Advent No.5: Christmas Cooking with Jenny

 

 

My favorite Holiday Recipes

What is this Christmas season without freshly baked cookies, hot cocoa and the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree in your house? Well, it can be done without these things, but no doubt it makes for a warmer season.

You always have those tried and true recipes that find their way into your “traditions”. I want to share a couple of those with you. Maybe they’ll become your tradition too.

The first I want to share with you is Cranberry Raisin Bread Pudding.

Oh.My.

I seriously could eat a whole pan of this if someone didn’t stop me.

First of all, I like bread….like, a whole lot.

You can take the chocolate just give me the carbs. That’s my view on it.

So it’s easy to see why this is one of my favorites.

You can only get fresh cranberries at the grocery store around Fall and Winter. So as soon as I see those little cranberry bags of goodness, I immediately think: PUDDING, MADE WITH BREAD? YES.

In this recipe, it adds a lemon-vanilla sauce to go on top of it. To be honest, I don’t think it needs it, but my sister says it is boring without it.  I am not a fan of lemon-tasting things, so that could be why I don’t think it needs it.

My recommendation would be to make the sauce the first time. Then you can decide.

Here is my first favorite Holiday recipe:

 

CRANBERRY RAISIN BREAD PUDDING

 

2 large eggs 

1/2 cup sugar 

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 

3/4 cup half-and-half 

3/4 cup pecans, chopped (optional-I never do)

1 (16-ounce) raisin bread loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes

1/2 cup fresh cranberries 

Lemon-Vanilla Sauce

Preparation

Lightly grease 8 in square pan 

Stir together eggs and next 6 ingredients; spoon pudding mixture into a lightly greased 8-inch square pan.

Bake bread pudding at 350° for 25 minutes. Serve with Lemon-Vanilla Sauce

LEMON VANILLA SAUCE 

1 vanilla bean, split

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

2 tablespoons grated lemon rind

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

Preparation

Cook vanilla bean, water, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until smooth and thickened.

Stir in butter and remaining ingredients, and cook until thoroughly heated. Remove vanilla bean.

I hope you went and made this immediately!!! And I hope it filled your heart with holiday cheer. Now go grab yourself another serving. This time, put it over some vanilla ice cream.

You are welcome.

The second recipe I want to share with you is something my family makes every Christmas morning.

We got this recipe from a family friend. Every time I eat this, it makes me want to go to their house and hug them.

It’s that good.

Mexican Breakfast Casserole

2 7 ounce cans Chopped Green Chilis

6 Corn tortillas, cut in 1 inch strips

1 lb cooked breakfast sausage (turkey or chicken ok)

2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar)

12 large eggs

½ cup milk

½ teaspoon salt,

½ teaspoon garlic powder,

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon cumin

2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced thin

The day before, Grease 9x13 pan. Layer half of the tortillas, sausage, chilis and cheese in the pan. Repeat Layers.

Mix eggs, mlik, and seasonings In a medium bowl and pour over the casserole. Arrange tomatoes on top of the casserole. Saran wrap and place in fridge overnight.

The next day, Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.

Serve with salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

Easy! And amazing.

So I hope you enjoyed some of my favorite Holiday Recipes.

Thank you dear Lauryn for allowing me to be a part of your amazing blog!

Friends, hope you have a Christmas that is MERRY and BRIGHT and full of good food, family and fellowship.

Xoxo

jenny

DIY Friday: orange spice coffee

     

Ummmm my apologies! This week has been kinda busy and I was going to write a post yesterday, Friday and it totally slipped my mind! 

 

So a DIY on Saturday is just as good right? 

I don't really like Starbucks, I know it may shock some of you, but I just don't! I don't have a standard coffee drink I order (until now), their coffee is a bit too strong for me and cream doesn't cut it! And I don't particularly like burnt coffee... But that's just my take on it! 

But, when I'm desperate, I have found a new friendly coffee which is: Orange Spice iced coffee with half & half.

Mmm so good! 

But I don't always like paying $4.00 for a grande... It's not something I splurge on regularly. 

Sooo, I decided I would try to duplicate it at home... And I mastered it on the first try! I do have to give credit to my mama, she told me to try this out and figure out a way to make it myself. 

Sorry there are no pictures! 😞

What to gather:  

Ground coffee

Coffee maker

Cinnamon 

Orange essential oil or extract

Ice

Half & half

1. Add the ground coffee to your coffee maker. (I made 6 cups, so I could have left overs for days)

2. Add the cinnamon to your ground coffee and stir around. (I added 2 tablespoons)

3. Then add a few drops the orange essential oil. (I added about 5 drops) (I also added it to the water, but I'm not so sure it's a good idea...)

4. Let it brew.

5. Then add ice to a glass and pour the coffee. Then add half & half to your preference. Then I add stevia, but whatever you prefer.  

If you really want to outdo yourself, you could make homemade whipped cream sweetened with whatever you like, and candied oranges too! Add the candied oranges to your coffee. Then add a dollop of the whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon! Yum!!! 

Hope you do try this at home! Love y'all!!! -Ryn

P.s. You're not going to like what I'm about say but it will be to your benefit! I'm going to hold off on doing DIY Fridays for a few weeks : / it's just super busy right now and I haven't been able to put a whole lot of time, effort & heart towards it. So, I'm taking a few weeks off starting next week and hopefully get some DIYs going again soon! I'll let you know when I'm back in action on here & on Instagram! (Username: @RynB) thanks y'all for understanding! Hope you have a fabulous week! 

Style find: ankle boots

Today was a rather rainy day... Which I love! I could so live in London or Seattle, just for that reason. 

But I went out today and went to one of my favorite dives on Magnolia ave, which is Paul's donuts, subs & gyros! Yum! The gyros are so good! And well the donuts are tasty too! So if you love near Fort Worth or you're traveling to the Dallas Fort Worth area, be sure to check them out! But they're closed on Sundays and are only open til 3:00pm. 

-I got the gyro plate-

Then we (mom & I) went to trader joe's, picked up a few things we needed. And I stopped at DSW warehouse, because well, they had a huge sign say: CLEARANCE. And I went in while my mom got a tea down the way at Starbucks... I'm glad I went in, because I've been on the search for genuine leather or suede ankle boots madewell-esque for a while. Well I found them and they're comfortable, cute, black boots!!! And the great thing is, they were under $40!! Praise Him! 

And now, I'm going to rest for a bit, then draft a pattern, work and exercise too, before the night is over! 

So awesome! So my Monday has been a great one! Tell me how yours was! 👇👇👇

-Ryn

DIY Friday: cookie dough dip

This dip is seriously decadent! It's super yummy! And according to the name of this dip, there should be cookies or cookie dough in it, but you really don't with the taste that this dip brings. You can dip animal crackers, graham crackers, apple slices, pear, etc! It's relatively healthy & really easy to throw together, whether it be for a gathering or ALL for yourself!

Your ingredients: 

1/2 cup Butter

1 8oz Cream cheese

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract

1 cup Chocolate chips

1 cup powdered sugar ( I skipped this part)

2 tablespoons Brown sugar (I only used 1/2-3/4 cup of coconut sugar.)

First: Gather your ingredients. Cream together cream cheese & butter. If you have a mixer, it's handy! If not, use yo muscles! 

Notes: do not use reduced fat or low-fat cream cheese. As it may cause your dip to have the wrong consistency. 

Second: add all remaining ingredients and mix until well combined. 

Third: Enjoy!

If nothing else, try making it for a house party or a hostess gift by buying a pretty dish and platter and putting graham crackers with it. 

Enjoy! - Ryn 

DIY Friday: Fatty Coffee

First things first: I hate the name of this coffee, but I'm not really sure what to call it! So if you think of another name for it, comment below please!!! 👇👇👇

So my mom and I were watching a YouTube video from one of her bloggers she follows: Abel James. Well, he did this video on fatty coffee.. And it looked amazing! Yes there is a ton of "good" fat in it, so if you watch your caloric intake, this coffee isn't for you! But if you like coffee and you want something that satiates you in the morning for hours, this coffee is indeed, for you! I've made my own version for myself for about 4 days inconsistently. And each time, I feel full and ready to conquer the world! (I usually eat cottage cheese and banana with it...and sometimes protein.) But its the perfect pick me up! To tell ya the truth, it sounded a little weird to put a pat of butter in my coffee, but I was willing to try it. And It's pretty darn good, I must say! 

 Although, I haven't come up with a solution to travel with it or go to coffee shops and enjoy it there... that's still in the works...

 

Disclaimer: this only works with Hot coffee! Or a blended coffee drink. Believe me, I made the mistake of putting it in an iced coffee. I don't recommend it... Unless you dig chewy coffee... I just know I don't! Haha!

What you'll need: 

Hot Coffee

1 Tablespoon Coconut oil

1 Tablespoon Butter
Heavy whipping cream

Stevia (or sugar substitute of your choice) 

Mug

Do the same thing you usually do with making coffee. Water, coffee grounds & coffee pot, Keurig or French press, etc! (You can use your toddy coffee, you'll just have to heat it up on the stove or in the microwave)

I used this coffee ^^^ from Trader Joe's, but you are more than welcome to use your favorite coffee!

Turn your coffee pot on. (Big step right here!)

Gather you ingredients together:

Cream, butter & coconut oil.

And stevia....

Also grab your mug! 

Coffees READY! 😃

 

Pour coffee in your cup and get ready to put some odd but great things into your coffee! 

Add Butter.

Next, add coconut oil.
 

Then add yo cream! (I for one, like my coffee the same tone as Shakira)
 

And presto! Enjoy the satiated feeling you'll receive when enjoying this fantastic coffee! And all of the healthy benefits too!

Thanks for reading Ya'll, Ryn : )
P.s Let me know it goes, down below!!!