Every Christmas Eve before bed my mom preps French toast for Christmas Day breakfast. This make-ahead French toast sits overnight and cooks entirely in the oven, allowing you time to open presents, prepare other morning treats or a leisurely cup of coffee! You can also make the Cranberry Ginger Compote in advance or cook it while the French…
Archives for December 2017
CRATE COOKING CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST
With all the menu planning, Pinterest pinning, grocery lists and shopping that go into hosting a holiday dinner it’s easy to forget about breakfast. You don’t have to go overdo it to make a special breakfast. My mother, every year, makes French toast for Christmas breakfast. It’s the perfect dish to make for a morning occasion…
OVEN ROASTED BACON
I don’t care how snobby this sounds but microwaved bacon is a tragedy. I’ll never discuss politics on this site, but I have to voice my opinion on matters of bacon. Yet I understand why people do it – less mess, hands-free cooking to name a few. Oven cooked bacon is great for those same…
BROWN BUTTER SWEET POTATO MASH
When it comes to mashed potatoes I prefer them a little lumpy and just mixed. The same goes for this sweet potato mash. Beginning with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, I mix them briefly in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (you could use a potato masher instead but the mixer makes it easier on your…
MASHED POTATOES AND GREENS
Here’s a way to ease any guilt you may feel over indulging in mashed potatoes – add greens! Use your favorite greens in this recipe, keeping in mind that cooking times can vary for all varieties. Sauté greens until they are very tender and any liquid has evaporated. Mashed Potatoes and Greens serves 4 Ingredients…
ROASTED WINTER SQUASH WITH CANDIED MAPLE PECANS
You can use any type of winter squash for this dish, even a combination of your favorites. I peel squash with thick skin like butternut, but leave the peel on other varieties like delicata or acorn. It’s a matter of preference! This is a perfect dish for the holidays as it serves a crowd and…
BRUSSELS SPROUTS GRATIN
Cooking Brussels sprouts is sometimes challenging. I find boiling makes them water logged and mushy and pan sautéing leaves them a bit too al dente. But roasting, on the other hand, cooks the sprouts evenly and is my preferred method because the oven does all the work. For this dish I par-cook the Brussels sprouts…
DECEMBER GRANOLA
I call this December granola because it includes so many of the flavors I associate with holiday baking – tart cranberries, toasted pecans, sweet maple syrup and citrusy orange zest. Granola is great for the holiday season because you can make large batches of it in advance for snacking or gift-giving (it’s so pretty in…