December 11--Another Batch of Cookies

Ahh, the old standby recipe for Christmas cookies!

2C shortening (can you tell this is an oldie but goodie?)

3C sugar

4 Eggs

1 tsp grated nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp almond

6-7 C flour (all purpose)

Cream shortening and sugar, add eggs and beat till fluffy and light.  Add flavorings, nutmeg, flour (enough to form a stiff dough)  Chill one hour.

If I didn't have time to make them one day, I would roll them out the next day.  Instead of flour on the surface, I would use sifted powdered sugar (added a crackly goodness to the cookie)

This is when you can use those wonderful cookie cutters.

Bake @ 400* 8-10 minutes--no icing needed; just a glass of cold milk to dunk!

December 10--Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey

Okay, get out that bourbon--because here comes the Whiskey Balls!

These must be aged properly for at least two weeks before you break open the box.

Simple easy to make but delicious to eat.

Remember--aging is the secret!  

Another one of Helen's secret recipes that she shared.

December 9--Grandma Mac's Peanut Brittle

Someone who could make good candy was my mother-in-law--Grandma Mac!  She made delicious peanut Brittle--the kind that crunch with one bite.  I liked watching her make this brittle recipe because as you added the soda to the cooked mixture, there was an explosion of flavor happening.

Once again, I never made this recipe--it's only for Grandma Mac's hands.

But, I'll happily eat it!

December 8--Candy Making

Divinity Candy!  Melt in your mouth delicious!  But, I never made it--I was never good at making candy.  If I tried my hand at fudge, it would become a soupy mess and we had to eat it with a spoon!  So, when I met this lady, she gave me this recipe from her kitchen and said "Try it.  It's an easy recipe. Just don't make it on a damp day"!  Well, we lived in Louisiana--when most days are damp!  So I never tried it!  But, let me tell you......................

Minnie's Divinity Candy was awesome!    I still bring out the recipe every year and remember Minnie and how she challenged those damp days and won with her divinity!

December 7--Baking Those Spritzs!

It was always a treat for the kids, following their dinner, when we were all sitting around the living room, that I would bring out a tray of the cookies that had been baked the precious days. 

There were always glasses of cold milk to go with the treats.  We would continue our discussions from the dinner table. 

I hope they remember those evenings during December as much as I do.  It was definitely a time for each of them to have a say as they gobbled down the goodies.

I have handed over this cookie recipe to the oldest daughter--the blond headed one!  She is now in charge of making these delightful mouth popping cookies. 

Each year now, somehow, she finds time in her busy schedule to press out some colorful designs with the cookie press.

December 6--Tex-Mex Cooking

Speaking of Tex-Mex cooking, here is the one and only book I rely on!  My Granny gave me this book in early 1977.  My Granny didn't cook much for us kids as we didn't see her much growing up--but she was definitely what you would consider as a GRANNY!

 

I LOVE this book! and I think about my Granny every time I pull this recipe book out to make Guacamole--I know the recipe, but there is just something about my Granny and this recipe book!

 

And you can't serve Tex-Mex food without the Guacamole:  ripe avocadoes (not too soft, just firm enough to give a

little)--how many you say?  depends on how much you and your guests can eat!  chopped onions, garlic to taste, lime juice over the top of avocados, and now you mash!  You can leave chunky or make it smooth--what do you like?  how about some jalapenos chopped in as well?  dash of salt, pepper, olive oil and of course, several dashes of hot sauce.  I add chopped tomatoes too.

Bring on the tortilla chips--Yummy! 

Thanks Granny!

December 5--A Gift For You and Me

One of my dear friends from late 1970's gave me this recipe and it has remained a staple in our refrigerator ever since.

When you need a good salsa--this is the one.  We have spent hundreds of dollars on store bought salsas--red ones, green ones, roasted ones, fruit salsas, but we always come back to this one recipe as our favorite.

You can make it as spicy or as mild as you want.  It's great with tortilla chips or over enchiladas.

And I'm a sucker for Tex-Mex food!  Give me a fresh tortilla, pinto beans and this salsa and I'm happy as a lark!

I've bottled this recipe at times for gifts--give it a water bath so the jars seal; tie with a neat ribbon with the recipe and you'll have thankful friends!