Author: Carrie

Hooty Who is coming to tea?

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To all my Chi Omega sisters, check out this new teapot I found at Pier 1 Imports today. It was a spectacular find to add to my collection. I have a collection of fun teapots, cookie jars and other retro finds above my kitchen cabinets as decoration. I have so much kitchen gear that I am currently building an oversized pantry space in order to keep everything organized. I am converting a small closed in porch area into my dream kitchen storage area. I can’t wait for this project to be completed! Here’s just a taste of what I have stored above my cabinets. And there is a whole lot more where that came from…

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I got the gingerbread man cookie jar from my mom this Christmas. He is so cute! The cookie jar on the right was my nana’s. I also collect retro Pyrex refrigerator dishes as well.
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I love to collect eye-catching pitchers as well as Pyrex mixing bowl sets. I have seen this particular pattern on Rachel Ray’s show.
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Anything to do with baking is a collector’s item for me as well. I have an old fashioned cake sifter and a cake plate. I got the cake cookie jar on the right from my mom for my birthday last year. What kind of collections do you have?

Care Package

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My friend had a baby last week and she happened to have a c-section. I thought it would be a nice idea to make her some homemade goodies. I made her Italian wedding soup, snicker-doodles, and banana nut muffins. It just so happens that you can find all of these in our recipe index. Maybe you can comfort someone with your homemade favorites as well!

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Have Some Ham…Make Croque Madame

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This weekend I was having some girlfriends over for brunch.  I decided to try Paula Deen’s Croque Madame Casserole.  Let me tell you.  This is a must have for your next brunch menu.  It is rich and delicious.  Mind you, it is not something you should make if you are counting your calories!

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Ingredients
8 tbsp butter, 1/4 c flour, 2 c milk, 2 tbsp mustard, 3/4 tbsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 10 slices bread, 3/4 lb ham, 8 oz grated swiss, 6 eggs
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400. Grease an 8×8 square baking dish. (I used an 8×11 baking dish instead).Melt 6 tbsp of butter in a large skillet over low heat until bubbling. Whisk in flour and cook for one minute. Whisk in milk and cook until thick and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes more. Whisk in mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

Pour a thin layer of sauce in the baking dish and cover it with 5 slices of bread. Then top the slices of bread with half of the ham slices and half of the swiss. Repeat the layers once more and finish the casserole with another layer of sauce to cover the entire dish. Bake for 30 minutes.

In a large skillet, cook 6 eggs over easy. You can work in batches. Season with salt and pepper to taste. After the casserole is finished baking, cut the casserole into 6 portions and top each portion with an egg. You have a delicious meal ready for your guests.

Check out this cute grater that I found at Love the Cook in Cape May!
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