Holiday Food

 All my Christmas baking and cooking is done - the last two items are in the oven and crockpot - and it's not even 9 pm! Thanks to Leia's help, I got several things out of the way early, which moved to Christmas Eve what I thought would be cooking Christmas day. Everything but the rice is ready to heat and serve tomorrow - no muss, no fuss, but still delicious.

Tomorrow's menu* includes: 
Ham and egg breakfast casserole (a new recipe - hope it's good!)
Deviled eggs
Teriyaki chicken (here - yummmmm!)
Balsamic roast beef (another new recipe; fingers crossed it's tasty!)
Maple-mustard chicken (a variation on this recipe)
Porcupines (meatballs mixed with rice; everybody in our family loves them)
Steamed Jasmine rice
Carrots
Spinach
 
Zucchini bread - my mother-in-law's delicious recipe
Chocolate chip cookies - recipe straight off the chips bag
Chocolate chip cake - another family favorite
Fudge - I messed this one up this year; normally my MIL's recipe if fool-proof.
And 2 pies from Marie Callender's, 'cause hubby loooooooves them. 

*Did you notice there are no tamales listed? Hubby and I ate our way through the entire batch already. Soooooooo goooooooood!

Cookie Heaven

Last week, I made chocolate chip cookies from my super secret recipe (from the back of the semi-sweet morsels package. Ok, so it's not so secret.) I'd been checking out recipes on Pinterest and decided to put a glaze* on the cookies. And to kick it up a notch, I threw some cinnamon in the glaze too.

Best. Cookies. EVER. 

Can't wait to make them again.   

Christmas Baking

Today was the start of Christmas baking season. I finished the first batch of zucchini bread - a big family favorite since my MIL gave me the recipe years ago - and tonight I plan to make peanut butter fudge - another family fav made from my mother's recipe.

I love traditional holiday foods and recipes, and occasionally - not often - I'll find a new one that just has to be added. Like these 'cheater' cinnamon rolls. Not sure where I got this recipe but I'll be making these often - Dick and I ate the entire batch this afternoon. So easy, so tasty, so gone.

Cinnamon Rolls
8-oz. package refrigerated crescent rolls
2 T margarine, softened
1/2 t cinnamon (I plan to add more next time)
2 T raisins (I left these out; hubby's not a raisin fan)
3/4 c powdered sugar
3-4 T milk (I substituted water - and a lot less than called for)

Unroll dough into one large rectangle; seal all perforations. Spread margarine evenly over dough. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over dough. Sprinkle raisins over sugar and cinnamon.

Roll up jelly-roll style, starting from the longest side. Slice into 22 pieces. Place slices on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes (my rolls were almost burnt after 17 minutes.)

Combine powdered sugar and milk (or water); drizzle over warm rolls. Enjoy!

Cake Recipe

I had a request for this recipe so thought I'd share it here. I got this from a co-worker back in the '80's, while I was still working as a dispatcher (a long, loooooong time ago.) It's been a family favorite ever since.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cake

2 cups all purpose or unbleached flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/3 cup dairy sour cream
2/3 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon (I use 1 tablespoon of cinnamon)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I usually double this)

• Heat oven to 350 F. Grease (not oil) 13 x 9" pan.
  
• In large bowl, blend first 9 ingredients at low speed until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
  
• Pour 1/2 of batter (about 2.5 cups) into prepared pan.
  
• In small bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon.
  
• Sprinkle 1/2 sugar mixture and 1/2 chocolate chips over batter.
  
• Repeat with remaining batter, sugar mix and chocolate chips.
  
• Bake at 350 F for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  
• Cake tastes much better if you let it cool before eating. Enjoy!