'Merry Christmas' Breakfast Pastry

This pastry came about when I sent my husband to get groceries to make a Christmas Breakfast Pastry Ring to bring to our friends' annual Christmas brunch.  The pastry ring uses crescent roll dough that comes in triangles which are put together to form a circle for the ring.  He came back with Crescent Seamless Dough Sheets, which is actually really great for most crescent recipes I make but not when the triangles are actually helpful.  

Rather than trying to mess with cutting triangles or a large circle, I decided to change it up to make things easier, got out my cookie cutter set, and the 'Merry Christmas' breakfast pastry was born.

I baked this at a friends' house so I don't have a photo of it baked with the glaze, but it looked even better after baking!

'Merry Christmas' Breakfast Pastry

Pastry:

2 packages refrigerated Crescent Seamless Dough Sheets

1 8oz.  package cream cheese softened

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

1  can  pie filling ( Blueberry used here,  Strawberry is also great)

Glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 to 3 teaspoons milk

Heat oven to 350 degrees F

For filling, combine cream cheese, icing sugar, egg and vanilla extract.  Unroll one crescent dough onto baking sheet. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough to within 1/2 inch of the edge; top with pie filling. Use cookie cutters to cut 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' letters out of second crescent sheet.  Arrange letters on top of pie filling layer.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

When cool, mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth to create the glaze: drizzle over pastry.  Cut into slices and serve.

Winter Wonderland White Christmas Decor

Here's a look into our main living room 'Winter Wonderland White Christmas' decor this year!

This year I wanted our white tree to be decorated entirely with snowflake ornaments.  I started getting them on clearance after Christmas last year, and throughout the year collected them as gifts and from thrift stores and gift shops.  When I finally pulled them out to decorate the tree, I had collected 100+ unique snowflake ornaments. It's so fun to look at all the different variations!

The tree takes on an entirely different look at night since the light can't shine through the solid flakes.  It's fun to see it change depending on the lighting.

For gift wrap, I printed large labels using some snowflake clip-art to add interest to some packages under our tree

On others, I made personalized tags that double as ornaments using inexpensive snowflake ornaments (the kind that come in packs of 10 or 12 for about $3) and a tag maker

Since the tree was all snowflakes this year, I found this ornament stand at a thrift store for our family ornaments

 I finally treated myself to a fun snowflake pillow from Pier1

After seeing this saying on Pinterest I had to incorporate it into our snowflake decor.  Using a $10 goodwill frame, white spray paint, white poster paper, inexpensive snowflake ornament, and scrapbook letters it was easy and inexpensive to make!

A tip I learned from this project: Using sticky chipboard letters is so much easier than basic sticker letters for projects like this, since they can 'sit' on a guide ruler always go on straight!

 
'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, but if the white runs out I'll drink the red' was another Pinterest saying that I had to use in our bar cart area.  We made the chalkboard using a Goodwill frame and paint.

I made this snowflake tree using objects I had around the house including a garage sale vase, lighted twig branches, and inexpensive snowflake ornaments.  Since it branches out it has a large impact and adds light to our bar cart.

Here it is in the dark, shiny and sparkly!

Christmas Card Display Strip, Take Two

My Christmas Card Display Strip post from 2011 has been one of my most popular posts and Pinterest Pins!  We are still using it years later.  Here's an photo of it last year full with our 2013 cards!

For instructions on how to make one for yourself, click here.

Healthy Red and Green Christmas Soup

This soup is great to make at Christmas time not only because it's red and green, but because it's a nice light and healthy meal that's refreshing after so many heavy dishes!  The combination of white beans, kale, tomatoes, and sausage not only looks great but provides a great combo of flavors worthy of serving to any house guests. It's quick and easy to make too!

 Mmmm!

White Bean Soup with Sausage and Kale-a.k.a. 'Christmas Soup'

Makes: 5 servings

Start to Finish: 30 mins

Ingredients:

12 ounces fresh mild Italian sausage links, sliced 1/2 inch thick

1/4 cup water

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

2   15 ounce can white kidney (cannellini) beans, rinsed and drained

2   14 ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth

1   14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic, undrained

4    cups coarsely chopped kale or spinach

Ground pepper

Directions:

Combine sliced sausage and water in a large skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink. Uncover and cook about 5 minutes more or until sausage is browned, stirring frequently. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon; set aside.

Meanwhile, cook onion and garlic in hot oil in a large saucepan about 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in beans, broth, and undrained tomatoes. Cover and bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.

Stir in cooked sausage and kale or spinach. Simmer, uncovered, about 3 minutes more or until kale or spinach is

tender. Season to taste with pepper. Makes 5 servings.