Cauliflower Poppers

Weight Watchers Recipe

we tried something very similar to this from Martha Stewart minus mint (store didn't have it!)
as a side for part of our Christmas Feast

Christmas Food

Finally!  I got the Smilebox put together of our Feast for Christmas.

Slideshow design created with Smilebox

Recipes for Yams & Apples & Cauliflower Poppers is linked in text.
The Roasted Cauliflower recipe from Martha Stewart was our one "NEW" recipe for this time.
Let me know if you have any questions.

North Pole Candy Cane Fudge

have been woefully lacking in the peppermint flavor this season,
so this recipe sounds yummy--scroll down
Holiday Greetings from Gooseberry! - Gooseberry Patch

Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

much intrigued by the idea of this recipe here
but obviously, would have to be a "virgin" version

Gingerbread Houses

look my first smilebox on the food blog!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

so this year, I thought we'd try this idea found here
the poptarts were *so* much easier to cut than graham crackers,
which is what we did last year . . .

it was fun to use the easy writer food decorators found here
the kids thought it was cool
will definitely use this method again,
especially with younger kiddos!

Free Snowman & Reindeer Poop Idea

thought this was a really cute idea, if you still need last minute gifts

not sure how long it'll be available though . . .

Teachers, Friends, & Neighbors Gifts

yummy!

not to mention fancy schmancy

to Z-kids homeroom teachers,

as well as the music & art teachers

to many of our Church friends & neighbors

all items found @ our local Sam's Club

Free Christmas Recipe Cards

Free Recipe Cards & Peanut Butter Cow Patties Recipe

image is linked
want to try this pb version of this no-bake cookie

(a version of the "original" chocolate one can be found here & here)

in case you don't already know this about me, I <3 pb

Yams & Apples

My sister Bernice wrote me an email asking for this recipe.
This is yet another favorite from Jon's family.
I love that my family is loving it too!  :)

1 cube butter (1/2 C) melted; add
3 TB cornstarch
1 C sugar, stir to dissolve
2 C water
1 ts lemon juice
1/8 ts salt

Cook until thick, stirring constantly

5 med yams (cooked, peeled, & sliced)
5 med apples (peeled, & sliced thin)

Layer yams & apples
Pour sauce over top
Sprinkle with cinnamon
Bake @ 350 for 50 min.

My notes:
I love how we didn't really have to tweak this recipe @ all to fit Jon's allergy needs.
I've always seen this made with granny smith/sour apples.
Also, we much prefer this to the marshmallow topped version!
If you make this, let me know how yours turns out.

Hershey's Miniatures Mint

had never seen this before so thought we'd try it

was pleasantly surprised by the bits in the white one

conversely affected by the oddly strong menthol aftertaste in the striped one

the dark chocolate mint one was a good balance

but am still missing the old mint M&M's!

they were just the right size, you know?

these are a little big . . .

M&M's Premiums Mint Thrills

saw these new ones & had to give them a try

so these are a little more similar in taste to the old M&M mint formula
compared to the new mint flavor formula
but the thicker shell still makes it a different thing altogether . . .

Magic Mint Chocolate Bark

really want to try this recipe, but will probably use the pretzel variation
if nothing else, so can try the limited edition morsels!

thinking of making this for the neighbor Christmas get-together
or maybe for the Primary Presidency to snack on while we're putting together the teacher/worker gifts

we're still irked that M&M reformulated their seasonal MINT M&Ms
you can tell that the difference because the new ones have a thicker shape than the old ones

this was recipe 4 on my full-day baking day

could use more practice making pretty swirls in the melted chocolate

have I mentioned that we really like mint flavor this time of the year?

M&M's Happy Holiday Crispies

using this recipe as the basis
am planning on making this for Jon's dessert
@ the Ward Christmas Party on Saturday, December 19th
that way, we know there will be @ least one dessert that he can have!

again with the no-bake!  :)

don't really like/use white chocolate chips @ our house though
so will sub with peanut butter chips, which we do like/use!

am thinking of subing mini semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of the M&Ms . . .
I did buy Christmas peanut M&Ms, since that's Jon's preferred ones, but wonder if they'll be too big?

this was recipe 3 on my full-day baking day

did use the mini chips but topped each square with a peanut M&M
the squares didn't stay together as well as I would've hoped

Primary Workers Christmas Appreciation Gifts

we (The Primary Presidency) are getting together this Friday, December 18th @ my house to do a cookie exchange of sorts--not for ourselves, but for all the wonderful Primary Workers.

am planning on making a batch of these using mint oreos & white bark

and these, except that I'm using peanut butter oreos & dark bark
(which, I guess if you're keeping track, is pretty much the same as above?)

really loving the idea that these are "no-bake"
hope that the dipping won't get too labor intensive/messy
again, this is a method that can be tweaked to no end

this was recipe 1-2 on my full-day baking day yesterday

I was able to get about 27 cookies from each batch--but I did end up having a lot of the garnish topping left, which I'm thinking would be really good on ice cream!

my magic bullet sure was handy to help crush the cookies up

Thinking I really should try it with nutter butters though--would get a totally lighter colored filling & maybe a more intense peanut butter flavor?

Clam Dip

I remember being first introduced to this by Jenny, my BYU bud
also another family favorite from Jon's Dad
we used to make huge double batches of this starting from Thanksgiving through Christmas/New Years
but the last couple of times have just done a single batch,
due to health reasons & now Jon's food allergies

1 8 oz cream cheese room temp
2 TB mayonnaise
1 pint (16 oz) cottage cheese-small curd
1 ts grated onion
1 6-1/2 oz can mined clams, drained but reserve juice

Use an electric mixer or blender to combine cheeses,
blending until light & creamy.
Add freshly grated onion & mayonnaise.
Use wooden spoon to blend in drained clams.
Add clam juice until desired consistency.
Add just a sprinkle of garlic powder, if desired.

most always eaten with original ruffles chips

my notes:
I usually go full fat on the cream cheese, but will go low-fat or fat-free on the cottage cheese.
We like ours "clam-y", so we use 2 cans of clams for a single batch.
Also, we like ours T-H-I-C-K so that it doesn't slid off the chip!

Hot Spice Punch

totally love this time of the year!
look, an actual recipe ;)
this is a family favorite recipe from Jon's Mom's side of the family
they make it every holiday season
this year we didn't make it @ Thanksgiving, but have already made a batch for Christmas

4 C water
2 C sugar
5 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks

Boil & simmer for 30 minutes.

Then add

1/2 12 oz frozen orange juice concentrate thawed
1/2 12 oz frozen lemonade concentrate thawed
1/2 gal apple cider

Simmer for 1 hour all together.

Candy Cane Tootsie Pops (a.k.a. Peppermint Tootsie Roll Pops)

ok, so ever since I found out that these even exist, I've been dying to find them!!!

have tried Giant, Wal-Mart, Wawa so far to no success

argh

Don't Hog the Nog!

some great eggnog recipes/ideas here from Hungry Girl

Holiday Recipe Guide - CARNATION Virtual Kitchen - NESTLE Very Best Baking

Holiday Recipe Guide - CARNATION Virtual Kitchen - NESTLE Very Best Baking