I went to my stats summary page to find the recipes that get the most clicks. This is the top post of 2012.
Baked Spaghetti
Here’s the 2nd to 5th top posts of 2012:
Green beans, potatoes, and ham
Reader’s Favorites
Month: December 2012
Best Dessert Recipes
Peanut Butter Cups Chocolate Cookies
This has been linked to Finding Joy in my Kitchen’s countdown to 2013 – best desserts.
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Best Snacks and Appetizers
Sausage, cream cheese, and Rotel dip
This post has been linked to Finding Joy in my kitchen’s countdown to 2013 – best snacks and appetizers of 2012.
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Best Main Dishes
This has been linked to Finding Joy in My Kitchen’s countdown to 2013 – Best Main Dishes of 2012.
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Best of Bread and Soup and a new soup recipe – Veggie Potato Soup
Soup
For Christmas Eve, I made potato vegetable soup for dinner. It was so delicious and I liked it had some healthy veggies in it also.
Veggie Potato Soup
Stars of the Recipe:
- 4 potatoes, cut into small pieces (I left peels on. You can take the peels off.)
- 1 sm. onion diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 small carrots or 1 large carrot, diced
- 1 c. spinach cut into smallish pieces
- 1 chicken bullion
- 1 1/2 to 2 c. milk
- water
- 2 heaping teaspoons of Greek yogurt
Steps:
- Place potatoes, onion, celery, and carrots into a stock pot.
- Place water in the stock pot until it’s about an inch to 2 inches above the veggies.
- Place bouillon cube on top of the veggies.
- Heat to boiling and then turn down to medium heat.
- Let simmer for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are done cooking.
- Add milk and spinach to the broth. Let simmer for 10 more minutes.
- Mash up some of the potatoes using a masher or remove about 1 c. of the broth and potatoes and blend it. (If you have an immersion blender, you can certainly use that.)
- Add the Greek yogurt. Stir until it’s incorporated.
- Serve with shredded cheese and bacon.
This post has been linked to Finding Joy in My Kitchen’s countdown to 2013 – Best bread and soup of 2012.
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Best of breakfast 2012
Homemade Baking mix and pancakes
For more best of breakfasts, visit Finding Joy in my Kitchen.
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Vegan Brownies
My husband has a cousin, J., who is a vegan. We went to his handfasting (another new experience for us) a year and a half ago. The reception afterward featured Indian food (another new experience for us) and vegan cupcakes. We were pleasantly surprised at how yummy they were.
J. and their wife had their first baby in September. Since they live in Canada and Ohio, we had not met baby S . until last night. He is totally cute and very long for his age. J. is a tall man, so it’s not too surprising.
Since we were going to meet up with J., their wife, and baby S., I knew there would be Christmas goodies. J. wouldn’t be able to enjoy the goodies, so I decided to make him a batch of vegan brownies so he could enjoy some Christmas goodies.
These are rich, so a tall glass of water, milk, tea, or coffee is in order when you eat a piece!
Vegan Brownies
Hevil’s Special Delights
Stars of the recipe:
- 1 1/3 c. whole wheat flour
- 1 c. cocoa powder
- 1 3/4 c. sugar (This may be reduced to 1 1/2 c. sugar or if you use Truvia baking mix, use 3/4 c.)
- 1 c. applesauce
- 1 banana mashed (I used my mashed potato masher.)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tsp. baking powder
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix the applesauce, banana, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
- In a medium size bowl, mix together the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Warning: the batter is going to be thick.
- Pour into a greased 8 by 8 pan or 9 by 9 pan.
- Bake for 35 minutes, and then check to see if the brownies are done baking. (Mine took longer when I checked.)
- Cool and then cut into pieces.
- Enjoy with nondairy milk, water, coffee, or hot tea.
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Swedish Oatmeal Cookies
I’ve previously mentioned how I like Joanna Fluke’s Hannah Swenson books. I’m rereading some of the books in the series. As I was reading Key Lime Murder, she included this recipe. I was instantly intrigued. I’ve made other oatmeal cookies that included chocolate chips and M&M’s. This year I wanted something simple. This cookie fits the bill!!!
Swedish Oatmeal Cookies
Stars of the recipe:
- 1 c. butter (2 sticks)
- 3/4 c. white sugar (granulated)
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 c. unsifted flour (all-purpose or white whole wheat)
- 2 c. oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oatmeal. I love that texture.)
- 1 egg yolk
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl on high for 1 1/2 minutes.
- Let the butter cool to room temperature.
- Mix in the white sugar.
- Add the baking soda, flour, and oatmeal. Stir thoroughly.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk with a fork until it’s thoroughly mixed.
- Add the yolk to the bowl and stir until it’s incorporated.
- Grease or spray with a cooking spray cookie sheet.
- Make small dough balls and place them on the cookie sheet, 12 to a sheet.
- Press them down with a fork in a crisscross pattern.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Cool for 1 or 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Enjoy!!!
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Homemade Baking mix and pancakes
I’ve seen recipes for homemade baking mixes but never made any. Today I took the leap and made a homemade baking mix with white whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour.
Then I used the homemade baking mix for pancakes. The Imaginative One, aka the hollow leg, ate 4 of the pancakes for breakfast. I guess they were a hit.
I’m posting this recipe because it can be used as a homemade gift. You can put 2 cups of the mix in a container and then include directions on what to add to the mix for them to make their own pancakes.
Homemade baking mix
Fake it Frugal
Stars of the recipe:
- 9 and 1/3 c. of all-purpose or white whole-wheat flour
- 2.5 tsp. salt
- 10 tsp. sugar
- 1/3 c. baking powder
- 1 c. shortening, not butter or margarine
Steps:
- Get a big bowl out.
- Place all of the dry ingredients in the bowl.
- Whisk together.
- Place shortening on top. (If using the sticks, cut them into smaller pieces.)
- Mix the shortening into the dry ingredients using 2 forks, a pastry blender, or a food processor.
- Keep mixing until there is no visible shortening left. Don’t forget the flour at the bottom of the bowl.
- Place in a container with an air-tight lid and keep in a dry cool place.
Homemade baking mix pancakes
Stars of the recipe:
- 2 c. homemade baking mix
- 1 c. milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Steps:
- Place ingredients in a bowl.
- Poke the yolks so you can stir better.
- Mix the ingredients until well combined.
- Drop 1/4 c. of batter in a skillet or griddle that has been warmed up and sprayed with cooking spray.
- Cook until bubbles begin to appear. Flip to the other side. Continue cooking for 1 or 2 minutes.
- Enjoy with your favorite toppings.
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Christmas Baking
Every year I bake and create Christmas goodies. My grandma used to do the same thing and share it with family and friends. I have the bench she used to pile the containers onto and the Kitchen aid mixer she used to whip up the batches of delicious cookies. Once I was an adult living in a place where I could bake, I started the tradition. I have my tied and true cookies I bake every year, and then I try new recipes.
Four years ago, I lost my grandma on Christmas Eve. For five days before her death, my family sat by her bedside. When I couldn’t be there, I baked and created in my kitchen to keep my mind off of losing her. I then brought the goodies with me when I was at the nursing home. The family shared the treats. It was a wonderful way to honor her.
On Christmas Eve of 2008, after everyone had left the nursing home when God welcomed her home. I was at the Christmas Eve service when I got the call that she had died. I remember breaking down into tears. Grandma so loved Christmas that she took her last breath the night before Jesus’ birth.
Another tradition we hold dear is baking a cake, cupcakes, or brownies to celebrate Jesus’ birth. We sing “Happy Birthday” to him to remember him. The tradition started when the Imaginative One was a baby and has continued. However, I introduced to the concept almost 20 years ago. I had worked at McDonald’s as a college student and was trained to host birthday parties. One party I hosted was a birthday party for Jesus. It was held during the holiday season and stuck with me.
The Wee One and I were baking snickerdoodles right before Thanksgiving. His words were that it smelled like Christmas. His memories of Christmas are going to include the smell of cinnamon.
My children will remember peanut butter blossoms, snickerdoodles, and Rolo turtles as part of their holiday season.
Please visit my Christmas/holiday page or click on the link for more Christmas or holiday baking ideas.
Have a great holiday season from my house to yours!
Believe in the Magic Traci Diary 