Recipes for Christmas Morning Brunch

This week I hosted a Christmas breakfast to celebrate the season with a few friends. It was nice to get together and my way of showing appreciation to my friends for being great friends this year.

I love to entertain for breakfast/brunch and here's why:

1. Every recipe can be prepared the day before. All of the food was prepped 24 hours ahead so the morning of I just had to bake everything. I like to enjoy my own party!

2. We all get together for coffee frequently anyway, so a breakfast is just an extra nice treat.

3. I love all of the variations of french toast, egg bakes, muffins, etc. I tried 3 new recipes this time and they all turned out great! I will be making the Egg Nog French Toast on Christmas Morning for sure. The Creme Brulee French Toast was wonderful too!

4. The Invitation - after sifting through all of the samples, I love finding the perfect invite! I liked this one because of the holly. Matches my china, napkins, etc.

If you have a houseful coming for Christmas, try any or all of these recipes and you will be joyful because they are so easy and guests will be merry because they are delicious! Merry Entertaining!

 Egg Nog French Toast with Cranberry-Apple Compote
from www.epicurious.com

• 4 cups purchased eggnog
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 14.5-ounce country white bread loaf, halved horizontally, each half cut crosswise into 8 slices (do not use ends)

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• Powdered sugar
• Cranberry-Apple Compote

Whisk first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Place bread slices in single layer in two 13x9x2-inch glass baking dishes. Pour custard over bread, dividing equally. Cover dishes and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 450°F. Butter 2 large rimmed baking sheets with some melted butter. Using spatula, transfer bread slices to prepared baking sheets. Brush bread with remaining melted butter. Bake 10 minutes. Turn over bread slices and bake until golden brown and crisp on the outside but soft on the inside, about 6 minutes longer. Place 2 French toast slices on each of 8 plates. Dust generously with powdered sugar; serve with Cranberry Apple Compote

 Cranberry Apple Compote (Don't skip this! Wonderful and adds color to plate)

• 2 cups apple cider
• 6 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

• 3 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (about) sugar

Whisk apple cider, corn syrup, and brown sugar in heavy large saucepan. Boil over high heat until reduced to 1 cup, about 15 minutes. Add 4 tablespoons butter; whisk until melted. Remove from heat.
Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add apple pieces; sauté 2 minutes. Add cranberries and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir until cranberries begin to pop, about 2 minutes. Stir in reduced cider mixture. Boil until reduced to syrup consistency, about 6 minutes. Stir in more sugar, if desired. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Stir over medium heat until heated through.) Transfer compote to bowl and serve warm.

Egg and Cheese Strata
Toast of the Coast, Junior League of Jacksonville

5 slices buttered bread, torn into small pieces
12 oz. sharp Cheddar Cheese , shredded
4 eggs
2 cups milk
 Pinch of dry mustard
Crisp-cooked bacon, crumbled

Layer the bread and cheese in a lightly greased baking dish. Lightly beat the eggs in a bowl. Add the milk and mustard and mix well. Pour over the layers in the baking dish. Chill, covered, for 8 hours. Remove the cover. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Sprinkle with bacon. Serves 6 to 8.

Planning a Christmas Ornament Exchange?

An Ornament Exchange is a wonderful way to entertain during the holiday season. Planning is simple and guests leave with a special ornament received from friends. Here are a few tips for the perfect party:

Start with a fun invitation! There are many invitations available for this fun event. On the invitation ask each guest to bring a wrapped ornament to exchange. I recommend including a maximum dollar value for the ornament such as $15.  If everyone brings an ornament in the same price range everyone will leave happy with their ornament.

If you are planning an evening party, serve a fun cocktail. The following recipe for Amaretto-Cranberry Kiss cocktail was a huge hit last year at our party.

Amaretto-Cranberry Kiss Cocktail
2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup amaretto
3 T Orange Juice

Mix cranberry juice, vodka, amaretto and orange juice in pitcher. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Can be prepared 1 day ahead so perfect for entertaining!

Fill cocktail shaker with ice and fill with one cup of mixture. Cover and shake. Serve in martini glass. Enjoy!

As guests arrive place all wrapped ornaments under the tree. Serve cocktails and appetizers.

To do the exchange:

~On a small piece of paper write numbers for the number of guest. Example, for 15 guests have 15 slips numbered 1 -15.
~Have each guest pull from a number from a Santa hat. The number they pull is the order they will unwrap an ornament.
~Guest who pulled #1 goes first. They unwrap an ornament and show the group. No one should tell which ornament they brought yet.
~Guest who pulled #2 has the option to unwrap an ornament or steal the ornament from Guest #1. We play that any ornament can be stolen only once per round and a new round starts every time a new Guest pull choose.  
~Continue until everyone has an ornament. Encourage stealing others ornaments. It adds a lot of fun to the exchange! Plan on an hour or so for about 15 guests.
~Have everyone go around the room and tell which ornament they brought and where it was purchased. Guests may want to purchase a similar ornament or they may have a fun story of how and where the ornament was purchased.

An Ornament Exchange is a guaranteed fun holiday party! If you host an ornament exchange party let us know your ideas!

Planning a holiday cookie exchange?

A tried and true holiday party occasion is a cookie exchange. A cookie exchange helps everyone accomplish multiple goals during the busy holiday season including:

1. Spending time with family and friends
2. Baking cookies and treats
3. Exchanging the cookies and arriving home with a beautiful platter ready to serve at the next holiday occasion!

Here are just a few tips for your holiday cookie exchange:
1. On the invite ask guests to bring a specified # of cookies. 4 dozen is manageable for everyone.

2. Ask guests to bring cookies packaged in bags 4 cookies to a bag. Then the hostess has an easy task of sorting cookies for everyone to take home.

3. Ask guests to bring cookies on a platter. This takes more time of the hostess but can this is the best way to make a beautiful arrangement of cookies. Purchase inexpensive platters and create one for each guest with all of the varieties of cookies. Wrap in cellophane and finish with a large ribbon and tie an ornament to the ribbon. Perfect!

4. Ask guests to email their recipes before the party and print all of the recipes to give as party favors. Include the date and names of recipe contributors. An instant keepsake.

I love all cookie exchanges and the opportunity to try new cookie recipes. Send us your cookie exchange tips and party ideas!

Love this invitation! We have these in stock and can ship next day!