Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Over the years my husband and my two sons have always given me honest input regarding any food that I have prepared. A very long time ago, it is now decades, Cranorange Coffee Cake (click on link for recipe card) became our favorite dessert after our Christmas dinner. I had acquired two recipes for this moisty, flavorful, colorful cake. One recipe used Cran/Orange Relish and the other recipe used Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce.

I have learned that the best time to purchase the Cran/Orange Relish is during the month of November. Grocery stores do not stock a large inventory. However, if this particular item is not located, there is always Plan B. Use the Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce with an addition of 2 tsp. of Orange Extract stirred in before using.

Currently, the cake that we will enjoy on Christmas Day is baking in my oven. After cooling, it will be wrapped in heavy-duty foil and placed in the freezer. This scrumptious cake is moister if it has been frozen and defrosted before serving. After defrosting tomorrow night, the almond flavored icing will be drizzled on top.

A slice of Cranorange Coffee Cake will be enjoyed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. This is also a delicious cake to serve to your guests on New Year’s Day!

Yummy!
Enjoy the holidays!

Snickerdoodles

The bottom of my family’s cookie container is reached quickly whenever our container is filled with Snickerdoodles. (Click on link for recipe.) This yummy cookie with a cinnamon topping is mouth-watering! One batch yields about 3 dozen scrumptious treats. Snickerdoodles are a great dessert to place on a Christmas/Holiday buffet dessert table.

Bake these cookies a day or two before you plan to share them, because they do not freeze well. Consider baking an extra batch for your family to enjoy! Otherwise, place the baked cookies in a spot where family members will not find them easily. Once they are located the cookies will be devoured and enjoyed!

Snickerdoodles can also be a gift from your kitchen mailed (click on links for hints) to a family member/friend that lives a distance from you. These homemade treats are easy to make and taste absolutely delicious!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

A Gift of Homemade Cookies

After enjoying an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with my family, December suddenly arrived. Celebrating the holidays is a wonderful time of the year and it does require preparation. You and I both are deciding on the special gifts to choose for family members and friends.

For special people who live a distance away an excellent gift is a batch of your homemade cookies (made from scratch not using a mix), packaging them and mailing the goodies. For different special occasions I have baked Craisin Raisin Oaties, Sour Cream Sugar Cookies or Chocolate Chip Cookies and mailed the homemade cookies to the thrilled recipients. (Click on bolded words for recipes and packaging instructions.)

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are absolutely delicious! Cookie cutters are used after the dough is rolled out. My family has never tasted a better sugar cookie! The baked and cooled cookies can also be placed in the freezer for your family to enjoy later.

Soft, delicious, chewy homemade cookies! Craisin Raisin Oaties, Sour Cream Sugar Cookies or Chocolate Chip Cookies all are yummy! They always hit the spot for any occasion and they can be packaged and mailed to a delighted family member or friend to enjoy!

Yummy!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the past few days my oven has been used daily. Quick Breads such as Butternut Squash Bread and Apple Bread have been baked, cooled, wrapped and placed in my freezer ready to be defrosted and eaten during this holiday weekend. Today, pies were prepared. While the Butternut Squash Custard Pie was cooling, the Cherry Pie found its place on the oven shelf. Mincemeat Pie followed. Tomorrow, the Cranberry Breads will be baked.

On Thanksgiving Day it is a tradition in my family, as in your family, to enjoy certain favorite foods along with delicious Roasted Turkey with Stuffing/Gravy, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Butternut Squash and Cranberry Sauce. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families/friends!

JG

Raisin Rice Krispies Bars

Whenever these easy and quick to make favorites are found in our fridge, they disappear swiftly. Raisins are a great addition to a Rice Krispies Bar! It’s all about the raisins! Over the years I have learned that doing a little prep work before starting to make the Raisin Rice Krispies Bars is very useful.

I use a glass baking dish (about 9” x 15”) and spray it lightly with PAM. Wipe off the excess PAM with a paper towel. The required ingredients need to be ready to use. Making Raisin Rice Krispies Bars requires working quickly.

After measuring out all of the ingredients and before lightly pressing the mixture in the glass dish with the bottom of the measuring cup, place a pinch of margarine on the underside (bottom) of the measuring cup. Spread it lightly with a paper towel or piece of crumpled wax paper. This allows for easy non-stick pressing of the mixture in the baking dish.

Method:

1. In a 6 qt. pot (large pot) melt 4 TBS. Margarine over Low Heat.
2. Add in 4 Cups Miniature Marshmallows stirring until melted.
3. Turn off heat.
4. Add in 3 Cups Rice Krispies Cereal and stir.
5. 1 Cup Raisins are added.
6. Then, add 2 ½ Cups more Rice Krispies Cereal and stir.
7. Place mixture (will be sticky) in the baking dish and press lightly.
8. Cover top of baking dish with Glad Wrap and refrigerate for an hour.
9. Cut into bars and place in a covered container to store in fridge.

Yummy!! It is all about the raisins!! :-)

For more of my family favorite recipes check out my A Tasty Thought website.

Enjoy!!!

JG

The “Sharp” Shopper

Currently, it is about one and one-half weeks before Thanksgiving! While browsing through the grocery store sales flyers, advertised specials are spotted. This is a great opportunity to purchase the baking staples that will be used in the next few weeks for preparing food for the holidays. The brands and sizes that I use of Flour, Sugar, Chocolate Chip Morsels, Light/Fat Free Chicken Broth, Spices, and Evaporated Milk will be on sale. Yes, I also clip, save and use coupons. Do you? How sweet to use a coupon on an advertised special!

Happy Shopping and Happy Cooking!

No Time to Make a Crust for an Apple Pie?

No problem! Apple Crisp (click on link) does not require a pie crust! It is easy to prepare. Plumped Raisins & Craisins are mixed in with the apple slices before the oat/cinnamon topping is added. While this delicious dessert is baking in your oven the aroma of apples and cinnamon will flow from your kitchen. We enjoy warm or cold Apple Crisp with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. This scrumptious easy to prepare dessert has been a family favorite for many years.

Have you baked Apple Crisp this fall?

Yummy!