Thursday, December 18, 2008

A little something for me; a little Eggnog bread for you

I signed up with Kori to be in her Secret Santa Shindig. And I am so excited to report that my package arrived. I took off the paper. And guess what was under it? Look at that box. Oh, that so brings back memories. I long for the days of Gymboree. And matching outfits. And words absent from my girls' boo-tays.

And when I open the box - it almost looks like there are Gymboree outfits in there. Do you think that Gymboree ever contemplated making clothes for adults? And I find, not clothes but this incredibly cute pot holder, towel, and matching aprons.And you see what Madalyn is shaking? Those are sprinkles. Because they are apparently now used as musical instruments.

And look at everything that was under the aprons:

I got a cute birdie ornament. That will lovingly be packed away. Because I don't have a Christmas tree this year.

And look! A smutty book. But one that is true. I cannot wait to delve into this. And "Love Story." Can you not just hear Ali McGraw telling Ryan O'Neal that "love means never having to say you are sorry?" Right before she dies? Sigh.

There's more, too. A bookmark. A cookie cookbook. Cookie cutter. Sprinkles. That my children decided was much better used as maracas. Many, many thanks to Amy at Papertrails by a Paper for such a Merry Christmas gift!

And since my girls are dressed in their apron finest. Let's put them to work. And show you how to make something yummy - Eggnog Bread. This is our standard gift for the neighbors. And I usually give this with a gift card for all the other people in the girls' life. For their choir director. Sunday school teacher. Piano teacher. Tennis instructor. Who am I forgetting?

Here are our ingredients:

Mix the eggnog, oil, and egg. (Ummm...can you tell I forgot to take pictures when I made the first batch?)

Combine all the dry ingredients.

And then gradually mix in to just blended.

Add pecans if you like.I put it in those disposable loaf pans. They are kinda small. So a double batch will fill three of these. If you are making a loaf for you. With a regular loaf pan - it will fill just fine with a single batch.

Then bake. And these are better the next day rather than hot out of the oven. Yum! A perfect gift. And EASY to make!

Here is my easy recipe:

3 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 egg

1 3/4 cup eggnog

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup pecans (opt)

Combine egg, eggnog, and oil.

Add dry ingredients until just combined.

Stir in nuts.

Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350º for 60-70 minutes. Enjoy!

So...what about you? Have you been someone's Secret Santa? Do you do something at Christmas for your neighbors? For your kids' teachers? What?

And...have you entered to win the Disney prize pack yet? You can think of that as a little something for you!

post signature

Theme song: Goo Goo Dolls - Give a Little Bit. Yippee - playlist is back up. And Godzilla doesn't have to be the theme song for this post.

38 comments:

Elena said...

Wow! What an amazing package you got! You so deserved a great one. I'm addicted to Kori's links and looking at all the great gitft ideas. I'm now kicking myself for not participating, but I just knew my life would get too crazy to be able to do this time around. But still so fun to watch. And my husband is going to love you. Cookies w/o chips AND eggnog bread! Merry Christmas to him.

Beth said...

What a wonderful Secret Santa gift!! I love! And I am going to grab this recipe and make it this week! Sounds divine!

At least you remember to take pictures while baking at all. Me? I get so wrapped up in measuring and mixing I forget that I have a camera.

Michelle said...

What a wonderful package from your secret santa :-) Thanks for sharing the recipe as well.

Linda said...

What a fun package! Ok, I'm making the Eggnog Bread tomorrow ... thanks for sharing!

Jill said...

Oh I do love seeing what everyone is giving their SS's. What fun!

Beautiful looking bread too... yum!

MsTypo said...

What a wonderful Christmas gift!! That book looks very intersting (aka smutty), i'llhave to look it up on Amazon! :p

Firefly Mom said...

What a wonderful box of goodies! I love getting that kind of stuff.

That bread looks so yummy! That's one to try - except I may end up eating it all before it makes it into any gift baskets ;)

And do I get the neighbors gifts? Nope, but I do get Cody's teacher a gift. Of course, we homeschool, but I ALWAYS know just what to get myself! This year it was some new makeup brushes from my favorite mineral makeup company - Terra Firma Cosmetics.

Finding Normal said...

No Secret Santa, although I did organize it for the staff at my school. Just didn't feel like messing with it this year.
We don't give the neighbors anything. The respite nurse and the day care provider got movie night bowls filled with soda, popcorn, candy, and a movie or gift card. We'll give some friends some candy. Coworkers that I like are getting a $1 lotto scratch off, just cuz it's fun and I like the idea of them actually winning something (someone usually does) but not having the clutter or it being too spendy. Addison's therapists and a few friends are getting pendants. That's about it for random people.
I got some pumpkin bread from a student the other day...YUM! Kids don't have a teacher yet, but my favorite teacher gifts are gift cards and real cards with a nice note. I save those!

Tam said...

I got gifts for my Sons Pre K teachers but that is it. Nothing for my neighbors or anything. But this recipe looks so yummy I might just have to try because I love EGGNOG!

Rhea said...

Great gift! Your Secret Santa figured you out pretty well. Those aprons for the girls are adorable!!

Tracy said...

Wow, you did get a great gift. I just love those aprons!

Unknown said...

Ha ha - me... SHARE something with Eggnog in it??

I think not.

Lula! said...

I'm thinking that bread will get made next week. Oh, but yes. I love eggnog. But the faux kind--no spirits in mine, please.

I KNOW, right? You cannot believe I just said "no spirits." It amazes me, too.

I'm also thinking I need that fantastic-looking rug you have in your kitchen...it's all Christmasy. I want one!

Unknown said...

It was so much fun participating in this! I've been enjoying looking at everyone's posts.

I think I'll try that bread!

Tabitha Blue said...

What a great gift!!!! You scored on that one big time, and those aprons are so cute!!!!!

I'm definitely going to have to try that bread as well!! Yummy!!!!!!

:)
~Tabitha~

freshmommyblog.com

KimmyJ said...

Great package! Love the recipe and I will be making this for some deserving folks! I make sweet treats every year for my co-workers and then package them so cute! I love it and so do they. The girls look too cute in those aprons!

Kori said...

I mean that is some kind of loot you got. Guess I did good with who I paired you with.

I have got to make this bread. My guys love eggnog.

Heather said...

I love Secret Santa!

I am doing one with my co-workers, and it's so fun leaving little gifts all month long, trying to figure out who my Santa is and buying/making gifts for my person.

I love making pretzel bark and Yankee Doodles for gifts.

I am making a set of eight handmade notecards for each of my kids' teachers (five teachers in all!). Yep, that's what I have to finish today.

This Christmas was all about homemade. Five teachers, five gift baskets, total $ spent: $15. Lots of my time, but I enjoy doing it, and they really appreciate it.

Hey, I left you and your daughter a little present on my blog. Come and get it...

Brandy said...

What an awesome package!

And I'm going to make this over the weekend. Every year I want eggnog, but then I can only drink one glass cause I don't really like it. ~I know I'm strange~ but now I have a use for what's left.

Do your helpers clean too? If so I'd like to borrow them.

Anonymous said...

Wow! What a neat gift you got! Thanks for stopping by my blog! And well done for knowing that Northern Ireland is part of Britain!

Mama Dawg said...

Nice gift!

I am sooooo trying out that bread!

Aubrey said...

How fun! I didn't participate in a SS swap but did do an ornament one. Your gifts were great!

I made goodies for teachers & hubby's co-workers on Tuesday night. I will also pick up a couple gift cards for my daughter's teachers. And that's about it! LOL

jennifersusan said...

cute aprons!!! i'm not a big eggnog person, but that bread looks so yummy that i might just have to try it (or go back to thanksgiving and try one of the myriads of pumpkin recipes floating around).
my back door neighbors always leave a goody on our doorstep at christmas (sometimes even ice cream). the schools here suggest not giving teacher gifts -they are so weird! but rose did take presents to her little ballet friends yesterday. :) we have three birthdays right around christmas so there's just too much going on.

Jen said...

I am so in love with those aprons and that bread looks awesome. What a wonderful Christmas gift exchange.

Britt said...

Your dry ingredients bowl looks like it's floating. Do you know how long I sat here, staring holes into that picture trying to tell if you had some handy-dandy thingy to set it on that let the dry ingredients go in at a speed of "gradual"?

Because when I don't have a 'gradual' speed setting on my wrists. They only seem to know how to 'dump'.

Luckily, things that I bake seem to taste just fine. So maybe the whole gradual thing is just to make perfection crazed yahoos like me go nutso, hm? =-)

Dancing Queen said...

ooh, kat!! it's been so long! wow what a day to check in on you..this sounds yummy! i am soooo gonna try this out!

love love new recipes!! especially bread! i only know banana, strawberry jam, and pumpkin...this is perfect!

LadyStyx said...

Oh MY that bread looks yummy!!!

Teri said...

Man, that is some cool stuff. I gotta try this eggnog bread. That's a kid recipe for this week, for sure.

I always make cookies for the neighbors, then I get my kids to deliver them on Christmas Eve day. And they always look so happy and elfish (not). Ah,
Christmas memories.

The Joye of Teaching said...

You are full of wonderful yummies. I just love egg nog. :)

Mariah said...

We do a little something for everyone, crossing guard, teachers at least a little.

ChicagoLady said...

Oh that bread looks heavenly, and I bet it tastes just as good!

Brian and Staci said...

WOW! AWESOME package of goodies! You score! I have eggnog left over from a party last weekend....I know just what to do with it now! (I don't drink it, Brian does though!) I have been a Secret Santa in the past and it was an awesome thing! I got my neighbors (30 acres away, if you call that a neighbor!) a big fir wreath in the shape of the last name initial (very cool from Ballard design!) I always buy the kids' teachers a little something. In the past, our signature gift has been a pretty wooden sign that's all handpainted and pretty handwriting and glittery with a gorgeous bow....the lady that makes them lets you pick what you want on it...like a name or initial...we choose, "Wise Men Still Seek Him" It really is quite beautiful. This year, I wasn't on the ball, as you have to pre-order all that stuff. So, this year, we just did Bath And Body stuff. Sorry so lengthy. I'm a little wordy tonight...just got home from Bunco!

Becky W said...

you got some amazing stuff! I think I am going to have to try the recipe as well!

Swirl Girl said...

So many things to comment on-

love the aprons! You're girls look like they were having a blast!

We make non tradtional neighbor gifts every year - once we made racks of ribs , one year we made lasagnas - once we made monkey bars. This year, we are doing cookies in little tins.

We are taking our little one to disney for her 5th b-day in January...she'd love to win the contest!

Michelle said...

Oh wow. That is one rocking Secret Santa package. I would have come up so short!

But that egg nog bread on the other hand. YUM! I may be making some of that next week.

Frizzy said...

I'm with Michelle re. her comment on the rocking SS package. JACKPOT! Merry Christmas my dear.

Shannon said...

I am lovin' all the loot you got... the aprons are cute!

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

I love the gifts, your santa was very generous. Merry Christmas.

Pam