December 2009--Cowboy Christmas (Amber & Heather)

Here's a little sneak peak of the Cowboy Christmas!

(And yes, it was as amazing and delicious as it looks!)

Recipes and more photos to come!

Here are a few pictures of the Save-The-Date. It was a cute brown paper bag, topped with bandana tissue paper. Inside was full of all sorts of Cowboy goodies for us to "Bring & Wear"--a gun, s'mores kit, bandana, and a sheriff's badge.

And as if the Save-The-Dates weren't good enough, we also got the cutest invites in the mail, complete with a wanted poster with all our faces(with mustaches!). After my husband saw these invitations, he said, "How do you compete with that?" To which I replied, "We don't!"
It's impossible... :)

Love this!

When we first came in, there were these cute brown felt pillows in a circle around the "campfire" (fireplace), so we could circle up and eat our appetizers. I'm hoping someone took a picture so I can post...

The place setting

All the extras!

This might have been my favorite thing. At each place setting, they had a pack of playing cards, which is where the menu was found. Such a cute idea. And I'm in love with this candy-cane shoestring. At each place setting, we also found little wanted posters, with made up cowboy names for all of us. Sunny was wanted for shootin' her cousin. We were all jealous, since she was worth the most--$10,000!

THE MENU

Appetizers

Sausage Skewers

Lemon Chicken

with Neely's BBQ Sauce & Balsamic BBQ Sauce

Homemade Mac-N-Cheese

Crusty Bread with Jalapeno Jelly

Drinks

Homemade Cream Soda

Mint Lemonade

Hot Cranberry Drink

Soup

Mama's Homemade Chili & Star Puffs

Main Course

Rolled Flank Steak

Fluffy New Potatoes

Green Beans with Frizzled Prosciutto

Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread (in a can!) with Honey Butter


Dessert

Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake

And the recipes...

Sausage Skewers

12 ounces fully cooked Italian-style poultry sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 cup lightly packed fresh basil

1 12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained, rinsed and cut into 1 inch pieces

2/3 cup fresh tomatoes (can use sundried), cut into 1 inch pieces

1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

(For Gourmet Club, we swapped out the red peppers with mozzarella cheese, cut into 1 inch pieces)

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat; mist with cooking spray. Add the sausage; cook, turning 2 or 3

times, until warmed through and browned, about 8 minutes. (We grilled the sausage)

Thread 1 small or 1/2 large basil leaf onto a small wooden skewer (or toothpick). Add a piece of pepper, tomato, artichoke and sausage. Repeat. Makes about two dozen skewers.

Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger for Food Network Magazine.

Homemade Mac’n’Cheese

1 box (1 pound) penne rigate (we used Barilla mini penne)

3/4 pound sharp cheddar cheese (we used regular cheddar and monterey jack)

1/2 pound Gruyere cheese, shredded

1/2 cup shredded Parmesean Cheese (can use asiago)

3 tbsp unsalted butter

3 tbsp all purpose flour

2 cups milk

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (can eliminate if making for kids)

Heat oven to 350. Coat a 2 quart broiler safe oval baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boiling. Add penne, cook, for 6 minutes, then drain. In large bowl, toss together cheeses. Set aside. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth and slightly bubbly.

In a thin stream, whisk in milk. Stir in onion powder, salt and cayenne. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in 2 1/2 cups of cheese mixture.

In pasta pot, stir together the cooked penne and the cheese sauce. Pour half into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with a cup of the cheese. Spoon remaining penne into dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Increase oven temperature to broil and cook 3 minutes, until top is lightly browned. Cool slightly before serving. Makes 12 side-dish servings. Recipe courtesy of Family Circle Magazine

Neely’s BBQ Sauce

2 cups ketchup

1 cup water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

5 tbsp light brown sugar

5 tbsp sugar

1/2 tbsp fresh ground black pepper

1/2 tbsp onion powder

1/2 tbsp ground mustard

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer. Cook

uncovered, stirring frequently, for 1 hour, 15 minutes. Recipe courtesy The Neely’s

Balsamic BBQ Sauce

1 cup balsamic vinegar

3/4 cup ketchup

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Combine all inredients in a small saucepan and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Simmer over medium heat until reduced by 1/3, about 15 - 20 minutes. Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Green Beans with Frizzled Prosciutto

3 tbsp lemon juice, or to taste

1 tbsp white wine vinegar

2 tbsp minced shallots

Salt and pepper as needed

7 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 lb green beans, ends trimmed (use fresh, try romano for an even richer taste)

1/4 lb prosciutto, thinly sliced

1/4 lb Gruyere cheese cut into sticks

(prosciutto and gruyere found at Albertsons)

Combine the lemon juice, vinegar, shallots, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Gradually whisk

in 6 tablespoons olive oil. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until bright green adn just barely tender to the bite, about 3 minutes. Drain the green beans and rinse with cold water until they feel cool. Drain well.

Toss the green beans and the dressing together and let them marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes. Heat the remaining olive oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat until it shimmers. Add the prosciutto to the hot oil and cook until it “frizzles,” about 2 minutes. Add the prosciutto and the Gruyere. Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Serve at room temperature.

Recipe courtesy of The Culinary Institute of America Vegetables cookbook.

Jalapeno Jelly

3 Jalapenos

4 Bell Peppers

1 cup white vinegar

3 drops Green Food Coloring

5 Cups Sugar

1 box Liquid Pectin (2 pouches)

Instructions:

Remove the seeds from the Jalapenos and Bell Peppers. Mix Jalapenos, Peppers, vinegar, Food Coloring, and sugar in a blender. Bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 10 minutes. Add Pectin, boil all together hard for 1 minute. Put in bottles and process for 5 minutes. 1 batch makes 3 pints. Do not double the recipe.

Lemon Chicken Marinade

2/3 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup cider vinegar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tbsp soy sauce

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp chile powder

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Whisk together and add chicken to marinate.Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home - Picnics, Potlucks & Barbecues 2009 magazine

Homemade Cream Soda

1 cup Syrup Flavor (Vanilla, Cherry, Orange, Raspberry, Almond, Hazelnut or Caramel) (we used vanilla)

1/2 cup Half & Half

2 1/2 cups Club Soda

Ice (as needed)

Whipped cream (if desired)

Mix ingredients and serve over ice. Add a whipped cream garnish to make it more special! The syrups are about $5 at Orson Gygi.

Recipe courtesy of http://www.olivegarden.com/recipes/recipe_search/recipe_display.asp?id=81

Mint Lemonade

2 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups water

1 cup fresh orange juice (we used concentrate)

1 3/4 cups fresh lemon juice (we used juice from 8 lemons (for 1 cup) and lemon juice concentrate for the rest)

1 cup fresh mint leaves, firmly packed

Mix sugar and water in a saucepan and cook for 5 minutes; cool. Stir in orange and lemon juice and pour over mint leaves. Let stand for 1 hour, then strain into jar and refrigerate. Use 1/2 cup syrup for each glass. Fill with ice and water (or try mixing with sparkling water for some fizz).

(the first time I made it, I just combined the ingredients without heating them and it was still delicious!)

Recipe courtesy of Favorites cookbook

Hot Cranberry Drink

2 cups water

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 cinnamon sticks

1 quart cranberry juice

1 quart water

2 cups orange juice

2 tbsp lemon juice

Simmer water, sugar and cinnamon sticks for 10 minutes. Stir in rest of ingredients. Simmer, without boiling, for 30 minutes. Serves 12. Recipe courtesy of Favorites cookbook

Roasted Corn Salad

4 ears corn on cob with husks still attached

Salt, as needed

6 cups mesclun lettuce mix, rinsed and dried (we used romaine too)

3 red beefsteak tomatoes, sliced

2 avocados, cut into slices

1 medium red onion, sliced thin

1 cup small-diced aged Cheddar Cheese (we used Swiss)

3 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Cook corn on grill or in the oven. If in oven, preheat to 400. Roast the unhusked ears of corn until tender, about 45 minutes. Check their doneness after about 30 - 45 minutes; pull the husk partially away from the biggest ear. If you can pierce a kernel easily with a fork, it is done. Remove from the oven and cool.

Shuck the corn and cut the kernels from the cobs. Place corn kernels in a mixing bowl and toss with 1 tsp of the salt. Keep the corn at room temperature if you are making the salad right away, or cover and refrigerate for up to 12 hours. Prepare lettuce. Add tomatoes, avocados and onion. Sprinkle with cheese and corn. Season with salt and pepper.

Recipe courtesy of The Culinary Institute of America, Vegetables cookbook

Star Puffs

Cut a sheet of puff pastry with a star shaped cookie cutter. Arrange the stars on a parchment lined baking sheet; brush with olive oil and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and pepper. Bake at 400 degrees until puffed and crisp, about 15 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine

Mama’s Homemade Chili

Serves 6

½ pound ground beef

1 c. chopped yellow onion

1 c. chopped green pepper

2 cloves garlic

2 cans tomato soup

1 can rinsed red beans

1 ½ tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 can stewed tomatoes (chop tomatoes, keep liquid)

Sour cream and sliced green onions for garnish

In a Teflon coated pot, saute meat, onion, green pepper and garlic until meat is browned and veggies are tender, stirring occasionally to break up meat. Pour off fat.

Stir in tomato soup, beans, and it’s liquid.

Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread

1 1/4 cups flour

3/4 cup cornmeal

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cups whole milk

3/4 cups buttermilk

1/4 cup shortening

1 egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all the dry ingredients in medium bowl. Add the shortening and mix. Add the milk and egg and mix only until all the ingredients are well combined. Do not over mix. Pour the batter into a greased 8x8-inch pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Let cool slightly before slicing. Recipe courtesy of http://www.recipezaar.com/

Honey Butter

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup marshmallow cream

1/4 cup honey

Mix all together. Recipe courtesy of Heather’s mother-in-law

Fluffy New Potatoes

9 or 10 medium to large new potatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ cup sour cream

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1½ cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

1 tablespoon chopped chives

1 garlic clove, pressed

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse and dry the potatoes, then place them on a baking sheet. Drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes and massage to coat. And don’t get too attached—you know how this will end. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Set aside for 15 minutes. Place the sour cream, cream cheese, Monterey Jack, chives, garlic, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl.

Cut each potato in half lengthwise. With a spoon or melon baller, scoop out inside of the potatoes, leaving a very thin rim of potato inside the skin. Add the potato pulp to the mixing bowl with the other ingredients. Using a potato masher or fork, gently mash the ingredients together until fluffy and smooth.

(Regular twice-baked potatoes are more chunky and lumpy) Taste and adjust the seasoning—be sure to salt it adequately. Spoon the mixture back into the potato shells. Now, what I do at this point (unless it’s dinnertime already) is flash freeze the potatoes: I stick the pan in the freezer, uncovered, and allow them to harden on the outside for about twenty minutes or so. Then I simply throw them into a couple of large Ziploc bags, seal them tightly, and freeze them until I need them.

When you’re ready, bake the potatoes in a 375 degree oven until thoroughly warmed through. The potatoes will soften, “melt”, and fill the potato shells as they bake. Top with desired toppings.

Recipe courtesy of www.thepioneerw

Rolled Flank Steak

1 1/2 pounds flank steak

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, (1/2 cup)

4 scallions, sliced (1/3 cup) (we used 1/3 cup red onion)

2 ounces (1/4 cup) roasted red peppers, cut into thin strips

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

(We added 1/2 cup artichoke hearts)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees with rack in center. Between two sheets of plastic wrap, pound steak to 1/2-inch thickness with a meat mallet or heavy skillet. Using a sharp knife, score the steak on one side in a cross-hatched pattern. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and garlic. Marinate at least 20 minutes or up to overnight.

Remove steak from marinade. Lay steak on cutting board, scored side down, with a short end facing edge of work surface. Cover steak with cheese, scallions, and peppers, leaving 1/2-inch border on the long sides and 2-inch border at the far short end. Season with salt and pepper. Starting from closest side, roll up tightly. Using kitchen twine, tie steak crosswise. Season with salt and pepper.

Place, seam side down in a baking dish or on a rimmed baking sheet, and roast until juices run clear, 35 to 40 minutes for medium rare. Let rest 10 minutes, and remove string before slicing. Serves 4.

Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart.

Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake

1/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 extra-large eggs at room temperature

1/8 cup grated orange zest (2 large oranges)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 1 tablespoon

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

3 ounces buttermilk at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup good semisweet chocolate chunks

For the syrup:

1/4 cup sugar

1 /4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

For the ganache:

4 ounces good semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions

If you cook it in a bundt cake to cook it at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes. For mini molds, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 6 individual serving baking molds, such as the flexible non-stick 100 percent silicone molds. Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, then the orange zest.

Sift together 1 1/2 cups flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, combine the orange juice, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately in thirds to the creamed butter, beginning and ending with the flour. Toss the chocolate chunks with 1 tablespoon flour and add to the batter. Pour into the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 30 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the molds on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the syrup. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, cook the sugar with the orange juice until the sugar dissolves. Remove the cake from the pans, put them on a rack over a tray, and spoon the orange syrup over the cakes. Allow the cakes to cool completely. For the ganache, melt the chocolate, heavy cream, and coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over the top of the cakes.

Recipe courtesy of Barefoot Contessa

October 2009 - A Gathering of Ghouls! - Sunny & Stacie

Sunny & Stacie hosted our "Ghouls Night Out!". They went all-out on the decorating (as usual!) and it looked adorable. I don't think I've ever seen so much glitter for Halloween, and I loved it! The place-settings were fabulous, with these little pumpkins covered in glitter and our names in vinyl lettering. I wish photographs could do it justice, but unfortunately they just don't!

Here's just some of the decor...

(Super tasty & colorful appetizers)

Tangy Pepper-Pecan Brie:

- ½ cup pecan halves, coarsely chopped

- ¼ cup apricot preserves

- 1 jalapeno pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped

- 1 4” round (8 oz.) Brie cheese with rind, room temperature

- 1 loaf (16 oz.) French baguette

- Vegetable oil

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coarsely chop ¼ cup of the pecans using Food Chopper. In small bowl combine chopped pecans, apricot preserves and jalapeno; mix well.

2. Cut Brie in half horizontally. Place one half of Brie, cut side up, onto center of a large stone. Spread half of the sugar mixture evenly over bottom half of Brie. Top with remaining half of Brie, cut side up. Spread remaining sugar mixture over Brie.

3. Using a bread knife, cut baguette on a bias into 24 1/4” slices. Arrange baguette slices around Brie; spray with oil. Bake 8 – 10 minutes or until baguette slices are golden brown and Brie begins to soften. Remove from oven; let stand 5 min. before serving.

Crostini

Makes 30-35

- 1 baguette (6 ounces), cut diagonally into ¼-inch thick slices

- 2T. olive oil (I needed a bit more)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly brush each bread slice on both sides with olive oil. Place on a baking sheet; toast until light golden, 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Remove from oven, and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.

Avocado and Green Sauce Crostini

1 small garlic clove

¾ C packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, plus more for garnish

¾ C packed fresh basil leaves

¼ C plus 2T extra-virgin olive oil

1 ½ teaspoons red-wine vinegar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 Avocados, peeled and pitted

1T fresh lemon juice

Crostini

Place the garlic in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse. Add the parsley, basil, 5T olive oil, and vinegar, and season with salt and pepper; puree. (Can add 1T. of capers if you like.) Set the sauce aside.

Cut the avocados into ½ inch chunks. Toss with the lemon juice, and the remaining olive oil.

Spread the green sauce on each crostini. Arrange the avocado chunks on the bread, sprinkle with a pinch of ground pepper, drizzle with a little more sauce and garnish with the parsley. Serve immediately.

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

- 1 head of cauliflower

- 2 cups water

- 1 medium onion

- ½ tsp. salt

- Dash of ground nutmeg

- 1 T. lemon juice

- 2 T. flour

- 1 ¾ cups of broth (6-7 bouillon cubes)

- 1/8 tsp pepper

- ½ cup heavy whipping cream

- ½ cup Butter

1. Cut cauliflower into bite-size pieces.

2. Heat water to boiling in 3 qt. saucepan. Add flowerets, celery, lemon juice and onion. Cover and heat to boiling and reduce heat. Simmer for 10 minutes or until veggies are tender and drain. Set aside.

3. Melt butter in 4 qt. saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour. Cook constantly until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in broth. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly for 1 minute.

4. Stir in cauliflower mixture, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Heat to boiling. Stir in whipping cream just until hot and serve.

They made two different kinds of biscuits--pumpkin & buttermilk, served with cinneberry and orange-pecan butters. I'm totally going to have to steal this idea for a dinner party. The biscuits melted in your mouth. And the butters had just the perfect amount of flavor. Sunny also mentioned that the biscuits are great alternatives to rolls for Thanksgiving dinner (and you don't have to wait for them to rise!).

Pumpkin Angel Biscuits

***Use a light hand when working with this dough to ensure that the baked biscuits will be tender.

Makes about 24 biscuits. Prep time: 30- min. ₊ chilling. Baking time: 12 – 13 minutes.

- 2 ¼ tsp. active dry yeast, room temperature. (1 pkg.)

- ½ cup warm water (105 degrees – 115 degrees)

- 5 cups all purpose flour

- ¼ cup sugar

- 1 T. pumpkin-pie spice

- 1 tsp. baking powder

- 1 tsp. baking soda

- 1 tsp. table salt

- 1 stick cold, unsalted butter, cubed

- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree

- 1 cup buttermilk

- Melted, unsalted butter

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a small bowl; set aside.

Whisk together flour, sugar, pumpkin-pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the 1 stick cubed butter into the dry ingredients until butter pieces are the size of peas.

Stir together pumpkin puree and buttermilk; add to the flour mixture along with the yeast mixture. Stir just until ingredients are moistened. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough lightly 4-5 times to incorporate the flour.

Roll dough to a thickness of ½ inch. Cut dough with a 2-inch floured cutter to form 12 biscuits. Place biscuits in one of the prepared pans. Gather remaining dough scraps, then gently roll out dough again. Cut 12 more biscuits and place in second pan.

Brush tops of biscuits with melted butter. Bake biscuits until lightly golden, 12 – 13 minutes.

Turn biscuits out of pans and serve warm.

Make-Ahead Directions:

This dough will keep for 2 – 3 days stored in the refrigerator. You even can cut the dough into rounds and place the rounds into the prepared pans. Cover biscuits and chill them up to 1 day before baking as directed.

Buttermilk Biscuit Option:

You can replace the cup of canned pumpkin puree with an extra 1 cup of buttermilk. Omit the pumpkin-pie spice. No matter what version you choose to make, these biscuits taste fabulous as a base for mini leftover turkey sandwiches!

Cinnaberry Butter:

Combine 1 stick unsalted butter (softened), 2 Tbsp. chopped dried cranberries, 2 tsp. sugar, ½ tsp. ground cinnamon, and ½ tsp. kosher salt in a bowl. Scoop mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap; roll wrap around butter to form a log. Twist ends of plastic wrap tightly to seal. Chill log in the refrigerator until butter is firm. Store butter, sealed, up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or freezer.

Orange-Pecan Butter:

Combine 1 stick unsalted butter (softened), 2 Tbsp. chopped toasted pecans, 1 tsp. honey, 1 tsp. minced orange zest, ½ tsp. kosher salt in a bowl. Scoop mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap; roll wrap around butter to form a log. Twist ends of plastic wrap tightly to seal. Chill log in the refrigerator until butter is firm. Store butter, sealed, up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or freezer.

This is a recipe from Stacie's grandmother (who is German). I'm seriously in love with this salad. It had the most amazing flavor! I agree with Sunny who said that it just looks like an ordinary salad, but tastes anything but ordinary!

German Family Salad

- 2 bunches of Romaine lettuce, chopped

- 1 large Gala apple cubed

- 1 ½ avocado cut up

- Caesar or Garlic croutons

- Pine nuts

Dressing for German Salad:

o ½ cup olive oil

o 1/3 cup rice vinegar

o 2 T sugar

o 2 cloves garlic

o About ½ - 1 Tablespoon of “Season All” salt. (I use 1 + even a little more. It’s what makes it.)

o Pepper to taste

Brisket:

- 1 well-trimmed 5-6 lb. whole boneless brisket

- 1 cup dry sherry

- ¾ cup soy sauce

- 1 6 oz. pineapple juice (Dole makes this size)

- 1/3 cup brown sugar

- 1/3 cup chopped onion

- 1 tsp. ground ginger

- 1 tsp. Knorr Swiss Aromat seasoning

- ½ tsp. garlic powder

- ½ tsp. lemon pepper

Soak overnight with the fat side up. Bake uncovered @ 300°F for 4-5 hours.

Sweet Potato Pie

(tastes like candy! :)

- 4 cooked yams

- ¼ cup milk

- ½ cup Butter

- 2 eggs

- 1 cup sugar

Bake yams and mash. Mix ingredients and pour into pan.

Sweet Potato Pie Topping:

o 1 ½ cup Butter

o ¾ cup flour

o 1 ½ cup sugar

o 3 eggs

o 24 oz. of canned crushed pineapple, well drained

Cream butter, sugar and flour. Beat in egg and then stir in pineapple. Spoon over yams. Bake at 350°F and cook until slightly browned; about 30 minutes.

Green Beans with Honey Cashew Sauce

1 lb fresh green beans
1 ½ to 2 T. butter

½ cup coarsely chopped cashews
2 T. honey

Steam green beans until just tender. Drain and set aside in saucepan. In a small skillet, sauté cashews in butter over low heat for 5 minutes. Add honey and cook 1 minute longer, stirring constantly. (I sautéed on medium heat until the cashews were golden and the sauce was frothy.) Pour sauce over beans and toss until coated.

Divine Chocolate Cake (...and it was DIVINE!)

- 1 Devil’s food cake mix

- 1 cup sour cream

- ½ cup vegetable oil

- ½ cup water

- 4 large eggs

- 1 ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients except the chocolate chips. Lightly spray Bundt pan with Pam and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cook at 350°F for 50 – 55 minutes. Cool in pan for 15 minutes and turn over.

Frosting for Divine Chocolate Cake:

o 1 cup white sugar

o 5 T. butter

o 1/3 cup whole milk

o 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Boil sugar, butter and milk. Take off heat and pour chips in to melt.

Orange Almond Wassail

*This wassail had such an amazing flavor. It's such a perfect drink for the holiday season. Sunny said the key is the almond extract. I've never had almond extract in wassail before. She said she added even more than the recipe called for, and will add even more next time, so use a heavy hand with the almond extract for a little more tastiness!

Makes 12, 6-oz. servings

- 2 cups water

- 1 cup sugar

- 1 large cinnamon stick

- ½ tsp. whole cloves

Boil and then simmer for 30 minutes. Then add:

- 6 cups water

- 1 6 oz. frozen orange juice

- Juice of 1 lemon

- ½ tsp. almond extract

Pour into crockpot and keep warm

Orange Blossom Punch

- 3 cups orange juice

- 1, 10 oz. can of peach or strawberry daiquiri mix.

- 2 cups cold water

Mix all three together with Ginger Ale.

The take-home gifts were an adorable feather-covered black cauldren and these yummy cake-pops. They were more than just pretty to look at, they were delicious. I was wishing my husband had never laid eyes on it, because it disappeared way too quickly when I had to share it with him! My mouth is watering just thinking about them. And they looked so cute presented on a cupcake stand. I'm loving the idea for a baby shower or birthday party.
Cake Pops

Bake a regular cake-mix cake in a 9x13 pan. After it is cooled, crumble it in a bowl and mix it with about ½ tub of cream cheese frosting. Form cake and frosting into golf ball size balls and arrange on a cookie sheet. Freeze for about 3+hours. Pull out of freezer and let defrost about 10 minutes. Use cookie cutter to form into desired shape (options are endless here). Dip in chocolate and insert sucker stick. Let dry on stick on a floral-Styrofoam block. Decorate as desired before the chocolate melts.

Hope you can enjoy some of these fun ideas for the upcoming holidays!
Thanks, Sunny & Stacie for all the amazing ideas!