danapop

The Holiday Season is officially upon us. What goes better with all the tradition (whatever your beliefs) than lots and lots of sausage? Sure, sausage, why not?

Here are two of my favorite Holiday recipes that feature sausage. Chicken-Apple Sausage Strata with Spinach & Mushrooms and Sausage Balls. The Strata is perfect for a late Christmas morning brunch, and the Sausage Balls are just the thing to pass around while opening presents.

Both recipes are ridiculously easy. In fact, I cannot believe I’m posting a recipe that calls for Bisquick and only a mere two additional ingredients (meat, cheese and said Bisquick). But, my mother makes them every year for us to enjoy, and, well, you just can’t monkey with tradition, especially when it comes from your momma. 

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At our house, it goes without saying that spiked drinks must accompany holiday festivities. So, when we trim our tree, I always want a nice hot something to really get us in the winter mood (well, as winter as Georgia will allow). A few years back while on vacation in Breckenridge, we tasted a drink called German Chocolate Cake. Not only is it the perfect hot toddy to complement tree trimming, frankly, it’s the sole reason to have Malibu rum in your liquor cabinet (otherwise, ick)! It’s also one of the few times I can condone not whipping your own cream…the high-pressure crazy-can stuff just tastes better in this (otherwise, again, double ick. Seriously).

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I’m not a hater. Really. I mostly try to accept people and things as they are. But there is that ONE thing (and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone on this)…Rachael Ray. Like, I really can’t stand her. For multiple reasons; overuse of acronyms, inability to tell funny jokes, addressing adults as kids or kiddos, calling sandwiches sammies, referring to her husband as “her sweetie,” and a horrific recipe repertoire, for starters.

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The cocktail trend has really run the gamut the past couple of years from pomegranate everything to the floating lychee garnish to scores of drinks that end in “tini” to the recent “south of the border” influx on bar menus (personally, I think people just like saying words like Caipirinha and Mojito, they just roll off the tongue).

Cocktail consumption goes in stages – with a noticeable divide running between the pre and post college imbibing style. And as there’s an increase in salary and social functions where you can’t act like an arsehole anymore (weddings, work events, holidays with significant other’s family) one has to be a bit more circumspect.

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I am usually no good with these sorts of things – recipe exchanges. Well, if we’re being totally honest, recipes and exchanges that involve spontaneity. I’m good with things that involve advance notice of in-law visits or making something sweet concocted with peppermint extract during the month of December – I can handle that sort of preparation.

My twin sister is a funny little thing. We’re very similar in some ways, but opposites in a lot more ways. She’s very willy-nilly and I love her for it – willy-nilly doesn’t really come into mind when people describe me, so I’ve heard.

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There’s a really great Stereophonics song called Carrot Cake & Wine. My interpretation of that song is that a big chunk of life is about finding that sliver of something you’re passionate about, and a quiet place to savor it.

I’ve always liked the sentiment behind the song and I see the analogy reflected in so much of life. And so it seemed the perfect combination for the season – the deep red of the wine, the muted ivory of the icing, and cheery freckles of spices and lovely orange carrots for the cupcakes. So, here’s to all the bites of carrot (cup)cake(s) and sips of wine you can handle.

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