Holiday Goodies- Free Recipe Cards

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

the one time of year we can make and eat the best candies, cookies, and treats we love! There is something magical about holiday treats and I have never been able to re-create that any other time of year! I participated in a cookie recipe exchange this month and decided to share my favorite recipes with all of you- Merry Christmas!

What is your favorite holiday goodie?

Turtle {Shortbread} Cookies

There is something to be said for the magical combination of chocolate, caramel and pecans.....just saying the ingredients is enough to make your mouth water! So when I was asked to

Fruit Pizza

With all the yummy fruit coming into season- it's the best time to make Fruit Pizza!!

I made this for a brunch last weekend and came home with nada!

Guess, I'll be making this again really soon :)

Fruit Pizza

CRUST:

1 cup sugar 

1 cup margarine, softened

1 egg

1/2 tsp. backing soda

1/8 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cream of tarter

2 cups flour

1 tsp. vanilla

FILLING

vanilla or banana pudding

milk 

TOPPINGS

any fruit 

Cream sugar and margarine. Add egg and mix well. Add dry ingredients and vanilla. Spread on pizza pan or baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Completely cool. Mix pudding and milk according to pie directions. Let set for 15 min in refrigerator. Spread on cooled crust. Top with cut fruit. Serve immediately or let set in refrigerator (the crust gets kinda smooshy and ooh so yummy!!)

Cream sugar and margarine.

 Add egg and mix well.

Add dry ingredients and vanilla.

Spread on pizza pan or baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. 

 Completely cool. 

 Mix pudding and milk according to pie directions. Let set for 15 min in refrigerator. 

Spread on cooled crust.

  Top with cut fruit. Serve immediately or let set in refrigerator!

YUMMY!!

Let me know how your versions go!!! 

Monkey Bread

One of my favorite childhood memories is making and eating Monkey Bread with my mom!! 

Now I have actually heard this called different things but Monkey Bread is by far the funnest:)

It is so simple, so yummy, and a great treat to make with your kids!!

Ingredients:

3 tubes refrigerator biscuits (I use the cheap ones- they work great)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 cube butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

You will also need a Bundt pan to bake this in:)

1. cut  the biscuits into fourths

Mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Dump in biscuits and let your adorable helper do the coating!

 Little fingers are prefect for this job

Place in bundt pan

 Also a great job for your little helper:)

Dump extra cinnamon and sugar on top- we need a ll the sugar right!! 

Next get your butter and brown sugar in a bowl ( I re-use my cinnamon and sugar bowl)

 Melt the butter- okay you could probably melt the butter before adding the brown sugar...

Mix them together to look like this:

 Pour evenly over the cinnamon-sugar coated biscuits

 Hmm doesn't that look good?? 

Add your walnuts if you want them

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

 Let cool for 5 min. then invert on pan or plate

 Try your best to not burn yourself as you try the first bite

Then decide why not and go for it:)

hmmmm hmmm good:)

Easy, fast and good- the best combination!!

Enjoy!!

Chicken Pot Pie AKA Pot Pi

So on March 14 AKA Pi Day I promised you the recipe for my divine Chicken Pot Pi!

It is soo easy and soo good!

Here is one of those easy suppers that will have everyone thinking you slaved all afternoon:)

Chicken Pot Pi

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 1/ 2 cups chicken broth 

(I use chicken bouillon and water so don't let it scare you off! It used to scare me)

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

(any leftovers work great! Even turkey!)

1 10- oz package frozen mixed veggies or any combo you like

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 cup butter- softened

1 cup flour

3/4 milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook soup (undiluted) over medium heat. Whisk in broth until smooth. Add chicken, frozen veggies, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

 Pour into a 7 X 11 baking dish and set aside

 In a bowl, cut butter into flour with fork until crumbly

 Add milk- 

not too much will make the biscuit not cook and too little makes them crunchy

you just have to find your preference

 This is my result (I used the full 3/4 cup)

Keep it lumpy- don't OVERMIX

Gently spoon batter over top of chicken mixture

don't try to get it even it won't work and just cause you stress:)

Back uncovered for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown:)

Then sit back and take all the praise you are given for another great meal for family dinner!

 Make sure you check back for an upcoming BIG surprise I have been working on!!

Brer Rabbit Molasses Cookies

I think these have to be my FAVORITE cookie!!!

They are just so fun! Crunchy or chewy, sweet with a bit of tang, perfection!

Hope you enjoy these like I do!!

Brer Rabbit Molasses Cookies

2 cubes margarine

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 cups flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/2 salt

2 tsp. baking soda

Melt margarine and let cool; add sugar, molasses and egg. Mix well.
Add dry ingredients.
 Refrigerate till mixture is very stiff.

Roll 1 TBLS dough into balls and roll in sugar.

Bake on GREASED cookie sheet at 375° for 6-8 minutes.

You can bake them soft or crunchy- you preference!

* I  I tried a dash of pumpkin pie spice once in place of the cinnamon and cloves and it worked great!

* This recipe can be used with wheat flour and applesauce substitutes :)

Shredded Chicken (or pork) EASY!!!

So I found this recipe from Frugal and Focused...

tried it ...

fell in love...

and will never eat out for Mexican again.... 

okay maybe I will..  but now I KNOW HOW to do it at home too!!

Now it is soo simple, easy and yummy! I always dreaded the thought of making my own shredded chicken because it looked like soooo much work! (Quick and easy recipes are my friends) but this does it all!! 

Now are you ready??

really???

Okay here it is!

Shredded Chicken Taco Meat

(or pork)

1 cup chicken broth

1 packet taco seasoning

1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 4) or 1 lb. boneless pork chops

Place all ingredients in crock pot. Turn on low. Cook for 6-8 hours. Touch with fork and chicken will just fall apart!! Add to tortillia shell with all your other favorite fillings (mine are lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese) Grill if you desire and top with sour cream and salsa!! HMMM!! 

 

You can freeze the leftovers too!! 

Now isn't that just easy?? Now you try it and you'll be amazed at how yummy your house smells and how satisfied you tummy gets! :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies / Pizzookies!!!

I spent years trying to find a Chocolate Chip cookie recipe that worked here in the Wyoming desert:) Finally one of friends posted a recipe on their blog (click here) and I fell in love with it!!

Now I have also found another go-to site for complete yumminess Our Best Bites they are  coming our their first cookbook this Spring and I love all their recipes I've tried! Well, I combined my friends cookie recipe and best bites ingenious Pizzookie Cookie idea and now a trip to heaven is available in 20 minutes!! Perfect for a late night snack (after the kids are in bed), a quick afternoon pick me up (when the kids are napping)- seeing a trend here?? :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies 

(can be halved)

The melt in your mouth kind!

3 cups shortening 

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 cups brown sugar

3 tsp. vanilla

6 eggs

3 tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking soda

7 1/2 cups flour

2 pkgs. chocolate chips

Cream shortening, sugars, vanilla and eggs. Add salt and baking soda. Gradually add flour. Beat until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. 

Now here is where you have a choice- you can drop these puppies onto a cookie sheet and bake for 8- 10 minutes at 375 degrees or....

You can get out some ramekins (I use 6 oz Pyrex ones I bought at Smiths), put a decent size scoop of dough in it and bake it for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees until it reaches you desired amount of doneness. Let cook for 5 minutes, scoop a good size scoop of ice cream on top and sail off to heaven! 

Seriously, you have try it to experience the bliss!!

Now I don't have a picture yet (I just have to jump in and take that first bite) so...

tonight I will make one just so I can take a picture for you.

(Do you hear the self sacrificing that is going into this? )

Just for you:)

Oh, and the best part is you can freeze the rest of the dough for later use! 

Enjoy!!

Egg Salad Sandwiches

Today's recipe is simple, easy, and yummy for a quick, lunch, snack, brunch or different take on breakfast!

Its my version of egg salad sandwiches, I got this recipe from a good friend (Thanks Hilary) and we have since moved to different places in different parts of the country even! Hope you enjoy it too!

Easy Egg Salad Sandwiches

2 or 3 eggs

about a TBLS of water

Mayo or Miracle Whip- your prefrence

Mustard 

Salt and Pepper to your liking

2-4 pieces of (lightly buttered) toast

Scramble the eggs and water (water makes them light and fluffy!) and cook till done. Place in bowl, add Mayo or Miracle Whip and Mustard for your taste preference.

Add some salt and pepper if desired. Scoop onto toast and 

viola! sandwich to eat! 

This is also great to eat by itself and the possiblities for add-ins is extensive! 

What creations are you gonna make? Share them below!! 

DE's- liscious Cinnamon Rolls

Sorry for all the recipes in a row!! I promise that once my computer is up I will get more crafties stuff up too! Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!!

Our Christmas breakfast tradition has always been these yummy cinnamon rolls!! I bake them the day before and re-heat them on Christmas morning. After, we see what Santa has brought we eat these puppies as we start to unwrap presents!! I seriously could eat a whole batch of these... I try resisting... but they just call my name and they are just sitting RIGHT there... you know how it goes :)

These are good all year round so give a shot :)

DE's-licious Cinnamon Rolls

WARNING: These are so easy to make they call your name whenever a cold snap rolls through or you see the first snowflake- author holds no responsiblity for any baking rushes that occur due to the deliciousness and addicitive nature of rolls.

2 pkgs. dry active yeast (about 6 teaspoons)

2 1/2 cups warm water

1 pkg. white cake mix (or be creative)

4 1/2 cups flour

Dissolve yeast in water and let stand for 10 minutes. Beat in cake mix and three cups flour. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms. Knead for 6-8 mins. Place in greased bowl, cover with damp towel and let rise until doubled (about 30 min.) Deflate dough, cut in half, roll into rectangle. Spread butter or margarine on dough. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon. Roll up jelly roll style. Using sharp knife cut in two inch circles. Place in a greased 9X13 pan (or greased cookie sheet in a pinch). Let rise until doubled (about 30 min.) Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Glaze as you wish and resite taking a bite of the hot yumminess. The place burned fingers under cold water becuase you couldn't :)

Glaze:

Now there are many differnent cinnamon roll glazes and I use whatever one I have on hand:)

Powdered Sugar Glaze

Powdered Sugar

Milk or Orange Juice

Vanilla extract (opt)

Just mix together until you get the consitancy you like. A little liquid goes a long way with powdered sugar!

Frosting Glaze

1 can frosting, Cream Cheese (yummy), vanilla, again get creative!

Powdered sugar

milk

Again mix until you get the consistancy you like!

What is your favorite glaze??

The Best Pumpkin Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

As I might have mentioned before, I am not a fan of pumpkin pie but I LOVE pumpkin! O here is a great recipe that is soo moist and uber yummy with the cream cheese frosting!! MMM mmm!

Pumpkin Cake

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups pumpkin

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix together eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Pour into a large greased cookies sheet or jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degres for 20 min. Cool completely and frost with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting 

1/2 cup butter

3 oz. cream cheese

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups powedered sugar

Beat together until smooth. Spread on cold cake:)

Then you can eat it!!! YUMMY!!!

This has also been posted on 9X13 where you can pick up a recipe card :)

The Best Rolls

Ever since I tried these rolls I have never gone back! They are easy, and never fail!! I make this dough for rolls and any other dough related thing I might need!! Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!!

Parker House Rolls

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1 TBLS cold butter

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt (omit if you used salted butter)

1 tsp. dry active yeast

1 cup + 2 TBLS warm milk

Crumble cold butter into flour with fingers until course mixture appears. 

 Stir in sugar, salt, and yeast.

Add milk and stir until dough forms.

 Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 3-4 minutes.

Place in greased bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise 2-3 hours or until doubled.

Lightly knead and cover with towel. Let rest 10-15 min to relax gluten. Roll out and cut with circle cutter. Place dab of butter/marg. in center and fold in half. Place on greased cookie sheet.

Cover with towel and let rise for 45 min. Bake at 400 degrees for  15-20 min. 

* to freeze: place COOLED rolls in a zip-lock freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.  To re-heat,  wrap frozen rolls in tinfoil and  place in a 350 degree oven for 15 min.

Click on card and right click to save pic to your computer and print!

Thanks to My Computer is My Canvas for the recipe card!