Croutons

What do you do with the dry ends of a loaf of bread? I like to make toast with them, but honestly, sometimes they just get tossed. And I hate to waste food.

So this morning while I was making breakfast, I had a great thought... make croutons! I buttered and seasoned both sides of some stale bread with garlic salt and pepper, and put them in the toaster oven. I let the pieces get fairly dark, then cut them into cubes and put them back in (this time on the pan, of course, so they wouldn't fall through the rack). It took just a few minutes to crisp those cut edges.

I let them cool and dry out a bit, and tasted one (or three). Delicious. I think I'll have a salad for lunch...
 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares

If your taste buds are anything like mine, then a pumpkin-chocolate anything would probably be on your list of favorite baked goodies. Last month I found an easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares recipe thanks to Martha Stewart and I've already made three batches for three different events! It's a simple, festive and super tasty treat. View the recipe here.

Happy Baking!

Printable: 2012 Calendar

The new year will be here in a matter of hours! If you haven't had a chance to pick-up a 2012 calendar, we have a delightful (and free!) version for you to download and enjoy all year long.

Simply click here to download the PDF and cut each page in half for a final page size of 5.5" wide by 8.5" tall. The "x" on each page marks where you should punch a hole. Print, hang, and welcome 2012! Of course, if you'd like us to do the work for you, we have pre-printed calendars on sale here.

Holiday Breakfast

Breakfast is probably my favorite meal, and having guests for breakfast is so fun. But it can be a little tricky getting the timing of all the elements down, so I often resort to a strata or breakfast casserole. It’s also the perfect thing for overnight guests you may be having over the holidays.

Here’s a recipe I made up last Friday night using what I had in the house. It turned out delicious!

Bacon & Spinach Strata
8 slices of bread, cubed (I used leftover dinner rolls)
10 eggs

2 C milk

1 C grated cheddar

1/2 lb bacon

a bag of spinach, lightly sautéd

Fry and crumble the bacon. 

Grease a 9x13” pan (I used the bacon grease) 

Line the bottom with the cubed bread and top with the bacon, spinach and cheese 

Whisk the milk and eggs, season with salt and pepper, and pour over the bread mixture.

Chill overnight or at least an hour.

Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole until puffed and center is set, about 50 minutes. Serve with a little fruit on the side. Enjoy!

Sweet Treat: Jam Strips

Cookies are one of my favorite things. Quick, easy, no-plate-necessary sweetness. I love to bake, especially breads and cookies. I decided to bring cookies to work the other day, so I looked through my recipes and came across an old favorite: jam strips. My friend Kirsten gave me the recipe and I hadn't made them in years. Kirsten is from Norway, and I think this recipe came to America with her.

Everybody at work--well, at least the ones who told me so-- loved them and asked for
the recipe. So Iʼll share it with you too!

Jam Strips

Cream together:

1 cube + 2 T butter
1/3 C sugar

Mix in 1 egg

Add:

2 t grated lemon peel

1 t baking powder
1 1/2 C flour

Mix well. Roll dough into two strips, the length of a cookie sheet. Press down lightly in
the middle with your fingers and spread with jam. (Kirsten says raspberry or apricot, but
Iʼve used anything Iʼve had on hand, and itʼs all delicious!)

Bake at 275–300 degrees for about 12-15 minutes. (Howʼs that for precise?)
When strips are cool, glaze and slice diagonally.


Glaze:
1/2 C powdered sugar
1 1/2 T water

--youʼll probably want to double this, unless you live alone.

Paper Bag Gift Wrap

I've used my share of cute gift bags to wrap presents in a hurry but there's something kinda sweet about giving a gift that's been wrapped in paper and tied with a ribbon. I am a perfectionist and love rules so when I wrap gifts I practice all the guidelines my mom taught me: use just enough paper to keep the wrapping smooth, fold the paper to hide raw edges and tuck in your corners. I will, however, allow myself a bit more freedom and creativity when it comes to the materials I use. Fabric, buttons, twine or pipe cleaners can sometimes add just the right whimsy to make the recipient smile before she even gets to what's inside.

Today I wrapped a gift using the only paper I had on-hand: a grocery bag! I've resorted to the paper bag many times in the past and have been completely satisfied with the results. I thought I'd show you just how cute the unexpected can be...enjoy!

Find the bicycle and bird gift tags in our Paper Shop!