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| A Taste Of Quebec |
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Holidays are about getting together with family and friends, sharing and creating new memories. Part of the fun is enjoying family traditions. Being from La Belle Province, I am well-versed in the wonderful world of Quebecois cuisine. This particular recipe has been in my family for generations and it was always a family favourite. If you really want to make it an authentic Quebecois meal, send me an email and I will get you the recipe for Sugar Pie. Then find the nearest pillow.
Ragout de boulettes
4 pork hocks
6 whole cloves
1 medium onion
1 celery stalk with leaves
1 bay leaf
2 tsp. salt
freshly ground black pepper
Meatballs
1-1/2 lbs ground lean pork
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. each of dry mustard, ground cloves and cinnamon
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
1 egg beaten
1/4 butter
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
Skin the pork hocks and place in pot. Pour enough water to cover pork. Bring to boil. Skim off any foam on top. Stick whole cloves into onion. Dice celery. Add the onion, celery, bay leaf, two teaspoons salt and pepper to the pot. Simmer and cover for two hours.
Make meatballs by combining all but the last three ingredients and forming into small balls. Place in one layer on baking sheet, cover lightly and refrigerate while the hocks simmer.
When hocks are cooked, melt butter in a skillet. Dust meatballs with flour and brown evenly on all sides. Add them to the pot with the hocks and cook for 45 minutes.
Remove hocks from liquid and cut off the meat in large pieces. Discard bone and fat. Return meat to the pot. Discard bay leaf and whole onion with cloves.
Brown the remaining flour by stirring it in a clean skillet over medium heat until golden. Combine the browned flour and enough cold water to make a smooth, runny paste. Gradually add the flour paste to the stock and cook until there is texture is smooth, about five minutes.
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| Chocolate Raisin and Oatmeal Cookie Mix |
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Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon
1 cup chocolate-covered raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Directions
1. In a clean 1-quart jar or covered container, layer oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spice, raisins, and nuts. Seal; store in a cool, dry place for up to 1 month. Makes enough mix for about 3 dozen cookies.
To make Chocolate Raisin Oatmeal Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or non-stick foil. In a large mixing bowl, stir together contents of jar with 1/3 cup softened butter, 2 eggs, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until well combined (dough will be soft). Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are brown. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and let cool.
Package into an inexpensive , re-usable glass or tin container and decorate.
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With the holidays bearing down on us, the spirit of giving brings out the best in us all. But remember, you don't have to break the bank to be thoughtful. Check out our money saving tips to help you this holiday season. From our family to yours, have a safe and happy Holiday Season. |
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Eco-Cheap Wrapping |
Did you know that 5 billion dollars worth of wrapping paper ends up in landfills worldwide each year? All for about 10 seconds of anticipation as our loved ones tear open a gift to see what gem they can uncover. There are many tasteful ways to wrap gifts this holiday season without choking the environment or burning our hard earned dollars. Here are some tips for wrapping this season:
Reach for the newspaper: There are many establishments now offering wrapping and gift bags made of recycled newspaper. Check out www.newspaperbagproject.com for some great gifting ideas. Alternatively, using newsprint laying around the house is effective as well. This can be painted or decorated with markers to provide that festive look. Better yet get the kids to do the artwork for you for that added 'ah cute' effect. No tags are needed as any salutation may be inscribed right on your masterpiece.
Bag it: Most of us have brown paper bags lying around the house. Well they're not just for lunches anymore. They are easily decorated with old magazine or holiday card cut-outs. Again the only limit here is your imagination as friends and family will be 'wowed' by you new found artistic talent. Your wallet and the environment will thank you too.
Two gifts in one: One awesome way to wrap and give at the same time is to use one gift to wrap another. For example, items such as scarves, tea towels, hand towels, placemats, or table cloths can be used as wrapping. It looks good and the recipient gets the added bonus of another gift.
DIY Ribbons: Ribbons are one of the costly and environmentally hazardous practices in gift giving. Visit www.craftster.org for some great ribbon ideas included old shoe laces, tape measure, and magazines for your eco-gift wrapping. |
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DIY Holiday Place Setting |
 Here is an excellent way to make your guest feel extra special this holiday season. Imagine the looks on their faces when they find their names beautifully written on snow white holiday lights.
What you need:
White replacement holiday lights (found wherever replacement lights are sold)
Pencil
Permanent Metallic Gold Marker
Paints to paint on glass
Fine-tipped paint brush
Recyclable paper plates 1/4 inch ribbon ( organic hemp and cotton available) What you do:Wash and dry the light bulbs Do not touch glass before painting Lightly write the name of guest in pencil on light bulb Place desired paints on plates Go over pencil marks lightly permanent metallic gold marker Add any designs to bulb with fine-tipped paint brush
Allow paint to dry thoroughly
Tie it all together with ribbon
This beautifully decorated dinner place setting will be treasured by your guests. Mention that simply adding a hook to the end of your ribbon will allow them to use these keepsakes as decorations for years to come.
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Gifts From The Heart |
 Gifts crafted by your own hand rather than your wallet truly are gifts from the heart. Here are some ideas on what you can do to show your loved ones just how much they mean to you.
Night-off meal: Pre-cook an entire meal and freeze it. During the holidays, give it to someone you love and they will be forever grateful. There is nothing like having a meal all ready to go during this busiest of seasons. One of my favourites is French Ragout (see recipe on sidebar). It is easy and inexpensive to make and best of all, it tastes great!
Personalized Calendar: Go through all your photos from the year (hopefully they are all saved in the same folder). Chose photos that are special and meaningful to you, the type that jerk tears from your eyes. Using a service like www.printablecalendar.ca, import your photos and chose a template that suits you. When your are satisfied, print it off, hole punch it and voila, a homemade gift that is sure to warm the heart all year long.
A Stocking With Care: Everybody loves stockings. They are so full of promise and hope. Stuffing a stocking for your loved one just got more personal. Stuff this holiday favourite with old photos, and personalized notes about your most cherished memories with them. What are the things you like about them the most? While you are at it, put a dinner invitation in there for a home-cooked meal, and evening, they soon won't forget. A nice touch is putting some of those photos to music. Using simple software such as Windows Movie Maker can make your photos come to life with music that will make such a huge impact this holiday season.
Share your talents: Everybody is an expert in something. Why not share this talent and provide free lessons or classes to friends and family. Whether its an arts & crafts class or something more handy like wood-working, we could all use a little time together learning new things.
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Once again thank you for your business and we look forward to serving your promotional needs in the future.
Sincerely,
Renee
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