Month: December 2015

Posted in Count Down to the New Year

Top Posts of 2015 – Count Down to 2016

Posted on by traci

These are the most viewed posts of 2015. All of the following were written before 2015 and are still viewed widely.

top ten posts

10. Young’s Dairy Bread/Muffins from October 5, 2010

9. Peanut Butter Blossoms – from October 24, 2010

8. Pecan Nougats – December 11, 2010

7. Bacon Cheddar Ranch Smashed Potatoes – May 19, 2012

6. Cookies and Cream Cheeseball – August 29, 2010

5.  Makes Its Own Crust Apple Pie – November 26, 2011

4. Watermelon Cookies – July 7, 2010

3. Grandma’s White Salad  – July 18, 2010

2. Sausage, Cream Cheese, and Rotel Dip – March 19, 2012

  1.  Baked Spaghetti  – January 7, 2012 – I’ve had 14,645 people view this recipe.

Here are the top 5 posts/pages from this year that got the most views:

  1. 31 Days of Slow Cooker Dinners
  2. Christmas Making and Baking
  3. Pull Apart Rolls
  4. Queso Dip
  5. Thanksgiving Menu with Printables

Here’s to 2016 and more recipes to share with you.

Happy Eating,
Traci

Posted in Family, Holiday/Christmas, Imaginative one, ramblings, Wee one

Christmas Traditions

Posted on by traci

Do you have any Christmas traditions?  My family has a few traditions that we do every year.

First of all, we celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6.  The boys put out their shoes for small treats.  This year though, I forgot to get them, so I was at the mall getting them gifts.  They did have Minions’ Peeps and a small coloring book to tide the Wee One over until I got them something.  (The Imaginative One was away for the weekend, so he didn’t care.)

Next, we always make a birthday cake or brownies for Jesus.  Then we sing to him.  For a few years, we were unable to eat our cake or brownies because of some sort of disaster.  One year the dog stepped in it when he was riding over to my mother-in-law’s house, and another year my father-in-law broke a glass dish, and glass shards ended up in the cake.

Here are this year’s brownies:

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I used my homemade brownie recipe and added Christmas M&M’s.  The end result was very rich but delicious brownies.

The boys are too excited on Christmas Eve, so I give them a gift to tide them over.  This year the Wee One got some Pokemon cards, and the Imaginative One got a book to read.  Last year, they each got a movie.

We also go to the Christmas Eve service and then to Hubby’s aunt’s house for family time.  We usually stay until 10ish.  The boys come home, put out the cookies and milk for Santa, and then head to bed.

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We don’t do much on Christmas morning except for opening presents.  I’ve tried to make a special Christmas morning breakfast.  The boys are too excited to eat breakfast, so I’ve stopped doing that.  This year we opened presents and watched the Disney parade before heading to their grandma’s house.

We open gifts at their grandma’s house and have a big Christmas Day dinner.

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This year my mother and sister joined us.  This was the first time in 3 years they’d come to Christmas dinner.  It was nice to have them come.

The family either comes to my mother-in-law’s house, or we go to another relative’s house.  Needless to say, Christmas is usually very busy for us.  We enjoy spending time with each other and family.

Then on the 12th Day of Christmas, January 6, we celebrate King’s Day.  King’s Day represents the Day the Wise men made their way to worship Jesus.  My mother-in-law usually makes something homemade for the boys, Hubby, and me.  I usually get something small for the boys.

The biggest tradition I took from when I was a teenager.  My grandma and mom would make Christmas cookies and goodies.  Grandma had a bench that she kept the goodies on after they made them.  I now have that bench, and I put goodies on the bench.  I also used the Kitchen Aid mixer that was my grandma’s to make the goodies.

The boys all have their favorites that I make every Christmas.  I’ve written a post of their top 5 Christmas recipes.

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What are some of your Christmas traditions?

Have a blessed New Year,
Traci

Posted in Holiday/Christmas

Merry Christmas

Posted on by traci
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This picture was taken many Christmases ago when the Wee One and the Imaginative One were still small.  Now they are 10.5 and 12.5 years old.  The Imaginative One asked me about his height.  So he stood face to face with me.  He is almost my height now.

Anyway, I’m wishing you and yours the Merriest of Christmas!  Let us remember the reason for the season.  Our Lord Jesus was born to save us from our sins!

Have a blessed Christmas,
Traci

Posted in Bread and muffins, christmas making and baking, Eggnog, Holiday/Christmas, Ingredients, Recipes

Eggnog Quick Bread – Christmas Making and Baking

Posted on by traci

I’m finishing up my Christmas making and baking.

My mom called me last night to tell me that she was going to come over to our house for Christmas.  It’s been many years since she’s been at our house for Christmas, so it was a nice surprise.  The one thing she asked for was homemade goodies.  I’m almost finished with the Christmas making and baking.  There are a few goodies left to make.

This eggnog bread was one of those things.  It’s easy to put together and makes a lot.

eggnog quick bread

Eggnog Quick Bread

adapted from Mommy’s Kitchen

Stars of the recipe:

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/4 c. sugar
  • 1 3/4 c. eggnog
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 tsp. rum extract
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 (3.4 oz) package of instant vanilla pudding

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease mini loaf pans (5).
  3. Beat the eggs.
  4. Add sugar, eggnog, butter, rum extract, and vanilla extract.  Mix until combined.
  5. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  6. Add the flour mixture to the batter.  Mix well.
  7. Add the instant vanilla pudding.
  8. Pour into greased pans.
  9. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.  (Mine took closer to 40 or so minutes.)
  10. Cool in pans for 10 minutes.
  11. Remove and cool on a baking rack.
  12. Enjoy!

Happy Eating,
Traci

Posted in Bread and muffins, breakfast, christmas making and baking, Eggnog, Holiday/Christmas

Eggnog Doughnuts – Christmas Making and Baking

Posted on by traci

I bought some eggnog to make eggnog bread. Since I had some of the eggnog left, I decided to find a recipe to make eggnog doughnuts. This recipe is moist and delicious. It paired well with my coffee flavored with my peppermint mocha creamer. It would also be delicious with my eggnog creamer.

To make the doughnuts, you need a doughnut pan.  

Eggnog Doughnuts

Eggnog Doughnuts

adapted from Wonky Wonderful

Doughnuts:

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 c. all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 2 Tbsp. butter softened
  • 1/4 c. sugar
  • 1 lrg. egg
  • 1/2 c. eggnog

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside
  3. Cream the sugar and butter until fluffy.
  4. Add the egg and eggnog. Mix until combined.
  5. Add the dry ingredients until combined.
  6. Spray the doughnut pan with cooking spray.
  7. Fill the doughnut molds 2/3rds full. (Makes 6)
  8. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 to 13 minutes.
  9. Transfer to cooling rack.
  10. Glaze the doughnuts once they are completely cooled. Or if you can’t wait, pour the glaze over the doughnuts.

Glaze:

Stars of recipe:

  • 1/2 powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. eggnog
  • 2 tsp. nutmeg

Steps:

  1. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and eggnog until smooth.
  2. Either dip the doughnuts into the glaze or pour over the doughnuts.
  3. Sprinkle nutmeg over the top.

This recipe made 6 full-size doughnuts. You could probably make 12 mini doughnuts with this recipe. You need to store the doughnuts in the fridge.

Happy Eating,
Traci

Posted in Cherries, christmas making and baking, Cookies, Holiday/Christmas

Santa’s Whiskers – Christmas Making and Baking

Posted on by traci

I made these many years ago.  This year I decided to make them once again.

Things you need to remember – Don’t use press and seal plastic wrap when you wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap.  That made it difficult to make a roll.  The coconut will make a mess.  Just keep the broom around.  🙂

santa's whiskers

Santa’s Whiskers

Adapted from Cooking with Stolen Moments

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 c. butter (2 sticks), softened
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. milk
  • 2 1/2 c. flour
  • 3/4 c. maraschino cherries, diced, plus 1 tsp. juice from the jar (I may have used more juice because I love maraschino cherries.)
  • 1 c. coconut, unsweetened

Steps:

  1. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy.
  2. Add vanilla and milk.  Beat until combined.
  3. Add flour, 1/2 c. at a time.  Mix until incorporated.
  4. Fold in the cherries and juice.  (I used my mixer.  You can certainly use a spoon for this step.)
  5. Divide the dough in half.  Form each half into an 8 or 9-inch log.  Roll each half in coconut.
  6. Wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap.  Freeze for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Slice in 1/4 inch cookies.  Place on baking sheets.
  8. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
  9. Cool on wire racks.

I froze mine overnight and then pulled them out of the freezer for 15 minutes before slicing them.

Posted in christmas making and baking, DIY, Drinks, Holiday/Christmas

Peppermint Mocha Creamer – Christmas Making and Baking

Posted on by traci

I’m enjoying making new creamers now that I got the ratio of milk/ half & half/ or heavy whipping cream to condensed milk.

This creamer needs to be warmed up so that the cocoa is dissolved.  I had to strain the nondissolved cocoa, so there weren’t any lumps left.

As you can see from my pictures, some of the cocoa did not dissolve.

peppermint mocha creamer

I like peppermint mocha lattes from Starbucks.  However, they use WAY too much mocha in the lattes.  This creamer allows me to have a peppermint mocha latte without the extra cost.  Plus, I can customize it to my liking.

Peppermint Mocha Creamer

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1/2 c. condensed milk
  • 1/2 c. milk, half and half, or whipping cream
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. peppermint extract
  • 1 to 2 tsp. cocoa powder

Steps:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan.
  2. Heat on medium-high heat until the cocoa is dissolved.  Five or so minutes.
  3. If the cocoa does not dissolve, strain the creamer to remove the lumps of cocoa.
  4. Enjoy 1 or 2 Tbsp. in a hot cup of coffee.
Posted in christmas making and baking, Cinnamon, Holiday/Christmas, Ingredients, Pecans, Walt Disney World recipes

Candied Cinnamon Pecans – Christmas Making and Baking

Posted on by traci

Have you ever walked around the mall and smelled the delicious smells of roasted pecans or almonds?  Or walked around Walt Disney World and saw the carts of candied nuts?  You can now make candied pecans and pretend to be in WDW.

Walt Disney World’s Cinnamon Candied Pecans

I made these many years ago as part of my Christmas-making and baking.  However, I stopped making them because of family circumstances.  Today I made them once again.  Yum!  My house now smells wonderful!

Continue reading “Candied Cinnamon Pecans – Christmas Making and Baking” →
Eggnog Coffee Creamer
Posted in christmas making and baking, DIY, Drinks, Holiday/Christmas, Mason jars

Eggnog Creamer

Posted on by traci

If I could describe this creamer, I would say yum!

I made a batch of this on Monday evening.  The next morning, my coffee maker decided not to work.  😦  Finally, my husband was able to get it to work on Wednesday afternoon.  We don’t know why it stopped working and why it began to work once again.  Crazy.

Wednesday evening, I had a cup of coffee with this creamer.  It was even better than on Monday.

Continue reading “Eggnog Creamer” →