Christmas Morning Breakfast

With our growing family, we’ve started to think about what Christmas traditions we want to hold in our home – discussing everything from the Elf on the Shelf, Advent calendars, to prayers before tearing open presents on Christmas morning.  One thing we were sure we wanted to continue is our Christmas morning breakfast tradition!  I love that these recipes can be prepped on Christmas Eve, so you can relax with loved ones and a great cup of coffee while they bake up in your oven!  They are also perfect when entertaining extended family.

Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

Filling:
1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp butter, melted

Dough:
2 ½ cups flour
¼ cup sugar
1 ½  tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp sea salt
1 cup milk
5 tbsp butter, melted

Icing:
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar

4 tbsp milk

Directions:

The night before:

1.     Mix together the filling ingredients. 

2.     In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients for the dough (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt). Combine the milk and butter, and then stir into the dry ingredients until just combined.

3.     On a lightly floured surface, take half of the dough and roll out into a rectangle.  Sprinkle half of the filling mixture on top, and then press it into the dough leaving 1/4″ border.  Roll up and cut into 8 slices. Repeat with the other dough half.

4.     Place the slices in a glass 8x8” pan sprayed lightly with non-stick cooking spray.  Refrigerate until ready to bake

Christmas Morning:

5.     Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Bake cinnamon rolls until the tops are golden brown, about 15 minutes.

6.     While the rolls are baking, make the icing.  Beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.  Add the milk until you achieve the desired consistency, 1 tbsp at a time.

7.      When rolls have cooled slightly but are still warm, drizzle on the icing and serve immediately.

Everything Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

1 package spicy sausage

1 sweet onion, chopped

2 cups mushrooms, roughly chopped

1 green pepper, diced

4 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed

9 eggs, beaten

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1 ½ cups cottage cheese

1 ¼ cups swiss cheese, shredded

Directions:

The night before:

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook the sausage, onion, green pepper and mushrooms until sausage is browned and cooked through.  Drain.  Transfer to a large bowl. 
2. Stir the potatoes, eggs, cheddar, cottage cheese, and swiss into the bowl with the sausage.  Pour mixture into lightly greased 9X13 baking dish.  Refrigerate until ready to bake.

Christmas Morning:

3.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

4.      Bake in preheated oven until eggs are set and cheese is melted, about 45 to 50 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Luke 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?"  He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise."  Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"  He answered them,  "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed."  Soldiers also asked him,  "And what is it that we should do?"  He told them,  "Do not practice extortion,  do not falsely accuse anyone,  and be satisfied with your wages."

Now the people were filled with expectation,  and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying,  "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."  Exhorting them in many other ways,  he preached good news to the people.

On this third Sunday of Advent, a time when we should be preparing for celebration, our country is mourning the recent tragic events when violence so needlessly took the lives of innocent children and brave teachers in Newtown, Connecticut.  May this horrible event be a reminder of what’s really important this Christmas. 

God of strength and God of gentleness, keep us in your care.

We place our concerns and worries in your hands.

With your gentle touch we ask you to protect us and all of our neighbors from violence.

We pray for hearts and souls that know genuine peace and demonstrate kindness,

Respect and dignity for all your people.

May peace rein in our hearts and in our city so that we may model the way which God calls all people.

Neighbor Christmas Gifts

Looking for a small gift to give to neighbors or co-workers?  Here are some ideas!

Peppermint Bark Snowflakes

Ingredients:

6 oz. dark or milk chocolate
6 oz. white chocolate
Peppermint candy bits

Directions:

Melt dark or milk chocolate in a double boiler.  Pour into snowflake molds and then sprinkle with peppermint pieces.  Refrigerate to harden.
Repeat process with white chocolate.

Chocolate Caramel Toffee Spoons

These spoons can be stirred into coffee or hot chocolate!  Pair them with packets of hot chocolate and mini marshmallows for a cup of Christmas Cheer!

Ingredients:

6 oz. milk or dark chocolate
3 oz. caramel bits
Toffee bits
Mini chocolate chips
10 plastic spoons

Directions:

Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
Melt chocolate in a double boiler.  Dip spoons into chocolate to coat and tap off excess. 
Refrigerate spoons to harden.
Melt caramel in double boiler.  Drizzle over hardened chocolate.
Sprinkle with chocolate chips and toffee bits.

Halloween Costume Idea!

Source: http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com/coolest-macaroni-and-cheese-costume.html

Spinach, Mushroom & Italian Sausage Risotto

Ingredients:

·         1 tbsp olive oil

·         1 small onion, chopped          

·         1 tsp garlic, minced

·         1 package (8oz) sliced white mushrooms

·         4 cups chicken broth   

·         1 lb italian chicken sausage, diced     

·         1 cup risotto (arborio rice)

·         28 oz canned diced Italian tomatoes 

·         1/2 tbsp italian seasoning

·         9 oz spinach

Directions:

1.      Combine tomatoes, 3 ½ cups broth, and italian seasoning in a sauce pan and bring to simmer.

2.      Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan.  Add onions, garlic, mushrooms and sausage.  Cook 5 min.      

3.      Add risotto to sauté pan and stir to coat with oil.  Add remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth. Stir until absorbed.

4.      Add the tomato mixture to the sauté pan and cook until absorbed.  (add a lid to pan if necessary)  Add spinach and continue to cook 1-2 minutes, or until steamed.

5.      When rice is soft and liquid is absorbed, spoon into serving dishes.  Serve immediately.

Breakfast Apple Bread

My husband described this bread as "smelling like Christmas morning" when it was in the oven!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 6 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 3 medium apples

Topping

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (I used pecans)
• 1/4 cup butter (cold)
• Nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°.  Butter and flour a loaf pan.
2. Peel and core apples, then cut into 1/4-inch cubes.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
4. In a mixer, beat together butter and light brown sugar until fluffy. Add honey and mix until combined. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until incorporated.
5. With the mixer on low, add half the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Beat in applesauce; then remaining flour mixture until combined. (don't overmix).  Fold apples into the batter.
6. Transfer bread mix to pan.  Cut butter into brown sugar and pecans.  Sprinkle mix on top of bread mix.
7. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Mark 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

How do you serve God?  Maybe you pray or go to church every Sunday.  With the holidays right around the corner, it’s a good time to think about how you can serve God by serving others.  It is by devoting our lives to serving Him, doing His Will, and giving of ourselves that we will be fulfilled and live as God intends for us.

What else can you do to serve someone else?