Tag: holiday

RICCI ALEXIS: Fruit Dip, Party Punch and Pinwheels {Foodie Friday}

Tis the season of endless holiday parties, family get togethers and celebrations! I don’t know about you but it seems like every time I get invited to a party I get asked to bring a dish (snack food, finger food, drink, etc). Not a big deal. but when you don’t have a lot of spare time anything you can make beforehand that will still look and taste good is a win in my book! That’s where one of the most popular posts on my blog comes in handy…Fruit Dip, Party Punch and Pinwheels!
 
Have to confess that these aren’t original recipes, I got the fruit dip recipe from my stepmom, Charlotte, and the punch recipe from my Grandma. That is actually her Christmas Punch recipe but I think it’s good on any occasion. I have taken both to numerous baby showers, work potlucks and holiday parties and I kept getting asked for the recipes so I finally decided to bog about them and like I said, this is one of my most popular blog posts to date! They really are that good y’all!
 
 
 
I also have the recipe to my ham and ranch pinwheels on there. These are just super basic pinwheels made with cream cheese, ranch dressing powder and ham but they taste amazing and are always a HUGE hit at parties. 
 
For the full recipes head over to my blog and check them out…HERE.
 
 
 
Ricci Ellis is an Arkansas native who has some serious love for the natural state. She loves big hair, monograms, blogging, caramel frappes from McDonalds and being the “cool” Aunt among other things. She has one spoiled rotten puppy girl, Sophie
. You can catch up with her on her Arkansas lifestyle and beauty blog, Ricci Alexis, or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest!

Holiday Food, Fun and Family LinkUp

 

Christmas Link-Up ARWB

Our 2015 #ARWB Holiday LinkUp is all about sharing the many ways we celebrate food, fun and family. We want to know what traditions you bring to the holidays and just how you go about sharing those with your family and friends. Got a special recipe that is a holiday must have? What holiday event do you ALWAYS attend? Or what new one will be on your absolutely-must-do list this year. Do your family members come from far or near—over the river and through the woods perhaps? Share those posts full of memories and soon-to-be memories with us. You may post as many as you wish.

The #Holiday #LinkUp will remain open through Dec. 18 for you to share your favorite holiday blog posts.



Wassail, wassail all over the town! {Foodie Friday}

“Our bread it is white and our ale it is brown…” Ok, I’ll stop. In case you’re wondering, those are the words from the traditional English Gloucestershire Wassail song. Come on, indulge me, you’ve got a minute to explore that link and the background on wassail!

Gloucestershire Wassail (on Youtube)

Apparently, my high school years of performing in a Madrigal dinner had quite an effect, and now those around me must also endure it. If you don’t feel like delving in, here’s the gist of it: today’s definition of a madrigal dinner is a multi-course, Medieval-style meal served by costumed performers singing traditional (old English) Christmas carols. (“The boar’s head, in hand bear I…” Ok, sorry – I’ll really stop this time.)

So, why does this matter on foodie Friday? Because wassail (literally “waes hael” or “be you healthy”)  is a foodie tradition you should most definitely explore! Before we go further, though, I need to offer my standard disclaimer from The Food Adventuress: I’m quite horrible at precisely following directions and tend to just do whatever I want in the kitchen and wait to see how it turns out. So, if you’d like a real recipe for wassail, you’d best go elsewhere. Just do a quick search on the Interweb and you’re sure to turn up lots of lovely options. Now, don’t tell my Mom, but here’s what I do:

  1. Grab crock pot a little too late in the day for 6 p.m. wassail readiness.
  2. Have a glass of wine or your relaxing beverage of choice.
  3. Recollect that you were going to make wassail and get back to it.
  4. Fill said crock pot about 2/3 full of apple cider.
  5. Top it off with generous pours* of orange juice (I like pulpey for this!) and pineapple juice.
  6. Add a good amount** of lemon juice and honey.
  7. Start adding spices to your taste. I choose cinnamon (lots!***), ground cloves, freshly grated nutmeg and sometimes ginger and allspice depending on my mood/desire to exert myself.
  8. Decorate your wassail. I typically add a cloved orange (sliced or not, per your own desire to exert yourself) and some apple slices from near the core along with a cinnamon stick or two.
  9. Let simmer for several hours and return to your aforementioned beverage.
  10. Serve to standing ovation (or at least a few compliments).

* In this case, generous pours mean probably a cup or two each, but let’s not get too precise.

** Under duress, I would probably estimate that a good amount means half a cup?

*** I’m pretty sure my favorite measurement is “to taste.” That’s what you do here – you won’t mess up!

A couple of notes that will increase your cool factor: first, everybody has a scratchy throat around the holidays. Wassail is the guaranteed fix-it and soother – offer it to everyone who enters your home. Of course, your home smells completely fabulous because you made wassail! Also, I recommend not adding alcohol. Shocking, I know. Wassail is enjoyable by all… the kids and those who abstain should enjoy it as much as everyone else, and anyone who wishes to doctor (ahem) their drink may do so with ease once in the mug.

Finally (insider tip!) just store the wassail outside between servings, assuming it is even mildly chilly at night in your neck of the woods of Arkansas (and beyond). Just slowly warm it up starting a little earlier on subsequent serving days. The wassail gets a little thicker as the spices mull, so just add some more of the juices prior to simmering and the original batch should get you through several servings.

Again, this is all highly unscientific but fairly popular Chez Stephens, and it’s standard fare throughout the month of December from tree-decorating through New Year’s. I hope you’ll try it, and maybe add a few of the old English carols to spice up your holiday tunes as well! Give some background to your family and your kids may be the smartest ones on the block. Mine is definitely the one who knows about wassail, which either makes her incredibly cool or highly nerdy. I’m ok with both.

Happy Wassailing to you!

Beth is the marketing maven and one of the four founding members of Arkansas Women Bloggers, but her real job is as executive director of the Ozark Natural Science Center – a nonprofit field science, environmental education, camp and conference facility in northwest Arkansas. She blogs over at The Little Magpie and The Food Adventuress and finds herself eating far more of her mother’s rum cake around the holidays than she would care to admit.

Please note: all images and links are public domain from the web, and used only to illustrate topics for your personal use.

Retro Wednesday {More Christmas}

Welcome to our new feature called ‘Retro Wednesday’.  We know you, the members of ARWB, are busy writing tons of great content for your own websites.  We want you to have the opportunity to share these links with our other readers.  Each Wednesday we will feature several posts from our archives as well as your archives by providing an excerpt and a link to your favorite post from your personal blog.  Sometimes we will have a theme, sometimes we will post a variety of links.  This weeks theme is Christmas! Enjoy!

 

Gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

Read Gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh from Kimberly’s blog Write Your World and the next time you talk about Christmas with your friends you will be able to impress them with your knowledge of the gifts the Magi brought to baby Jesus.

 

MyTop 10 Foodie Christmas Gifts

Are you looking for some last minute gifts for that Foodie on your list?  Terri, from Terri’s Table, shares a list of what she thinks are the Top 10 Foodie Christmas Gifts complete with links to online marketplaces that will help make your Christmas shopping a breeze!

 

Four Days of Christmas

When you have a big family, sometimes the Christmas celebration extends beyond one day! Karen (Ting’s Mom) shares her Four Days of Christmas with us.

 

Do you have a post on your blog that you would love to share with our readers?  We will be doing this through our Retro Wednesday feature.  Each Wednesday we will feature several posts from our archives as well as your archives by providing an excerpt and a link to your favorite post from your personal blog.  If you would like to submit a post for our Retro Wednesday feature please email a short excerpt (300 characters or less) along with a link to the post to Julie@arkansaswomenbloggers.com with “Retro Wednesday” in the subject line.  Please be sure to also include your name and blog title.  Please note that we will keep an ongoing list of Retro Wednesday posts and may not be able to notify you regarding the specific day on which your link will appear.  Additionally, if you are interested in submitting original content for our site you may click here to see our Posting Guidelines.

‘Tis the Season: Holiday Cookie Exchange {Handmade Holiday}

‘Tis the Season: Holiday Cookie Exchange
Written by ARWB Dec. 2011 Blogger of the Month, Stephanie Hamling of Proactive Bridesmaid

I got my annual cookie exchange invitation in the mail today, and, so, the wheels are turning. Have you ever hosted or participated in a cookie exchange? This gathering has become one of my favorite Christmas-time traditions. The effort that goes into both hosting and being a guest can be overwhelming, but it is, without a doubt, always worth it.

One of the members of my cooking club, along with her sister-in-law, hosts the yearly event. After ten years, they have it down to an art. I’ve never hosted an exchange, but I’ve taken mental notes from them every year.

In case you are unfamiliar with the concept, here’s how the exchange works. Each guest and hostess bakes a set number of cookies, which they take to the exchange. During the exchange, each person gets a set number of cookies from each of the other guests. Basically, you end up with however many cookies you brought, but you get a far wider variety.

 

You can organize the event a number of ways, but I’m fond of the way my girls set it up. Two to three weeks in advance, a cheerful invitation arrives in the mail. We know about when to expect it, but for an inaugural event, a little more notice might be in order. Included on the invitation is the standard when and where, RSVP info, how many cookies to bring, and a listing of prize categories.

Yes, there are prizes, and the more competitive among us take them very seriously. Awards are given for best taste, best presentation, and best overall cookie. The first two categories are chosen by popular vote and the hostesses choose the third winner. The prizes are glory, a year of bragging rights, and a small Christmas-themed treat.

The prize for best taste necessitates tasting, of course. After a round-robin story telling session about the origins of our cookie recipe, we have a tasting. We make the rounds to check out the presentation and have a nibble. Each person’s cookie is assigned a number for voting, and secret ballets are cast. After prizes are awarded, its time for everyone to grab their take-homes.

And, that is how it’s done folks. There are more bells and whistles that can be added as you wish. Our hostesses start the party with appetizers and drinks and we play a few rounds of party games, everything from bingo to a complicated race involving unwrapping a Hershey’s Kiss with mitten-covered hands. They end the night with a handmade party favor for each guest. Seriously, these ladies could write a book.

A cookie exchange is great to find new favorites, to get more bang out of your baking time, and to take care of treats for holiday parties or teacher gifts. If you ever have a chance to attend one, I hope you will. If you are encouraged to start your own, your friends will love you for it!

Tips for the hostess:

  • Tag team with a friend. Split the duties and alternate houses each year.
  • Don’t limit your group to only great bakers. Break-and-bake and even bakery cookies are welcome in our crew.
  • Send the invitations early and have clear instructions.
  • Have a few boxes or plastic bags on hand for folks who forget to bring anything to transport their cookies home.

 

Tips for the guests:

  • RSVP!
  • Put in some effort, but don’t stress. Some of the worst cookies make the best stories and bring out some great cooking tips.
  • If you know how many cookies each guest gets, prepackaging make things go more smoothly.
  • Thank you cards are never out of fashion. A hostess gift is a nice touch.
  • Bring a copy of your recipe for each guest, so they can recreate their favorite. Try to pick a recipe that travels well and has a good shelf-life.

 

My name is Stephanie Hamling. Originally from Wonderview, Arkansas, I now live in our state’s capitol, Little Rock. A freelance graphic artist, I also work as a social media liaison and webmaster for a local grocery market. My joys include gardening, cooking, photography, spending time with family, and blogging.  Stephanie is the Arkansas Women Bloggers December 2011 Blogger of the Month.

Retro Wednesday {Christmas}

Welcome to our new feature called ‘Retro Wednesday’.  We know you, the members of ARWB, are busy writing tons of great content for your own websites.  We want you to have the opportunity to share these links with our other readers.  Each Wednesday we will feature several posts from our archives as well as your archives by providing an excerpt and a link to your favorite post from your personal blog.  Sometimes we will have a theme, sometimes we will post a variety of links.  This weeks theme is Christmas! Enjoy!

A (non-traditional) Christmas Letter

While sending a “Christmas Letter” to friends and family we rarely get to see is a great way to update everyone about the goings-on in our lives, and we only have to do it once a year, it can still be a stressful and time consuming undertaking.   Susan, from Rants With an Old Trout, took a moment out of her busy schedule to share with us her non-traditional, tongue-in-cheek Christmas Letter – blogger-style!

Candy Cane Dip

Sunshine of Make Life Delicious shares this yummy Candy Cane dessert dip with us. Check out her blog for more recipes!

Christmas, rethunk

Shana and her husband rethink the meaning and the reason for Christmas and how they are presenting it to their children. Visit Seeing Life Through My Eyes to read Shana’s story Christmas, rethunk.

Holiday Butter Tradition

Sarah married a third-generation dairy farmer and now blogs about life on a dairy farm.  In December of 2010 on her blog, Spotted Cow Review, she shared about her Holiday Butter Tradition and give a recipe for  yummy Almond Cake Squares!

Do you have a post on your blog that you would love to share with our readers?  We will be doing this through our Retro Wednesday feature.  Each Wednesday we will feature several posts from our archives as well as your archives by providing an excerpt and a link to your favorite post from your personal blog.  If you would like to submit a post for our Retro Wednesday feature please email a short excerpt (300 characters or less) along with a link to the post to Julie@arkansaswomenbloggers.com with “Retro Wednesday” in the subject line.  Please be sure to also include your name and blog title.  Please note that we will keep an ongoing list of Retro Wednesday posts and may not be able to notify you regarding the specific day on which your link will appear.  Additionally, if you are interested in submitting original content for our site you may click here to see our Posting Guidelines.