Homemade Hot Chocolate MixThis hot cocoa is chocolaty with a hint of cinnamon. Not only is making your own hot cocoa mix delicious, but it can make a great gift for the holidays. My friend is a chef and he had to make special hot chocolate mixes each year for the hotel attached to the restaurant he worked at. We based this recipe on one of his favorites. This is also quite inexpensive.
Gingerbread Chex MixI wanted to use a gingerbread themed gift to give to friends and neighbors. I found some cute gingerbread containers to put the mix in. The gingerbread designed napkins, cookie cutters, and candy canes add to the gift presentation.
Christmas Eve Low Carb Crust PizzaWith all the rich food during Christmas, this is a nice change of pace. It's also an easy and quick Christmas Eve meal when you're rushed during the holidays. You can decorate it with tiny stars cut from red and green bell peppers to make it more festive. :-)
Christmas Tree VeggiesWith a little arranging on toothpicks, your veggie platter can be an adorable standing Christmas tree. You can use any veggies and cheeses you desire. Happy holidays!
Cranberry Orange KaleThis warm kale dish is so easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. The colours of the red berries and bright green kale make a perfect dish for the holidays.
Mocha ButterballOur local newspaper runs really good recipes. This issue has cookies that sound so good. The readership is small, and these recipes should be shared.
Red and Green Peppers AppetizerTo offset all the calories out there this season, serve green and red peppers. I clean and cut peppers in thin strips to fit into little plastic cups from the party store.
Toffee BarsThese bars are a little time-consuming, but are so tasty. These bars do not require many ingredients, so you might already have everything handy to bake these soon.
Ham BallsMake the balls the size of a 1/2 cup measure. You can make them smaller. Brown. Place in two 9x13 inch pans.
Spiced NutsPrepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil, and preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Last Minute Traditional English Rich Fruit Christmas CakeChristmas just isn't Christmas in the UK without a Rich Fruit Christmas Cake. If you have forgotten to make your traditional rich fruit Christmas cake, don't worry because I have a easy to follow recipe that can save your blushes.
HO-HO-Holiday OmeletPreheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 9 inch square baking pan or a 9 inch round baking pan.
Eggnog BreadPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom of loaf pan. Beat eggs; add sugar, eggnog, butter, rum, and vanilla. Blend well. Add flour, baking powder, and nutmeg.
Peking DuckRinse the duck inside and out, and pat dry. Cut off tail and discard. In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, white pepper and cloves.
Cinnamon-Hazelnut ToffeePrepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Set it aside.
Breakfast Sausage and Egg PuffGood for Christmas morning. In a skillet, brown sausage, breaking up any large lumps; drain. In a 2-quart casserole, layer sausage, bread, and cheese. In a bowl, beat eggs with remaining ingredients
Peppermint Meringues Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a small bowl.
Christmas Red CabbagePlace the cabbage in a large saucepan, and stir in the sugar, vinegar, salt and water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer over medium heat for 1 hour.
Peppermint KissesPeppermint kisses are meringues and they are so easy and so good, you'll make them over and over.
White Fruit CakeThis fruitcake every one will love, even me! Chop pineapple, raisins, and cherries. Combine chopped fruit with currants, peel, and citron; soak in orange juice overnight.
Super Crispy Roasted GooseCarefully prick the goose on all sides with a skewer, taking care to avoid piercing the flesh. Fill a pot large enough to hold the goose 2/3 full of water, and bring to a boil.
Chocolate Peppermint DivinityThis recipe is made with crushed peppermint candy and milk chocolate bars.
Plum PuddingReally is very good! Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a 2 quart baking dish, stir together plums, 1 cup sugar, water, tapioca, and cinnamon. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
Roasted ChestnutsPreheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Cut a 1/2 inch crisscross on the flat side of each nut. Be sure to cut through the shell to prevent the nut from exploding.
Winter White Fruit SaladThis recipe has been in my family for years. I remember making is as a child. It was a great way for our little hands to help out in the kitchen.
Glazed CarrotsA quick, easy, and delicious way to serve carrots. If you are watching your weight or are diabetic, you can substitute low sugar or sugar free marmalade.
Panettone Christmas BreadIn a shallow dish, soak the raisins, apricots, and candied fruit in the liqueur, covering the dish but stirring through occasionally, at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Creamy EggnogIn a 2 quart heavy saucepan, stir eggs, granulated sugar, and salt until well mixed. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture just coats a metal spoon; remove from heat.
Reindeer NosesPlace both chocolates, the butter, and the cream in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until the chocolate is melted, stirring after every 45 seconds to prevent overheating.
Baked CornWe make baked corn at holiday meals. It's a side dish that reminds me of getting together with family.
Savory Stuffing BreadTaste like the stuffing you would use to stuff poultry. It's great for toasted turkey sandwiches.
Pecan RollsDissolve yeast and sugar in the lukewarm water. Scald 1 cup milk. Add the 3 beaten eggs to the slightly cooled scalded milk. Then add to yeast mixture.
Gingerbread CookiesCream sugar and shortening. Add egg and molasses. Sift flour, add soda and spices and mix. Form in small balls and roll in sugar. Bake at 350 F. for 10-12 minutes.
Cranberry Nut BreadMix together all dry ingredients. Combine egg, orange rind, orange juice and oil. Add to dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in cranberries and walnuts.
Christmas Eve MiceI love this recipe! It is easy to make and both my daughters (4 and 5 1/2 years) love helping make them for the Christmas Bake Sale at church every year!
Oreo BallsNot only is it quick and easy to prepare, it is different from the usual candy recipes. In fact, I had never seen it until this Christmas season.
Peanut Butter FudgeBoil for 5 minutes, the sugar, margarine and milk. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. Let set up.
Pecan Marshmallow LogFor center: Melt 1 Tbsp. butter in pan on low heat. Add 21 large marshmallows and stir until melted. Add vanilla and 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Beat in enough confectioners sugar to make mixture of kneading consistency.
Christmas BreakfastThis is as much of a menu as it is a recipe. We call it Christmas breakfast. Its a fun twist on the same ole foods we have for breakfast through out the year.
Holiday Kahlua CakeSemi-homemade chocolaty delight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Get out your double boiler, or make a substitute one with a pot and heat safe bowl. Place brown sugar and cocoa powder in the double boiler.
12 Days of Classic Christmas CookiesFrom the cookie left out for Santa to the gifts of cookies we give our neighbors, the cookie is one of the symbols of Christmas. Now a lot of people have gotten away from baking some of the great Christmas Classics so I present them here to you for your baking pleasure.
Christmas Gelatin SaladThis is the easiest to make at this hectic time of year, and uses simple ingredients. A favorite of everyone.
Aunt Gladys' Old Fashioned Fruit CakeMakes 4. Quarter pineapple rings, remove stem from figs. Cut dates crosswise and mix dates and raisins with 1/4 lb of the flour. Mix the rest of the flour with soda and spices.
Festive Holiday BarkLine cookie sheet with waxed paper. In medium saucepan, melt candy coating over low heat, stirring constantly. Add remaining ingredients; toss to coat. Spread mixture thinly on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
Eggnog PiePreheat oven to 425 degrees F. Prick pie crusts with a fork and prebake for about 5 to 7 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven.
Peppermint Christmas CandyIn a double boiler, melt the chocolate (whatever amount you want to use).
Add peppermint bits, stir and quickly pour onto a lightly greased cookie
sheet, spread. Place sheet into freezer until hard.
Holiday Praline PieHeat butter, brown sugar, and nuts in saucepan until melted. Spread in bottom of pie shell. Bake 5 minutes at 450 degrees F and cool. Prepare pie filling with milk as directed; cool 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Orange PecansThis recipe is so easy to make, delicious to eat and a family favorite at Christmas. Combine first 3 ingredients in heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil.
Chocolate BallsGreat Christmas candy! Mix and make into small balls sugar, margarine, coconut, vanilla, nuts and milk. Put in refrigerator for at least 1 hour, but overnight is best.
Roasting A TurkeyThis is my mom's recipe from when I was a kid. Best turkey I have ever eaten!This is my mom's recipe from when I was a kid. Best turkey I have ever eaten! Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Rinse bird in cold water.
CaramelsGreat for making at Christmas! In heavy duty 3 or 4 qt. pan, combine all ingredients except vanilla. Mix and stir constantly until 248 degrees F (Use candy thermometer). Once it boils, turn heat down a little, but keep it boiling.
White Chocolate Candy Cane PopcornI just whipped up several batches of delicious white chocolate candy cane popcorn to give for gifts this Christmas, and it was so easy and inexpensive.
Homemade Fruit MincemeatFor anyone interested in making Mince Pies this Christmas, I am sure you have been shocked at the price of store bought mincemeat. In my area it is around $8.00 for a l lb jar. I found the following great all fruit recipe on the internet:
Elegant Cream Puff Dessert WreathHappy Holidays from Food Frenzie! Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium saucepan, combine water and butter over medium heat; bring to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously until dough comes together. Remove from heat; let cool 5 minutes.
Dressed-Up GingerbreadPrepare gingerbread according to instructions on package, substituting 1/4 cup orange juice for same quantity of water. Add orange rind, coffee and mace.
Peppermint Chocolate Peanut Butter CookieTake 4 squares of chocolate, melt 2 minutes. Stir for 2 minutes more or until melted. Add 3 - 4 drops of peppermint. Can add more to the next batch if you want a stronger taste of peppermint.
Blueberry Surprise French ToastHere is an amazingly delicious breakfast dish that is so easy, you won't believe it. It is also a great breakfast on a holiday morning, it is that special!
Country Breakfast PiePreheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place crust on baking sheet. Sprinkle sausage on bottom of crust. Top with potatoes, onions, bell peppers and cheese.
Holiday Brownie Berry BowlStir boiling water into dry gelatin in medium bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Add ice; stir until ice is completely melted and gelatin starts to thicken.
Holiday PuddingCrush vanilla wafers or graham crackers and sprinkle them on the bottom of an oblong pan. Next, add a layer of English walnut pieces. Now make a pudding of the following:
Santa's ButtonsOne of my family's favorite cookies is also the easiest for me to make this time of year. All you do is take prepared sugar cookie dough, roll into 1 1/2 inch balls and then roll into red and green colored sugar.
Easy Christmas CakeCream butter and sugar. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Sift dry ingredients together. Add dry ingredients alternately with liquid ones.
Spanish Fruit CakeCream butter and sugar until light. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
Snow Covered Almond CrescentsBeat cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add flour and baking soda; mix well. Add almond extract and chopped almonds to dough. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Holiday Pound Cake with Praline SauceHeat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease 1 10 inch tube pan and dust with flour. Cream shortening and margarine together. Add sugar and salt gradually.
Cherry Christmas BreadMix dry ingredients. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs. Add flour mixture alternately with applesauce. Fold in cherries, nuts and extract. Pour into 2 greased 9x5 inch loaf pans.
Cranberry GloggPour juices and raisins in automatic coffee maker. In perk basket place spices and sugar. Allow to go through perk cycle. Remove basket with spices.
Jello Popcorn BallsTake 1 cup of light corn syrup and 1/2 cup of sugar. Bring to hard boil. Add 1 small (3 oz.) box of Jello (dry) to syrup. Mix well. Pour over 4-5 Quarts of pop corn. Mixture will be HOT. Cool slightly and grease your hands. Form balls the size you like. Wrap each one in saran wrap to keep soft.
White Christmas CandyRecipe for White Christmas Candy. Melt cocoa bark in top of double boiler or over very low heat. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into large shallow greased cookie sheet. Let stand until cold and break into pieces.
Christmas GumdropsRecipe for Christmas Gumdrops. Combine gelatin with cold water and soak for 10 minutes. Dissolve 4 cups of sugar in the boiling water and stir in the softened gelatin. Simmer SLOWLY for exactly 15 minutes and remove from heat.
Cranberry PinwheelsRecipe for Cranberry Pinwheels. Combine sugar, pineapple, flavoring and cranberries in saucepan. Cook until berries pop (about 10 minutes). Blend cornstarch with water and stir into hot fruit mixture.
Peppermint Ice Cream PieCombine peppermint ice cream & whipped topping.
Spoon into crumb crust. Sprinkle with peppermint candy.
Freeze.
Christmas Dried Beef SpreadSoften cream cheese at room temperature. In large bowl, Whip cream cheese with electric beater for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Sparkling Tree CakesRecipe for Sparkling Tree Cakes. PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans; set aside. Prepare cake batter as directed on package.
Boiled Holiday Custard DrinkBoiled Holiday Custard Drink. Warm milk in heavy pan or double boiler. Add sugar, beaten eggs and cook slowly, stirring often until coats spoon. Remove from heat and cool.
Holiday Poke CakeStir 1 cup of the boiling water into each flavor of gelatin in separate bowls 2 minutes or until completely dissolved. Carefully pour red gelatin over 1 cake layer and lime gelatin over second cake layer.
Ho Ho CakeRecipe for Ho Ho Cake. Sift dry ingredients together. Then add liquids, all but coffee. Last add hot coffee. Bake will be very thin. A very moist cake. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 35 minutes or until center of cake springs back when lightly touched.
Cranberry WassailRecipe for Cranberry Wassail. Combine all ingredients in a 2 quart glass measure. Cover with vented plasti cup wrap. Stirring twice during cooking, microwave on high 14 minutes, or until boiling.
Blessed Christmas MixMix all together. Fill small gift bag and tie with raffia. Attach a printed card to each bag with the following poem.
Caramel Apple BarsCaramel Apple Bars recipe. For the crust and topping, beat the brown sugar, butter and shortening in a mixing bowl until creamy. Add the flour, oats, salt and baking soda.
Sugarless Christmas PieCombine eggs, applesauce, milk, liquid sweetener, lemon juice, and nutmeg. Pour into unbaked pie shell. . .
Using Up Holiday Baking SuppliesAfter indulging in all of the rich baked goodies during the holiday, we are ready to return to plainer, less fattening fair. I usually have a lot of ingredients left over...
Making Large Batch of Cocoa MixI have 3 children. My oldest is in middle school and changes classrooms throughout the day. My younger kids are in a title 1 school and also have many specialized teachers that they see every day.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Yule LogSprinkle kitchen towel with confectioners' sugar; invert hot cake onto towel. Start with short side. Roll up cake in towel. Cool completely. When cool, unroll cake; spread with 3/4 cup frosting. Re-roll without towel...
