Christmas Tea

Christmas 2010
My daughter and I love to go to tea. This year we decided to host our own Christmas Tea and invite our friends and family to enjoy this special time. I love crafts and each year find a couple of projects to keep me busy as the night falls faster and the evenings grow cold. I wanted a special placeholder for each of my guests. One that they could take home with them. This is what I came up with!

Homemade English Muffins

I made English muffins for the first time. Awesome! I'll never buy store bought again.
Ingredients:
1 cup low fat milk
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon Honey
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon shortening
1 package yeast
2 cups sifted flour
1/4 teaspoon honey

Directions:
Heat 1/2 cup water until it is almost boiling. Then add milk, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, shortening. Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Separately combine the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon of honey in 1/3 cup of warm water and let yeast dissolve. About 5 minutes. Add this to the milk mixture. Add the sifted flour and beat until well blended. Let it rest in a warm place for 30 minutes. I put mine in the oven that I had warmed to 100 degrees F. Add the other 1/2 teaspoon of salt to mixture and beat well.


Heat an iron skillet on medium heat for 5 minutes. Spray with vegetable spray. Take 4 wide mouth lids from a Ball canning jar and insert  in the skillet (top side down) and spray with vegetable spray.




 Put 2 tablespoons of batter in each ring, cover and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn and cook another 5 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and store in air tight container for up to 3-4 days. Cut in half and warm for serving.

Refrigerator Salad Bar

I've always wanted a salad bar in my refrigerator. Where everything is at your fingertips and no sorting out the veggies and slicing and dicing just to get a salad. I decided to prepare all my salad toppings and organize them in the fridge for the week. Each week, I can change out the vegetables for what ever is in season or my favorites.

Once you've made your salad, seal with container lid and it will stay fresh all week!