Showing posts with label Christmas Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas Party. Show all posts

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Cookie Swap

My SIL is a genius! Our group of girlfriends are going to do a cookie swap this year - all her idea :)

What is a cookie swap you may ask...
Well basically everyone bakes 1 dozen cookies for each person in attendance. So if there are 6 people attending you need to make 6 dozen (of the same kind of cookie) to exchange. This is a great way to try out new recipes and obtain a variety of cookies for oh I don't know... your Christmas party ;) without having to spend the time preparing each one!

She also found this helpful cookie website - 25 days of Cookies

Friday, November 13, 2009

Holiday Drinks

I found this yummy website full of drink recipes!!!
Their holiday section look especially delicious!

Here is one I thought looked good:

Chocolate whip

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4 oz. chocolate milk
2 oz. cold coffee
whipped cream
shaved chocolate

Optional
1 oz. Bailey's
(for an individual cocktail)

Directions:
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add 4 oz. chocolate milk and 2 oz. cold coffee. Top with whipped cream and garnish with shaved chocolate.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Homemade Egg Nog

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Delicious Nog!

6 Large eggs
3/4 c Sugar
1 1/2 c Brandy
1/2 c Rum
4 c Milk
4 c Cream
1/2 c Icing sugar
Nutmeg to sprinkle

Separate the yolks from the whites of the eggs. Beat the yolks slowly while simultaneously adding the sugar; do this until the mixture is pale and golden. Now slowly add in the brandy and rum, then beat in the milk and half the cream.

Set aside until just before serving, then whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the eggnog mixture. Whip the remaining cream and icing sugar until thick. Top each glass of eggnog with whipped cream and a shake of nutmeg. This yields eight servings.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Snowflake Cakes

Totally going off the Snowflake invitations... I think my wonderful neighbour (a.k.a cake baking extraordinaire) and I are going to bake a pretty snowflake cake for my Christmas party!

Googling snowflake cakes; I think I would like a mixture of the following... some how :)

I really like how the snowflakes are popping out on this one:
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I like the look of this one... especially the light dusting of rock sugar:
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This tiered cake is beautiful!!! Love the look of melting snow:
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* These would be beautiful for anyone having a Christmas/ Winter wedding!!!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Snowflake Christmas Party Cards

We are having our 2nd Annual Christmas party this year and I am so excited!!!
I am starting to brainstorm now for this years party... But with it being a little less then 2 months away I definitely need to get the ball rolling!

I tend to think about the invitations first; as they are the first point of contact for your guests.
This year I chose a snowflake themed invitation (which I bought a Michaels!)
I also bought a snowflake paper punch from Martha Stewarts Stationary collection. It was kind of an expensive purchase for invitations but I figured I could use it on all sorts of things; wrapping paper, menus, Christmas cards - the possibilities are endless!

Here are a couple of pictures for you...
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Christmas floral arrangements!

There are so many beautiful floral arrangements out there, my sister-in-law has an up and coming floral boutique and does some really beautiful work! I love seeing everything she comes up with how lovely the bouquets are for each bride. I thought I would post a couple of inspiration pictures for the upcoming holiday season...

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* Due to her little one on the way Morgan is currently on maternity leave from floral design, but feel free to take a look around her blog; if you're a flower lover like me you will enjoy it!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Christmas Sheet Music

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Who doesn't love Christmas music played live... I could be biased as I married into a very musical family, but there is nothing like listening to a Christmas carol being played by a piano or guitar! This brings me to my new juicy find... Mfiles, a website that offers free Christmas sheet music!Not only do they offer it but they also give the choice of different formats, keys, and instruments! Now you can fill your home with the sweet sounds of Christmas!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Mulled Wine

The spicy aroma of this holiday classic will permeate the whole house, leaving guests with that warm & fuzzy Christmas feeling!
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2 litres of a good burgundy wine
1 tangerine orange
16 to 20 whole cloves
3 or 4 cinnamon sticks (more for garnish)
1/3 to 1/2 cups liquid honey

1. Slice orange into 4 or 5 sections. Embed 3 or 4 cloves in each section
2. Mix all ingredients in a large pot. Put on low heat, do not let simmer only steam. You may have to turn off burner and remove pot from element to prevent this.
3. This will take approximately 2 hours, Once the aroma has hit the whole house you're done!!!

*Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Eating Tips for the holiday

I truly laughed quite hard after reading this!!!! Took me quite a while to track down the email, hope you enjoy!

Eating Tips for the Holidays

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an
'eggnog-aholic' or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it!!!! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control our eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello???

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips. Start over. But hurry... January is just around the corner!

Remember this motto to live by: 'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO-HOO what a ride!'

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Candycane Place Setting

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Check out this festive place setting; found on MarthaStewart.com. So cute!!!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Holly Berry

Christmas cocktail anyone???

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1/8 ounces lemon juice fresh
1 1/2 ounces Plymouth gin
Fresh raspberries (as garnish)
Raspberry juice

Fill a shaker with gin and lemon juice. Shake and strain into cocktail glass. Top with raspberry juice and garnish with fresh raspberries.
*Variation: try raspberry liqueur in place of raspberry juice.

Enjoy!!!