Cookin' at Christmas

Are you sick of Christmas yet? I'm not - Christmas is a really big deal at our house. We start with this 20ft tree which poor Kirk had to put up all by himself this year. And then we have all our Christmas traditions. We sing carols, we read stories, we sit on a yule log, we eat cookies, we get to open one gift [always jamies] on Christmas eve and we open stockings and gifts on Christmas morning then we have the Traditional Red, Green and White Breakfast.  What is that you ask... well, of course, it's a breakfast where all the items are either red, green or white.

Two of the items are always cranberry bread [red] and zucchini bread [green]. Of course I do make these two staples in my job as Professional Innsitter but it's nice to make them in my home for my family.

My cranberry bread recipe comes from this Better Homes cookbook, a gift for my wedding shower 40 years ago and the Iowa cookbook, a gift from my mom on my 30th birthday, has my best zuchini bread recipe. They are still two of my favorites!

As you can see. Santa helped my in the kitchen this year! Ho Ho Ho! The trick to good cranberry bread is finely chopped berries and this Santa is very good at it.
Christmas Cranberry Bread:
Beat 1 egg, 1t grated orange peel. 3/4 C OJ [I like to use thick concentrate]. 2T oil.
Add 2 C flour, 3/4 C sugar, 1 1/2 t baking powder, 1 t salt. 1/2 t soda.
Fold in 1 C finely chopped berries and nuts if you like.
Bake 350 for 1 hour.
Enjoy on Christmas morning!

                                         What do you have for Christmas Breakfast?

Christmas Cookies

  Yes, I know Christmas is over but at our house we are still eating Christmas COOKIES and we love it! Of course they do not look like this anymore - the really pretty ones were picked out on Christmas Day.

 Actually my favorite Christmas Cookie is this old fashioned gingerbread and I thought I might share the recipe with you so you could enjoy it next year.

   The dough is pretty simple:
   1 C butter
   1 C sugar
   1 egg
   1 C dark molasses
   2 T vinegar
   5 C flour
   1 1/2 t soda
   spices
Cream first two, add next three, stir in flour & LOTS of spice -at least 3T of ginger and whatever else you like - chill 3 hrs.

Then, roll and cut the dough into Christmas shapes and bake at 375 for 5 minutes.
Next comes the really FUN part - DECORATING!! The basic frosting is just powdered sugar, water and food coloring with LOTS of adornments - just let your imagination run away with you.
Look at this great gingerbread man that Kirk is making - AWWWW!

   

HO HO HO!  It's CHRISTMAS!

What is you favorite Christmas Cookie??

A Coastal Christmas

      Well, it is CHRISTMAS time and our current assignment is in Cannon Beach on the North Oregon Coast . What a special time of year here! Often the beaches are sunny and empty and of course there are so many charming Coastal Christmas decorations.
                                                                               

                                                                 

                       These are two of my favorites in the town of Seaside. Arn't they cute?
I especially like the dancing starfish. We got to sit right there behind him and watch the sunset and then have a very cold beach walk. This time we even had snow on the beach that lasted for two days. That's unusual. So aside from cold beach walks and decorating "our" inn, Kirk and I get to experience some of the local Coastal Christmas fun. This year we have been to a great concert and we always try to go to the Coaster Theater for their Christmas play. This year it was "White Christmas". Perfect!!

It was a great show and really got us in the
Christmas spirit. I hope all of you are spending the Christmas season somewhere magical and that you have a wonderful holiday!

Christmas in Colorado

  There is just something magical about Christmas in Colorado. Even though we have not had any snow yet, the nights are crisp and cold and the mountains gleam in the moonlight. Our little town has a host of fun Christmas activities starting with the "Candlelight Walk". Thousands of people gather at the top of the hill with lit candles and stroll down the main street to Clear Creek singing carols the whole way. You just can not help but be moved by the spirit of the season.

                              
The Dove Inn is our current home and it is a real treat to be innsitters here over the holiday. As you can see it is beautifully decorated and the inside looks just as lovely. We also always have fresh homemade Christmas  cookies and gourmet hot cocoa available for our guests. You should come visit us if you are ever in Colorado for Christmas.