Saturday, December 12, 2009

Party Time

Okay, it's official. Christmas is here. We're all ready to relax, put our hair up in a pony tail and open presents after we cook and prep. Today was the first day of the season for me. I got up, made 12 bags of reindeer food, and 8 cute mini-loaves of eggnog loaves. Yummy! Then I wrapped a present for the Heart of Dixie Christmas party and took a shower to attend the said party.

Yay! I got to spend time with all my fellow writer comrades and eat and open weird presents (tho' I think I do win the weirdest gag gift award--in fact I believe I forgot it at the host's house--no loss). After a perilous drive through some strange parts of town, a stop to buy ice and cokes (my lame contribution), I finally arrived at the host's house.

Yay! Party! We crammed a lot of food and fun into a house. Good times!

I didn't write today, but I got to be with writers and that's almost the same. More about this group later, I promise!! But not writing one day is not a problem. The goal is half an hour per day, but some days I write over an hour and other times only a half an hour. Over the course of the week, I manage to get my time in.

Now is the season to relax, regroup and enjoy our friends and family. Part of that means sharing recipes. Today's recipe comes from my best friend, Lori. I've known her for 35 plus years! That's saying a lot considering I'm only 32 (LOL). She is a great friend, keeper of all my secrets, and a fabulous cook (you'll see another one of her recipes here soon).

Lori's Eggnog Mini Loaves

2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup eggnog
1/2 cup melted butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp rum extract (I couldn't find any so I used imitation and it was fine)

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, eggnog, butter and extracts. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until moistened. Pour into three greased 5 3/4 by 3 inch by 2 inch loaf pans (I used eight smaller cute pans with neat Christmas imprints at the bottom--and they turned out great!--planning cupcakes next). Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes till a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing and putting on wire racks.

Yield's 3 loaves, or 8 mini mini loaves or... stay tuned for cupcakes.

Turned out super yummy! Can't wait to make more.

Do you have any recipes you enjoy? Tried and true? Any new ideas? Share!

10 comments:

M.V.Freeman said...

ooooh! LOVE this recipe, I can hardly wait to make it.

And tell me, you left the glasses at the party? Really? Drat, I thought they were cool.

Do you want to drink the "Writer's Block" wine with me? :-)

Christine said...

You know I completely meant to haul them home with me... like someone really wanted them so I left them behind... did you bring them? Huh?

Yes Yes Yes on the wine.

I am heading out on Sat. the 19th... it'll have to happen after that... but I am seriously looking for that wine when I go up to Nville to TJs.

M.V.Freeman said...

Sadly, I did not bring them. I didn't realize you left them. I'll ask Danniele when I see her.

So you're heading out, I'll hold on to the wine for you!

HUGS!!!! I'm thinking of you!

Christine said...

They can be regifted! seriously... me and that dude had the most silly presents...HUH?

I will call you!

Gwen Hernandez said...

I'm so impressed that you took a shower! *grin*

I have no recipes to share at this time as I only cook at gunpoint, or if I don't have to do the dishes, which luckily is most nights. (The dishes, not the gunpoint thing...)

Enjoy your 12 days of Christmas!

Unknown said...

Oooh, I love to bake! This is one I might give a try. Though I might have to do some real searching for eggnog, its not someting we really have over on this side of the Atlantic.

When my blog lets me copy and paste again I might up date ans share a recipe or two!

Martha W said...

I feel like such a Scrooge when I say this but... I hate eggnog. That recipe looks really yummy if I skip over that line though! *grin*

Glad you had a good party!

Christine said...

Gwen, I understand. But we girls love to make the yummy food. It's so good and easy to make. Tradition! Lucky you to hardly have to do the dishes. My "elves" barely lift a finger UNLESS I ask them. With a minimum of grumbling, they do help. And mine does bathrooms if I ask--whew.

Christine said...

Martha, I'm not a huge eggnog fan, but these loaves taste super good. Must be the rum extract. Any rate, stay tuned. More yummy recipes today. And some are so easy to make, I can't wait to share.

Christine said...

Zoe, I never realized that eggnog is hard to come by in Ireland. I always thought it originated overseas. Hmm. I wonder if another "thick" liquid would do like a heavy cream. In the new year, I'll have to try it.

I am sharing my daughter's favorite recipe and it is super easy, BUT it calls for oreo cookies. Those are American classics. I hope they have them in Ireland.

But if not, maybe my chocolate sambucca cookies will be easier to make (and they are super yummy).