Christmas celebrations consists of good friends, family, and food…lots and lots of food. Which is why we gain weight during the holidays. Who can resist all those holiday goodies?
This recipe comes to us from our free download on the right. I plan on trying out quite a few of these recipes this holiday season…so be sure and look for the blimp hovering over Michigan after January 1.
Happy Holidays from our family.
CLASSIC CHRISTMAS CAKE
Posted in Cake Desserts, Cakes, Desserts, Free Downloads, Holidays, My Family Recipes 
Tags: Cakes, Desserts, Holidays, party, recipes, sweets 
Comments OffThis is one of my favorite recipes for pumpkin from my favorite chef…Paula Deen. My husband made it a couple of years ago for Thanksgiving and it was a huge success. It is easy to make and can be made a day ahead of the holiday. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family did.
Happy Holidays!
* 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
* 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 stick melted salted butter
*
Filling:
Posted in Cakes, Cheesecake, Christmas Traditions, Dessert Recipes, Desserts, Holidays, My Family Recipes, Paula Deen, Thanksgiving Tags: alternatives, baking, Cakes, cheesecake, holiday, pies, pumpkin, recipes Comments Off
A wide variety of ingredients can go into a brined turkey. The purpose is to give the turkey a boost in flavor and moistness (not sure that is a word but it fits). Combining a brined turkey with the grill adds extra flavor.
I have put together three of my favorite brines to use either on a turkey or a chicken. I have tried them all over the years and love them all.
#1 Ale Brined Turkey
Posted in Holidays, My Family Recipes, Thanksgiving, Turkey Tags: brine, recipes, Thanksgiving, Turkey Comments OffThis is a wonderful and easy appetizer. The only thing that I changed in the recipe was adding a sprinkle of Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
1/2 pound torn fresh spinach
2 tablespoons water
3/4 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
1 egg
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup water chestnuts, chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans, divided
56 large fresh mushrooms (about 3 1/2 pounds)
Refrigerated butter-flavored spray
Spinach Cheese Mushrooms Recipe at Cooking.com
DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, bring spinach and water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 3 minutes. Drain; squeeze dry and finely chop.
Posted in Appetizers, Holidays, Mushrooms, My Family Recipes, New Years, Party Starters, Thanksgiving Tags: Appetizers, holiday, mushrooms, parties, recipes, spinach, starters Comments OffA couple of years ago the electricity went out the day before Thanksgiving and being the electric company did not get turned on until the Friday after Thanksgiving. You can imagine my initial panic about how I was going to cook a Turkey for a family of eight. Luckily I had already pre-made my pies, but I still had to contend with cooking the potatoes, veggies and rolls. The rolls were no problem I just purchased some pre-made ones at the bakery but the rest of the meal should have turned out to be a disaster.
Here is a cookie recipe from my childhood memories. Several years ago I lost this recipe and could not find the exact one for years. A couple of years ago I found it a Cooking.com, it is every bit as good as I remember. Happy Holidays!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup quick cooking irish oatmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Posted in AllRecipes, Candy, Cookies, Dessert Recipes, Holidays Tags: cookies, cooking.com, holiday cookies, Irish Lace, recipes Comments OffIt wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without cranberries, now would it? I know for a fact that around our house it wouln’t be Thanksgiving without it. I have tried many recipes and variations on this fruit, but the one from Ocean Spray is definitely the best.
How much do you really know about this fruit? Where does it grow? How did it become part of our Thanksgiving traditions? Here are a few facts from our friends at Ocean Spray about this deep red fruit.
Posted in Fruit, Fruits, Holiday Sides, My Family Recipes, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Turkey Tags: cranberries, facts, holiday, recipes, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving Comments OffMy family laughs every time I mention Ambrosia Salad. It seems every holiday party they go to it is there and for some absurd reason they think it is funny. Go figure!
There is a reason why it is at every party you go to…it is good! How often have you seen leftovers of Ambrosia Salad? I bet not too often. It is one of those food items that could be a side salad, then again it could be a dessert. Take your pick! Anyway I like it anytime of the year.
Posted in AllRecipes, Appetizers, Christmas Cookies, Desserts, Fruit, Fruits, Holiday Recipes, Holiday Sides, Holidays, My Family Recipes, Salads, Side Dishes Tags: Ambrosia, Holidays, recipes, salads, Side Dishes Comments Off
I love chocolate! I love caramel! I love pecans! So a chocolate turtle is high on my list of culinary treats.
Every year the neighborhood kids come knocking on my door to sell me candy for one activity or another and I always buy a tin of turtles. Once they are delivered a month or two later I find that only about 12 (if I am lucky) are in the tin. Up to $18.00 for a tin of 12 turtles! Now I don’t mind spending the money, it is for the kids, but 12 turtles…that lasts about 24 hours if I am lucky.
When I saw this recipe at Cooking.com, I was taken back to the wonderful smells coming out of the kitchen during the holidays as a child. Baked bread, cookies, pies, cakes and then the smell of Turkey and all the trimmings. I get hungry just thinking about those smells.
My mother made a cake very similar to this only she used Pumpkin Pie spice in place of the spices listed. She usually made it a couple of days before the holiday and kept in the refrigerator. She took it out the night before to make sure it was a room temperature the next morning.
Posted in Cake Desserts, Cakes, Coffee Cake, Dessert Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Holidays, Mom's Favorite, My Family Recipes, Thanksgiving Tags: baking, Cakes, holiday, pecans, pumpkin, recipe, rolls Comments Off
