Christmas Crafting: Cork Tree

Only 12 more sleeps till the Big Guy in red makes his big visit,  12!! I don't know where the time went but holy mackerel it doesn't feel like Christmas. I'm finding it really hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year, my place isn't nearly as festive and there weren't many Christmas crafts done this year either. Pretty sure the lack of snow and +10 weather has something to do with that for me personally. I'M NOT COMPLAINING!! I like not having to shovel my car out, or spend 15 minutes bundling Charlee to go to the grocery store. But a little snow cover for Christmas wouldn't hurt, would it?

Today I had a free day to catch up on laundry, cleaning and BLOGGING! <3  As I was scrolling through the blogs I follow I came across the cutest Christmas craft that literally made my chin drop. A CORK TREE!!! I have had a vase full of corks sitting on top of my wine rack waiting to be used for something this cute.

So easy and a perfect little addition to any wine lovers gift! The idea came from the Stonewall Kitchen Website, my kind of website!!  It was one of their Holiday Tips of the Day. Be sure to take a look at the other tips, they are all great.

Source and Tutorial

Here is my first cork tree for my house, Im sure there will be more to come.

Instead of using a small piece of tree I glued 4 corks together to form a base for it to sit on. I also liked the look of it without the base. If you don't have enough corks to create one of these you have 2 options...You can buy a bag of corks at the "Bottle Your Own Wine" store for $5. Option #2 ....Drink Up!  I like #2, Cheers!

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

I cant believe its been almost 2 weeks since I posted!! I apologize! In the past week or so I've been keeping busy, getting ready for the big Holiday and doing Cupcakes for the wag jag deal and other orders. Finished the 2 most important people on my Christmas list and now to add to gifts and figure out what the heck to get my parents and the in laws...I'm open to any suggestions!

So when I decided on the "theme" for our tree, about 4 years ago, I really wanted to do Gingerbread men and it had to be "country-ish". I looked everywhere for gingerbread men decorations ANYTHING would have done...I know it might be hard to believe now because they are everywhere, but there was nothing. So I had to make my own! I found a recipe online for Gingerbread ornaments, which was pretty much a gingerbread recipe with no egg. I looked last year through all my recipes and can't find the exact recipe I used...frustrating! But here's a link to a very similar one, with instructions!

Gingerbread Ornaments

Every year I put 3 trees, our main tree, a smaller one in the kitchen, and a tiny one in Charlee's room. Last year the tree in the kitchen got a huge makeover, from gold and red to Kitchen themed! What's on a kitchen themed tree? Started out with Cinnamon Ornaments, Gingerbread and Heart Shaped.

Homemade Hot Cocoa

Anyone who lives in the Maritimes will be cursing me...I'm about a day too late with this recipe! I'm sorry!! But luckily its only the FIRST snow of winter, and there will be lots more where that came from. I found this recipe written on a post-it in my recipe binder, and quickly pulled it out when Tyler and Charlee were outside playing and I realized....we ran out of Hot Chocolate!Crisis Averted.

Nothing says I Love You like a mug of Hot Chocolate after an afternoon in the Snow.

Homemade Hot Chocolate (single serving)

1 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp water

1 c Milk

bit of vanilla

Heat cocoa, sugar and water in a pot for 2 minutes on low heat. Until the sugar and cocoa are dissolved.

Chocolately Goodness

Add Milk (I had some cream in the fridge so I added about 1/4 c of that to add some richness) heat to desired temperature. Add vanilla and Marshmallows just before serving.

Holiday Cookie Recipes!

When I was young I never understood why Mom would bake for 3 days...only to put everything in the freezer! The past couple years since we've moved back to Halifax and had "our own" Christmas' I'm finally starting to understand. Every year I think I add another recipe, this year I'm on the hunt for a good gumdrop cake...myyyy faaavvv! But for now I will share these 2 recipes that are made every year in our house....For the freezer!

Charlee's First Gingerbread House

Delicious Dry Rub

So a few weeks ago we decided to have some friends over for supper and I was going to try something I had never done before, but ALWAYS wanted to do....turn my BBQ into a smoker!!! So anyway, this is a 2 day process, soaking wood chips, making dry rub, marinating for 24 hours and cooking/smoking for 6 hours. And thats the kind of stuff I love! I was making pulled pork sandwiches for supper so we used a Pork Shoulder,and applewood chips for the "smoke". My absolute favorite Chef on the Food Network is Michael Smith, and it was here that I got the inspiration and tips for smoking a pork shoulder.

 I realize smoking pork shoulder for 6 hours isn't really a great entertaining recipe so I'll just link you up in case your interested. BUT one thing that everyone can use is a really great Spice Blend. This one is simple, cheap and works on pork chops, chicken, in steak marinade, I used it on ribs this past weekend and on roast potatoes! Multi Purpose!

Mini Potato Galettes

This is another recipe from the Our Compliments:Inspired  Magazine, Christmas Edition. I love free magazines especially when they have fantastic recipes to try. Around Christmas seems to be the time that people do the most entertaining, if you are one of those people..take a trip to Sobeys and grab one of these magazines. You probably see them all the time and never bother to pick it up, I suggest you do JUST ONCE...and you'll be hooked.

So the other night for supper I decided I would try this recipe, Cheese and Potatoes...can't go wrong in my house. There was a little more prep than just making mashed potatoes but it was worth it, they were delicious and would definitely impress at a family dinner or potluck.

Cabbage Rolls

Just like the mama used to make! This was my first time trying this recipe, one that mom used to make when we were younger, one of my Grampy's Favorites! When I was a cook in Alberta one of the Chef's I worked under was part Ukrainian and the cabbage rolls he made were unreal! But like any recipe, nothing could measure up to Mom's, and its probably just because shes mom and anything she makes is amazing!