Sunday, December 25, 2011

From Santa!


Mr. H. and I weren't supposed to exchange 
Christmas gifts this year.

So when these showed up on Christmas Eve
the only thing I could figure out 
was that they must have come from...

SANTA CLAUS! :-)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Keeper!


When you serve soup for supper at my house,
a soup that is full of vegetables no less,

and, the family ALL loves it!!

Then that soup is a keeper. :-)

The recipe for Cheesy Vegetable Chowder
came from Lulu the Baker,
and, of course, was found on Pinterest. :-)


Monday, December 19, 2011

~Gifts from the kitchen - Peppermint Cocoa~


I've been spotting Peppermint Cocoa recipes 
all over the internet via Pinterest!


I whipped up a few batches last night,
and we tried some out this morning with breakfast.
Yummy!


For each 1/2 pint jar layer -

1/4 cup powdered milk
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 cup chocolate chips
1/8 cup crushed candy canes
1/8 cup peppermint flavored marshmallows


Add a tag with the directions on the back.


Share with friends and family and enjoy!


Monday, December 12, 2011

Cranberry Crumb Muffins


Christmastime Cranberry Crumb Muffins
1 dozen


for muffins
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1 egg
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries

for crumb topping
1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
1 1/4 tablespoons butter, softened


Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine sour cream, egg, and butter.
Blend dry ingredients with wet ingredients.
Fold in cranberries.
Spoon batter in to muffin tin lined with paper liners.


Combine flour, sugars, baking powder and salt.
Cut in butter until crumbly.
Sprinkle crumb topping over muffins.
Bake at 425 for 20 minutes.
Serve warm and enjoy!


Sunday, December 11, 2011

Sing a Song of Christmas


Sing a song of Christmas,
Of starlight on the snow,
Of scarlet flames of Yuletide logs
And candles' golden glow.


Sing a song of Christmas,
Of mistletoe and pine,
Of holly wreaths and balsam trees
Whose lights and tinsel shine.


Sing a song of Christmas,
Of bells which gaily ring,
And carols on the frosty air
The strolling minstrels sing.


Sing a song of Christmas,
Of happiness and cheer,
And love which lights the earth with joy
To bless the coming ear.

by Gail Brook Burket
From Christmas IDEALS 1964

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

:::Crazy Cooking Challenge:::


I'm excited to be participating in another

The last one I participated in was all about 


This month the challenge is to find
the very best fudge recipe in blogland.

Now, I already know the very best fudge recipe...
it's the Fantasy Fudge that my mom always made and that I make now.
It's our favorite.

But, for the challenge, I needed to find a new recipe.
I searched and searched and decided that I just had to try -




I wanted to see if it really was the easiest ever.

Well, the title is absolutely correct!
It is the easiest ever fudge...
four ingredients,
about 5 minutes of prep
2 hours to chill 
and you are done!

It's rich.  It's chocolatey.  It's smooth.
It's a wonderfully tasty fudge and it IS
the easiest ever fudge.  I hope you try it.


Easiest Ever Fudge

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 dash of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Line an 8X8 inch pan with aluminum foil.  Combine chips, milk, and salt in a small saucepan.  Heat over low until chocolate melts, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Spread fudge into prepared pan.  Allow fudge to cool in refrigerator for two hours.  To cut, lift foil out of pan and then peel off foil.  Cut fudge into small squares.  Keep refrigerated in an air tight container.


Be sure to visit the other bloggers that are participating in the Fudge Edition of the Crazy Cooking Challenge Blog Hop!  And, don't forget to vote for your favorite.  They are listed below. :-)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

It's Christmas Cookie Time!


I've been pinning lots and lots of Christmastime ideas
on my Pinterest boards.

From my ~Christmastime Cookies~ board,
I decided to try 
Chocolate Candy Cane Blossoms
first.  

Recipe from