Archive for the ‘Holiday’ Category

Cheesecake Bars

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup flour

1 (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened

1 egg

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup granulated sugar

 

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place flour in mixing bowl with brown sugar; mix on low speed until just combined.  Cut butter into 1 inch squares and add to flour.  Mix until butter is combined with flour.  Press dough into bottom of an 8-inch square pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Beat together the cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg and lemon juice until fluffy. Spread filling over crust.  Bake at 350 degrees for another 18-20 minutes.  Cool, then cut into squares and keep refrigerated.

Holiday Bake Ham

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

1 Hatfield boneless pre-cooked lean ham
2 cups light or dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard (Guldens is a good choice)
1 large jar of maraschino cherries with juice
1 large can sliced pineapple rings with juice
1-2 tablespoons ground cloves
16 ounces ginger ale

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place flour in mixing bowl with brown sugar; mix on low speed until just combined.  Cut butter into 1 inch squares and add to flour.  Mix until butter is combined with flour.  Press dough into bottom of an 8-inch square pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Beat together the cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg and lemon juice until fluffy.  Spread filling over crust.  Bake at 350 degrees for another 18-20 minutes.  Cool, then cut into squares and keep refrigerated.

Raspberry Jam Tarts

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

2 sticks butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

2 cups flour, sifted

1 cup walnuts, chopped

1 cup raspberry jam (seedless raspberry jam can also be used)

 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 

Lightly grease an 8 x 8-inch pan or square baking dish.  Blend together the butter, sugar and egg yolk.  Stir in the flour and nuts. Press half of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread jam evenly over dough, and then press remaining dough on top. Bake for 1 hour, or until edges are golden brown.  Cool slightly, but cut into squares while still warm.  Store in a covered container.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

1 pound confectioner’s sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

¼ cup butter

1 tablespoon milk

8 ounces semi sweet chocolate

1 tablespoon Crisco shortening

In a mixing bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, peanut butter, butter and milk until blended. Shape mixture into small egg shapes. Freeze eggs for 1 hour. While the eggs are freezing, cut semi-sweet chocolate into small pieces and place in top of double boiler with shortening. Melt over medium heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Stick a long-tined fork in top of each peanut butter egg, dip it in melted chocolate to cover then drain on waxed paper. When the eggs are cooled and set, decorate the eggs to suit your fancy.

Lower Fat Variation: Use 1 cup of low-fat peanut butter and use 2 tablespoons of milk.

Sausage Stuffing with Apples

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

10 tablespoons butter

2 medium granny smith apples, coarsely chopped

3/4 pound sweet Italian sausage, casing removed

1 medium onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

4 cups chicken broth

1 bag Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing

2 cups Pepperidge Farm Seasoned Croutons

1/3 cup fresh dried sage leaves, chopped

2 eggs, beaten

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Coat a 3-quart casserole with butter or cooking spray and set aside.  Cook apples in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes; pour into a bowl and set aside.  Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and add the sausage, onion and celery.  Cook until well browned, stirring frequently to break up the sausage.  Add the broth and remaining butter to the sausage mixture; heat to a boil.  Add the stuffing, croutons, sage and eggs to the apples.  Pour the sausage mixture into the apple mixture and stir to coat. Spoon stuffing mix into prepared dish and cover.

Bake for 45 minutes, or until hot.

 

Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

12 oz Fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup Sugar
1 1/4 cup Water
Juice and grated rind of 1 orange

Wash cranberries and pat dry. In a 2-quart saucepan combine sugar, water, orange rind and juice. Cook, stirring over medium heat, until sugar dissolves. Add cranberries to sugar syrup, bring to a boil, and cook until cranberry skins start to break or pop, about 1 minute.

Remove cranberries from the heat and pour into a 3-cup bowl or storage jars with lids, to cool. Sauce can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, or placed in airtight jars in the freezer for up to 3 months. (Leave 1/2-inch space between sauce and jar lid.)

 

Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

1 12-ounce package Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
1 unpeeled orange, cut into eighths and seeded
3/4-1 cup sugar

Place half the cranberries and half the orange slices in food processor container. Process until mixture is evenly chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with remaining cranberries and orange slices. Stir in sugar. Store in refrigerator or Freezer.

Makes about 3 cups.

Swanson Moist & Savory Stuffing

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

2 ½ cups Swanson chicken broth
2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
1 (16 ounce) package Herb seasoned stuffing
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Heat the broth, black pepper, celery and onion in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add the stuffing and mix lightly. Spoon the stuffing mix into a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Makes 10 servings

Jell-o Chocolate Pudding Fudge

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

I tried this fudge recipe last year, and I was very please with the outcome. Once you try this, I’m sure you’ll make it again.

1 package (8 squares) Bakers semi-sweet baking chocolate
1 stick butter
1/3 cup water
1 (4 serving size) package Jell-o Chocolate instant pudding & pie filling
3 cups powdered sugar

Microwave 4 of the chocolate squares, 6 tablespoons of the butter and water in a microwavable bowl on high for 2 minutes, or until butter is melted; stir.
Add the dry pudding mix and stir until well blended. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, stirring until well blended after each addition. Press mixture into a foil lined 8-inch square pan. Microwave the remaining 4 squares of chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the butter in large microwavable bowl on high for 1½ minutes. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Spread over pudding mixture. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm.

Cut into 48 (1-inch) squares.

Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY’S Pure Pumpkin
1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk

PREHEAT oven to 425°F

COMBINE sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell.

BAKE for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°F.; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. (Do not freeze as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.)

For 2 shallow pies, substitute two 9-inch (2-cup volume) pie shells. Bake in preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°F; bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until pies test done.

NOTE:
* If using metal or foil pan(s), bake on preheated heavy-duty baking sheet(s).

* 1 3/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice may be substituted for the cinnamon, ginger and cloves, however, the taste will be slightly different.

Makes 8 servings