December 31: Egg Rolls

New Year's Eve! In celebrating this day, we often have Chinese food so I am sharing my favorite egg roll recipe.

2 lbs ground pork
3 1/2 c diced carrots
4 c shredded cabbage
3 c diced mushrooms
3 c diced celery
1 medium diced onion
4 1/2 c bean sprouts
60 lumpia wrappers
2 or more TB soy sauce

Cook in order of ingredients. Brown pork. Drain fat from pork before adding vegetables. Add carrots, cook 3 minutes. Add celery and onions, cook 3 more minutes. Add cabbage and mushrooms, cook 3 more minutes. Add bean sprouts and soy sauce. Cook 1 minute. Spoon 1 TB mixture into each wrapper (follow directions on package of lumpia to fold.) Deep-fry 4 to 6 minutes til golden brown and heated all the way through. 

Serve with sweet and sour sauce.

December 30: Cream Cheese Appetizer

Are you preparing for New Year's eve parties? Try this recipe my sister Robyn gave me.

8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 jar jalapeno jelly


Place cream cheese on plate. Spoon jelly over cream cheese. Serve with Wheat Thins or Club Crackers.


Variation:
Use cocktail sauce instead of jelly and put imitation Krab on top.

December 29: Brown Sugar Muffins

Love these muffins. Thanks Becky for the recipe.

½ c butter 

1 c brown sugar 

1 egg

1 c milk

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp soda

2 c flour

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg. Add other ingredients alternating flour with milk. Mix. Bake in muffin tins at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

December 28: Quiche

From the kitchen of my friend, Liz comes this wonderful recipe.

1 unbaked 9” pastry shell

8 slices bacon, fried, crumbled, spread in bottom of pastry shell

Onion and parsley, opt. spread over bacon

2 c. grated Swiss cheese

4 beaten eggs, mixed with 1 can evaporated milk, salt and pepper to taste

Pour over cheese.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until done. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Variation:

Use Cheddar cheese instead of Swiss cheese and add a layer or two of fresh spinach. Or omit the bacon for a vegetarian dish. 

December 27: Quick and Easy Breadsticks

From my favorite food blog "Jamie Cooks it Up"

1 1/2 c warm water
2 TB sugar
1 TB yeast 
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2-4 c flour
1/4 c butter 
3/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
Johnny's Garlic Seasoning


Mix the water, sugar and yeast together in a measuring cup or in the bottom of your mixer. Let it set for 5 minutes. Add the salt and the flour, one cup at a time, until it is well incorporated. Mix on high for 5 minutes. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes. Melt the butter and pour half of it into a jelly roll pan. Place the dough in the center of the pan. Let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes. Letting the dough rest makes it much easier to shape.Spread the dough out flat onto the pan until it reaches all of the edges. Pour the other half of the butter onto the dough. Spread it around with your hands. Sprinkle Johnny's Garlic Seasoning over the dough and then the Parmesan cheese. With a pizza cutter cut the dough into three rows lengthwise, and then into about 12 rows the other way. Put the pan into a 170 degree oven for about 7-10 minutes. The bread sticks should rise about 1 inch. Turn the oven up to 350 and bake for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown. When they come out of the oven let them sit and rest again for about 5 minutes. Then redefine the cutting lines with a pizza cutter. 

December 26: Cranberry Jello

Another recipe from Brenda, my friend in Boise.

8 oz crushed pineapple
6 oz raspberry jello
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 c chopped nuts
16 oz whole cranberry sauce
1 c whipping cream, whipped
Drain pineapple. Save liquid. Add water to make 2 cups. Bring liquid to boil and use to dissolve gelatin. Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add to cooled jello. Fold in whipped cream. Add cranberry sauce, pineapple and nuts. Let set.
Topping:
1 c pineapple
2 TB flour
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
8 oz Cool Whip
nuts, to taste

Boil all but Cool Whip until thick, stirring constantly. Cool, then fold in Cool Whip. Spread on top of salad, sprinkle with nuts.

December 25: Easy Monkey Bread

This is my version of monkey bread. This is so fast and easy and I like to serve it with Christmas morning casserole. 

1 can refrigerator grand biscuit dough
1 cube butter
1 cup cinnamon sugar mixture

Spray a large bread pan with cooking spray. Melt butter. Cut each biscuit into fourths. Dip each biscuit piece into butter, cinnamon sugar mixture and pile in bread pan. Pour any remaining butter on top and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake in a 350 oven for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through.

December 24: Christmas Morning Casserole

I am sharing our families favorite Christmas morning meal. I hope you enjoy it.  It needs to be prepared Christmas eve.

2 lbs sausage links
3 slices white bread
2 1/4 c milk
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard, opt
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
10 eggs

On Christmas Eve,  brown sausage, drain;  then cut into bite-size pieces. Cut bread into cubes and place in bottom of 9 x 13 baking pan. Layer sausage on bread. In a large bowl, combine milk, eggs, mustard and salt. Beat for 1 minutes. Stir in cheese. Pour over the bread and sausage layers. Cover with aluminum foil and place in refrigerator overnight. 

On Christmas morning, take casserole out of refrigerator and let stand for 30 minutes. Bake in 350 oven for 30-40 minutes.  

December 23: Sour Dough Pancakes

I love love love sour dough pancakes. You will need a sour dough start for this recipe.  I was at a cooking class at church and Inez shared this recipe with us. 

At night, mix with 1 cup sourdough start:
2 c flour
2 c milk
1 tsp salt
Leave out on kitchen counter.

In the morning:  Take out 1 cup start and put it in the fridge in air tight container.

Mix the rest with:
2 tsp baking soda, or
1 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
2 TB sugar
3 TB oil

Cook on hot griddle.

December 22: Whole Wheat Bread

Cooking with whole wheat has been a passion of mine. I have taken many classes on using whole wheat and have taught many classes also.

I have owned a Bosch mixer since I was 18 years old and have been making whole wheat bread since then. I like many different whole wheat bread recipes but one of my favorites is the Bosch recipe. Here it is. Hope you enjoy!

6 c very warm water

2 TB salt

2/3 c oil

2/3 c honey

2 TB instant yeast

2 TB Dough Enhancer

10-16 c ground wheat

In mixing bowl combine water, salt, oil, and honey. Then add the yeast. (Make sure the water is not too hot.) Add dough enhancer. Slowly add wheat and mix until dough pulls slightly away from the sides of the bowl. Knead until gluten is properly developed. (You will be able to stretch it without holes easily forming.)

8-12 minute in Bosch Standard or Universal. 12-18 min. in Bosch compact. 5 minutes before the dough is ready, add the Dough Enhancer. Shape into loaves on hard greased surface. Rise in 150 oven 15-20 minutes. Turn heat up to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

+++Make a batch at dinner time and use some of the dough in your meal, such as pizza, sopapillas, scones, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, or braided bread.

December 21: Veggie Pizza (An appetizer)

This fun, great for entertaining, yummy recipe comes from the 'Case Family Cookbook' I compiled many years ago. 

2 pkg crescent rolls
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 c mayonnaise
Grated Cheddar cheese
1/2-1 pkg Hidden Valley dressing mix
Cut up veggies: olives, carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers
(or any others you like)

Heat oven to 375. Unroll both cans of dough; separate dough into 4 long rectangles. In ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan, place dough; pressing bottom and up sides to form crust. 
Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. In small bowl, mix cream cheese, mayonnaise and Hidden valley dressing mix. Spread over crust. Top with vegetables. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate.

December 20: Orange Rolls

I love this recipe at Christmas time.

1 c. hot water or orange juice 
½ c. butter
½ c. sugar 
2 tsp. salt

2 Tb. yeast 
3 eggs, beaten
5 to 6 c. flour

Heat the water, sugar, butter, and salt in microwave 1 to 2 minutes. Mix 2 cups flour with yeast. Add liquid and eggs and rest of flour. Mix well and then knead for 5 minutes and refrigerate overnight. Roll into rectangle.

Spread with filling:

1/3 c sugar Grated orange rind (from 1 orange)

1/3 c butter

Roll up jelly roll style. Slice. Bake in greased cookie sheet at 350 for 12 minutes.

Glaze:

2c. powdered sugar Juice of 1 orange

Blend together (may not need all of the orange juice.)

Drizzle over war rolls on cooling rack.

December 19: Bran Muffins

My friend, Shellie, brought these muffins to work one day. They were delicious. I was happy to hear they had Zoom cereal in them. It is a whole wheat hot cereal that I grew up on. My dad use to call it "Zoom mush." I never really appreciated it then. I do now. I love it.

Measure:

2 cups Grapenuts

4 cups Zoom

Pour 2 cups boiling water over cereal and set aside.

Mix together:

2 ½ cups sugar

1 cup softened butter

4 beaten eggs

Add:

1 qt buttermilk

5 cups flour

5 tsp soda

2 tsp salt to above mixture.

Then add cereal mixture and mix well.

Put large spoonfuls in greased muffin tins and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Mixture can be stored in fridge up to 4 weeks.

It makes a lot.

December 18: Cream Cheese Mints

My dear friend, Neida, shared this recipe with me. They are divine. I know I am posting a lot of sugary treats. But it is Christmas time. 

Makes 8 dozen.

3 oz cream cheese, softened
1 TB butter
3 c confectioners' sugar
2 drops peppermint oil
Food coloring paste

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter and confectioners' sugar. Mix in peppermint oil. Color as desired with food coloring paste, or leave white. Roll mixture into small balls and place on waxed paper. Flatten wit a fork dipped in confectioners' sugar. Let dry for about 2 hours on waxed paper, then freeze or refrigerate.

If stored in airtight container, these can be frozen for a couple months. These can also be molded. 

December 17: Cranberry Glazed Chicken

This recipe sounds so good to me right now.  Maybe you have an extra can of cranberry sauce hanging around your pantry from Thanksgiving. This is an internet recipe.

1 pkg dry onion soup mix

1 can whole cranberry sauce

1 (8 oz) bottle Kraft French dressing

8 boneless chicken breasts, skinless

Mix onion soup, cranberry sauce and Kraft dressing. Pour over chicken breasts in 13x9 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, covered and uncovered 15 minutes. Serve over rice.

December 16: CHEX Muddy Buddies

I want to post this recipe  today because it is a great holiday snack and my family loves it.

9 c CHEX brand cereal

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 c peanut butter

1/4 c butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c powdered sugar

Pour cereal into large bowl, set aside. In 1-qt microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Microwave on HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth, stirring after 1 minute. Stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal. Stirring until all pieces are combined. Pour cereal mixture into a large resealable plastic bag with the powdered sugar. Seal securely and shake until all pieces are well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. 

December 15: Caramel

This is seriously the best caramel. My brother, Jon and his wife, Lorri, came up with this recipe. Good for apples, popcorn, or just plain.

1 c light Karo syrup
1/2 c butter
3/4 c brown sugar
3/4 c sugar
Dash salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Bring sugars, Karo syrup, butter and salt to boil. Add sweetened condensed milk. Bring to gradual boil. Cook until soft ball stage (240 degrees). Add baking soda and mix well.

December 14: Taco Salad

This recipe for Taco Salad is super simple and simply delicious. I have had this recipe for many years and cannot remember who gave it to me.

1 lb hamburger, browned and drained,

2 cans tomato soup

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 pkg Fritos

1/2 pkg taco seasoning mix

Lettuce, shredded

Tomatoes, diced

Cheese, shredded

dollop of sour cream

Mix meat with soup, beans, taco mix. Simmer. Add Fritos just before serving. Serve on bed of lettuce. Top with tomatoes, cheese, sour cream.

December 13: Hot Chocolate

Some evenings I just want to curl up with "Jane Eyre" (favorite book) or "The Christmas Card" ( favorite Christmas movie) with a cup of hot chocolate. When I was in 8th grade at Northwest Jr. High in Salt Lake City, I loved my homemaking class with Mrs. Arbogast. This recipe is from her class over 40 years ago. Hope you enjoy it this Christmas season!

1/4 c cocoa

1/2 c sugar

1 1/3 c water

2 2/3 c milk

1/4 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar and cocoa in top of double boiler. Add water and make a paste. Boil 5 minutes. Add milk and stir until blended and warmed through.

(You can do this in a saucepan over medium heat instead of a double boiler and just watch carefully that the milk does not scorch.)

December 12: Wedding Punch

December 12 was the day my parents were married. So it seems appropriate to share a recipe for wedding punch. It is great for holiday entertaining too. This recipe comes from the Boogert's who served this at one of their children's weddings and it is so yummy!

5 qt cold water

2 TB citric acid

2 TB lemon extract

2 c sugar

Mix together.

December 11: Kase Wahe- Traditional Cheese Pie

I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Southern California. The last area I served was in Solvang, CA. It was during Christmas time that I was there. It could not have been a more beautiful, picturesque place to be at this time of year. My companion, Sister Weeks, shared this recipe with me. I loved it. I always think of this recipe at Christmas. I am sharing a few photos of Solvang too.

Pie crust for one 9-inch pie

½ lb Swiss Cheese- grated

1 TB flour

3 eggs, well beaten

1 cup milk or cream

Salt and pepper, to taste

Line the pie plate with the pastry. Dredge the cheese with flour. Distribute the cheese evenly in pie plate. Beat eggs well, mix with milk. Season lightly and pour the mixture over the cheese. Bake 15 min in a 400 oven, then reduce heat to 300-325 and bake an additional 30 minutes. Serve immediately.