Christmas trays.  It's not too early to think about it!

Enjoy~

 



 



Love Letters

A front door mail slot in Charleston, SC

Letters are some of my favorite things to decorate with, because they can evoke a memory or signify a special person when used as an initial.  They can also customize an otherwise simple object, turning it into something meaningful and heartfelt. 

I like to give gifts that I would love to receive, and anything with letters or words would be at the top of my list.  An actual written letter is wonderful, but there are a few gifts that can be just as heartfelt.
Some of my most favorite gifts I've found and given to others include this list from several Etsy sellers:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SissyPretties
These spreaders with a jar of good jam.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mytwobabes
I've given these name labels to several kids
who would never find anything with their unique name (like Harper)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SolomonLaneJewelry
This was Avery's Valentine last year (it had her name on it)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Simag
This necklace with initials of grandchildren

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Earmark?ref=seller_info
A funny personalized gift for the pencil lover and Ron Burgundy aficionado

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KarenArtCreations
Given to commemorate a wedding date

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyParis
I had to keep this one for myself ; )

The good old fashioned handwritten letter is the most heartfelt way (and best, in my opinion!) to convey love to someone special in your life.  But, gifts like these work well too for anyone on your list.  Spread some love today!