Christmas Guest Towels

Who would guess that the new addition to my fabric scrap stash would come in handy so quickly?  It was the beginning of another quick and easy Christmas project.  The colorful fabric strips on my new bright Christmas Guest Towels is leftover fabric from my current project.  Two years ago I wanted Thanksgiving themed Guest Towels, but while searching in stores I never found any that suited my fancy.  So, I purchased colored towels and made them to order.  It worked so well!  The towels have endured many washings and remain a vibrant color.  While they were hanging in our bathroom this November it reminded me that another holiday was approaching and ideas started to flow - Christmas Guest Towels.

Thanksgiving Guest Towels

The chosen colors of the newly decorated hand towels go well with the fabric design and also with the colors in our bathroom.  A BIG + is that they were very simple to make.  After purchasing (via a good sale) 2 new towels I was ready to start. 

A strip of fabric was cut to fit into towel's recessed area near the bottom edge.  The strip is 2" longer than the towel's width.  That way I have an extra 1" on each side to play with when doing the finishing work and sewing. 

The height of the desired strip is measured 1/2" larger than needed,  so both the top and the bottom may be turned in 1/4" and pressed.  The raw edges on each side of the strip are turned in also, pressed and then turned in again and sewn in place. 

When sewing strip in place:  I like to wrap a very small portion of the colorful strip around the backside of the towel when attaching, so I allow for an extra 1/2" on each side.  Pin the strip onto the plain portion of the towel's front and sew in place.  Really easy!


Pinning strip in place.

These Guest Towels also make quick, small and festive Christmas gifts!  I am adding this post to my Threads with Taste Page (located below my header) above.
Enjoy!
Happy Sewing!

          

CranOrange Coffee Cake

CranOrange Coffee Cake (cooling)

There is only one way that my family enjoys Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce - and that's in CranOrange Coffee Cake!  Enjoying a slice of this moisty colorful cake after dinner on Christmas Day has become a tradition.  During the holiday season it can be baked early on, cooled, wrapped in foil and placed in the freezer.  Then, the day before serving, this cake (that is baked in a Bundt or Tube Pan) is defrosted and an Almond flavored icing drizzled over the top.  Yum!   

Years ago, I used Ocean Spray CranOrange Relish when preparing this tasty dessert.  Since I no longer can locate this item in grocery stores, the Whole Berry Sauce combined with 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of Orange Extract works very well.
 

Ready for the oven

I try to use less Whole Eggs when baking, so rather than use 2 Whole Eggs, I use 1 Whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites in the batter.  1 Whole Egg = 2 Egg Whites when baking.  Fat Free Sour Cream is also an ingredient.  The recipe for our favorite cake is below. 

CranOrange Coffee Cake  printable Recipe Card

Oven: 350°F

Time: Bake 55 Minutes or until cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.

Ingredients:
1 Stick (8 Tablespoons) Unsalted Margarine/Butter, softened
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Egg + 2 Egg Whites (or 2 Whole Eggs)
2 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Fat Free Sour Cream
1 teaspoon Almond Extract
*****
8 ounces Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce Plus
1 and 1/2 teaspoons Orange Extract

OR 1 container CranOrange Relish

Method:

1. Spray 9" or 10" Bundt Pan or Tube Pan with PAM & flour.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Using mixer, Cream Margarine/Butter with Sugar.
4. Add 1 Whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites (or 2 Whole Eggs) and blend well.
5. Add dry ingredients alternating with Sour Cream.  End with the dry ingredients.
6. Add Almond Extract.
7. Combine 8 ounces Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce with 1 and 1/2 teaspoons Orange Extract in separate bowl (if using).
8. Place 1/2 of batter in Bundt Pan, spread evenly.
9. Top with 1/2 of Sauce, spread.
10. Carefully add remaining batter, spread.
11. Follow with remaining Sauce, spread.
12. Bake at 350°F for 55 Minutes or until cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.
13. Cool on wire rack for 5 Minutes.
14. Remove cake from pan and cool.
15. After cooling, wrap in foil and freeze until needed.

The day before CranOrange Coffee Cake will be served, defrost and drizzle with Topping.

Topping:  Blend 3/4 Cup Confectioner's Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Water + 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract until smooth. 

Every year we enjoy this delicious CranOrange Coffee Cake with an Almond Icing!  And...a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side!  The beginning of this week my "to do' list includes baking and freezing our Christmas cake.

Does your family enjoy a special cake during the holidays? 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Do you have a favorite cookie that you bake every year for a special holiday?  The variety of cookie that beckons a sampling as soon as the first dozen cookies are removed from the cookie sheet and are cool enough to handle.  I sure do!  For me it's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies!  For over 30 years I've baked these rolled and cut out scrumptious treats (containing a hint of Nutmeg) in early December.  They freeze so well that they are stored in our freezer and are ready for Christmas week.  Last year I shared this recipe and it's the perfect time for me to do so again.

These soft, light, rolled out delicious cookies are fun to make not only because cookie cutters and colored sugars are used, but the two step or overnight process means the dough is prepared one day and refrigerated.  On the second day the rolling pin, pastry sheet and cookie cutters are used.  So fun to bake with your children or grandchildren!  There are also other times during the year when my cookie cutters and my red/white rolling pin are located and used.  However, before Christmas they are always used!

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies  printable recipe card

Oven:  375°F
Yield:  About 5 dozen, depending on size

Ingredients:
4 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 Cup unsalted Butter, softened
1 and 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Sour Cream (can be Fat Free)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Colored Sugars for Decorating

Method:

Day 1-

1. In large bowl with electric mixer beat Butter and Sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add Egg, beat.
3. Add in Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt and Nutmeg.
4. While beating on Low, slowly add Flour, 1 Cup at a time.
5. Add in Vanilla and Sour Cream.  Beat on Medium until well combined.  Dough will be stiff.
6. Remove dough from bowl and place on plastic wrap, wrap dough.
7. Place wrapped dough on aluminum foil and wrap well.
8. Refrigerate overnight.

Day 2-

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Unwrap dough and cut into four parts.
3. On well floured surface, roll dough to 1/4" thickness.  Use cookie cutters.
4. Place cookies on pan/sheet 1" apart.  (Maybe 12 cookies to a sheet.)
5. Sprinkle with colored sugars.
6. Bake 10 - 11 Minutes.  Bottom of cookies will be a light golden brown.
7. Remove with spatula to wire cooling racks.
8. When cool store in airtight containers.

**These cookies also freeze very well.

**For my family, any leftover dough is used to make "Initial" cookies.  Ropes are made from the leftover dough.  The first letter of each family member's name is shaped and placed on the cookie sheet.  Each letter is 2"-3".  For some reason these are eaten last, by the individual's choice.  Maybe because it will be the last one saved out!  :)

Now, it's time for me to sit in front of my Janome and finish my sewing project!

Do you have a favorite holiday cookie?
 
Enjoy!
Yummy!

         

~Tasty Treats~

Craisins, Raisins, Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Brown Sugar added!

Thanksgiving was GREAT!  The long weekend was packed with chatting it up with the family!  As usual, earlier, there were the traditional foods to prepare, but this year a tad little less time for baking.  So glad that I had planned to bake Craisin Raisin Apple Crisp after the Butternut Squash Custard Pie came out of the oven.  There are times when an easy tasty dessert made with sliced fruit tastes just absolutely delicious!  It was one of those times!  As you know, I m not much into purchasing baked goods and I try to keep the sugar to flour ratio low when baking.  

In Apple Crisp no pie crust needs to be rolled out.  Raisins & Craisins are mixed in with the apples before baking.  The oat topping is spread over the top of the thinly sliced apples.  It's easy to prepare and it tastes wonderful!  We all agreed, the NUTMEG added into the crumb mixture tasted divine!  My younger son has put in his request for this dessert the next time he stops in.

Needs a Small Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream!

Now, after baking the Butternut Squash Custard Pie, there was extra unbaked pie crust.  Tasty Treats are the anticipated dessert whenever I roll out pie crust.  After making these for so many years, they have become the Part 2 when baking a pie.  Any remaining extra dough is formed into a ball and rolled out.  Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Craisins & Raisins are scattered over the top of the dough.  Then, starting at one end, the dough is rolled into a log and lightly pressed.  Next, cut the log into slices.  Onto a foil lined baking sheet the slices are placed - a 350° F oven for about 20-22 Minutes or until slightly browned.

Tasty Treats - Another Tradition

The Tasty Treats are a wonderful way to use leftover dough.  And such a treat - little rolls of fruit and flaky baked dough.  It's always part of baking a pie.  It sure does not taste like a "leftover"!  Do you also bake these?  What does your family call them?

Thanksgiving weekend was FUN and our little toddler grandson kept us moving!  :)

We enjoyed the holiday weekend!

        

Turkey a la King



The Guest Towels are Ready!

Every year just before Thanksgiving when Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce is a featured special at my grocery store I purchase both the jellied and the whole berry sauces.  There are some Thanksgiving Day traditions that I savor from my own childhood.  One tradition is placing a tangy slice of this cold jellied sauce next to steaming turkey slices and mashed potatoes (that are topped with yummy gravy) on my dinner plate.  Oh, definitely, mashed Butternut Squash is also present.  That was also a tradition of my DH's family.  Yes, I could prep the whole berry sauce earlier during Thanksgiving week and we could enjoy that, but it would not be the same as both of our childhood memories.  This tradition has continued.  Our sons have always kept a watch for the can of  Cranberry Sauce while grazing in the fridge before dinner. 

This treat is enjoyed with our Thanksgiving Day Dinner, enjoyed the next day with Hot Turkey Sandwiches and then enjoyed once again with Turkey a la King that is served over toasted Oatmeal Bread.

There is always enough roasted turkey remaining for that last meal.  Turkey a la King is delicious and it's very easy to prepare.

Turkey a la King
Serves 2 - 3 Adults

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Margarine/Butter (I use unsalted.)
1/3 Cup Flour
1 Cup Chicken/Turkey Broth (I use College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth.)
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup (cooked) Turkey chunks, cut up, more if desired
2 Cups Cooked Carrots &/or Peas combined

Toasted Bread

Method:

1. Melt Margarine/Butter in skillet.
2. Remove skillet from Medium heat and slowly stir in Flour.
3. Return to heat and slowly add in Chicken Broth & Milk while slowly stirring constantly.
4. Continue stirring over heat until sauce is thick and bubbly.
5. Add Turkey chunks.
6. Add in cooked vegetables.   
7. Stir and heat mixture for 1 - 2 Minutes.
8. Serve over toasted Bread.

This meal always uses the remaining pieces of roasted Turkey and we always remember the Cranberry Sauce!

Maybe there will be a few slices of Cranberry Bread (click on name) to enjoy later for dessert.  In New England we do like Cranberry Bread.  :)  Two of these breads filled with fresh chopped cranberries are on my "to bake" list for tomorrow along with Butternut Squash Custard Pie (click on name).   

Enjoy the holiday with your family & friends.  We have much to be thankful for and it is always good to appreciate what we have.

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

~Sausage Soup~

Sausage Soup Simmering - Mmm!

This afternoon a steady rain is falling.  It's the perfect kind of day to enjoy a large bowl of hot hearty colorful soup filled with veggies at dinner.  Tonight, it's Sausage Soup for us.  Two days ago my large Revereware covered pot was put to use.  A batch of this delicious soup simmered along.  We sure did enjoy it for dinner that evening!  After our evening meal and the soup had cooled four labelled portions were placed in Ziploc Freezer containers and two portions were saved to enjoy again a bit later in the week. 

It's just the best to have a hearty soup ready to defrost waiting in the freezer!  Yes, Bertucci's does offer this soup on its menu, but I find their soup consists mostly of broth.  Nothing beats a hearty Sausage Soup.  And the cook controls the salt content!

Now, whenever I make this, I add about 12 oz. of defrosted Green Beans.  Green Beans are a fave in my fam, so I add them in whenever and in whatever meal I can.




Sausage Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb. Italian Sweet Sausage - removed from casings
4 cans (14.5 oz. each) College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth
1 can (14 - 20 oz.) Diced or Whole Tomatoes, drained
1 box chopped frozen Spinach, thawed
1 Cup White Rice, uncooked
1 lb. Baby Carrots (rinsed)
1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1 pkg. (10 - 14 oz.) defrosted Green Beans - optional

Method:

1. Remove Sausage from casings and brown in skillet.
2. Break Sausage into pieces while it is browning.
3. Place all remaining ingredients into large pot or Dutch Oven.
4. Add browned Sausage.
5. Bring all ingredients to a simmer.
6. Simmer about 45-60 minutes until Rice has cooked.

*Extra portions can be placed in the fridge or stored in the freezer.  This makes one delicious meal on a very busy evening.  It's always a welcome sight to find a container in my freezer. 

*When reheating, a 14.5 oz. can of College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth is added to the defrosted contents while the soup reheats on my stove.  The Rice has absorbed the liquid.

*Update: Our neighborhood is lookin' good after this welcome sight yesterday!


Thank you, FEMA!

Sausage Soup makes a very tasty meal on a very busy night, like tonight!  

Do you also Enjoy it?!
Yummy!

    

Butternut Squash Bread

Butternut Squash Breads Cooling

One of my Thanksgiving traditions is baking Butternut Squash Bread.  In November while I am prepping the delicious orange Butternut Squash to store in our large freezer, I save 2 cups of the mashed veggie to bake 2 breads for my fam to enjoy during the Thanksgiving Day weekend.  Within 2  days after "saving" the orange veggie, I bake 2 breads.  After they are cooled, they are wrapped in Heavy Duty Reynolds Wrap, labelled & stored in our freezer. 

This is a baking tidbit that my sister & I learned from our mom.  She did not use canned pumpkin nor steamed pumpkin, she always liked the flavor of Butternut Squash for this quick bread.  Now, the tradition lives on.  Yes, canned pumpkin can be substituted. 

In my usual reduce the cholesterol content while baking, I use 6 Egg Whites and 1 Whole Egg for the 2 breads that this recipe yields.  I also now use Olive Oil for baking & sauteing rather than Vegetable Oil.

My recipe card for Butternut Squash Bread is available for this delicious moisty bread by clicking here and printing.  This recipe yields 2 breads.  It freezes very well! 

This recipe can be cut in half to bake 1 bread.  *If baking 1 bread, use 1 Whole Egg + 2 Egg Whites or 2 Whole Eggs.

This week while I am prepping the Butternuts, I will also do a little baking for the upcoming holiday.  My family has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

Enjoy!
Yummy!