December 24--And Not a Creature Was Stirring!

This is the Night we light the last candle of the Advent Wreath.

 

The first candle is for Promise

The second candle is for Light

The third candle is for Love

and the last candle is

HOPE

 

 

As Christians we read Luke's story of Jesus birth (Luke 2: 1-20)

 

"May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace" (Romans 15:13a)

December 23--Two Nights Before Christmas!

Two Nights before Christmas!  That should be a song..........................................

And all through the house, family is waiting for that special meal.............................

CRAB BISQUE and for the one who doesn't eat crab--we make a huge pot of Chili--Texas Chili!

So grab, your special ingredients and let's cook!

Crab Bisque:  celery, onions, bell pepper (all chopped fine) Sauté in stick of butter till transparent and tender.  Add some chopped garlic to taste, salt and pepper to taste.  Thicken with corn starch or flour to make a white roux.  Stir in can of chicken stock.  In another pot cook chopped potatoes till tender, drain and add to the above mixture. Now, here comes the good stuff--several cups of half and half--not the fat free stuff either, but full rich half and half.  Let this all marry for a few minutes.  Toward the end, add 1 lb. of fresh cracked peeled crabmeat--claw or whatever you can find.  Take that Tabasco bottle and shake, shake!  Almost ready for the bowl and spoon! 

In the oven we have buttered hot French bread, just ready to sop up all the goodness left in the bowl.

This will always be our two nights before Christmas meal!!

Now, if you need a recipe for Texas Chili...........................................let me know!

December 22--Ready for Another Cookie!

Mexican Wedding Cakes

This is one of those go to recipes when you need a quick cookie.

1 C of butter

1/2 C powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

cream together till fluffy

Then add 1/4 tsp salt

2 1/4 C all purpose flour

Mix well

Add

1 C chopped nuts (your choice)

Mix till dough holds together nicely.

Roll into balls, place on parchment paper lined cookie sheets

Bake in 400* oven for about 8-9 minutes

Once removed from the oven, roll the balls into powder sugar

and pop into your mouth!

 

Any number of different items can be added--chocolate chips, crushed peppermint, Hersey kisses in the middle of ball before baking--it's fun to experiment.

There are lots of names for this cookie--what do you call them? 

December 21--The Candy Man

Remember I told you--I was not a candy maker!  That job goes to my hubby who makes all the best fudge, pralines and sometimes caramels.  You are guaranteed a good batch of candy when he takes a turn at the stove (little secret--he doesn't cook anything else that's good!)

Can't read the recipe??  It's mimeographed!  Do you remember those machines?

 

Here is his recipe for Pralines--the best!  This recipe comes from Ellendale, LA
 

1 1/2 C white sugar, 3/4 C brown sugar (packed), 1/2 stick butter, 1/2 C evaporated milk, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 C whole pecans, pinch of salt and the secret ingredient--1 tsp white Karo syrup!
 

Cook sugars, salt and milk until it comes to a rolling boil.  Add butter and let remain on heat until butter has completely melted.  Remove from heat.  Beat until it begins to thicken.  Add nuts and vanilla.  Drop by teaspoon on wax paper.  If it gets too hard to drop, return to heat and remelt.

Yummy--good for the tummy!

 

 

December 20--EGGNOG!

  Let's have a cup of eggnog!   
  
Here's our recipe for this delicious drink: 

Eggnog is not my favorite drink by a long shot!  Everyone else in the family loves it!  They drink it with a little fresh ground nutmeg on top.  They drink it with a dash of rum!  They drink it with their cookies!  They drink it right out of the pitcher!

This recipe comes from our OLD

Hubby makes it every year--he can certainly make up a good batch or two for the holidays.  And you can tell from the photo above he set something down on the recipe--ah, memories go a long ways!

December 19--Want Some Crunch?

If you like a little crunch in your cheese--make up these delightful little yummy goodies!

of course, we don't call it oleo anymore--

let's use butter--delicious creamy butter!

 

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch!

Thanks friend who gave me this recipe 37 years ago!

December 18--A week Away From Christmas

 

One week away from Christmas Celebration!

This recipe brings you the Cheese Ball!

So delicious--best to keep under wraps for several days before spreading on bread or crackers.

 

The above recipe is easy to prepare and ages well in the refrigerator just in case company comes knocking!

 

Our all time favorite cheese ball is a cheese log--made with

Velveeta Cheese (can you believe how expensive this product has become?!!)  you can use half brick or the whole thing.

Several cloves of minced garlic--how much garlic do you like?

chopped pecans--how nutty do you want to be?

and thoroughly mix!!

Get in there with your hands--messy, but your hands are the best mixer.

Shape into logs--small logs, long logs, medium logs--your choice ( I know, so many decisions to make!)

now, take out that chili powder, sprinkle on plastic wrap and roll your log in the chili powder--cover that log good.  Wrap tightly, refrigerate and wait--at least five days.  The longer the flavors marry, the tastier it is.

ready to serve, unwrap, set out crackers and wait for the compliments!

Way beyond good! and the easiest you could make!!