Traditional Pumpkin Pie
Cool Christmas Float
Almond Brie Wheel
Santa's Spinach Balls
Carrot Christmas Cake
Santa's Hot Spiced Punch
Some other links:
Please send any suggested recipe links or recipes to Mrs. Claus by emailing them to:
Perfect for Christmas and Thanksgiving
Sift: 2 cups flour (sifted), 1 cup sugar, 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp
salt (I never use it), and 1/2 tsp baking soda.
Cut in 1/4 cup butter (I use Promise Extra Light margarine sticks-it makes
the bread really moist) until mixture is crumbly (I use a mixer to crumble-ize
it)
Add 1 beaten egg, 1 tsp grated orange peel (I use a grater/peeler doohickey and grate an entire orange for every two loaves.), and 3/4 cup orange juice. (If you can get your Elves to do the grating, it will help) mix until mixture is evenly moist.
Fold in as many light raisins as you think looks good (the recipe calls for 1 and 1/2 cups, I never measure) and about a half bag of chopped cranberries per loaf. spoon into a greased 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan bake at 350' for 1 hour and 10 mins or until toothpick in center comes out clean. I never use the toothpick test, but I suppose it is a good idea.
Cool out of pan on a wire rack. keep stored in aluminum foil, unless you eat it all before it cools.
If it doesn't come out well the first time, that is OK, it took Mrs. Claus 3 or 4 attempts before she learned to make it consistently excellent.
Original recipe from the book, Cranberry Thanksgiving -- a nice little tale for children with cute illustrations and a good story. Cranberry Thanksgiving, by Wende and Harry Devlin, Parent's Magazine Press, 52 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY, 10017. ISBN: Trade 0-8193-0498-0, Library 0-8193-0499-9, U.S. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 73-153789. Published in 1971.
Goes great with turkey and ham.
Directions:
1. About 3lbs whote potatoes, peeled, boiled, and mashed with milk
2. Melt one stick margarine in frying pan
3. Saute -- 2 stalks celery (chopped) and one samll onion (chopped) until soft
and onion is golden. Do Not Brown
4. Add 3 slices of firm bread cut into cubes -- mix in well (add more margarine
if needed)
5. continue sauteeing until bread is golden
6. Beat 2 large eggs into mashed potatoes
7. Mix in onions, celery, bread -- blend well.
8. Place in casserole dish -- dot with margarine and bake in 350' oven until
top is puffy and golden (about 1/2 hour if mixture is warm when goes into oven,
about 1 hour if taken from fridge).
Thanks to Sharon and Rick Winter, Wernersville, Pa.
Perfect for Christmas and Thanksgiving
This is similar to a slurpy type drink, but much better since it is home made.
Melt 2/3 cup sugar in 1 1/2 cup water
Add 1/2 cup orange juice 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 cup (or a little more) grape juice
Freeze- then beat with electic beater and then freeze again.
Our thanks to Carol Kitson for this recipe.
Perfect for Christmas and Thanksgiving pies or bread or even by the spoonful
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter, softened
1 egg
2 boxes of powdered (confectionary) sugar
Sherry (Harvey's Bristol Cream works well)
Directions:
Mix butter and egg
Add sugar slowly, mixing as you add.
As it gets thicker, add a little sherry at a time until it is desired consistency (generally like icing for a cake).
Refrigerate
Thanks to Charles H. Fletcher
Perfect for Christmas and Thanksgiving
Goes well with vanilla ice cream and hard sauce
Ingredients:
A. Graham cracker crust (you can make your own or use a pre-made one)
1 large egg white (slightly beaten)
B. 5 Cups fresh peeled apples
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (we generally add a bit more)
C. 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 stick melted butter (a bit over 1/3 cup)
Directions:
1. Brush egg white on crust, bake until light brown -- about 6 minutes
(if store bought)
2. Combine B -- mix well, spoon into crust
3. Mix C -- put on as the top of the pie in thin sheets
4. Bake at 375 for about 50 minutes
5. Cool for about 4 hours.
Perfect for Christmas and Thanksgiving
Ingredients:
Cookies:
4 sticks (1 pound butter)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
4 cups flour
Icing:
1 stick butter
1 box powdered (confectionary) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
milk (as needed)
Directions:
1. Mix butter and sugar
2. Add egg
3. Mix in flour
4. Use cookie cutter to make into smallish cookies (about 1.5 inches in diameter).
Cook each batch at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes (lightly brown)
5. Let cookies cool slightly before icing
Icing: Cream butter
add sugar and mix
Add milk as needed for spreadable consistency
Add vanilla
Ice the cookies
Ingredients:
3 and 1/4 cups flour
1.2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground cloves
1 cup salted butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsulfered molasses
2/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 - 2 tsp milk
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325'
2. Whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, and cloves
3. Cream butter and sugar. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add egg and molasses and
beat on medium speed until smooth.
4. Scrape down bowl and add flour mixture, blend on low speed until just combined
-- do not over mix!
5. Separate dough into 2 balls and flatten into disks. Wrap each disk tightly
in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour.
6. On floured surface with floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/4" thickness.
With floured cookie cutters cut into shapes. Gather scraps and re-roll dough
until all is used. Place on ungreased baking sheets about 1/2" apart.
7. Bake 9-11 minutes -- do not brown. Transfer to cool, flat surface and cool.
Preparing Icing:
1. Whisk sugar and milk until smooth but still liquid.
2. Add extra milk if seems dry.
3. Spoon icing into a pastry bag with small piping tip, or other icing dispenser.
4. Decorate as desired.
Perfect for Christmas and Thanksgiving
Goes well with vanilla ice cream and hard sauce
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 and 1/2 cups of sugar
1 cup of buttermilk
3 eggs
1/2lb of butter or margarine (melted)
1 T cinnamon
1 T baking soda
1/2 T ground cloves
Directions:
1. Blend sugar and butter thoroughly. Add eggs, buttermilk, flour. Mix.
2. Add cinnamon, baking soda, and cloves. Mix well.
3. Grease and flour baking dish.
4. Bake in pre-heated oven at 350' for 50 minutes or longer if necessary.
5. Cool and ice.
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter
1 box of confectioners sugar
1 T of vanilla
1-3 T of milk
Directions:
1. Cream butter and gradually add confectioners sugar.
2. Add milk as needed to keep frosting at spreading consistency
3. Add vanilla
4. Frost cake when completely cool.
Perfect for entertaining
Directions:
1. Mix 1/2 cup margarine, 4 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 16 oz Hershey's
syrup
2. grease a 9 x13" jelly roll pan
3. Bake at 350' for 25-30 minutes
4. Cool
5. Melt 1 and 1/2 sticks of margarine and mix with 3 cups powdered sugar and
1 teas. mint extract.
6. Spread on first layer
7. Cool
8. Melt 1 and 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 3 squares of bakers chocolate,
and 1 stick margarine.
9. Mix
10. Spread on top
Thanks to Pam and Dick Jones, Medford, NJ.
Bowl 1:
1. 1.2 lb of cream cheese
2. 1 egg
3. 1/3 cup of sugar
4. Mix
5. Add 1 and 1/4 cups of mini choc. chips.
Bowl 2:
1. 1 and 1/2 cup of flour
2. 1 cup of sugar
3. 1/4 cup of cocoa
4. 1 tsp. vanilla
5. 1 tsp. baking soda
6. 1 cup of water
7. 1/3 cup of oil
8. Mix
Directions:
1. Put chocolate mixture into mini-muffin cups.
2. Add 1 tsp. of cream cheese mixture per mini muffin cup
3. Fill each cup 2/3 full
4. Bake at 350' for about 20 minutes
5. makes about 4 dozen.
Thanks to Pam and Dick Jones, Medford, NJ.
Ingredients:
2 and 2/3 cup of sifted flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter or margarine
1 and 1/2 cup of sugar
2 eggs
2 T ground cinnamon
3 T sugar
halved pecans or walnuts (optional)
Directions:
1. Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt -- set aside
2. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one ata a time; beat well after adding each.
3. Add dry ingredients. Refrigerate 1 hour.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheet
5. Press half a nut into center -- sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture
5. Bake at 350' for 12-15 minutes.
Thanks to Sharon and Rick Winter, Wernersville, Pa.
Ingredients:
2 and 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 and 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cups salted butter, softened
1/2 cup eggnog
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 large egg yolks
1 Tbsp ground nutmeg
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300'
2. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg
3. Mix well with wire whisk and set aside
4. Cream sugar and butter with electric mixer until forms a grainy paste
5. Add eggnog, vanilla, and egg yolks and beat at medium speed until smooth
6. Add flour mixture and beat at low speed just until combined -- do not over
mix!
7. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets -- 1 " apart. Sprinkle
lightly with nutmeg.
8. Bake for 23-25 minutes or until bottoms turn light brown -- transfer to cool,
flat surface immediately.
1. 1 and 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2. 2 sticks of butter or margarine (1/2 lb) softened
3. 1 lb of confectioners sugar
4. 1 small can or 1/2 bag of Angel Flake coconut
5. 1 and 1/2 cups peanut butter
6. 2 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and chill several hours.
2. Roll into small balls and dip into:
1 x 12 oz package of semi-sweet choc. chips, melted w/ 1 small cake parafin
wax over a double boiler.
3. Drop onto wax paper and cool
4. Store in cool place
Thanks to Pam and Dick Jones, Medford, NJ.
Perfect for large gatherings and making those family encounters a little
easier to bear.
Ingredients:
1/5 white rum
1/5 white wine
6 oz frozen lime juice
6 oz frozen lemonade
1 qt gingerale
1 qt club soda
chopped oranges, lemons & limes
large block of frozen strawberries
Directions:
Mix and drink (slowly). Do not drive.
1 qt rum
1/2 gallon white wine
3 x 6 oz cans lemon-lime juice
2 qts club soda
1 qt ginger ale
fruit
Thanks to Sharon and Rick Winter, Wernersville, Pa.
Ingredients:
36 tsps loose tea
1 T orange peel
1/2 T lemon peel
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
Mix together and store in a tightly closed container.
Thanks to Sharon and Rick Winter, Wernersville, Pa.
Perfect to make after sledding or for a party!
Ingredients:
4 heaping teaspoons of cocoa mix
1 scant teaspoon of instant coffee mix
cinnamon
Makes one serving.
Thanks to Sharon and Rick Winter, Wernersville, Pa.
Elve's BEST CARAMELS from the talent of K.P.
Put equal amounts of:
eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
(approx 1&1/3 C each):
brown sugar
white sugar
lite corn syrup
butter or margarine
Cook to between soft ball and firm ball stage (approx 275 f).
Pour into a greased 9"x 13" pan an set aside to cool (Gram puts it in the refrigerator).
When cool cut into squares of desired size and wrap each piece in handi wrap.
Variation:
Put a layer of chopped walnuts on bottom of greased pan before pouring caramels
in pan.
Ingredients:
1 c. butter
2 c. flour
1/2 t. vanilla
1 egg yolk
3/4 c. brown sugar
1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Add egg yolk, vanilla, and flour.
3. Mix well and form into little balls, placing them on an ungreased cookie
sheet.
4. Press down with a fork.
5. Bake at 15 mintues at 375'
From Stephanie Doyle, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Ingredients:
2 large cans of plums
1 loaf of cinnamon raison bread (16oz.)
2 packages of jello custard pudding mix
2 tbsp. light brown sugar
4 extra large eggs
1 quart of whole milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
Begin French toasting the raison bread.
Beat 2 eggs and about 2/3 cup of milk and 1 tsp. of vanilla. Dip the bread and fry in buttered pan until golden brown. Do the entire loaf.
Line the bottom and sides of a deep bowl with the French toast. Drain the plums of all liquid and remove the pits. Allow them to drain until they are as dry as possible.
Place the plums in the bottom of the bowl. Sprinkle with the brown sugar. Cut the remaining French toast into 1 inch cubes. Sprinkle cubed toast into the bowl. Prepare the custard according to the package directions, add two egg yolks to the custard mixture for richer results.
Pour over the bowl ingredients. Sprinkle with ground nutmeg and chill overnight or until custard is well set. Serve with whipped cream or hard sauce.
For Full Punch Bowl
1 litre rum (clear color or Captain Morgans - you choose)
1 litre Kahlua
2 cups Creme De Menthe or Baileys Mint Chocolate
1 litre vodka
4 litres of vanilla soft scoop ice cream
4 litres of partly skimmed milk (have to be health conscience somewhere)
Mix gently until frothy with still a few ice cream lumps. Liberally sprinkle nutmeg over top. Enjoy and give vehicle keys to the designated driver.
1/2 Cup Icing Sugar
1/2 Cup Shortning
1/2 Cup Butter
1/2 Tsp Peppermint Flavouring
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Tsp Salt
Cream sugar, shortning, butter, and extract thourghly. Measure flour WITHOUT
sifting into wax paper, add salt and blend well. Now add dry ingredients to
creamed mixture. Mix well. Form into one inch balls, place on cookie sheet and
cook in 400F oven 8-10minutes. Cool on rack. Dip tops in icing, pink and green,
then in coconut. Yield 4-4 1/2 dozen.
3 cups Mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup white sugar (may use less)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 stick melted butter or margarine
Mix and put in buttered baking dish.
Mix the following together and add to top of sweet potatoes:
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1cup finely chopped pecans
1/3 cup melted butter
Bake 30 minutes in 350 degree oven.
1 Pkg. (12 oz.) Chocolate Bits
1 can Sweetened Eagle Brand Milk
1 ts. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
Melt the bits in the milk and boil just slightly. Remove from heat and add the vanilla and salt.
Pour into buttered pie pan. Put in refrigerator until set. Can be cut into pieces or rolled in balls
Nuts can be added. Also can roll in nuts, coconut or whatever you like.
Thanks to: Wilma Doan, Daytona Beach, Fl
1 3-ounce package lime gelatin
1 cup crushed pineapple
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 3-ounce package strawberry gelatin
Prepare lime gelatin as directed on package. Chill until slightly thickened. Fold in pineapple; pour into an 8-inch square pyrex bowl. Chill until firm. Gradually add mayonnaise to softened cream cheese, mixing until well blended. Add nuts. Spread over molded gelatin layer. Chill until firm. Prepare strawberry gleatin as directed on package. Pour over cheese mixture; chill until firm.
Makes a pretty red, white and green jello salad!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Thanks to:
Mrs. Arline Wertz
1 lb. Hot Sausage
10 oz. Grated Cheddar Cheese
3 cups Bisquick
Mix all ingredients by hand in a large bowl. KNEAD WELL!
Shape into small (ping pong ball size) balls.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
1/2lb. Butter, Creamed
4T 10X Sugar
2t Vanilla
2C Flour
1C Chopped Pecans
Mix and Roll then press with a fork
Bake 15 Min - @ 375F
While hot roll in cinnamin and sugar.
THESE COOKIES MELT IN YOUR MOUTH!
1 lb. cranberries = 2 cups
3/4 c. orange juice
1 orange cut in half
Cook these until all popped.
Add 1 c. sugar after cooked.
Squeeze juice from orange into cranberries - leave orange peel in until serving.
Thanks to (and in remembrance of): Mary Anne Kundinger
* makes about 3 dozen
Mix the following in a large bowl. Beat well.
3/4 cups cooking oil
1/2 cups subar
1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
Mix the following in a second large bowl.
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups oatmeal
After both bowl are mixed, mix them together. Then add:
12 ounces of choc. chips
1 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Blend together.
Put tablespoon size lumps on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 for 14 minutes.
2 unbaked 9-inch (4 cup volume) deep-dish pie shells.
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 ground cloves
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups pumpkin stuff
3 cups evaporated milk
Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in medium bowl.
Beat eggs lightly in large bowl.
Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture.
Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
Pour into pie shells.
Bake in pre-heated 425 F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350, bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cool and eat.
Thanks to: William B. Taylor
1 can coke or Dr Pepper
3 scoops of ice cream - chocalote or vanilla
4 cherries
2 red and green gum drops
red and green M&M's
whipped cream topping
Put ice cream in cup. pour soda on it. then add the whipped cream, cherries and candy.
1 complete wheel of Brie - about 3 to 5 inch in diameter
1 2-3 oz package of sliced almonds
2-3 Tablespoons butter
1 loaf of french or sourdough bread
Saute almonds in butter over very low heat until golden brown. Be careful not to brown or burn butter.
Pour almonds and butter over wheel which has been placed uncut on a microwave safe plate.
Microwave for about 40 seconds, until inside of wheel is melted.
Serve with bread as a first course.
Thanks to: Natasha Nalley
10 oz pkg frozen chopped spinach - cooked and drained
1 cup herb dressing
2 Tablespoons flour
1 small onion chopped finely
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Mix all ingredients together. Form into balls (approx. 1 heaping teaspoon ). Place on ungreased cookie sheet and freeze. Thaw 1 hour before cooking. Cook at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. (check at 15 minutes to make sure bottoms are not burning).
Thanks to: Natasha Nalley
Sift together:
1-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
(The allspice, nutmeg & cinnamon may be slightly rounded if you like a spicier cake)
Mix together in another bowl:
4 eggs
1 cup oil
1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla (I use 2 teaspoons)
2 Tablespoons water if batter is dry
Combine all above.
Add:
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped of ground walnuts or pecans (I prefer ground walnuts)
1 small can crushed pineapple - undrained
1 cup raisins - Optional
(sometimes I add a half cup or so of grated zucchini)
Mix well. Pour in greased/floured tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. You may use one of the following, not both.
Optional Glaze:
Brush glaze over top and sides of baked cake. Let seep in.
Melt in small saucepan and heat until just starting to simmer:
1/8 lb. butter
1/8 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
remove from heat and add 1/8 cup rum (optional)
Optional Icing:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Optional - 1 cup grated coconut, 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Blend together first 4 ingredients: add coconut & nuts. Mix. Spread evenly over top and sides of cake.
Thanks to: Natasha Nalley
3 cups Pineapple juice
4 cups cranberry juice
2 cups apple cider
1 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 cinnamon sticks
1 orange, studded with cloves
1 apple, cored and sliced Mix all ingredients in a large saucepan.
Add cinnamon sticks, orange studded with cloves, and one cored, sliced apple.
Simmer mixture for 4 hours. Serve hot.
Serves 12.
(Recipe may be doubled)