I love this time of year! So much family, so many friends, and they all love to eat. I’m sharing a couple of last minute-yes, that’s all we have time for, recipes this week, then I’m off to the shops. I have to finish my shopping.
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup eggnog
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large egg yolks
Directions: Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients together. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until it resembles a grainy paste. Add eggnog, vanilla and egg yolks and beat at medium speed until smooth. Add the flour mixture and beat at low speed until blended. Do not over mix. Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Sprinkle lightly with additional nutmeg. Bake for 23-25 minutes or until bottoms turn light brown. Transfer from pans immediately to cool. This makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 minced onion
1 tablespoon chopped green olives with pimento
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
1 pound shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Directions: Combine cream cheese, garlic, onion, Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce. Blend well. Add Cheddar cheese. Shape the mixture into balls or logs. Wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in the freezer. While the balls are in the freezer, combine the ground pecans and parsley in a shallow bowl. Remove the balls from the freezer and roll them in the pecan and parsley mixture. You can use onion powder and garlic powder if you would like (some don’t like to get a piece of onion or garlic). The green olives add that red and green color for the holidays and great flavor. Great for a Christmas Eve party.
1-12 oz pkg of chocolate chips
1 / 4 cup heavy cream – (I have used half and half with great success)
Flavored oils or extracts
Directions: Using a double boiler, melt chocolate chips, blending in cream, add flavors of your choice-a couple of drops of orange, or raspberry oil, or 1/ 2 teaspoon of orange extract, vanilla extract-taste as you go! Chill for a couple of hours. Using a melon baller or teaspoon, roll into small balls-roll balls into cocoa powder, chocolate jimmies, sprinkles or nuts- chill-keep in covered container in refrigerator -yum! These are one of my favorites-great for those last minute hostess gifts, or for your guests at the Christmas Eve party.
Have a great week! I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you with any suggestions or recipes you like. I can be reached at susieqcooking@ainop.com or c/o Pioneer Times, PO Box 456, Houlton, Maine 04730.
See you next week! Susie Q.
