Bacon Jam: the ultimate stocking stuffer

As I was perusing this month's issue of Martha Stewart Living, I kept coming back to one page in particular because it looked too good to be true. 

It was a recipe for a homemade gift, a perfect stocking stuffer for carnivorous friends and family.

It was Bacon Jam. 

So yesterday I spent the afternoon in the kitchen, surrounded by the happy smells of frying bacon, onion and garlic, bubbling brandy, maple syrup and brown sugar.

If you're looking for something to wow your friends, make this for them. 

This recipe is based on the Martha Stewart Living recipe found here but with my own substitutions.

1. Cut 2 500-gram packages of bacon into 1 inch pieces. Spread half of the bacon in a single layer in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until brown, about 20-25 minutes. Repeat with the remaining bacon, making sure to drain off as much fat as possible in the process. 
2. Save 1 tbsp bacon fat in the skillet and add to that 1 large red onion, diced, and 4 cloves of garlic, also diced. Cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. 
3. Stir in 1 tbsp paprika and 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger and cook for another minute. 
4. Turn heat up to high. Add in 1 cup brandy, 3/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup red wine vinegar. Bring to a boil then add in bacon.
5. Reduce heat to low and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid reduces to a thick glaze. I added in 1/4 cup molasses and a bit of corn starch to get my liquid to thicken.

Warning: your kitchen and subsequently your home is going to smell like heaven at this point.

6. Once thickened, let it cool then transfer to a blender or food processor and puree to the consistency of a thick/chunky jam. 

7. Put jam into airtight containers or jars for gifting or saving and refrigerate for at least one hour. The jam should keep in the fridge for about a month. 

Make sure to sample some for yourself as well. 

Enjoy!

Easy Holiday Ornaments

As I patiently (kind of) wait for this weekend to hurry up and get here so we can get our tree and finish Christmas decorating the apartment, I've been keeping myself occupied with other holiday things.

I've made cookies, I've started putting up decorations, and I've been wrapping presents.

 

Inspired by my friend Emily (who invited me to do a nursing/first aid talk with her Brownie troupe last Wednesday which was SO much fun) who does a handmade ornament swap, I thought I'd try and make some of my own.

 

After a Pinterest browse I came across a cute idea using scrabble tiles.

My best friend's husband calls me Scrabble (long story involving me trying to use code to talk about him with my friend wen they first started dating) so I though this craft was particularly appropriate.

 

I googled where I could buy extra scrabble tiles but ultimately ended up buying a bag off of Ebay.

 

I'm sure many stores that sell games also sell additional tiles. You can also purchase them on Etsy (as well as purchasing only the tiles you need).

 

All you need for this craft is scrabble tiles, something to make the ornament hang on the tree like a hook or ribbon, and a glue gun.

 

 

I spent more time than I'd like to admit trying to arrange words and sentences into scrabble patterns (Silent Night worked pretty well with the night coming off of the N in silent) and racked my brain for holiday phrases.

 

On the docket for today: making bacon jam.

Yep.

Apparently it's a real thing.

And it sounds gloooooorious.

 

Christmas Wish List Update

Selfish Update.

I've worked two CRAZY busy 12 hour shifts this weekend and I'm tired so I'm allowing myself to look at things I want during my down time.

 

Also, use this as a gift guide for that special someone in your life!

 

 

1. This reasonably priced bangle from Indigo:

 

 

2. This less reasonably priced purse ($148)

 

 

More updates to follow, most likely.

 

Molasses Spice Thumbprint Cookies

I made these cookies on the weekend and they were very well received.

I wanted to use some of the spicy balsamic jam that John had made a few weeks back and I felt like this recipe worked well to compliment the flavours in the jam.

To make your own you could mix some ground cloves into blueberry or blackberry jam.

 

 

(recipe for cookies courtesy of Martha Stewart)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda      
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter      
• 1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar      
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger      
• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour      
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder      
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger      
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon      
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves      
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg      
• 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses      
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1. Chop chocolate into 1/4-inch chunks; set aside. In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in 1 1/2 teaspoons boiling water; set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter with brown sugar until combined. Add fresh ginger and mix until combined. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Slowly add to butter mixture, mixing until well combined.

3. Add baking soda mixture and molasses; mix to combine. Stir in chocolate; Transfer to refrigerator. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.

4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

5. Using a 2-inch ice cream scoop, scoop dough onto baking sheet, 2 1/2 inches apart. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Roll dough balls in granulated sugar and return to baking sheets. Transfer to oven and bake until surfaces crack slightly, about 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

** For my version omit the granulated sugar for rolling and press thumbprints into the cookies prior to baking and immediately out of oven (be careful, obviously, those cookies will be warm). Then once cooled, dollop in your jam.

Enjoy!

Holiday Prep: Glass Etching & Pinecones

This morning John took the pup with him to work which meant I got to sleep in and spend the day out running errands without a care as to needing to walk the dog.

I imagine this is what having kids is like only slightly less tiring.

 

Once I got up I headed out to Michael's to buy some craft supplies.

I went with the intention of buying paints to give some edge to the pinecones I had collected at the park.

I've abandoned the squash/gourd centerpiece on our too infrequently used dinner table and am moving to something more holiday/winter appropriate.

 

Obviously I never buy only what I went to get.

I walked out with supplies to etch glass, circular knitting kneedles, more yarn, wrapping paper and baker's twine.

 

I immediately got to work on the glass etching.

 

 

I bought:

• Martha Stewart Crafts® Etch Cream, and
• Martha Stewart Crafts® Adhesive Stencil

Working with gloves and in a well ventilated area, arrange the stencils as desired then paint the cream in a thick layer over top. Allow it to dry for 15 mins then wash off with water and remove the stencils.

Voila!

 

You may not be able to see it too well but it's our name with a decorative little flourish at the bottom.

I'm going to try and do some more glass etching projects.

 

While I was waiting for the cream to dry I went to my craft box and pulled out mod podge and some glitter. After applying a coat of the glue onto the edges of the pinecone I dusted it with red glitter then allowed it to dry before shaking off the excess.  

 

I plan to gather a few more pinecones tomorrow and glitter coat a few more, one gold and maybe one silver.

 

Tomorrow (once I get home from work in the a.m. and take el poocho for a walk around the block - humming aloud to my christmas jams, natch) I plan on putting on my PJs with hot chocolate and curling up in bed with a christmas movie. After a short nap (I don't want to sleep too long in case I can't fall asleep tomorrow night) I plan on starting my christmas baking!

 

On the docket: Molasses spice cookies turned into thumbprints with the spicy balsamic grape jam that John made and/or apricot biscotti.

 

That post to come!

 

Christmas Craft: Advent Jar

As most of you are aware, Pinterest is the greatest thing ever to happen to the internet.

Need fashion or hair inspiration? Pinterest.

Need an inspirational quote or funny picture to get you through the day? Pinterest.

Need a craft idea? Pinterest.

 

When I work nights and it's quiet, the wee hours of the morning are often spent scrolling through hundreds of pictures on Pinterest.

 

On my recent Christmas kick I came across this cute idea and have decided to make one for John.

 

 

I'm planning to attach numbers to chocolates and candies in the jar.

Every 5 days (December 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, and obviously the 25th) there will be a little present instead of chocolate. I've already picked up a bag of Lindt chocolates and a Tim Horton's gift card. I'm thinking some of the other presents can be things like new boxers and other items under $15.

 

I found a template for the numbers here (I might trim off the 'more days' part)

 

I'll keep you up to speed on how the jar goes.

I also fell in love with these DIY advent ideas:

 

Muffin Tin Advent Calendar

 

 

All you need is adhesive magnet sheets to cut to cover the holes. Plus candy to put in each spot.

 

Advent Calendar Wall Chart

(from thepaintedhive.net)

 

Full instructions plus free templates for this idea can be found at The Painted Hive website here!

 

A Christmas To-Do List in T.O.

Now that the Christmas spirit has officially taken over my mind, body & soul, expect 90% of all posts for the next month and a bit to be Christmas themed.

 

Today was the Santa Claus Parade.

This year, like every year since I was maybe 10, I missed it.

In my defence I've been working nights this weekend so I slept right through it but every year I tell myself that next year I'll go.

 

That got me thinking about all the wonderful things there are to do in this city that I tell myself I'll do next year and never seem to get around to doing.

 

If you're lucky enough to live in the Toronto area or are planning to come visit the city during the holidays, here are three things I want to do/see/recommend you also do/see this holiday season:

 

The Cavalcade of Lights

 

 

This free event includes the lighting of the city's Christmas tree (it's massive and my family and I pose for pictures with it on Christmas Eve every year), fireworks, musical performances, and skating on the rink.

The 47th Cavalcade of Lights will take place at Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday November 30th.

 

The Nutcracker

 

Every year when the ads go up on the bus shelters I tell myself that this will be the year I go to see this ballet. This year I actually plan to.

Maybe with my mom and sister... or just my mom, depending on who else is actually interested.

(I'll be expecting a message from my mom re: her RSVP to this event tomorrow)

The Nutcracker runs from December 14th to January 4th at The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Tickets run from $25 - $184

(sorry mom, we'll be sitting in the nosebleeds. We can spend the money we saved on tickets on wine)

 

The Toronto Christmas Market

 

I was planning a day to attend this last year when I realized I had missed it completely.

This free event in The Distillery District is a street market dedicated to the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas. Hundreds of products are available for purchase from unique vendors or you could listen to the carolers and choirs, or just walk around and take in the sights.

The Christmas Market runs from November 29th to December 15th. Hours are Monday - Friday noon to 9 pm and Sat & Sun 10 am - 9 pm

 

 

What events, sights, or traditions are you looking forward to this holiday season?