DECEMBER!!!! It is here - 24 days and counting!!!!! Oh my!
Today, just a couple fun things to make for either yourself or for gifts. All are yummy and pretty easy! Doesn't get much better than that.
Just a SIDE NOTE: I am going to post a fun tidbit on each December post. It may be a fun fact or a fun memory! Just a little something extra at the end. ENJOY!
I used to buy this at the Amish store and it is expensive. Back when I bought it (many years ago), it was about $7 a pint. Give it a try - you won't be disappointed!
You can add food color to make them festive or you can top each bite with a pecan piece or a candied cherry if desired. Just plain with a glass of milk is super tasty too!!!!!!!
I will share fun stuff to make and eat and gift over the next few weeks. It is always nice to do some fun things around the holidays. Easy - makes it even better!
You never know I may even do some extra posts this month on unscheduled days!!!! Tis the season!
ENJOY the goodies!
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
Calvin Coolidge
YES 365 days a year!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for the recipes! These are great ideas for gifts. I saw the other day a gal made some minestrone soup out of stuff she already had and put it in jars, bought some nice bread loafs at the store and delivered a big jar of soup and a loaf of bread for neighbors, she thought it would be nice for people who had been rushing around all day.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for these great gift ideas, I'm going to try to do that butter modified with stevia. : )
Just read your story of events from yesterday...Oh wow. Yes, mama said there would be days like that! Thanking the Lord that He was with you every step. That person that told you to call the fire department...Oh. My. Goodness. Crazy! And the firetruck came with sirens! You dear me! You poor thing! I've had things like that and I know we all have...These companies need to get their act together right?
Have a sweet day, I look forward to your Christmas tidbits!
Oh it was one stressful day (or 2) but I have to laugh now. I wanted to crawl in hole when the firetruck came!!!!!! LOL
DeleteThey were so nice and he didn't blame me!
You are welcome.
I am putting together some dry jar recipes today (soup) and seasoning salt for my baskets. I am here, might as well get jiggy with it!!!!!!
Enjoy!
The Amish peanut butter looks good! We do a similar thing but make an individual serving.
ReplyDeleteIt is WONDERFUL!!!!!!! Truly it is!
DeleteYou might think this is just horrible but I always ask for plain old butter at Texas Roadhouse. But, the cinnamon butter is delicious spread on halved leftover rolls and run under the broiler to toast them.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has different tastes - not weird. I can understand not wanting the sweet with dinner.
DeleteYep - great on toast or toasted bagels and yes on rolls heated under broiler. I'm getting hungry!!!!!! LOL
Thank you for the recipes, Cheryl. And I love that idea of soup and bread, Amelia.
ReplyDeleteI can't tout Cake Mix cookies enough. They're so simple and versatile. For those of us unable to be on our feet for long baking sessions, they're a lifesaver. Just use a box of ANY flavor cake mix, combine with 1/2 cup oil and 2 lightly beaten, large eggs. Add any stir ins you desire. So many possibilities! 10-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Stir in 2 packets of brown sugar maple instant oats to yellow or white cake mix and (if you choose) chopped pecans or walnuts for cookies that are a hit. Any flavored instant oatmeal will work as well.
Devil's food cake mix with chopped walnuts and white chocolate chips are delicious! You could use regular chocolate chips, too. Have some candied cherries? Chop up those and add to the dry mix for Black Forest cookies.
Got Spice cake mix? Use 1/4 cup oil, 1/2 of a 15 oz. can of pureed pumpkin and the eggs; use a coffee mug or drinking glass to slightly flatten the scooped dough before baking. Pumpkin Spice cookies!
Use white or yellow cake mix for Peanut Butter cookies, stirring in about 1/3 peanut butter into the dough. Use a fork to press down the dough, sprinkle with a little granulated sugar and bake.
Christmas Trash cookies are fun and use up bits of extras in your kitchen. Stir in pretzel bits, chopped up leftover Halloween candy, nuts, candy sprinkles... whatever!
Lemon Creme cookies are delicious using a lemon cake mix with a little fresh lemon zest. Drizzle the baked, cooled cookies with a bit of powdered sugar/water glaze.
Dark Chocolate (or fudge) cake mix makes an awesome chocolate snowball cookie batch; just roll the scoops of dough in powdered sugar twice before baking.
Here's a link to more ideas: https://thefrugalgirls.com/cake-mix-cookie-recipes Just copy and paste into your browser.
Have FUN in your kitchen this month, everyone! --Elise
P.S. For those on GF diets, GF cake mix works, too. Ditto sugar free cake mix. You might have to play with the basic recipe, depending on brand.
THANK YOU! So many ideas. I don't usually have cake mix around much - but may have to watch the sales. These are all quite inventive and sound so yummy! Love that they can be GF or sugar free.
DeleteThanks again.
I love reading recipes from the US of A, because so many ingredients are just not available here. It's a glimpse into a whole other world.
ReplyDeleteMost of these have pretty basic ingredients except maybe the marshmallow creme. Are there ingredients listed here that you do not have available? Just curious! I like learning as well. We may have to adjust recipes for our over the water friends.
DeleteYellow cake mix, white cake mix, canned pureed pumpkin and light corn syrup are all alien to me! I think we can get marshmallow creme, it comes as marshmallow fluff, but I have never bought it, it sounds sickly sweet to me. It also makes me smile whenever a recipe has canned broth (stock to us) in it, we'd just use a stock cube. But I suppose you'd be baffled by black peas, black puddings and chip butties.
DeleteWow, I didn't realize that you would not have cake mixes - I thought that was universal. Corn syrup can be light or dark and is used in many candies. No pumpkin puree? Guess that must be a very American thing. I didn't realize.
DeleteYes, marshmallow fluff/creme is super sweet - but mixed with other ingredients it works.
We can get cubes of seasoned stock meat flavor - but until you have had homemade stock/broth - you haven't enjoyed it!!! It can be purchase in cans as well - but homemade is really wonderful.
We have black eyed peas. I wouldn't be opposed to black peas - I like black beans. Hmmm black pudding - nope never heard of that. Chip butties - is that like chocolate chips here?
I love hearing all the different names for things and the variety that other countries have
Yummy and on homemade rolls, heavenly.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!!!!!! Mouth watering
DeleteI love chocolate dipped pretzels. They are always on the Christmas list.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
They are so tasty. Love the sweet & salty flavor
DeleteI'm so glad that I'm finished with dinner!! All these recipes sound delicious and I would've wanted cake and cookies for dinner instead of my soup and bread!! I love those cake mix lemon cookies that Elise mentioned. The Girl Scouts used to have a lemon cream that I adored.
ReplyDeleteI can confirm that soup and bread is a fantastic gift. I took some to my aunt and uncle one Christmas. And an an apple pie. My aunt said that was her favorite gift ever because she didn't have to cook. I was also the recipient of such a gift from my neighbor on a cold rainy day after church. She saw us pull in and brought us a pot of the most delicious creamy potato soup. Perfect!
I wanted to tell Su that the US is so big that there are things I've never heard of! When I lived in Los Angeles, I knew someone from New Jersey and she was always talking about things I didn't know. The Fluffernutter!! I had no idea! Then she brought me one and I was horrified that someone would eat that!!! For those that don't know, it's a peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwich. Yuk! Whoopie Pies was another. And someone once asked me if I wanted a piece of cheese melted onto my slice of apple pie! Ive learned more here in Kansas, as well. Bierocks are ground beef and cooked cabbage hand pies. Delicious! And chili and cinnamon rolls served together is super popular. And grits are often served as a side with breakfast.
None of this was normal to me in Southern California. There's always something to learn!
Today I learned that candy bars regularly cost $1.89 and my eyes bugged out lol! When did that happen?! I thought they were still 79¢.
We will have to agree to disagree on Fluffernutter! I have had Whoopie pies as well - not bad. NOW, don't you put anything cinnamon close to my chili! Some like it in their chili (Cincinnati chili)- yuk. We were served peanut butter sandwiches on chili day in school. I have never been a fan of grits. I do like fried sliced polenta.
DeleteThere are just so many different foods per region. It is pretty neat to hear about them.
When at WM they first of the week I did buy a Milky Way for .99. Most others were well over a dollar. Crazy!
I'm a NEPA gal and former Jersey gal and the differences in food just a border away are wild. A sloppy joe in PA is a hamburger BBQ. In NJ it's adding coleslaw to your sub in a Deli! In NJ it's a sub. In PA it's a hoagie. Both states eat fluffernutter! In NJ I'd use a cake mix and people would say wow you baked? In PA they call that cheating. LOL. love all the foods. Love this site as well.
Delete-Jackie
NEAT! I do sloppy Joe and it is hamburger with a sweet and tangy sauce served as a sandwich. I do subs and hoagies - I think of them as different. A sub is about anything and everything put on a long bun. A hoagie to me is meat/cheese and pepper and onions (all hot) on a harder type long bun.
DeleteCake mix? Some may call it cheating - some may call it smart! LOL
This is fun - I love learning new things.
Glad you are here!!!!!!!!
When my niece was on a road trip in the south, she sent us a picture of Great Value alligator tenders for sale at the Walmart they shopped at. USA is quite diverse.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to EM. How wonderful that you had a GOOD MIL. Me too. I know I will miss her when she's gone. She's been a great support to me.
I've looked at interest at the cake mix cookies, but now that I see they can be GF, I'm jazzed. I'm definitely researching that site.
Chickadee #1 broke her wrist this week. But I think we could still do the pretzels as a project for them. #2 chickadee has been a huge fan of Amish peanut butter spread since I got the recipe here. I think even kids get tired of plain old peanut butter.
To have 20/20 vision would be amazing.
Ellie
Central Az
Alligator tenders - hmmm, there's one thing I have never tried! I have tried a few really out there things and found them tasty. Prolly tastes like chicken!!!!!!!! LOL
DeleteI have read that cake mix portion well too. I looked today, and I only have one cake mix - may have to remedy that.
Oh poor baby - hope she mends well and quickly. I am a huge fan of Amish PB as well. Plain old peanut butter can not compare!
My close up vision is not great - need the glasses there - but never in my life would I have ever thought I could have 20/20 for distance. It is sure something. A treasured gift for sure.
You are more than welcome. This is a very difficult time of the year for lots of people. Whether it be spouses, parents, children, or friends - we have all lost someone we miss so very much. Yes, someday - together again! Until then, we need to keep them in our hearts and thoughts and live in a way to honor them.
ReplyDeleteHon, I appreciate the comment about strength and courage - but oh my, do I ever have my days and moments. Some days are so very hard - but I have to go forward. I can almost hear him saying that!!!!!!
You all give me so much strength - this little blog gives me a purpose. I so appreciate your kind words.
I lift you in prayer that you get some peace this season and that you can smile with a loving smile - he is watching over you.
Blessings
great recipes we will all need this season! Sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vickie. ENJOY
DeleteI like all your recipes. Makes my mouth water!
ReplyDeleteThanks - they are yummy!
DeleteI kept waiting for the fire to break out!
ReplyDelete??? not sure what this means
DeleteOh wow, these look so great, Cheryl. I definitely need to make a couple of them for Christmas. I wanted to say thank you for your sweet comments on our Beaux Gatsby who passed away. It meant a lot to me. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday. 😊
ReplyDeleteThey are all so good. I hope you try a couple.
DeleteIt is just so stinking hard to lose a fur baby. We love them so much! Hugs.
I have been in the throes of moving and not commented for awhile. When young, I loved moving because each change denoted progress and new adventures-- Going away to school, marriage, husband's first professional job with our first real money, a bigger house to accommodate a new baby, etc. Boy has the world changed! In my 70's now, everything that could go wrong, did. Now it seems every thing is a BFD: a big fricking deal! Everyone has their hand out for $, $, $ when they know you cannot do things for yourself. So. . . wanted you to know that it feels so good to return to Blogs and friendly voices, helpful advice, and kinship. Thank you for being there for us all.
ReplyDelete