December 14--Party Dips

 

Tis the season for parties........................and if you are hosting a party, there is a chance you'll need a couple of dip recipes that you can make ahead of time.

 

This is a hot dip recipe--

1 package of cream cheese + 2 Tbsp milk beaten together.  Add 1/2 tsp garlic salt, 1 Tbsp minced onion, 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/2 C sour cream

Add one package of chopped beef (we could find this product in a small jar along with the cheese jars--do they make it anymore?)  you can use corned beef or roast beef from the deli

add 1/2 C chopped bell pepper.  Mix these ingredients well; spread in pie dish and sprinkle the top with 1 C crushed pecans.

Bake @ 350* oven for 20 minutes.

Serve with crackers

Yummy good!!

December 13--Party Time!

It's the weekend--time to party!  Need an idea for a good party punch? 

This is the ONE!

 

This recipe comes from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, November, 1978--gee whiz!  I can't believe it has been that long ago!

I've made this punch on numerous occasions--best part of this recipe--it can be made ahead and frozen; ready for the time you need a perfect party drink.  And you can even spike it with something that will definitely give it a PUNCH!  We served this at blond headed daughter's wedding 25 years ago--and to this day, it's still a great recipe! 

December 12--Need a Gift Idea?

Sweet and Spicy Nuts

from a high school friend--boy, we are going back a few years for sure!

After our home and all possessions were destroyed in December 1976 by fire, our friends put out a call to replace my recipe box and file.

This recipe came from a good high school friend whom we even had adventures with during our college days--they had a Volkswagen! and we could go and go on a tank of gas!  Of course, you got to remember gas in those days was only 30 cents a galloon, but we had no money to speak of, so jumping into their Volkswagen and running to parks for picnics ($1 worth of luncheon meat went a long ways) was a great weekend of fun.

I can't tell you how many times I've made this recipe to give as gifts and to have on hand for our munchies time.

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!