Part 1: Holiday Gift Wrapping Ideas to Inspire You!

I'm really excited about this post.  It's going up a little later than I was hoping but as they say, it's better late then never!  Wrapping gifts is something I truly love doing and it's one of the main reasons I started this blog. With the holidays fast approaching, I felt inspired to wrap some gifts and share my ideas with you.  So I decided to create a 5 post series.  Sure you can get the usual holiday wrapping and curling ribbon but that's not how I like to do things.  I like to create packaging that makes the recipient feel special.  A well wrapped gift creates an experience.   

The holidays don't limit us to red and green wrapping with images of wreaths and Christmas trees.  There's so much more out there, if you just use your imagination.  These 5 posts are meant to inspire you to consider less obvious color, pattern and textures than you would normally find in the holiday gift wrapping section.   

I started this post by visiting my local discount and craft stores.  I didn't have any ideas in mind, I let everything come to me as browsed the aisles.  If I found something I liked, I put it in the cart and did some editing before checking out.  

For this first post, I show 2 ways to wrap one blue box.  Both are simple and sparkly giving that wintery, holiday feel.  Neither one screams Christmas and that's what I love about them.  

  

In the image above, I paired a sheer, gold dot ribbon with the blue box.  Using the ribbon like a band and skipping the bow gives a more modern look.  I chose a gift tag that coordinates just beautifully with the ribbon with the coordinating colors and dot patterns.

In the image above, I used floral appliques from the scrapbooking aisle of my local craft store. I chose not to add any ribbon to this one.  The simple white and crystal flowers give the feeling of winter. Check out your local discount or craft store for some amazing appliques.  There are so many options to create something unique.   

Check out the other posts in this series

Part 2 - wrapping with red, gold and beautiful flowers

Part 3 - wrapping with animal print paper.

Part 4 - wrapping with green and gold.

Part 5 - wrapping with black and white.

Check out some of my other great holiday posts 

5 Ways to Wrap a Wine Bottle 

10 Fabulous Last Minute Hostess Gifts 

Add Some Sparkle to Your Gifts

Don't forget check back for the remaining 4 posts in this series! C

Do you have any creative holiday wrapping ideas?  Share them in the comments below!

Happy Gifting,

Ali

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Crustless Zucchini Quiche

Quiche is one of my favorite brunch dishes but it's also great for dinner with soup or salad.  It's just so easy to make.  It's even easier when it's a crustless version.  I've actually never made one with a crust because I don't really feel it needs it.  It tastes great as is without the extra work or calories.   

I tried many quiche recipes before creating this one.  I found a lot of recipes produced a very thin quiche and I like a hearty looking quiche. So mine calls for a lot of eggs and cheese.  However, it makes for a nice quiche that can serve a group.  

I always use a mix of different kinds of cheese.  I find this helps create a nice rich flavor.  I shred my own cheese using a food processor and I use a mix of mozarella, monterey jack, gouda and parmesan. I also use leeks in all my quiches.  Leeks just make everything delicious! Last tip I have to share...make your quiche in a pie plate.  It will create a beautiful looking quiche.  Try out the recipe and let me know how you like it.  Feel free to replace the zucchini with other veggies.  I've used mushrooms too and it's yummy! Here's the recipe.

Crustless Zucchini Quiche

Ingredients

• 12 Eggs
• 4 C. Shredded cheese (I use a mix of monterey jack, mozzarella, gouda & parmesan)
• 3 Zucchini, shredded
• 1/2 Large Spanish onion, diced
• 1 Bunch leeks, sliced (white and light green parts)

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
2. Cook the zucchini, onions and leeks in olive oil until the onions and leeks are translucent
3. Mix the eggs, cheese, zucchini, onions and leeks together
4. Add salt and pepper 
5. Pour into a 10 inch pie plate
6. Bake for 35 minutes

Happy cooking,

Ali

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Easy & Delicious Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe

I love starting a week-end off with fresh homemade pancakes.  Even better when it's banana chocolate chip pancakes.  The problem is that I don't really enjoy standing at the stove flipping pancakes.  So when I discovered this recipe, I fell head over heels in love.  First, the recipe is simple.   There's really not much you could mess up.  It's a Dutch baby pancake or as I like to call it the "no-work giant pancake".  You mix the ingredients and then bake the batter all at once.  Simple as can be.

This pancake is so simple.  It's great for a lazy week-end at home or for when you're having company over for brunch.  You you can top it with so many things.  I've added bananas and chocolate chips to the batter (as in the photo shown).  I've also topped it with fresh berries and served it with Greek yogurt on the side.  But it's even delicious plain with just a little maple syrup (the real kind...none of that fake stuff!).  My husband loves topping it with peanut butter, especially when I make it with bananas and chocolate chips.  No matter how you serve it, it's always delicious.   Try it, you'll see!

The first time I made these, I watched anxiously as it baked as I was serving it to company.  I was a little nervous when I saw the pancake puff up.  I thought for sure I had messed it up.  But then I learned that's what is supposed to happen.  It puffs up and when you take it out of the oven, it deflates a little.

This is a peek of what it looks like as it's puffing up.

Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe: 

Ingredients

• 1 c. Milk
• 4 Large eggs
• 1 tbsp. Sugar
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1 c. All-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tbsp. Unsalted butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix the milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract. You can mix with a blender, food processor or by hand with a whisk. Blend thoroughly. If using a blender or food processor, blend for 30 seconds.
3. Add the batter and blend. If using a blender or food processor, blend for another 30 seconds.
4. Put the butter in a 10 inch pie plate (I've used pie plates that are 10 inches and slightly larger without any issues). Place in the oven.
5. When the better is all melted and is bubbling, add the batter to the pie plate.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes. It will be ready when the pancake has puffed up and the edges have browned a little (look for a golden brown).

Try it out and let me know how it turned out.  What did you top it with?  Share your comments below :)

Happy cooking!

Ali

P.S. The recipe is from a cookbook that is near and dear to my heart. It's called Panache.  I worked as a volunteer helping to create and launch the book as a fundraiser.  There are many delicious recipes in there, if I do say so myself ;)

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How to Fix a Stuck Zipper

Fall is clearly upon us. At this time of year, it's so nice to put on a thick, warm, cozy sweater, your favorite jeans and a nice pair of boots. It's so nice until you realize that your boots seemed to have suffered over the summer because they won't zip... This just happened to me and  I had no clue what was going on.  The zippers would barely budge.  I was speaking with a colleague at work and he told the trick to fix this: a candle! I was skeptical but I tried it because how harmless can a candle be?  And to my delight it worked.  All I did was take a candle (unlit) and run the wax across the zipper a few times.  It works like magic!   

Do you have any tips to share?  Feel free to share in the comments below. 

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