#74 Orange {Julie}us

Christmas day is definitely one of my very favorite days of the year. It's one of those days that I do nothing but spend time with my family. As a mom this is very hard to do while I am in my home...because ordinarily all I see around me are things that need to be done. Impossible to relax! So I try my hardest to turn a blind eye to my "ever-present" to-do list and devote myself to them. Sure...I have to wash some dishes and prepare some food, but I try to do as much as I can ahead of time. Our Christmas brunch menu is: Ham and Cheese egg bake (done ahead), Popovers with cinnamon honey butter and Orange {Julie}us. Huge spoiler alert here....once you try this yummy frothy OJ, you will never buy it again.....I warn you not to do it...I speak from experience, you will be disappointed...sorry DQ!

Orange {Julie}us- Renamed cause my recipe is better!

1 (6oz) can orange juice concentrate- I use a 12 oz. can and make two separate batches with it
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
12 ice cubes


Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth!

 

So yummy...so good.....so {Julie}licious!!! Perfect with Christmas morning brunch!

#73 Hot Cocoa

We have a very time honored sacred Christmas morning tradition in my house....homemade hot cocoa and blueberry muffins while we open presents. Then a super yummy breakfast brunch menu for after! It is such a special day, mostly because it is a day for our family alone. Which I love so very, very much! Hot cocoa is always made homemade on Christmas morning. Here's the great part....it's easy!

Homemade Hot Cocoa

1 1/2 Tbsp. Unsweetened Cocoa
1 1/2 Tbsp. Sugar
1 cup whole milk

Adjust this basic recipe for how much you want to make. I followed this recipe using 6 cups of milk which then needed 1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp. each of cocoa and sugar.

Use a pot suitable for your desired amount.

 

I use the best cocoa I can find.

Use a wire whisk to mix the cocoa and sugar into the milk. It takes a bit for the cocoa powder to incorporate. Just keep whisking.

 

Mmmm! Super rich chocolate....hot cocoa fit for beautiful Christmas mornings for wonderful family traditions!!!

#72 Simple Fudge

Merry {day after} Christmas! As always, busy, busy, busy. And it is not until Christmas is over that I have time to blog Christmas recipes. I have already resigned myself to the fact that I will not meet my goal of 101 homemade recipes in one year. But I got awfully close *smile*!!! But I will keep plugging along and meet my goal...even if it's a tad late! So on to the fudge.....I love it, this time of year. But not all fudge is created equal in my eyes. I'm not a fan of the{crystalie- sugarie} super sweet fudge. I like creamy goodness. And who knew you could get that kind of homemade fudge so simply.

Simple Chocolate Fudge

1- 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
1 tsp. vanilla


So this is how simple this fudge is....add all the ingredients (except the vanilla) to a make-shift double boiler i.e. stainless steel bowl over pan of simmering water.

 

 

Also butter an 8 inch dish.

 



 

Stir until melted.

 

Then add the vanilla to the melted yumminess.

If you would like nuts in your fudge...which I love, then add to the bottom of your buttered dish. I added chopped walnuts to half.

Then add your fudge to the dish...voila....fudge!

After it is cool, cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit at room temperature for a couple hours to harden enough to be sliced. Yummy! Yummy!