Celebrating the Holiday

Trying to get 3 kids and their family together all at once is hard to do.  Gina the oldest works at a hospital and is worked Christmas day so we celebrated 2 different times.  I invited all who could come to a gathering we had Sunday the 23rd and then on Christmas day.  We had turkey and all the stuff that goes with it on Sunday and on Christmas we had ham, several cheeses, the ham and cheese braid, deviled eggs, Renee's favorite cheese potatoes and leftover turkey.  On Sunday I got out all the cookies I made over the last 2 weeks and made 2 pumpkin pies and 1 apple pie.  On Christmas I served leftover pies and cookies.  Both days we had nice visits and ate way too much.

Ham and Cheese Braid

I'm not sure where I saw this recipe but after reading it I knew I wanted to try it.   The original recipe called for white bread dough but I made it with rye bread dough.  On Christmas morning I mixed up the rye bread dough using the following recipe:

2 teaspoons yeast

2 c unbleached flour

1 c rye flour

1/4 c pumpernickel flour

1/4 c nonfat dry milk powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 to 3 tablespoons caraway seeds

1 1/4 cups warm water

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Whisk together the yeast, flours, milk powder, salt, sugar and seeds in a large mixing bowl.

Add the water and butter, and mix till well-blended.

Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, or until it's smooth.  Place the dough in a large, lightly greased bowl, cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rise till doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Roll out bread dough to a rectangle about 18 x 24 inches.

Then take: 

1/2 cup softened butter and 1 pkg. of Ranch Dressing Seasoning Mix and mix together.

Spread half of this onto the rolled out dough. (Save the other half for later.)  Top with 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese and lay ham on top of this.  Using a pizza cutter cut strips of dough along both long edges. You'll need an even number of strips on both sides.  

Starting on one short end, fold up the short end over the ham and begin crisscrossing the first two strips on each side:

Continue crisscrossing the strips to cover the entire top of the bread. At the other end, fold up the short end to tuck it under the last set of braided twists.

Spread remaining butter/ranch mix across the top of the braided bread.  Let this rise/rest for 30 minutes.

Bake in 375 degree oven 45 minutes or until bread dough is golden brown.  I tented mine an additional 10 minutes.  Just keep an eye on it.

Serve this warm.

The recipe says this can be froze and stored for up to 4 months. 

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and then wrap in aluminum foil.  Take Ham & Cheese Braid from freezer and allow to thaw in the refrigerator. A hour before baking place on a greased baking sheet and allow to rise on counter.  Bake as directed above.  

This could also be made with turkey using white bread dough or any other meat.
This was a big hit, everyone loved it.   I ate a couple pieces for supper cold and dipped in a little spicy mustard.  Yummy
I made another batch of this bread and made 2 smaller ones and are in the freezer.  

Shredded cheese and the dough after rising for 1 1/2 hours.

Dough spread out and the butter mixture down the center.

Next the cheese was added.

Add some ham and cut strips on the sides, even number of strips are needed.

Fold the end up.

Then take a strip on the right and bring it over the top, then from the left and continue this.

Continue braiding.

Before you get to the other end fold it up like you did at the beginning.

The rest of the butter mixture is then spread on the top.  Make sure you use a cookie sheet with sides as the butter will melt and drip in the oven.

Ready to be cut.

All cut and ready to eat.

Marbled Rye Bread

My very favorite bread is rye and I can't have ham without rye bread.  On Christmas eve morning I made a loaf of marbled rye bread.  I used the same recipe as I did last year and again it turned out perfect.  The recipe I use is from King Arthur's web site and adapted it a little or you could use your favorite recipe.

Marbled Rye Sandwich Bread

3 c Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 c rye flour
3/4 c pumpernickel flour
1/4 c nonfat dry milk
2 tablespoon caraway seeds
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons instant yeast
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 3/4 c warm water

1-2 tablespoon cocoa powder and 1 tsp oil for coloring of half the dough

Combine all of the ingredients except cocoa powder and the 1 tsp oil, stirring until the dough comes together. Knead until smooth, adding additional water or all-purpose flour if needed--the dough should be soft and quite sticky.  Take out half the dough and put in a well oiled bowl.  To the other half add the cocoa powder and 1 tsp oil and knead until combined.  Put the colored dough into the oiled bowl.  Cover and put in a warm place and let rise for about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down and take out the light rye dough and pat out on a sheet of wax paper, then put the colored rye dough on top and pat it out.  Roll tightly and put seam side down on a sheet of parchment paper.  Let this rise for about 1 hour.

Bake the bread in a preheated 400°F oven for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes (tenting it lightly with aluminum foil). Remove the bread foil, and let the bread bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until it's golden brown on top.  Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool completely before slicing.
Yield: 1 large loaf.

Give me a slice of this bread and a piece of cheese and this makes a wonderful lunch.  In fact I took the heal of the bread and some cheese and it made a good Christmas breakfast.

Marbled rye bread after 1 1/2 hours rise time.

Each half of the dough patted out flat.

All ready to rise again for 1 hour.

Out of oven.

It is as good as it looks.

Season Greetings

From me and the girls we wish you a Merry Christmas.  May everyone enjoy the time you spend with your family and friends.

Me

Derek 5

Reagan 10

Hannah 16

Brandon 14

Brandon and Derek (these are Renee's boys)

Hannah (Gina's daughter)

Reagan (Ron's daughter)

Me and Hannah

With the little snow we had it was enough that there were snow balls flying and kids screaming all just to get a couple pictures.  I was questioning my sanity for even thinking about doing this.

Vintage Ball Jar Kitchen Light

This past year I've seen several different ways that people use vintage mason jars and make them into light fixtures.  I liked them and wanted to make a ceiling fixture that I could replace the fixture by my kitchen sink with.  I asked Ron to watch for a fixture that would work.  He brought home a 4 bulb fixture that was mounted under a ceiling fan  to see if this would work.  I spray painted the fixture gray to match the zinc vintage canning lids and Ron fixed the lids to the fixture so I could screw the jars on.  I also had him drill 2 small holes in the lids so the heat from the bulb could vent out.  Then in the middle of the fixture Ron took a wide mouth zinc lid and screwed it there to hide the wiring.  I used 4 ball blue mason jars and I think it looks perfect.  The only cost was for the 4 jars and they were about 75 cents each.  Recycled fixture, vintage jars and lids equal a pretty neat looking fixture.
I have a vintage hanging 5 light fixture that I would like to re-do sometime.  I paid $1 for it but it hangs down too low to hang it in our house.  Just for the heck of it I'm thinking about hanging it in the storage shed.  This is a project for next spring when its warm out so I can do some painting on it.

My new kitchen light.

You can see the center cap in this picture.

Annual Holiday Movie Day with the Grandchildren

Every year we take the grandchildren to see a Christmas holiday movie and this year we went to see Rise of The Guardians.  It is difficult to choose a movie that they all might enjoy.  There is a 16 year span from the oldest to the youngest one.  The oldest grandchild did not go to this years movie with us, he had some prior plans and the 20 year old worked 3rd shift and was sleeping.   When we get to the theater we get our seats first and then we go and get drinks and popcorn for everyone.  We usually share a couple of tubs of popcorn and get refills if needed.  We try and break the group up so they don't sit and talk during the movie.  The oldest granddaughter (Hannah 16) is always a big help with the others, she has always been a little "mother hen".
After the movie we swung by the house so I could get some pictures of the grandchildren and will post them on Monday.  The picture taking took place outside and we had some snow the other day and the minute we got in the backyard the snowballs started.  I was ready to hang them by their toe nails.  I would get one to stop and then another one would start; I was regretting even thinking about taking pictures.   With grandchildren you get to take them back home and I was ready for that.  :)

Bacon Peanut Butter Cookies

Several years ago I came across a cookie recipe that called for bacon so I made it and everyone enjoyed it.  Ian the grandson who lives with us requested a batch last week and I finally got them done today.  The batch made 4 1/2 dozen and I will put some up so we can have them on Christmas day when the kids are here.  You use the bacon fat/grease when making these but you have to let the grease sit until it solidifies.  These would be something that you could start out by frying the bacon and then putting it and the grease in the fridge overnight and make the next morning.  

http://www.porkbeinspired.com/RecipeDetail/2140/Bacon_and_Peanut_Butter_Cookies.aspx

Bacon Peanut Butter Cookies