Holiday Blog Contest!
Holiday Blog Contest!
Begins November 1st and goes through December 31st 2009!
To participate all you need to do is post a comment of your favorite holiday tradition or
To participate all you need to do is post a comment of your favorite holiday tradition or
your favorite holiday recipe!
Easy!
There will be two winners.
One for the Tradition and the winner will receive a download of Chick Magnet!
One for the holiday Recipe and the winner will receive this nifty mug and $10 Starbucks Gift Card.
Good Luck!
Comments
PEANUT BLOSSOM COOKIES
Preparation 45 mins.
Baking 8 mins.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
48 milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine 1/2 sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy (1 to 2 minutes).
Add egg, vanilla and salt; continue beating until well mixed (1 minute). Add flour and baking soda. Continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes).
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. (If dough is too soft, refrigerate 30 to 60 mins.)
Roll balls in 1/4 cup sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until very lightly golden brown. Immediately press 1 chocolate kiss in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks.
Yield: 4 dozen cookies
Mel K.
Meljprincess AT aol DOT com
1 chocolate cake mix, baked
1 tin Cherry Pie Filling
1 container Cool Whip
1 package Instant Chocolate pudding
Few Maraschino Cherries
Bake cake mix as directed. Let cool.
Mix Chocolate pudding as directed.
Thaw out Cool Whip
In a trifle bowl or clear glass bowl break cake mix into small pieces/chunks and put 1/2 in bowl.
Spoon 1/2 of Cherry Pie filling on top of cake and spread around; spoon 1/2 of chocolate pudding on top and spread around and then add 1/2 of Cool Whip and spread.
Repeat layers and at the last add a few Maraschino cherries on top of the Cool Whip(with stems on if possible). Enjoy!!!!
PREP 15 min.
COOK 10 min.
INGREDIENTS
1 package fudge brownie mix (13-in. x 9-inch pan size)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
Confectioners' sugar
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, beat the brownie mix, flour, egg, water and oil until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
Place confectioners' sugar in a shallow dish. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls into sugar; roll to coat. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Yield: 4-1/2 dozen.
Now as an adult, it is similar, although my happiness comes from seeing my children's excited faces.
Good Luck,
Mary
.
EEZY-PEEZY MEAT DISH
In a baking dish place a round steak. Pour over it 1 can Campbell's French Onion soup and 1 can Campbell's Golden Mushroom soup. Cover and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees or until fork tender. Serve over cooked rice. For a thinner sauce,add 1/2 can of water.
JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com
too.many.cats@comcast.net
debby236 @ att.net
Autumn Cheesecake
Ingredients
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and melted butter; press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
2.In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix at medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour filling into the baked crust.
3.In a small bowl, stir together 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss the cinnamon-sugar with the apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese layer and sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped pecans.
4.Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes. With a knife, loosen cake from rim of pan. Let cool, then remove the rim of pan. Chill cake before serving.
Crystal816{at}hotmail{dot}com
2 cups sugar
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup Pet (evaporated) milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oats
In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients except peanut butter and oats and cook over medium heat.
Let boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and oats.
Spoon out quickly onto wax paper or aluminum foil.
Cookies will harden as they set.
Val Pearson
lastnerve2000@gmail.com
Mary
No matter what we do for Christmas or at whose house, I set up my Christmas tree. So, on the night we 'trim' our tree, my husband, son, and I have a light dinner, and then we start the holiday mood music, and trim the tree. We try and remember different memories for each ornament we pick up. Trying not to repeat a memory is getting more and more difficult--but that's half the fun.
Each year we find a new ornament to commemorate something we were especially fond of during that year. This year I will find a small stak of books, or a qull and pad to commemorate the year I was published.
I love simple recipes they're so fun! And usually the grandkids can help.
Thanks!
Mary
7 Layer Cookies
4 ozs.butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (6 oz.) pkg.chocolate chips
1 (6 oz.) pkg. butterscotch chips
1 cup flaked coconut
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 to 1/12 cups chopped pecans
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Melt butter in 9X13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over melted butter. Spread flaked coconut over crumbs. Pour butterscotch chips over coconut. Pour chocolate chips over butterscotch chips. Sprinkle chopped nuts over all. Slowly pour sweetened condensed milk over all.Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cool and cut in 1 1/2 inch squares.
magnolias_1@msn.com
Rather than draw names and spend on needless gifts for each other, money is pooled and a trip arranged to dollar store. There, buy toothpaste, brushes, combs, washcloths, cologne, aftershave, disposable razors...anything to create a gift for a homeless person. All the Christmas bags, colorful and festive are $1.00, and so is almost everything else. With the addition of some Christmas candy, you can create a great present for someone in need.
The experience of seeing the expression on the faces of those presented with their gift is indescribable. There is so much benefit to sharing the spirit with those less fortunate. It's a reward for both sides.
Happy Holidays
Anna Shah Hoque
s7anna@yahoo.ca
1 cup flour
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp sour cream
4 cooking apples
ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350
Put flour, sugar, egg and sour cream in a mixing bowl and mix well. Peel and slice the apples. Pour the cake batter into a baking dish and top with apples. Bake for 30 minutes and top with cinnamon.
This is delectable, easy and lovely for the winter and especially for an unexpected visitor. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
Georgia Sweet Potato Casserole
3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, well beaten
1/3 cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 cup chopped pecans
Combine first 6 ingredients and mix well. Put into large baking dish. Mix all topping ingredients and sprinkled on top of sweet potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Bobby's Caramel Cake (Paula Deen's son)
Ingredients
For the cake:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
3 cups sifted self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the filling:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
2 cups packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream, or more if needed
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts, optional
Directions
For the cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add granulated sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4-inches above counter dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
For the filling:
While cake is baking, in a saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Remove cake layers from oven and allow cake to remain in pans as you prepare to stack and fill. Remove first layer and invert onto cake plate. Pierce cake layer with a toothpick over entire surface. Spread 1/3 of filling mixture on cake layer. Top with second layer, repeat process. Top with last layer and repeat process again.
*Cook's Note: As I stack layers together, I stick them with toothpicks to prevent cake from shifting.
For the frosting:
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in brown sugar and cream. Bring to a boil, and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat with a handheld electric mixer until it reaches a spreading consistency. At this time it may be necessary to add a tablespoon of heavy cream, or more, if frosting gets too thick. Just be sure to add cream is small amounts because you can always "add to", but you can't take away. Frost cake and sprinkle top with chopped nuts, if desired.
Deidre
In Hungary the main Christmas celebrations take place on Christmas Eve. The evening is called Szent-este or Holy Evening. Before attending Midnight Mass, families gather around the Christmas tree to sing carols and open the presents left by Baby Jesus and the angels.
A couple of weeks before Christmas, on December 6th the children receive a visit from Mikulas or St Nicholas. He arrives wearing the robes of a bishop, with a red miter on his head, a staff in one hand and a sack full of small presents in the other. Accompanying him a "Devil" boy in a black costume, complete with horns and long tail. He holds a switch made of dry twigs, ready to smack any "naughty" children. Each child receives a small gift, usually a toy or sweets, from Mikulas.
The presenting of nativity plays is an important part of the Hungarian Christmas tradition. Performed by groups of children or adults, these plays are often combined with puppets and are accompanied by songs and musical instruments and sometimes even dancing.
Deidre
Mary