The Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes, Day 11: Simple Apple Crisp

I love apple crisp when the weather cools in the fall.  It makes a great comfort dessert all winter long, too, and I love to eat a warm bowl of crisp on a cold snowy day.  The smell of the apples and cinnamon make the house smell wonderful and homey.  With such an easy recipe, and all of the ingredients most likely already in your pantry, how can you not treat yourself?  Soooo good!

Day 11: Simple Apple Crisp

Ingredients:
1 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 C oatmeal
1 1/2 C sugar
2 TBSP cinnamon (or to taste)
1 tsp baking soda
1 C butter or margarine
2 cans of favorite apple pie filling

Directions:
Grease or butter sides and bottom of 9x13 pan.  Preheat oven to 350*.  In one bowl, empty cans of pie filling.  Add cinnamon and sugar to taste if desired, mix well and set aside.  In separate large bowl, melt butter.  Add flour, oatmeal, sugar, cinnamon, and baking soda, and mix until crumbly.  Pour apple filling into greased pan, and spoon crumbly mixture over top until apples are covered.  Bake at 350* for 40 mins. or until golden brown and center is bubbly.  Keep refrigerated.

Just one more day of The Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes!  Where has December gone?  

Luke 2:17-18: When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes, Day 10: Snickerdoodles

These are a great cookie all year 'round, not just at Christmas.  They are one of my husband's favorite cookies, and around Christmastime, I color granulated sugar with red and green food coloring for a festive embellishment.  This recipe can also be found at Food.com.

Day 10: Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.  Mix butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs thoroughly in a large bowl.  Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, tablespoon of cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl.  Blend dry ingredients into butter mixture.  Chill dough, and chill an ungreased cookie sheet for about 10-15 minutes in the fridge.  Meanwhile, mix 3 tablespoons sugar, and 3 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl (if you want colored sugar, add a few drops of green or red food coloring to the sugar mixture and mix until the color is evenly distributed).  Scoop 1 inch balls of dough into the sugar/ cinnamon mixture (use a cookie scoop, if you have one).  Coat by gently rolling balls of dough in the sugar mixture.  Place on chilled ungreased cookie sheet lined with parchment, and bake 10 minutes.  Cool on cookie sheet for two minutes, then remove.

Luke 2:16: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
 

Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes, Day 8: Chocolate Fudge

A common treat for us around Christmastime is chocolate fudge.  This is the Carnation fudge recipe, with a link at the end with more detailed instructions, which I found online (thank you YouTube and Alton Brown of Good Eats, whose explanation of fudgemaking changed my life).  This is a little different than regular fudge, but is still sooo tasty and very easy--with all of your ingredients measured out and ready to go, this will only take about 15 minutes to make!

Day 8: Carnation Chocolate Fudge

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C white sugar
2 TBSP Butter
2/3 C evaporated milk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 C mini marshmallows
Walnuts or pecans (optional)

Bring first 4 ingredients to a simmer over medium heat.  Simmer for 5 minutes (set a timer) and stir occasionally.  Turn off heat and remove from burner after 5 minutes.  Stir vanilla into hot mixture and combine.  Add marshmallows and chocolate chips, and stir until smooth.  Pour into an 8x8 or 9x9 pan lined with foil.  Tap against counter to settle and pop air bubbles.  Allow to sit on counter until chocolate stops steaming, then place plastic wrap over the top and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.  When ready to cut, use foil to lift chocolate out of pan and flip onto a cutting board.  Cut with a long sharp knife, and wipe blade with a wet towel between each cut.



To see the original post with step-by-step instructions and photos, click this link: Monday, August 20, 2012

Luke 2:13-14: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes, Day 3: 7-Layer Bars

I made these for the first time last Christmas.  I don't like coconut in recipes, so I didn't eat any, but my husband really liked these.  They are very rich and decadent--a great treat once a year.

Day 3: 7-Layer Bars

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 C butterscotch chips

1 C shredded coconut

1-1/2 C crumbled graham crackers (approx. 8 whole crackers)

1/2 C butter (I used unsalted butter)

1 C chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*F.  Place butter in 13x9 pan, and place in oven until butter is melted.  Swirl to coat bottom and sides with butter.  Spread crumbs evenly over bottom of pan.  Layer chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and nuts over crumbs.  Pour condensed milk over nuts.  Sprinkle coconut over condensed milk.  Bake 25 minutes or until edges are golden brown.  Let cool.

Luke 2: 6-7: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes, Day 2: Chicken Pot Pie--My Hubby's Favorite Recipe!

I have really been in the mood for comfort food lately.  I think it's a combination of the (constantly) changing weather, which wreaks havoc on my sinuses, and the shorter days that accompany this time of year.  I don't remember where I got this recipe for chicken pot pie, but I'm almost certain that it was online somewhere.  I've adjusted it to my tastes, and wanted to share it.  My husband says it his favorite recipe for pot pies.  You can't get much higher praise than that!  Here's the recipe, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do on cold, blustery nights!

Day 2: Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients:
1 lb. cooked boneless skinless chicken, cubed or chopped
1 C sliced carrots
1 C frozen peas
1 or 2 cubed potatoes
1/3 C butter
1/3 C flower
1 3/4 C chicken broth, + some for boiling
2/3 C milk
1 or 2-9" pie crusts (I use Pillsbury refrigerated pie crusts--it really has a good flavor for being pre-made)
Seasonings: chicken base (not bouillon cubes, there is a difference), garlic, oregano, paprika, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper--all to taste

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425*.  Lightly spray a pie pan or round 2 quart or larger casserole dish.  Prepare your chicken to your preference; I actually boil the chicken pieces whole in water mixed with chicken base.  When they are fully cooked, remove from the water and set on a cutting board to cool.  Cube or shred, and set aside.

 

Pour out the water in the pot, but keep the pot for the next step!  In the same pot add the carrots, peas, and potatoes.  Add enough chicken broth to cover things in the pot (hint: I pour my 1 3/4 C of broth into a measuring cup and set it aside, then add the remaining broth to the pot.  If it's not enough to cover the veggies, I just add enough water to cover everything).

Boil veggies for 15 minutes, then remove from heat.  Drain the veggies and set aside.  In the same pot again, melt your butter over medium heat.  Once it's melted, add your flour and spices.  Go light on the spices now; you can add more to make it great later.  Once those are combined and resembling a paste, add your chicken broth and milk.  Simmer this over medium-low heat until it's thickened to your liking.  Remove it from the heat.  Taste it and add more spices if necessary.  Mix the chicken, drained veggies, and gravy together in your casserole dish, and add the top crust.

Because my casserole dish is a bit smaller than the pie crust, I fold the extra over to create a thicker outer crust.

 

Be sure to cut slits in the crust for ventilation.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly.  Allow to sit and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Sometimes I like to have a top and bottom crust.  If you are making the pie with a bottom crust, bake the crust for 5-7 minutes in the pan before adding the filling.  It will help the bottom crust from getting soggy.  This is soooo good and filling on a cold winter's night!


Luke 2:4-5: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

The Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes-Day 1, Chocolate Covered Almonds

I decided to try something fun for between now and Christmas.  Introducing...the Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes!  Each day I'll post a recipe for something that I traditionally make around Christmastime.  It could be cookies, candies, or meals.  Or, it could be none of the above!  At the end of each post, I'll include a passage from Luke leading up to the birth of Christ.  Merry Christmas!

Day 1: Chocolate Covered Almonds
First, you'll need some basic ingredients:
1 16 oz. package of roasted, unsalted almonds
1 1/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips (I prefer Hershey's)
2 Tbsp shortening
1 1/2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (I prefer Hershey's)

First, melt your chocolate and shortening over low heat on the stove, stirring frequently to prevent burning.  Once melted, set aside to cool slightly.

Place two or three cooling racks on the counter and cover them with parchment paper. 

Pour your almonds in a medium-sized bowl.  Pour the cooled chocolate over the nuts, and stir until all of the nuts are coated.

Spread the nuts in a single layer across the parchment paper, and allow to set overnight.  You can place them in the fridge if you have room to help the process.

Lick the chocolate out of the bowl.  You've earned it.

The next day, break up the nuts into individual pieces or very small clusters.  Place them in a resealable bag.  Add to the bag 2 tbsp cocoa powder.

Shake the bag until all of the pieces are coated with powder.

Pour into a sealed container.  You have a delicious and somewhat healthy treat! 

Luke 2: 1-3: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to their own town to register.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Holiday Baking

I've begun my holiday baking again for this year.  (Look out, Mom, I'm bringing some with me!)  So far, I've made chocolate no-bakes, chocolate fudge, 7 layer bars (hubby loved these--I'll post the recipe soon), and a tweaked chocolate cookie to which I added peppermint extract and subbed M&Ms for the prescribed chocolate chips.  Not a bad experiment!  I still plan to make chocolate-covered pretzels and peanut blossoms, then give them all away.  I remember when I was young, my mother would spend days baking all sorts of delicious Christmas cookies, because she and the other neighborhood women would all exchange cookies.  No one seems to do that anymore.  Everyone is diet-crazed and acts like Christmas cookies are a disease on a plate.  It makes me sad, because it was such a neat tradition, and an excuse to get together and visit with others around the holidays.  Wow, seems like those days are looong gone.  I think I'm getting more nostalgic as time goes by.  Does this mean I'm an old woman already in an early 30s body??

Beautiful Snow

It seems as though winter has finally arrived here in Ohio.  As I type, snow is falling softly and silently outside of our office window.  It's beautiful, and so peaceful.  We have had small amounts and dustings of snow all week.  I feel like I live inside of a snow globe!  There is something about the purity and silence of the snow that is so attractive.  A snow-covered farm landscape or cozy home seems like the perfect setting to me...the snow covers the dead brown grass and bare trees with a striking contrast of dark and light and seems to make everything clean.  How I long to live in the middle of the woods, in the middle of winter!  There would be nothing more peaceful and perfect as being curled up in front of a blazing fireplace with a quilt and my husband and watching the snow fall outside.  To me, that would be heaven!

Christmastime 

Can you believe that Christmas is two weeks from Saturday??  Where has the time gone?  I love this season, but it seems to go by so fast anymore.  We are done with our shopping for this year, except for one more gift to purchase.  It's nice to have that done, because now I can sit back and relax.  I am not one for crowds anyway, so I try to get Christmas shopping out of the way early so that I'm not fighting crowds at the stores.  This year I finished later than usual.  I did a decent amount of shopping online too, which is something I don't do very often.  I just found some really good ideas/prices online this year.  Now we are free to enjoy the holidays, which includes a few Christmas parties coming up.  Should be a fun time, especially with the snow that is being forecast for this weekend!

This time of year is the best time, in my opinion.  However, it's easy to lose sight of the real reason that we celebrate this time of year.  When we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we celebrate the real gift that God gave the world, and the ability to spend eternity with Him if we choose to do so.  So when the snow falls, and the presents are opened, I hope that everyone remembers the Gift that was given to wash away all of our sins and make us pure and worthy of a relationship with God: "...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)  Praise the Lord for the incredible gift He has given!  I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season, and that you carry it in your heart all year long!