Nikki's Yuletide Squares

Nikki's Yuletide Squares

Mix:

2 cups oats

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp soda

3/4 tsp salt

1 cup butter, melted

1 tbsp Crisco

1 1/2 cups M&Ms

1 cup sweetened condensed milk

Mix dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs.  Reserve 1 1/2 cup crumb mixture.  Press remaining crumbs into a greased 15x10 jellyroll pan

Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Melt Crisco in a heavy sauce pan until warm.  Add 1 cup M&Ms, cook over low heat, stirring constantly until almost melted.  Remove from  heat and stir in milk.  Spread over crust.  Sprinkle remaining M&Ms, pressing lightly.  Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.

Nikki's Sugar Cookies

 Nikki's Sugar Cookies

1 c butter

1 1/2 c sugar

3 eggs

Cream until fluffy. Then add the following and mix:

3 1/2 c flour

2 tsp cream tarter

1 tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp almond extract

Chill for 3-4 hours.  Use plenty of flour when rolling out for cut-out cookies.  Bake at 375 for 6-8 minutes.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Mexican Wedding Cookies

1 cup butter, soft
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine and add:

1 3/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Roll into balls (less than 1 inch)  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet, bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.  (they don't need to brown, just need to set up)

Let cool a little while then roll in powdered sugar.  Let cool completely and roll in powdered sugar again.

Christmas Popcorn Tree or Wreath

Christmas Popcorn Tree or Wreath

12 cups popped popcorn
1 cup butter
2 (10 oz) bags of marshmallows
Green food coloring
Candy to decorate

Pop popcorn. Pick out unpopped kernels. Spread in lg jellyroll pan. Melt butter and marshmallows. Add green food coloring.  Pour over popcorn and mix to coat all popcorn.  On a large platter shape into a Christmas tree or Christmas wreath use candy or gum drops to decorate.

Quick and Easy Fudge

When I had my Christmas goodies baking day I made this fudge, in several different variations....one with pecans, one with walnuts, and one with peppermint on top. 

Quick and Easy Fudge

Cooking spray and foil
3 cups milk chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Line an 8x8 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil.  Spray the foil with cooking spray. 

In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk and stir until its all melted and smooth. (If using nuts, stir in at this time.)  Pour into the prepared pan and spread to even out the surface.  (If using peppermint, sprinkle on the crushed peppermint candies.) Refrigerate for 2 hours.  Lift the foil out of the pan and peel off the fudge.  Cut into small squares.

*you can also add a few tablespoonfuls of peanut butter to the chips and sweetened condense milk

**I made this with different brands of milk chocolate chips, and the batch made with Ghiradelli was the best.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

We left Chocolate Chip Cookies for Santa this year.....and he was very happy with them.  These cookies were soft and chewy, thanks Aunt Marcia for sharing this recipe!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Source: Marcia Dotson

2 sticks butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 package Jello-O Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
1 pkg  (11.5 oz) Baker's Real Milk Chocolate Chips

Heat oven to 375*

Beat butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Mix in flour, baking soda, and pudding mix.  Stir in milk chocolate chips.  Drop by teaspoonfulls, 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire racks.

Christmas Cowboy Quiche

Merry Christmas! I got up early and made breakfast for my family.  We had a breakfast casserole, caramel pecan bread, bacon, other snacks...and this new recipe I found on the Pioneer Woman's website.  Her recipe is called Cowboy Quiche: Pioneer Woman's Recipe: Click Here)

I made the quiche very plain because we have some picky eaters but when I make it again I may add in other ingredients to jazz it up.  I also cheated and used a store bought pie crust.  And I don't have a tart pan so I used a deep dish pie pan.   Below is what I made for our Christmas breakfast.

Christmas Cowboy Quiche
Source: Pioneer Woman

Unbaked Pie Crust (enough For A Deep Dish Pan)
1 whole Yellow Onion, Diced
2 Tablespoons Butter
8 slices Bacon
8 whole Large Eggs
1-1/2 cup Heavy Cream
Salt And Pepper, to taste
2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Press pie crust into a deep dish pie pan.

 

Fry the onions in the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat for at least 15 to 20 minutes (maybe longer), stirring occasionally, until the onions are deep golden brown. Set aside to cool.

 

Fry the bacon until chewy. Chop into large bite-sized pieces and set aside to cool.

 

Whip the eggs, cream, salt and pepper in a large bowl, then mix in the onions, bacon, and cheese. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.

 

Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet, cover lightly with aluminum foil, and bake it for about 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the quiche is set and the crust is golden brown.

 

 

Caramel Pecan Bread

For our family's Christmas breakfast I tried a few new recipes.  This recipe I found on a blog and it was really quick to throw together.  It will be making a repeat performance next Christmas.

Caramel Pecan Bread

7 tbsp. butter, melted
1 jar (12 oz) caramel ice cream topping
1 cup chopped pecans
1 can refrigerated cinnamon rolls (I used Pillsbury Flaky Caramel Rolls)

Preheat oven 350*.  Combine melted butter, caramel, and pecans.  Cut each roll/biscuit into 4 pieces.  Toss into caramel mixture and mix well.  Spoon mixture into a pie pan.  Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown.

Pioneer Woman's Sleepin' In Omelette Casserole

This is one of the first Pioneer Woman recipes I tried...loved...and have made many times over the last few years.  I make it every Christmas morning. 

Please go to PW's blog to see her beautiful pictures, her other recipes, and just enjoy her sense of humor.  I feel like I know her just from reading her blog.  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/05/sleepin-in-omlette/

I'm adding her recipe to my blog because my intention is to gather all the recipes I make routinely here so that I can convert it into a cookbook for my daughter. 

Sleepin' In Omelette Casserole

Source: Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• 6 whole Onion Rolls
• 1 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
• 8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
• 1-1/2 stick Butter
• 10 whole Eggs
• 2 cups Milk
• 1 teaspoon Chopped Chives
• 1/2 teaspoon Dry Mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 dash Cayenne Pepper

Preparation Instructions

Generously butter an 9x13 baking dish.
Tear onion rolls into chunks and place them in the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese, then tear cream cheese into small pieces and place over the top. Cut 1 ½ sticks butter into pats and place over the top.
Mix remaining ingredients and pour over the top of the dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, bake at 325 degrees, covered, for 45 minutes. The remove foil and continue baking at 350 for 10-15 minutes. 

 

Mozzarella Cheese Ball

My Mom used to make a cheese ball for  holiday gatherings with chipped beef, but I'm not overly fond of that kind of beef.  I found this cheese ball recipe on Pinterest and made it for the office Christmas party.  It was a hit!

I found this recipe from this website: http://www.plainchicken.com/2011/12/mozzarella-cheese-ball.html

I made the cheese ball the day before I needed it.  I just put it in a glass container with a lid.  I served it from that bowl but you could also plop it out on a pretty serving plate.

Mozzarella Cheese Ball

8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 package (4 1/2 tsp) dry ranch dressing mix
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
finely chopped pecans

 With an electric mixer, combine the first 3 ingredients.  Fold in the shredded mozzarella cheese.  Form mixture into a ball and roll in chopped pecans.  Refrigerate before serving with crackers.

Glass Candy

Several years ago a friend and I got together and made this recipe for Glass Candy....it turned out pretty good and we had a lot of fun visiting and cooking.

Glass Candy

2 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup white syrup
1/2 cup water

Boil to hard crack. 

Add:
1/2 tsp cinnamon oil
red food coloring

Pour onto a greased sheet and stretch it out when cool enough. When set up break into small pieces with knife handle.

Huckie's Opera Fudge

Here is another fudge recipe, this one from Huck.  She gave this recipe to my Mom years ago.  With Christmas around the corner, let's make it!

Huckie's Opera Fudge
Source: Hilda Ethridge

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cream
1 tbsp. white syrup
1/2 tsp salt

Butter sides of heavy 2 quart pan.  Combine ingredients and stir over medium heat till sugar dissolves and mixture boils.  Cook till soft-ball stage.  Cool to lukewarm (110*) no stirring. 

Add
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp vanilla

Beat till thick.  Quickly stir in 1/4 cup chopped candied cherries.  Pour into buttered pan.

Peanut Butter Fudge

Peanut Butter Fudge is a must at Christmas time!  And this recipe from my mother-n-law is easy and delicious!

Peanut Butter Fudge
Source: Lois Dotson

7 oz ja r marshmallow cream
2 cups peanut butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup milnot
1 tsp vanilla

Place marshmallow cream and peanut butter in a large bowl.  Mix together.  Cook sugar and milnot together until soft-ball stage (about 12 minutes).  Remove from heat.  Add vanilla and then pour over the marshmallow cream and peanut butter.  Mix well, till creamy.  Pour into a greased pan and let cool.

Bon Bons

This recipe for Bon Bons came from my Mother-n-Law, Lois.  Very easy to make and so good!  She kept these stored in the fridge and just put out on a pretty Christmas platter just before serving them.

Bon Bons
Source: Lois Dotson

2 1/2  boxes powdered sugar (16oz)
1 can Eagle brand milk
1 stick butter
1 box angel flake coconut
12 maraschino cherries - chopped

Mix well, roll into balls and chill. 
Dip into melted chocolate almond bark. 
Let cool/set up on waxed paper.

Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Roll is always a favorite at Christmas time.  This recipe came from my Mother-n-Law, Lois.

Pumpkin Roll
Source: Lois Dotson

3 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup flour

Filling
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp. butter, soft
1 cup powdered sugar

Mix ingredients, cover cookie sheet with greased wax paper (Spray with Pam), spread mixture evenly on the wax paper and bake at 375* for 12-15 minutes.  Turn out onto a tea towel dusted with powdered sugar.  Roll cake up in towel, and put in fridge to cool. After cooled, unroll cooled cake and spread filling.  Rewrap in foil.  Keep refrigerated.

Christmas Bacon

I worked with a lady named Nancy Zarr and she was one of the nicest and most spunky ladies I've ever met!   Luckily she shared some of her recipes with me before she retired from Burrell.  This recipe is super easy...and always a crowd pleaser.  It's great for Christmas parties!

Christmas Bacon
Source: Nancy Zarr

You take bacon and dip it in brown sugar.  Bake 15-20 minutes in a 400* oven on a rack over a sheet tray.

Christmas Crack Candy

This recipe has different names....Christmas Crack and Poor Man's Candy are two that I've heard.  This reicpe is from two of my friends who have both sent it to me and I've also seen it on other blogs. 

It's super easy to make and very good -- and it's addicting.  Once you start eating it, you can't stop....thus the name Christmas Crack!

Christmas Crack

 

Ingredients:

40 saltine crackers (approx. 1 1/2 sleeves)

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter

1 cup dark brown sugar (I used regular brown sugar, it's what I had on hand)

2 cups chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

1.       Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.       On a 9×13″ jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper, line the saltine crackers side by side until the pan is full.

3.       In a saucepot, melt butter and sugar together. Bring to boil then let boil for 3-5 minutes, do not stir.

4.       Pour the caramel evenly over the saltines then place in oven to bake for 5 minutes.

5.       Remove pan of saltines from oven and spread chocolate chips evenly on top of the caramel, spreading it evenly and smoothing it out -- the chips will melt as y ou do this.  If you’re using chopped pecans or nuts, this is now the time to sprinkle them on.

6.       Let the toffee and chocolate cool completely. I sat mine out in the garage covered with foil overnight, or you can stick in the fridge for an hour or so.

7.      Once cool, break into 2 inch pieces.

8.       Store in an airtight container.