Double Berry French Toast Bake- Cheers to the New Year!

This is delicious!

It is a great way to say HELLO to the New Year!

Hello , Double Berry French Toast!

This is a variation on a recipe with the same name in December's Coastal Living.

Marinate raspberries and blackberries in 2 Tbsp of sugar and 2 Tbsp of Grand Marnier for 30 minutes.

Drain the juice from the berries into a bowl with 10 ounces of softened cream cheese. Mix well and spread over 16 to 20 slices of french loaf.

Place 1/2 of the french bread loaf slices in a 13 x 9. Top with marinated berries.

Top berries with the remaining french bread slices to make sandwiches.

Whisk together 1 1/2 cups of milk, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp salt, 5 large eggs (lightly beaten) and 3 Tbsp of sugar.

Pour egg mixture over french bread sandwiches.
Cover and refrigerate over night.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

We served ours with applewood smoked bacon, syrup, and a pomegranate mimosa!

Ring in a Happy New Year with this delicious French Toast Bake.

I don't make New Year's resolutions, but rather approach the the New Year with a sense of openness to what The Lord has in store.

I'm praying for a blessed New Year for each of us!

La Bonne Vie Y'all!

The Christmas Challenge!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! 

Mine began with a little challenge I set for myself. Seven delectable dishes cooked in 1 afternoon.

December 23rd was cooking day!

Here goes...

#1- Pumpkin Crisp...

#2- Hashbrown Casserole

#3- Breakfast Casserole

#4- 2 Pans of Ham Delights

#5- Christmas Crack (half chocolate/ half without)...

#6- Savory Christmas-Shaped Crackers...

#7- Fig Tarts with a red-wine reduction and lemon-thyme scented goat cheese...

It was a really fun afternoon. All of this food was served for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

It was a challenge, but a delicious one!!!

La Bonne Vie!

The Best Dessert You Will Ever Make- Pumpkin Crisp!!!

I know...some of you don't like Pumpkin...

But this...this is no ordinary Pumpkin Dessert!

People who normally don't like pumpkin are making requests.
The first bite...yummmmmm!

Mix 1 (15oz) canned pumpkin puree with 1 cup evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon.

You will need 1 box Butter-Flavored Cake Mix- I use Duncan Hines!

Pour the pumpkin mixture into a greased 13 x 9. Sprinkle the cake mix over the pumpkin mixture.

Sprinkle chopped pecans (or walnuts or almonds...whatever you like or have on hand) over the top of the cake mix.
Melt 1 cup butter and pour over the top.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Trust me...your guest will love it!

We serve ours warm with whipped cream and sprinkle of nutmeg!

La Bonne Vie with Pumpkin Crisp!!!

Turkey Shepherds Pie

This meal is so hearty, the Hubs and I really enjoyed this one!

Ingredients: 2 lbs of ground turkey, small chopped onion, 1 (.87 oz) packet brown gravy mix, 1  can  (14.5 oz) fire-roasted tomatoes with garlic, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp  cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika, 2 containers (24 oz each) refrigerated country-style masked potatoes, 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream, 4 Tbsp chopped chives (divided) 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use cooking spray to grease 13 x 9 baking dish.
Brown turkey with onions in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain and set meat aside.

In the same skillet, prepare gravy per packet instructions. Add tomatoes and the next 4 ingredients- stir well.
Add the turkey/onion mixture back into skillet. Stir to coat. Pour into the 13 x 9.

In a large bowl, mix potatoes and cream with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in 3 Tbsp chives.

Spread potatoes over the meat mixture.

Bake 25 minutes or until potatoes are lightly golden, sprinkle with remaining chives.

We loved this meal! While it is savory, their is an extra warmth that comes with the cinnamon.

I found this recipe in the Sandra Lee magazine this month. I used turkey, but they used lamb, which would give this a really unique flavor.

La Bonne Vie Y'all!

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

This is a good one!!!!

Ingredients: 1 lb ground turkey (or beef), 1 (10oz) can cream of mushroom soup (divided), 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs, 1 egg (lightly beaten), 1/2 cup chopped onions, 1 tsp steak seasoning, 1 Tbsp canola oil, 2 Tbsp butter (divided), 1/4 cup cognac (or brandy), 1 (8 oz) package of sliced mushrooms, 2 cups beef broth, 1 (1.2 oz) packet brown gravy mix

I combined turkey, 1/4 cup mushroom soup, bread crumbs, egg, onion and steak seasoning in bowl.

I heated the oil and 1 Tbsp of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and browned the 4 patties I just made on both sides.

I set the patties aside and added the remaining butter to the same skillet.

When I added the brandy, I removed the pan from the heat.

I then sauteed the mushrooms for 7-8 minutes, then added the beef stock and whisked in the gravy mix until it was smooth.
Then I stirred in the remaining mushroom soup.

I returned the patties to the skillet and spooned the gravy over the patties. I covered the pan and let it simmer for about 25 minutes.

We served ours with mashed potatoes and cheesy broccoli.

YUM!

I tried this Sandra Lee recipe and the Hubs and I loved it!

La Bonne Vie Y'all!!!

Christmas Decor

How about some Christmas Decor?!

I leave my table set throughout the season.
I have really beautiful pieces that I enjoy throughout Christmas and New Years!

I use fun painted wine glasses at each place setting. They are all different!

In the lights above the table, we hang pretty ornaments.

This year we have a formal tree in the living room.
The Hubs and I love nature, so we chose a woodsy-animal theme.
I used berries, cotton, feathers, and branches to go with our tree-topping deer.

Tussy mussies hold mixed nuts inside the tree...

I found owls, mice, deer, raccoon, and this hedgehog...

I loved this little bird; and the snowflake looks like it was made from birch branches.

We carried the nature theme to the mantel. Our garland has berries and pine cones.

My mom made these festive bows and we attached this fun pick to give it even more whimsy.

This giant red mesh drapes dramatically down the stairwell.

Our beautiful nativity scene is from Fontanini. We have been blessed to meet some of the Fontanini brothers at EPCOT in Disney World. Years ago, their ancestors decided to make nativities with story lines about the characters. They felt that it was important for the world to know that these were people, just like you and me.
Each character comes with a story card.

The Holy Family was given to me as a gift from a co-worker at my very first job.
The Hubs and I have added on throughout the years.

The Hubs and I love the ocean and beach. This feather tree in our room looks like fish are swimming around and around.

We found this ribbon that has glittery bubbles on it.

I guess that brings us to the kitchen complete with Mickey cookie jar and a decorated bottle of Spanish Red!

And just above the sugar and flour we hung Mickey and Minnie Cupcake ornaments!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

La Bonne Vie Y'all!