Thursday, December 29, 2011

Traditional Americana New Year's Dishes

Happy New Year (in a few days)!  I took the liberty of researching some traditional American New Year's recipes and came up with some pretty interesting information.  First, I learned that Ham & Pork are traditional New Year's dishes in several countries around the world and the USA.


Marinated Pork Loin Roast

Why pork, you may ask?  Apparently, wild boar was often hunted, killed, and eaten throughout the cold winter months, right around New Year's, in Europe (think England, Germany, Poland) and thus became the staple feast dish at New Year's.


Cider Orange Ham

Also, pork and ham are customary New Year's main courses because pigs apparently root or dig with their noses to the ground moving forward, a preferred metaphor for approaching the new year.  This also explains why chicken, and birds in general did not make the traditional New Year's recipe list or tables.  Chickens and turkeys scratch the ground with their feet in a backwards motion, supposedly not bringing good luck to the eater of said chicken.


Salmon Cakes

Which brings me to the last bit of research.  I discovered that fish (all kinds) are considered quite lucky in most cultures (think Japan, Asia, South Pacific Islands, etc) to eat at New Year's, as they represent all sorts of metaphors for moving forward, swimming upstream and any other fish metaphor you want to add.  In North America, eating Salmon, Cod, Herring and Halibut at New Year's is considered to bring you good luck for the next year and signifies prosperity.

Hopefully you have enjoyed your little history lesson about New Year's dishes and found a recipe tempting enough for you to try!  We enjoy feedback and sharing photo results of recipes.




Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Who Needs Resolutions When You Have...

Such great recipes at your fingertips?  Put off the resolutions until January 2nd-ish, and try one of these delicious dishes from Alicia's!  These recipes are perfect for ringing in the New Year.  We'll pretend they are fat-free and calorie-free, just for now.

If you have some place to be New Year's Eve, or planning to hunker down at home with the family and board games...add one of these desserts to your buffet and listen to the sound of New Year's revelers saying "Mmm...Yummy!"

Enjoy!  And please submit pictures of your results to our site if you try one of our recipes.  We love to see what's baking in your kitchen!


Upside Down Fruit Cobbler


Tiramisu Bundt Cake


Swedish Chocolate Balls

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Is Coming...

The Goose is getting fat...and probably so will we!  Here are some delightfully fattening recipes to get your holiday groove on with.  Feed them to your family, the neighbors, your co-workers, and anyone else you can think of!

Enjoy the season.  (Don't worry!  We can all start training for a marathon together, after January 1st!)


Buttermilk Lemon Cake


Cheesy Ham and Potato Bake


Cherry Peanut Butter Balls

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Deck the Halls with Breads and Pies!

Fah-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la...We're very near to Christmas Day now (4 days to go by my calendar) and our Christmas baking countdown is coming to a close.  We've shared recipes over the phone, googled easy oliebollen recipes on the internet, called our mothers in a panic to get their famous fill-in-the-blank holiday recipes, and sank into the nearest chairs spent and tired from compiling the perfect Christmas menus!

And we aren't done yet!  Hang in there my friends.  We are in the home stretch.  A few more holiday parties and Christmas carols to go and then we can relax with a tall cup of steaming hot cocoa and watch our kids dismantle every single package under the tree.

Speaking of relaxing, here are some bread and pie recipes we can make up ahead of time to have on hand when the kids and in-laws get cranky because their blood sugar levels have plummeted to a new Christmas low.

Enjoy!  Remember to submit a photo of your results to our site, because we love to see what's shakin' and bakin' in your kitchen!   


Almond Pear Bread


Apple Pie With Candied Crust


Banana Split Pie


Friday, December 16, 2011

More Christmas AM Ideas!

Let the countdown begin!  (No, I do not have all my shopping, wrapping, or baking done.) There are eight days until Christmas by my calendar, which means...you still have time to perfect your Christmas menu.  Are you in the keep-it-simple-sweetie (KISS) camp?  Or do you favor a more sophisticated approach to your holiday recipes?

Either way, here are a few recipes to get your holiday bake on...again!  If it isn't already very much on that is.  We've got plenty of tasty holiday recipes over at our site, in case your blow through our short list at the blog.  Please post a picture of your results if you do use one of our recipes, because we love to see what you've been shakin' and bakin'!


Blackberry Muffins


Breakfast Cookies


Egg (English) Muffins


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Christmas Morning Breakfast...

With Christmas morning 11 days away, it's not too early to think about Christmas breakfast!  The shopping and wrapping and paper cuts and menu planning that go into building Christmas for your family should not be attempted on an empty stomach, and neither should Christmas morning!

Do you already have specific family favorites that you make for Christmas breakfast?  Or are you more of a brunch kind of person?  Do you like to get fancy with mimosas and streusel or keep it simple with black coffee and chunky gooey cinnamon rolls?

Whichever Christmas morning tradition you and your family enjoy, make it extra special with a simple and tasty Christmas morning recipe.  Try something new this year, or add a side dish to your signature breakfast fair.  Here are some recipes and ideas just to get you started...


All-In-One Quiche


Baked Donut Muffin


Blackberry Breakfast Bars

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Christmas Candy Invasion!

Apparently, I cannot escape the allure of chocolate and Christmas candy, despite how hard I fight it.  They are all lethal I tell you, lethal!  If I die eating Christmas Fudge...then I die a happy woman.  Where was I?  Oh yes, if you are still doing your holiday baking for Christmas and need some inventive tasty new candy recipes give one of these a try!

We have so many candy and cookie recipes just waiting for you over at Alicia's Recipes.  So many cookies, so little time...

Remember to submit a picture of your results to our site.  We love to see what's shakin' and bakin' in your kitchen!


Creamy Fudge


Easy Chocolate Turtles


Handmade Marshmallows


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Tasty Treats For Christmas!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, all the running around and preparations you are solely responsible, you deserve a treat today!  But how to treat you and your family and stay on budget for your holiday shopping and baking?

We have compiled a list of recipes that double as delicious gifts and delightful bites to keep your spirits high and your budget in tact.  Try one (or all four) on your family and see if they pass the Christmas treat test.

Be sure to post pictures of your results at our site.  We love to see what's shakin' and bakin' in your kitchen!


Chocolate Peanut Butter Rocky Road Clusters


Chocolate Peppermint Truffles


Chocolate Walnut Fudge


Friday, December 2, 2011

Christmas Balls of Sweetness!

Back again with our baking theme in mind for the holidays, I seem to have focused on round shaped baked goodies this morning.  Here is what I am thinking: I'll make up several different kinds of cake balls, fudge, toffees, and other type goodies.  Then I'll fill some festive holiday tins with the goodies.

(I have started recycling empty aluminum coffee cans, the big ones, instead of holiday tins as they can get kind of expensive to buy new each year.  I use Christmas themed or other pretty scrapbook paper to cover the outside of the coffee cans with, maybe add some ribbon or stickers, a pretty gift tag and...Voila!  Up-cycled goodies containers for your holiday gifts!)

All you have to do is bake, fill, and give!  You are ready to knock the neighbors, your kids' teachers, soccer coaches, and family members socks right off with how creative, thrifty, and kitchen-savvy you are...Sounds like a win-win solution to me.  Now get to filling those tins!

Don't forget to post pictures of your results to our site.  We love to see what's shakin' and bakin' in your kitchen!


Buckeye Candy

Cake Balls

Chocolate Cake Balls

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