Merry Christmas 2011

Foodie Friday: Shakshuka

A friend recently shared this recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I added it to the menu for the month and last night was its night to shine. Mr Cherry wasn't too sure about the combination of tomato and eggs, but we all ended up loving it. The sauce had great flavor and the eggs added the substance and protein. Peachy loved the name as well as the flavor. I highly recommend you add this dish to your family's menu.

Shakshuka (Eggs Poached in Spicy Tomato Sauce)
Based off a recipe from Smitten Kitchen
Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
2 jalapeños, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped (Smitten Kitchen used more, but since Peachy would be eating this, I kept it on the bland side)
1 small yellow onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, crushed then sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
Kosher salt, to taste
6 eggs
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro (The original recipe calls for parsley, but  I had cilantro on hand)
Warm pitas, for serving

Directions:

Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and paprika, and cook, stirring frequently, until garlic is soft, about 2 more minutes.

Put tomatoes and their liquid into a medium bowl and crush with your hands. Add crushed tomatoes and their liquid to skillet along with 1/2 cup water, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 15 minutes. Season sauce with salt.

Crack eggs over sauce so that eggs are evenly distributed across sauce’s surface. Cover skillet and cook until yolks are just set, about 5 minutes. Using a spoon, baste the whites of the eggs with tomato mixture, being careful not to disturb the yolk. Sprinkle shakshuka with feta and cilantro and serve with pitas, for dipping.

{Homemade Holidays: Week 5} ABC Card Set

Looking for an excellent children's Christmas gift? I made these ABC card sets for Peachy's playgroup last year and they were a hit. I used the free alphabet flashcard printable from Homemade by Jill. I had them printed at a print shop to save our home printer and then had them laminated. Index card boxes made the perfect holders with ABC vinyl stuck to the front.

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter

Make Mine Peppermint, Please

This year I have developed quite the taste for peppermint. Give me a Peppermint Mocha any day of the week. Yum! While I have always loved the Peppermint M and Ms this year I found the more adult version, Dove Peppermint Bark. One bag is not enough.
I haven't had a chance to try any of these recipes yet, but I think I will have to add them to my holiday repertoire this year.
Peppermint Popcorn Crunch from Bake at 350

Make your own Peppermint Coffee Creamer from Alli-n-Son

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies from Our Best Bites

And Peppermint Bark Cookies from the Garden of Yum

So those of you who I share my Holiday treats with, I hope you like peppermint, too.

{Homemade Holidays: Week 5} Tea Wreath

I saw this tea wreath at Kojodesigns last year and made it for my grandma. (Hi Nana!!)

It was a fun project that turned out really well. I love that you can customize it with different paper and different teas to suit the receiver.

So if you are in need of a last minute gift, whip one of these up!

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter