January Recipes

Breakfast Pizza
Southern Living

1 (8-oz.) can refrigerated crescent rolls (I use reduced fat)
1 lb. ground pork sausage
1 (32-oz.) pkg frozen hash browns with onions and peppers
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
4 lg. eggs
½ C milk
1 t salt
½ t pepper

Press crescent dough on bottom and partially up sides of a 9 by 13 in. baking dish. Bake at 375 for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, fry sausage in large skillet over med.-high heat until it is crumbly and no longer pink. Drain well and sprinkle over crust.

Prepare hash browns according to oven method on package. Spoon over sausage. Sprinkle cheese over top. Chill up to 24 hours, if desired. When ready to bake, Whisk together eggs and next 3 ingredients; pour evenly over cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes or until set. Make sure it is set! (You don’t want runny eggs to ruin a delicious if somewhat non-diet friendly treat.)

Gingerbread

½ C butter, softened
½ C brown sugar
½ C molasses
3 ½ C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
1 t ginger
½ t salt
¼ t cloves
1/3 C water

Cream butter and sugar thoroughly. Beat in molasses. Slowly alternate dry ingredients (flour last) and water. Work dough until it is smooth, slightly stiff, and not sticky. You may not need all the flour. If it gets too stiff, add a little more water. Roll and cut using templates for houses. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Pieces must be firm so the house can stay together.

Frosting for gingerbread houses

Beat until frothy:
4 egg whites
¼ t cream of tarter
4 t water

Gradually sift in 5 cups of powdered sugar. Add more and beat hard until thick. Keeps covered with plastic for a few hours. Will harden on houses quickly.

Belgian Wassail
Southern Living

Makes 1 gallon
A big party hit!

2 oranges
2 lemons
1 gallon apple cider
1 C sugar
2 (3-in.) cinnamon sticks
1 t whole allspice
Garnish with clove-studded orange slices

Squeeze juice from oranges and lemons, reserving rinds, into large pot. Bring juice, rinds, apple cider, and next three ingredients to a boil over med-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes. Strain into punch bowl, discarding solids, and garnish.