Christmas Menu 2011

Do you ever look at your family tree and wonder what Christmas used to be like before your great, great, great grandparents came to America?

My family came from Sweden and Norway, they settled in Northern Minnesota in the early 1900s. There is very little about the Christmas of my childhood that resembles what they would have had in the old country. Only lefse. I love lefse!

I decided that this year I would try to bring some of my background into our Christmas and I was very pleased with how everything turned out!  Recipes will be posted tomorrow.

Scandinavian Christmas Eve

• Gravlax on Rye Crisp Crackers with cream cheese, red onions and capers
• Gravlax on roasted potato rounds with capers
• Cucumber Salad
• Lefse
• Rise Pudding
• Mulled Wine

rise pudding

Brie with Cherry Preserves and Walnuts

Christmas Day

• Brie with Cherry Preserves and Walnuts
• Spiral Sliced Ham
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Waldorf Salad
• Bavarian Cream Torte from Rheinlanders Bakery

Cinnamon Rolls: Friends for Life

If you got a pan of these Cinnamon Rolls from me today....then you know how I feel about you.

I think this will be our new Christmas Tradition.  But next year I'll make them at my brother in laws house because my galley kitchen was much too small!

Cinnamon Roll Waffles

If you want to see your kid with this look on their face.

You have to make these.

They only need to cook for a minute and a half.  Fast, easy and delicious!

Hot Chocolate Balls

It's time for another Pintervention Party post with Steph and Nicole! I've been looking high and low for things to put in the goodie bag for my son's Kindergarten Winter Party in two weeks.

I knew that I wanted to include my homemade marshmallows but I didn't know if I wanted to just put a stick in them with some frosting or......what.

Then....pinned Hot Chocolate Balls!

source

 

These Hot Chocolate Balls will be the perfect addition to the goodie bags with a chunk of marshmallow!

Truffle Hot Chocolate Balls
from melskitchencafe.com
*Makes about 10 hot chocolate balls
 

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
 

In a plastic bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Microwave for one minute intervals, stirring often, until the mixture is combined and very smooth and silky. Be extra careful not to overheat as the chocolate can seize. The trick is to stir often since the mixture will blend together even when it looks like the chocolate chips haven't melted completely.
 

Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes at room temperature. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until the mixture is firm and scoopable, about 2-3 hours. Scoop out about 1/4-cup spoonfuls  (I used a cookie scoop) of the mixture and place them on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. My cookie scoop is about 1 1/2 tablespoons. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and let the mounds harden slightly, about 15-20 minutes. Roll the chilled mounds into balls and place on squares of plastic wrap.  Pull the sides of the plastic wrap over to cover the ball and place the balls in the freezer until ready to use.
 

To make the hot chocolate: pour 1 cup milk into a microwave-safe mug. Carefully drop one unwrapped truffle hot chocolate ball in the milk. Microwave for about 2 minutes. Stir well until the chocolate is combined with the milk.

Serve warm!