Chocolate Doughnuts with Peppermint Glaze

This post is sponsored by Nielsen-Massey.  I am pleased to be invited back to share a holiday recipe using products from their Holiday Flavors Bundle.

Christmas is a time for baking.  I have a lot of fun making holiday treats for my family to enjoy.  To give a classic doughnut recipe a holiday twist, I incorporated festive extracts; like peppermint and Bourbon vanilla.

Weekend mornings we sometimes drive and pick up doughnuts.  Here's how I made these delicious doughnuts at home.  

   

Ingredients Doughnuts
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1/2 teaspoon Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
2 large eggs
 6 tablespoons sour cream
 1/4 cup milk
 1/4 cup vegetable oil
non-stick spray
crushed candy canes for garnish

Ingredients Clear Glaze
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon Pure Peppermint Extract

Directions Doughnuts 
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Spray doughnut pan with a non-stick cooking spray.  In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, oil, eggs, and Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix together until smooth. Place doughnut batter in a plastic bag, snip a corner off the tip and pipe batter into doughnut pan. *Be careful not to overfill. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the thickest part of a doughnut comes out clean.

Directions Glaze
Combine water and sugar and Pure Peppermint Extract in a small saucepan with a whisk.  Bring to a boil.  Boil until the sugar dissolves and the syrup turns clear.  Allow glaze to cool slightly above room temperature, then brush each doughnut with a very thin coat of glaze and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

*This post was made possible through a partnership with Nielsen-Massey.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Very Merry Christmas Campaign

I prefer shopping online during the holiday season.  I'm not a fan of crowds and busy parking lots simply make me anxious.  Besides, most of my family lives beyond an easy car ride.  Shopping for thoughtful gifts online and having them delivered to their door takes the stress out of gift giving.

I partnered with Wayfair to share a holiday wish list for gift giving as part of their Very Merry Christmas campaign.  I'm so happy to work with them because I truly love their products.    

I put together a fun list of presents I know my home-decor-obsessed family and friends will love.

Hanging Stoneware Wall Decor // More Wall Accents	Mckenny Throw // More Blankets & Throws	Geometric Picture Frame // More Picture Frames
Stoneware Table Vase // More Vases	Vegetable and Flower Wicker Basket // More Storage Containers	Terracotta Pot Planter Set // More Planters
Primitive Coffee Mug // More Mugs & Teacups	Artisan Wood Candlestick // More Candle Holders	Aerne Coffee Mug // More Coffee Mugs
Marble Essential Oil Diffuser // More Scented Oils & Diffusers	Hobnail Stoneware Mixing Bowl Set // More Mixing Bowls	Kitchen Canister Set // More Kitchen Canisters & Jars

1. I love the look of this ceramic wind chime.  The pieces look handmade and totally unique.  This would make the perfect finishing touch for your home or garden.

2. A cozy throw blanket to snuggle up with this winter.  The stripes and fringe trim are an eye-catching accent.

3. This picture frame would look great on a desk or mantel.  You could personalize it by including a sweet family photo.

4. A modern vase to hold flowers or stand alone on a shelf.

5. Surprise the garden lover in your life with a wicker basket to carry in fruit and vegetables harvested fresh from their garden.

6. This is a cute little planter set.  I love the fluted shape of the pots.

7. Coffee mugs are a practical gift.  This is perfect for someone who is serious about their morning coffee!

8. Candlesticks always make a nice gift.  Adding just a touch of black into your home decor is edgy, yet sophisticated.

9. These stoneware mugs received great reviews on Wayfair's site.  They come in a few colors, but the beige/tan option will coordinate nicely in a neutral palette.

10. Oil diffusers will keep your home smelling great.  They've become pretty popular lately and I can see why!  Not sure what to get that person who has everything?  They make the best gifts.

11. What to buy for someone who likes to bake?  Mixing bowls are a perfect gift for blending ingredients.  Pretty and functional!

12. Some things are too good to give away.  Who am I kidding?  I'd be tempted to keep this canister set for myself.

Happy gift-giving season!  Keep Wayfair in mind when it comes time to shop for home-decor-obsessed family and friends.



*This post was written in partnership with Wayfair.  All opinions expressed are my own.

       

How I Decorated Our Holiday Table

When decorating for the holidays, I like to keep things simple and stress free.

Using things found in nature, I transformed our dining room table for the holiday season.

It all started with a metal cornucopia filled with eucalyptus branches.  I love the texture of the seeds.  I arranged the stems loosely, to create a natural cascade.

To make it a bit more special, I scooped fruit from the kitchen bowl and had fun mixing it into the centerpiece!  Added bonus--you can eat the leftovers!!

My husband spotted the ornamental corn while grocery shopping and thought I might like to decorate with it.

It's the perfect addition.  I love the range of colors on the kernels.

The soft glow of candlelight makes the whole scene warm and inviting.

Hope this inspires you to take a more natural approach to decorating this holiday season.

Dried Citrus Ornaments

This holiday season, I'm sticking to my theme of natural Christmas decor.  Maybe it's the lazy decorator in me, but I prefer to add holiday cheer to my home by keeping things simple.  

Also since converting our garage, I really don't have the extra room in the house for storage.  When the time comes to finally clean everything back up, I can throw it away or recycle it.

I love the look of dried citrus slices used in Christmas decorations.  A few years ago I ordered a couple packs from Etsy to decorate with.  This year I wanted to create my own.  And to my surprise, they're so easy to make.  Here's the method I used...

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Cut the citrus into slices.  The thinner the slices, the faster they will dry.

Place citrus slices onto a wire rack in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch.

Bake for 5 hours, turning every hour to make sure they dry evenly.

They’re now ready for garland or dressing up a wreath.  I decided to make ornaments.

To hang, take a piece of thread long enough to poke through the citrus and tie in a knot.

Combined with the scent of fresh tree clippings(free from Home Depot)my house smells amazing.

Happy Decorating!

Source List

Recipe Box- Antropologie

Gingham Pitcher- McGee&Co

Wooden Trees- Etsy

Sweater Ornaments

At the very last minute I decided to decorate a small tree for my son's room. Instead of purchasing ornaments, I decided pull out my craft box and make my own.

I searched Pinterest for ideas, then came across a tutorial to make sweater gift tags.  Jessica, from the blog Zakka Life makes it even easier by sharing a sweater template you can download and print at home.

A great idea for leftover wallpaper samples!  But you could also use wrapping or scrapbook paper.

   

Proof that you can decorate for Christmas without spending a lot of money.  I hope this inspires you to gather your craft supplies and make some ornaments to adorn a package or decorate your tree!  Happy Holidays, friends!

*See more ideas to create with sample wallpaper here and here.

Natural Holiday Scent

 I like to make simmering pots all throughout the year, but I especially love how it makes the house smell great at Christmas.

There's no right or wrong recipe.  You can use whatever fruit or spices you have on hand, fill your pot with water and simmer on low. *Watch carefully and refill water as needed.

 For this mix I used: orange slices, cranberries, fresh rosemary, pomegranate and a 1/4 cup of star anise.

Star anise has a strong black licorice scent to me.  The aroma can be overwhelming.  Use less if you prefer!

 It also helps to add moisture back into the air.

Also, to store the mixture, I've kept it in refrigerator for days without it going bad.  Once the pot cools down completely, you can cover it and place it in the fridge.  Then add water and reheat it again.

It smells so wonderful.  I love to open the windows, let the fresh air in and scent my home naturally!  

Tis The Season for Holiday Entertaining

  I love when my friends visit.  If I know in advance that they're stopping over, I like to put together something simple to eat.  It's also a good excuse to indulge in a few sweet treats.

The pastries are store bought.  The trick is to display them nicely. 

I garnished the desserts with rosemary and sage for fresh-holiday look.

Then topped the danish with cranberries to resemble a wreath.

Mini pies wrapped with ribbon inspired by Jenny Cookies.

Wood Ellis Stand is from Magnolia.  

I refuse to spend money on expensive tablecloths.  Instead I purchased 2 yards of inexpensive fabric and made one myself.  You can also cover your table with a pretty sheet found at a thrift store.

Also if you serve your treats warm, your guests will think they're homemade!!

A pitcher full of eucalyptus to add a little color to the table.

Merry Christmas!  Thank you for stopping by today.