Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes, Day 5: Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons

These are an easy little confection--quick to mix together, and about as simple as you can get.  My husband loved these, and hopefully you will too!

Day 5: Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons


Ingredients:
3 large egg whites
2/3 C sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 C dried shredded and sweetened coconut
3 oz. semisweet chocolate (approx. 1/2 cup)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350*.  Line one or two cookie sheets with parchment.  In a large bowl, whisk egg whites and sugar.  Add vanilla and coconut, and stir to combine.  Drop by level tablespoon onto cookie sheet, about 1" apart, and bake for 15-18 minutes (until tops turn light brown).  Put cookies on rack to cool for 30 minutes.  Place in fridge to chill.

Melt chocolate over double boiler over low-medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning.  Take each cookie and dip tops in melted chocolate, and return to cold cookie sheet.  Place dipped cookies into freezer until chocolate sets, about 20 minutes.  Store cookies in the fridge in an airtight container.

Frosty morning!

Luke 2:9-"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified."

Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes, Day 4: Easy Dinner Rolls

Impress your holiday guests with fresh homemade bread for dinner! I love making this recipe.  They are easy, just as the name says.  This recipe can be found on Simple Daily Recipes.  They are delicious and fast--I highly recommend these!!

Day 4: Easy Dinner Rolls

Ingredients:

1 package quick-acting active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp. or 7 grams)
1 1/3 cup milk (105º to 115ºF degrees)
3 to 3 1/2 cups flour or whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon melted butter
coarse salt (optional, I don't use it)

Dissolve yeast in warm milk in electric mixer bowl.  Stir in 1 cup flour. Beat until smooth.  Stir in enough remaining flour, oil, sugar and salt.  Mix on low electric speed until soft dough forms.  Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about 45 minutes.

Heat oven 400ºF degrees.  

Prep a 12 cup muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Punch down dough in center and fold over a few times.  Pinch off 1 inch balls of dough and quickly roll in palm of hands.  Put 3 balls to one muffin cup; brush with melted butter; sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until crust is light golden brown.

Immediately remove from pan.  Store loosely covered.

Luke 2:8: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night."

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.

Peanut Butter Ball Candies

There has been a lot going on lately.  Christmas is always so busy!  Shopping, decorating, working, filling orders...I am feeling pretty worn out and stressed right now.  This weekend, I plan to spend inside with my best friend and in my pajamas in an attempt to relax and re-focus on the true meaning of this season.  Posts will probably be sporadic at best until after the New Year, but I'll try to do at least a few recipes or photo posts between now and then.  Hard to believe that it's almost 2013!  I took some time today to make something I haven't had in three or four years, since before I had braces: peanut butter ball candies!  They were too chewy/sticky to eat with a mouth full of metal, but since I don't have them anymore, I really wanted to make them.  I used to make them all of the time growing up, and they were a favorite.  These are a little different than buckeyes, which you will see in the ingredient list, but they are really good!

Peanut Butter Ball Candies
Ingredients:
1 C creamy peanut butter
1 C light corn syrup
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
1 1/4 C dried powdered milk
1 1/2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
1-2 tsp solid vegetable shortening

Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter and corn syrup.  In a smaller bowl, mix the powdered sugar and the powdered milk.  Add the dry ingredients, a little at a time, to the wet mixture.

Mix together with a spoon until it's too stiff to work; knead powder mix in with your hands the rest of the way.
Once it's completely mixed, form the dough into balls roughly the size of a walnut.  Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate for a few hours (or overnight).

I got 42 peanut butter balls out of this batch.  Once the balls have chilled and firmed up, begin preparing the chocolate coating:
Melt chocolate chips and shortening in the microwave at 30 second intervals.  Once smooth, allow the chocolate to cool slightly.  With a tablespoon, begin spooning the chocolate over the balls.

Smooth and spread the chocolate over the candies to your liking.  Once all of the balls have chocolate on them, return the pan to the fridge to allow the chocolate to set up, about an hour or two.

Done!  Have fun with your Christmas baking!

Everyone goes shopping for Christmas.  The day after Thanksgiving is notorious for its insane middle-of-the-night shopping hours and equally insane sales, and millions of people trying to buy as many sale items as possible for gift giving.  More money is made by retail stores at this time of the year than any other time.  The true meaning of Christmas gifts has been lost in the shuffle and bustle of a commercialized holiday.  Sadly, too many people care more about the gifts than the meaning of Christmas, and how much they spend on each other.  Money has been a desire of every man since they first began bartering and trading for goods.  We are warned about the temptation of money in Scripture, and it still applies today: "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17).  Also, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:10).  Forget about the presents for Christmas.  Focus on the true gift that was given to the world 2000 years ago, and the eternal gift that awaits all who come to Him for forgiveness.  God wants to spend eternity with us, if we will just accept the gift of His Son's sacrifice!  Best gift EVER!