Showing posts with label breakfast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breakfast. Show all posts

Saturday, December 16, 2017

A Christmas Breakfast Gift Basket

Who doesn't love breakfast?
With just a few fun and quick-to-put-together items you
can warm the cockles of someone's breakfast-loving heart!

Once upon a Christmas we had a fabulous neighbor
help us out with something a little challenging.
To thank them I put together this breakfast gift basket.

It was pretty simple and fun to do.


I picked up most of the non-food items at HomeGoods or TJMaxx.

Start with some really cute Christmas plates.
There are four in this set packaged in a nice box.
Sorry I didn't take a picture of them alone.


Pile in the goodies.
I've thrown in some maple syrup sporting a Santa hat.

Next add some ready-to-mix pancakes in a mason jar.
I can't remember which recipe I used, this one or this one...
but I'm leaning toward the one that adds butter.
Because butter makes it better, right?  Right.

Just mix up the dry ingredients and add a tag for
the instructions to add the wet ingredients.
If you want to deliver the whole package...
include some milk, eggs, and butter in the basket.


My basket also included a bag of Christmas Cappuccino mix...
perfect for chilly mornings...or evenings...or lazy afternoons!

If you can, add in a jar of homemade jam...this one's peach.


Stick some cute labels to the tops of your mason jars.
Make it festive!


Tuck it all in a basket with some tissue,
or as I have here, a snowflake canvas bin.
Add a fun dish towel - which may or may not ask a dubious question - and
some absolutely necessary red and green striped straws!


And there you have it...
A fun and easy gift you can throw together at almost the last minute.

Now, I just have to ask you...
Have YOU been naughty or nice?

I refuse to answer that question on the
grounds it may tend to incriminate me.


At any rate...
I hope you and your family have a wonderfully magical
Christmas surrounded by love and joy and the peace of the baby born in Bethlehem.


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Happy New Year! 2014's Top Ten!


Okay, well, I'm only slightly behind.
I mean, January's not quite half over yet, right?

It has been super crazy nuts around here the last few weeks.
So, without further ado,
allow me to present to you the top 10 from 2014!!!

I know, I know...
you're thinking...didn't I only post ten times last year?
No...I actually did a few more than that!
:)


As always, I feel these numbers would be totally
different if posted at different times of the year.




9. Taking you into the clouds in my Valentine's "heart-air" balloon.


8. Absolutely wonderful and totally time consuming Paper Rose Trees.


7.  The "I still love going in there just to look" Planked wall bathroom.


6. The "keep calm and eat breakfast" Cheesy Egg and Sausage Bake.


5. "I can't believe I ate all the frosting" GF Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting.


4. The secret makeover of Sara's purple palace.


3. The Chalk Painted Dresser of my dreams.


2. The great TV Console maker
and the single most popular post from last year...


The super easy customizable DIY personalized cutting board.

And there you have it!
I had lots of fun in 2014 doing all these projects...
I hope you enjoyed them, too!

2015 looks to be challenging for my blogging time.
I just changed jobs and have much less free time now...
although I am totally stoked for this new adventure in the new year.

I know I promised a sweet treat before Christmas...
I am hoping to get it out to you in time for Valentine's day.

Until then, keep smiling!


Sharing here:

Craft Dictator
AKA Design
Crafts a la Mode
I Heart Naptime
The 36th Avenue
Reasons to Skip the Housework
I Should Be Mopping The Floor
The Chicken Chick

Friday, April 4, 2014

Crustless Cheesy Egg and Sausage Bake

Super easy, nice & cheesy...
glad that doesn't describe me!
Hee hee.

But seriously...
I've had this recipe in my binder for ages...
we use it all the time!

I cook once, we eat breakfast for days!
What's easier than that?



And it's loaded with good stuff, Maynard!

Sausage and mushrooms...


bright green onions...


blurry, sweet, red tomatoes...


wholesome, fresh eggs...


lovingly blended with some creamy cream and spices!


layer it all up...with some of that cheesy cheese...


and pour some eggs on me...
or rather on my breakfast!!!


give it a little shake...the pan, not your booty...
unless you really wanna...


bake to golden perfection...


slice it up...and chow it down!


We cut this into eight equal pieces.
That's 1 1/2 eggs per serving plus sausage, cheese, and veggies.

Since there are only two of us, we have
a ready made breakfast for four days!

My husband loves that plan...
since he's usually the breakfast-maker. :)

And since he IS the breakfast-maker...
this makes it super simple for me when he's out of town for work...
I just toss a piece in the microwave and I'm not trying to
find time to pull breakfast together before work!
Awesomesauce!


This also works great for a brunch buffet...
and since it's totally delicious...it's always a big hit!
I would just cut it into 12 pieces, I think.

Crustless Cheesy Egg and Sausage Bake
  • 1 lb breakfast sausage, browned and crumbled
  • 1 cup chopped mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onions
  • 1 large tomato, diced - or the equivalent in yummy cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 8 oz shredded cheese, I love sharp cheddar, but use what YOU love
  • 12 eggs
  • 1 cup heavy cream  (I actually use 1/2 cup cream and 1/2 cup half & half   -   does that make it 3/4 & 1/4?)
  • 1/2 tsp Italian herb seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • ground pepper to your liking
  • sometimes when I'm feeling adventurous, I add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper!

  1. Cook sausage and crumble, when almost done, stir in chopped mushrooms so they can cook for a couple minutes.  Spread it all into a well greased or "Pammed" 13 X 9 baking pan.
  2. Evenly sprinkle the green onions, then the tomatoes, then the cheese over the meat.
  3. Crack your eggs into a mixing bowl, beat with a fork.  Add in cream and seasonings.  Beat with fork until well combined.
  4. Pour egg mixture evenly over layers.
  5. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes...or until set...it begins to get golden around the edges.
  6. If serving right away, allow to sit for 10 minutes or so...otherwise, set on a rack until cool, cut into desired pieces, cover with aluminum foil and place in fridge.
  7. Warm it slowly in the microwave and enjoy!

This is low carb and since it doesn't have a crust...technically gluten free!
It's totally yummy and good for Atkins...
Easy and convenient on busy mornings.
What's not to love?
C'mon...give it a try!

In other news...
I have actually started on that bathroom makeover
that I bought the paint for a year while ago.

The bad news? 
I'm not sure I'm still lovin' the paint choice I made.
Oops.
Now what?
:)
Aaahhh...my decorating misadventures...
the continuing saga...

Have a great one!


p.s.  why does blogger hate ampersands?

Breaking the fast at these fine parties:

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy 2014 ~ Top Posts from 2013!



My most heartfelt wishes for all the best for you in 2014!


Here's a little recap of 2013 with the top ten!
Although I always feel these numbers are a little skewed
because if the posting dates had been different the
numbers would be different...but...whatever! :)


Let's get started with the most viewed first:


I shared my misadventures while painting a tile floor.
Which reinforces the teaching that...
if at first you don't succeed...
have a glass of wine and try again! 



for a wedding using thrift store glasses.
You could do this for any occasion...not just weddings.



We devoured some simple but scrumptious
Oh...and for Christmas breakfast we
made this with Blackberries....
OOOOOOHHHHH Yeah!
Good stuff!



Some found barnwood was transformed into
The way this one was going...
I thought for sure it would be higher on the list.
But, alas, it was not to be.


I may have fueled some obsessions with everyone's
favorite DIY medium when I told you about



I added to the Pumpkin Mayhem with
Bonus: this recipe can be used for
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, too!



You won't even miss the wheat flour in these yummy



We beat the summer heat in the kitchen with these
delicious, light, and easy NO COOK Chicken Caprese Pitas.


I helped and ugly clearance tray reach its true


And...I had a good laugh at myself when I showed you
how to...or NOT to build a chunky salvage style shelf.



I hope you enjoyed spending time with me this past year...
I know I enjoyed having you around!
Thanks so much!

And now a toast...
to new adventures and new friends in the new year!
Happy 2014!


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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Rockledge Country Inn ~ Our 20th Anniversary

Twenty years ago, I married my best friend.
Boy do I feel old.

One of our groomsmen is missing from this photo...
he was kinda the odd one.
We were just a bunch of punk kids.
And look at all that hair!


We celebrated by spending a long weekend here:
The Rockledge Country Inn bed and breakfast in Manitou Springs, Colorado


See how it backs up against Pike's Peak?
The old track for the Manitou Incline is visible on the right,
nowadays it full of hikers instead of trains.
  

It is a craftsman style house and such a gorgeous
place I wanted to share it with all of you!
I think I took too many pictures!


The house was built in 1912 and this 2-story copper
fireplace was the only source of heat then.


I was told they would draw the heavy velvet drapes on the doors
in this room so all the heat would go to the upstairs where all the bedrooms are.
  

Thankfully that's not needed anymore...especially in May.
 


I loved these arched windows in the French
doors leading out to the patio in the back.
 

This is in the solarium...it's used as an office now and
I didn't want to get shots of their desk space.

The house was originally built by a millionaire from Kansas who came
to Manitou for the healing powers of the sun for a child who had tuberculosis...
hence the need for the solarium.


Moving up to our room...the Spindletop.


A beautiful English Country room named for a Texas oil
gusher that started the oil industry in the U.S.
 

It took up one wing...so we had windows on 3 sides.
Awesome windows.
 

And look at the door casings and moulding!
*eek!*
 
 

There was even a jacuzzi for 2!
These are the windows in the jacuzzi room.


There are 8 suites, but the only other one I'm sharing is El Ocaso...The Sunset.
This room is French Country.
 

But what I really loved...was the bathroom in this room:
 

Doesn't it make you drool?
 

Okay, enough of that,
let's go outside...
 

There's an outdoor hot tub which we spent some time in.
Some very nice walking trails that were originally created in 1939.


The windows on the right are part of the solarium.
Top middle, is the massive chimney from that fabulous fireplace.
 


Ugh...just look at these carriage house doors...
 


We had such a wonderful weekend here.  It was very restful and fun.
Breakfast was served every morning and it was delicious.
One morning we ate in the keeping room off the kitchen...loved it.
 

We took a stroll up on the walking trails to see this gorgeous view.
  

This is NOT a sponsored post in any way.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and wanted to share it.
I firmly believe in promoting great local businesses and attractions.
 
This particular location is adults only.
There are two other manor houses under the same ownership,
they welcome kids and are within walking distance.
Everyone comes to this house for breakfast.
   

If you are ever in the Colorado Springs/Manitou Springs area...
you should check them out.
Absolutely wonderful staff, very friendly.
You will love it.
 

And don't forget to visit Garden of the Gods!

I hope you enjoyed your virtual stay as much as we enjoyed our real one!
Here's to many more years with my hubby. :)

What's been your favorite place to celebrate?

 
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