Recipes for the Holidays

I found a few recipes that I would love to try this holiday season! They are not all food recipes either

The first that myself and the kids think looks absolutely scrumptious is French Toast Casserole. We love French Toast! We saw this in the latest Family Fun magazine. It calls for putting nuts in the dish but we aren’t a nutty family {well, we are all nuts but don’t like them in our food }

Ingredients:

• Firm white bread {I see no reason why wheat ‘firm’ bread can’t be used}, 12, 1-inch slices cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar {we would use dark brown}
• 1 tsp cinnamon or to taste {I will use all spice and cloves as well}
• 8 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• Maple syrup, for topping {we will most likely use honey but I bet fruit syrup would be yummy!}

Directions:

• Grease a 9x13 inch pan with butter. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and spices {for us, cinnamon, all spice, and cloves}. Arrange half of bread in the bottom of baking pan, then sprinkle with sugar mix evenly on top. Add another layer of bread and sugar.
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs then add milk and vanilla until blended well. Pour over bread evenly, starting from the outside moving inwards. Press bread down to coat the bread cubes with spoon or spatula. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. It suggests leaving it over night.
• Heat oven to 350*F and bake casserole for 20 minutes, covered. Uncover and bake until golden brown- about 30 more minutes. Serve warm with your choice of topping.

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The next one is actually good for any time of the year but I may make this for a  gift this year. Shhh! Don’t tell This was actually found at a few places online but specifically this post is what got me really thinking I could do it {originally I found the link here}.

I will modify the Homemade Bubble Bath recipe found at Heavenly Homemakers to look like this:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shampoo {will use Suave kids shampoo or body wash in complimentary scent or unscented}
• 1 TBS glycerin
• 1/2 tsp table salt {I’ve seen it replaced with sugar…I’m undecided}
• Drops of citrus essential oil [EO] {haven’t decided if I will use orange or lemon- bergamot is a good choice also}

Directions:

• In a glass bowl, mix all ingredients but the essential oils until sugar/salt has dissolved.  Add drops of EO until desired scent is achieved.  Use a funnel to pour it into a dark bottle. I wouldn’t suggest using a plastic bottle because it will absorb the EO {and I don’t like plastic} but if that’s all you’ve got, then go for it!

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And the last ‘recipe’ I will share is of stuffing in a pumpkin. I found this at The Sojourner Reviews blog and it just looks so neat. I’ve got to try it!

The ‘recipe’ all depends on the stuffing you choose, really.

Ingredients:

• Stuffing {we will use Stove Top brand}
• Small-to-medium sized pumpkin

Directions:

• Cut a nice circular ‘lid’ from the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and strings from the pumpkin. Prepare the stuffing as directed on package {or how ever you usually make it}. Replace ‘lid’ on pumpkin. Place in oven with other side dishes –like green bean casserole or candied yams {you know, the marshmallow and yams dish}.

The pumpkin is the super cute dish for serving the stuffing out of!

Those are a few recipes for our holidays. Do you have any to share? Feel free to share!