Christmas time treats...

What have I been up to this past month?
Well Hubby made the most delicious ham this year for Thanksgiving. Instead of using the roaster or the oven, he put it on our charcoal grill and grilled it. Yum!
Then I brined the turkey. Yum! It turned out delicious. No after pics, sorry!

We were even able to share our dinner with friends and send them home with leftovers.

2 cups sea salt. 1 TBLS each: Rosemary, Thyme and Sage.
Dissolve salt  in 1/2  Gal  of water.
Pour the salt water over and in the turkey cavity
and cover the rest of the turkey in ice water.
Refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours
or in my case, place in a cooler and cover with ice.
Once Brined, rinse the turkey REALLY WELL!
Season to your liking (minus salt) and bake.
Be sure to remember to check your turkey OFTEN.
Brined turkeys take LESS time to bake.
My 17lb turkey cooked in less than 3 hours.

I also found a drink recipe that I couldn't help but share! 

It's so versatile it can be used in almost anything as a replacement for sweeteners.

 Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter
2 cups light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Pinch of salt
Pinch of ground cloves (optional)
**Spiced Rum
**Butterscotch Schnapps (optional)
Half & Half (optional)
Boiling Water
Cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)

Directions:

I use my hand mixer (but you can use a stand mixer) to mix the brown sugar, butter, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.

Refrigerate the mixture until it is firm (you can keep this in the fridge and bring out only what you need).

Put 2 tablespoons of the mixture (or more if you like it really sweet.) into a small coffee cup, add a shot of rum and a shot of butter schnapps, add boiling water and a dash of half & half.

Feel free to mix up the ingredients in your own personal signature cocktail. A little less rum, a little more rum or no rum – it’s your call. This is the perfect cocktail for cold weather. 

**Just to be clear, you do not have to make the alcoholic version!!!

I've added this seasoned butter to my coffee, half water & milk, just milk, and I've even added it to my Kefir/banana smoothie! Yum. Ah, the possibilities! Try it and let me know how you like it. 

What would you add the butter to? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Merry Christmas friends!

 

 

 

I just love colored Christmas lights!

  

This was taken on our way back from Joes Tree's in Newport, VA.

~E