{"id":48252,"date":"2023-12-30T04:45:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-30T04:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/?p=48252"},"modified":"2023-12-29T15:45:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T15:45:30","slug":"christmas-2023-favorites-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/2023\/12\/christmas-2023-favorites-part-2.html","title":{"rendered":"Christmas 2023 Favorites Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Christmas<\/p>\n

Happy Saturday, everyone!  Today, I am sharing Christmas 2023 Favorites Part 2.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This post will conclude 2023, and tomorrow, I will introduce to you my blog focus for 2024.<\/p>\n

Christmas 2023 favorites must include my gifts of homemade vanilla extract…a success!<\/p>\n

I explained in this July Sunday Mornings at Home<\/strong><\/a> how I was making vanilla extract for gifts….I made them in July…put them in a safe place…and they were ready for Christmas 2023.<\/p>\n

I am so pleased with the richness of this vanilla.  It truly tastes just like the vanilla I bring home from Mexico.<\/p>\n

It is now a favorite and a keeper.<\/p>\n

Despite the fact I was sidelined most of the preparation time, I still managed to get a Christmas 2023 brunch served up with favorites.<\/p>\n

So, let’s start with the food and then I will share a favorite gift from this year.<\/p>\n

CHRISTMAS 2023 FAVORITES: BREAKFAST RECIPES<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Christmas<\/p>\n

Our family tradition is to gather on Christmas Day Morning for a big breakfast, followed by gifts.<\/p>\n

I do begin preparing the day before in order to make the morning manageable and not have to rise at 3 AM!<\/p>\n

\"Christmas<\/p>\n

You are looking at an overnight croissant\/sausage casserole; a fruit wreath; monkey bread; pumpkin bread; crisp Applewood bacon, and hot chocolate in the slow cooker.<\/p>\n

I took several different recipes to create my own for the breakfast casserole and it was delicious…truly a new Christmas 2023 favorite.<\/p>\n

The main recipe which inspired me was the OVERNIGHT CROISSANT BREAKFAST BAKE<\/strong><\/a>…and she offers a veggie version.<\/p>\n

DAY BEFORE:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I took six day old croissants (from our market); cut them in half; poured on a little melted butter; and placed in the oven at 450 for 8 minutes (until crispy)<\/li>\n
  2. I buttered a 9X13 baking dish, and tore up the croissants into pieces and scattered on the bottom of the pan.<\/li>\n
  3.  I put some olive oil in a skillet and sauteed one whole chopped onion (I use sweet yellow onions).<\/li>\n
  4. Then I added a large handful of fresh spinach; and two large minced garlic cloves and stirred until this mixture was done…then set it aside.<\/li>\n
  5.  In a separate bowl, I placed 8 eggs; 2 1\/2 cups half n half (my version);  1\/4 tsp salt; 1\/8 tsp pepper; 1\/4 tsp cayenne; and a dash of smoked paprika…whisked it all together.<\/li>\n
  6. I added the spinach and onion mix to this with a cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.<\/li>\n
  7.  I cooked a roll of Jimmy Dean Maple Sausage…breaking it up in small pieces.<\/li>\n
  8.  On top of the croissants, I scattered the sausage; poured over the egg mixture; covered it in plastic wrap; and placed in the refrigerator….I actually think mine was in there over 9 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    DAY OF:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1.  I removed the dish while the oven is preheating to 350.<\/li>\n
    2.  This is my Texas touch…I sprinkled Monterrey Jack Cheese with Double Peppers over the top before going in the oven.<\/li>\n
    3. It takes about 45-50 minutes for it to bake uncovered.  I also let it set about twenty minutes before serving and sprinkled with fresh shredded Mozzarella Cheese when it came out of oven.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      YUMMY!<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"Christmas<\/p>\n

      Thank goodness the grandchildren love fruit and I picked their favorites for this Christmas wreath.<\/p>\n

      I spread vanilla bean yogurt on the bottom of the plate (using a small bowl to protect the circle in the middle).<\/p>\n

      Then surrounded the bowl with blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries.  The green leaves are fresh mint leaves.<\/p>\n

      I also did a light sprinkling of sugar on the fruit…it’s Christmas!<\/p>\n

      \"Christmas<\/p>\n

      The Pioneer Woman Monkey Bread<\/strong><\/a> has been a Christmas Favorite at our house for years…there would be an uprising if I left it out.<\/p>\n

      Though Ree doesn’t say this, I do prepare part of it the day before.<\/p>\n

      Since I make two, I cut the biscuits into two plastic bags and sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon.<\/p>\n

      Then I just place the bags in the refrigerator until I need them in the morning.<\/p>\n

      This year, we all ate so much at breakfast, that no one was really hungry at lunch, so I had too much food available later in the day.<\/p>\n

      CHRISTMAS 2023 FAVORITES: RECOMMENDED GIFT<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"Christmas<\/p>\n

      Our newlyweds moved into a little house recently.<\/p>\n

      It is a trendy area of town where neighbors walk by often, and still sit out on their porches.<\/p>\n

      So, Mr. B came up with idea to gift them rockers for their new front porch.<\/p>\n

      \"Christmas<\/p>\n

      We ordered these Birch Lane Oisin Mahogany Outdoor Rockers<\/strong> <\/a>and they seem to be perfect for the happy couple.<\/p>\n

      My son even helped his dad put them together after they opened the wrapped boxes.<\/p>\n

      Our front porch isn’t conducive to evenings on the porch…so I am a tad bit jealous.<\/p>\n

      \"Christmas<\/p>\n

      However, we were blessed to have neighborhood Christmas carolers….and they were amazing.<\/p>\n

      Such a joy, so they simply must be in the Christmas 2023 favorites!<\/p>\n

      CHRISTMAS 2023 FAVORITES: THAT’S A WRAP<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"Christmas<\/p>\n

      Tux has peeked out from the covers to say he is exhausted and ready to move forward to 2024!<\/p>\n

      Christmas 2023 favorites are now sealed into family memories and traditions.<\/p>\n

      But, the Season of Joy<\/em> goes on as far as I am concerned.<\/p>\n

      I also am ready to move forward into 2024, and hope you will join me for a new focus and for fun.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Let me know if you have any questions about my Christmas 2023 favorites…and make sure that as you go into a new year that you…..<\/p>\n

      KEEP SMILING!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

      By Pamela Lutrell<\/em><\/p>\n

      I was encouraged to explain more about my SHOPPING LINKS<\/strong> <\/a>page and how to use it.  (In fact I just added a few new brands to the list)<\/p>\n

      I am an affiliate for many different brands and when you click on those brands and shop, then I receive a small commission.<\/p>\n

      This is such an important income for me and my family.<\/p>\n

      I have tried to include the brands most shopped by this audience, but sometimes I miss one of your favorites.<\/p>\n

      If you will tell me what you are shopping, then I can tell you if I am affiliate for them and give you that link\u2026if it is not already on the page.<\/p>\n

      And remember to send your recipes and home decor with pictures to over50feeling40@gmail.com.  Send to email and do not try to put in comments! YOU are the best.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"Christmas<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Happy Saturday, everyone!  Today, I am sharing Christmas 2023 Favorites Part 2. This post will conclude 2023, and tomorrow, I will introduce to you my blog focus for 2024. Christmas 2023 favorites must include my gifts of homemade vanilla extract…a success! I explained in this July Sunday Mornings at Home how I was making vanilla…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":48253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7208],"tags":[11604,11603,11607,11606,11605,11602],"class_list":["post-48252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recipes","tag-birch-lane-rocker-review","tag-christmas-2023-favorite-recipes","tag-favorite-monkey-bread-recipe","tag-fruit-wreath-recipe","tag-overnight-croissant-breakfast-casserole-recipe","tag-review-for-homemade-vanilla"],"aioseo_notices":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":7208,"label":"Recipes"}],"post_tag":[{"value":11604,"label":"Birch Lane Rocker review"},{"value":11603,"label":"Christmas 2023 favorite recipes"},{"value":11607,"label":"Favorite Monkey Bread Recipe"},{"value":11606,"label":"Fruit Wreath recipe"},{"value":11605,"label":"Overnight Croissant Breakfast Casserole recipe"},{"value":11602,"label":"review for homemade vanilla"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Christmas-2023-Favorites-Part-2-768x1024.jpg",768,1024,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Pamela Lutrell","author_link":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/author\/over50feeling40"},"comment_info":24,"category_info":[{"term_id":7208,"name":"Recipes","slug":"recipes","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7208,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":92,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":7208,"category_count":92,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Recipes","category_nicename":"recipes","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":11604,"name":"Birch Lane Rocker review","slug":"birch-lane-rocker-review","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":11604,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":11603,"name":"Christmas 2023 favorite recipes","slug":"christmas-2023-favorite-recipes","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":11603,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":11607,"name":"Favorite Monkey Bread Recipe","slug":"favorite-monkey-bread-recipe","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":11607,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":11606,"name":"Fruit Wreath recipe","slug":"fruit-wreath-recipe","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":11606,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":11605,"name":"Overnight Croissant Breakfast Casserole recipe","slug":"overnight-croissant-breakfast-casserole-recipe","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":11605,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":11602,"name":"review for homemade vanilla","slug":"review-for-homemade-vanilla","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":11602,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48252"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48264,"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48252\/revisions\/48264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/over50feeling40.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}