Happy Holiday Recipes

Homemade Caramels

Homemade goodies and holiday candies make wonderful neighbor gifts and treats to share at the office, shops, schools, church and around town!

Caramel Pecan Fudge

Here are just a few of my favorites - fudge, truffles and brownies are always a nice place to start!

Chocolate Coffee Truffles

I also love to make holiday goodies to give as gifts because they are delicious, thoughtful and frugal!

Butter Cream Brownies

Spread a little holiday cheer with your homemade creations and tasty treats - I promise you'll love the results!

Amish Caramel Corn

Visit Alicia's Recipes to find more recipes perfect for holiday celebrations and Christmas  time! 

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Super Ideas for Superbowl!

Superbowl XLVII is this weekend. What super foods will you be fixing in honor of the big game? If you need some fresh recipe ideas for a touchdown with the family, we've got some fun, easy dishes to get you started!

Cheddar Bread

Cider Orange Ham

Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich

Corn Dogs

Enchilada & Bean Casserole

Which ever foods you decide to fix for Superbowl, enjoy the game! Find more super recipes over at Alicia's Recipes or visit us on Facebook to share your favorite super food!

Simple Meals Save Christmas!

It's such a magical time of year - Winter and Christmas! Chilly days and lots of shopping, making and baking in a flurry of rush to get it all done for the holidays. We spend all our time focused on what we'll cook, bake and make for Christmas dinner that we sort of forget the week leading up to it.

As Christmas gets closer and you prepare for the holiday, are you running short on time and/or ideas for dinner? Not to worry - I'm right there with you. So, I found some simple meals to get us through the next few evenings leading up to C-Day!

Beef & Noodle Casserole

California Pizza

Chicken & Broccoli Bake

Bisquick Cheese Pizza

Chicken Pot Pie

As you gear up for the holidays, don't forget to wind down with one of our meal ideas and save yourself a little stress and mess. Connect with us on Facebook to share your favorite go-to meal or visit Alicia's Recipes for more easy-peasy dinner recipes.

Holiday Snacks

It's that time of year - snack time! The holidays may mean celebrating Christmas with family and friends, but they also signal our taste buds to get some serious snacking in before January 1st. Most of us are either staying in where it's warm and toasty with not much else to do but...snack, or we are headed out to parties, pageants and plays to frolic, make merry and...snack!

Whether you are a sweet or salty snacky person, I've collected just a few recipes here for you to try for your next holiday snack attack. Create these tasty little treats for home or to share at your next holiday gathering.

Amish Caramel Corn

Apple Crisp

Bacon Jack Deviled Eggs

Blackberry Muffins

Butter Cream Brownies

And so, the busiest season for shopping, sharing and snacking is here! Thankfully it only lasts a few weeks and then we all make resolutions to give up the snacking. Ah well...

Connect with us on Facebook to share your favorite holiday snacks or visit Alicia's Recipes for more holiday recipes!

Welcome to Holiday Candy Land!

At our house, we have a tradition to play a few solid games of Candy Land at Christmas time while making Christmas goodies, candies and treats. In between batches of fudge and decorating sugar cookies, I sacrifice my last thread of holiday sanity to a game I know I can win, but I never do.

(It's way more fun to watch your four-year-old's eyes light up when they realize they just drew the winning blue card.) It's about the giving right? Back to the Christmas treats...whether you are making just enough to share at the office or oodles of goodies to spread around town, try some of our favorite holiday candy recipes. You won't be disappointed!

Caramel Pecan Fudge

Caramels

Cherry Peanut Butter Balls

Chocolate Coffee Truffles

Chocolate Peppermint Truffles

Enjoy your holidays and create some candy bliss for the neighbors with some of our favorite candy recipes! Visit us on Facebook to share your favorite Christmas goodies or visit Alicia's Recipes for all sorts of recipe ideas.

And if your four-year-old wants to play Candy Land, practice losing graciously.

Pumpkin Love For Your Punkins!

It's that time again! Time feature the wonderful pumpkin in as many recipes and dishes as possible. I am a huge pumpkin and squash lover myself so I always look forward to fall when I can bake up a storm with pumpkins galore!

Though I focused primarily on pumpkin dessert recipes in this blog post, I have tasted some mean pumpkin dishes such as soups, breads, entrees and more! Get a pumpkin and get creative in the kitchen. Make something wonderful for your punkins!

Pumpkin Bars or Cake

Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Pie Squares

Desperate for more pumpkin recipes? No worries! Visit Alicia's Recipes for a full list of all kinds of pumpkin recipes and ideas. Or connect with us on Facebook to share your favorite pumpkin recipe!

Promising Patriotic Desserts for Your 4th!

Flag Cake

Whether celebrating your 4th of July with a big barbecue, potluck, or just a few friendly faces - serving a patriotic dessert will add sparks to your Independence Day!

Red Velvet Cake

Feeling particularly patriotic? Try our Flag Cake recipe. It's loaded with delicious fruits and treats! Or go with a true red-blooded American dessert and use our Red Velvet Cake recipe.

Pineapple Cake

Perhaps a lighter dessert is in order if warm weather is expected. Our Pineapple Cake recipe is the perfect pastry for your patriotic affair - fruity, fluffy and fun!

Blueberry Oat Muffins

Maybe you need something tasty and blue to add to your 4th of July morning, or afternoon? Try our Blueberry Oat Muffins - they are great to grab and go as a quick morning snack or afternoon teaser!

Raspberry Cake

Red, white and delicious - our Raspberry Cake will not disappoint! Finish off your 4th with a creamy, tangy mouthful of freedom as you savor the tart and sweet summer night.

Celebrate Independence Day with one of our desserts on hand and your guests with have explosive compliments and applause! Enjoy. Connect with us on Facebook to share your favorite 4th of July dessert.

Mother's Day Ideas

Mother's Day is May 9th, so it's time to start planning your menu! We have thousands of free recipes to choose from, but we know how busy you are, so we've picked some out for you.

If you are looking for recipes from scratch, here are some great choices:

French Toast with Pears - Canned pears are used in this delicious recipe. Whip up this tasty French toast for Mom on her special day.

Peach Scones - These lovely scones are perfect with tea! This recipe uses dried peaches, making it perfect for any time of the year.

Oriental Brunch Salad - Does Mom love oriental flavors? then she'll want to try this fresh salad drizzled with homemade dressing.

If you prefer using convenience items such as Bisquick, condensed soups and other such items, here are some great picks:

Impossible Brunch Pie - This recipe uses Bisquick, frozen vegetables, and cheese all baked in a pie plate for a tasty brunch entree.

Pear Brunch Cake - Bisquick plays a role in this pretty, yet simple cake. Top with a dollop of yogurt instead of frosting for a lighter treat.

Blueberry Jello Salad - Put this dessert together in no time using boxed Jell-O, canned pie filling and canned pineapple.

Wherever you make this Mother's Day, we hope you have a wonderful one. Oh! And don't forget to enter to win this month's great prize, this fabulous cherry pitter!

Other ideas you might like:
Tea time ideas and recipes
Mother's Day crafts for kids
Mother's Day coasters - a crochet pattern
Easy Microwave Broccoli Brunch from Annie's Recipes

Baked Ham with Pepsi Cola Sauce

Today's recipe is...

Baked Ham with Pepsi Cola Sauce

12 oz. Pepsi Cola
1 c. brown sugar
1 tbsp. mustard
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Dash Tabasco sauce
1 mashed clove garlic

Mix together. 1/2 semi boneless or boneless ham, can also be used for canned ham. Ham scored and studded with cloves, bake in moderate oven 325 degrees for 1 hour. Baste with sauce. Baste with sauce very 15 minutes. When serving, use sauce over sliced ham.

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Pumpkin-cream Cheese Jelly Roll

Today's recipe is...

Pumpkin-cream Cheese Jelly Roll

ROLL
1 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 each eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup canned pumpkin pie filling
1 confectioners' sugar

FILLING
12 oz cream cheese, at room temp.
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate
1 pieces
1/4 cup blanched slivered almonds,
1 toasted and coarsely chopped

Prepare Roll:
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line jelly-roll pan with waxed paper. Coat with nonstick cooking spray. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl at medium speed for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Beat in sugar, a tablespoon at a time; continue beating until very thick and lemon colored, 5 to 7 minutes. On lowest speed, beat in pumpkin just until blended. With rubber spatula, fold in flour mixture in 2 batches. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until top of cake springs back when lightly touched in center. Generously sieve confectioners' sugar over clean kitchen towel. When cake is done, immediately loosen edges; invert onto towel. Remove waxed paper. Sprinkle cake with additional confectioners' sugar. From a short end, roll up cake with towel, jelly-roll fashion. Let cool on wire rack
for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, prepare filling:
Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in bowl for 5 to 8 minutes until creamy. Stir in chocolate and almonds. Unroll cake. Spread with cheese mixture. Reroll without towel. Refrigerate at least for 4 hours or overnight, covered.



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Christmas Crescent Cookies

Today's recipe is...

Christmas Crescent Cookies

1/2 lb. butter (2 sticks)
2 c. flour
2 c. chopped pecans
5 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla and water. Sift flour and salt, stir into mixture. Add pecans and mix well. Shape into size of walnut and shape into crescent. Bake slowly at 325 degrees about 20 minutes. While warm, roll into powdered sugar.


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Buckeye Candy

Today's recipe is...

Buckeye Candy

18 oz. creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 boxes powdered sugar
1/2 lb. butter
1/2 stick paraffin (may substitute shortening)
12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips

Mix together first 3 ingredients and roll into small balls. Put a toothpick in each one and lay on wax paper. Refrigerate until cold. Melt paraffin and chocolate chips in double broiler. Dip balls into chocolate and place in refrigerator. Great for Christmas time gifts.


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Baked Ham and Piquant Orange Sauce

Today's recipe is...

Baked Ham and Piquant Orange Sauce

5 lb. smoked ham
Whole cloves
Brown sugar
6 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate
6 oz. sliced onions
2 tbsp. water
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cubes instant beef bouillon
3 c. water
1/4 c. tomato paste
1 tsp. orange peel
2 tsp. mustard

Place ham on rack in roasting pan. Score ham with knife. Stud with cloves, sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake at 325 degrees 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Baste with orange juice. In non-stick skillet, heat onions, garlic, broth until slightly brown. Add water and tomato paste, cook until sauce is reduced 1/3. Stir in mustard and orange peel. Makes 12 servings.


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Amish Pumpkin Bread

Today's recipe is...

Amish Pumpkin Bread

3 c. granulated sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 lb. canned pumpkin
3-1/2 c. flour
2/3 c. water
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt (scant)
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. EACH: cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg

Mix sugar, oil and eggs together. Add pumpkin. Then add dry ingredient and finally water, stirring just until mixed. Pour batter into two (2) greased and floured 9x5 inch loaf pans. Bake  at 350 degrees for one (1) hour. Especially good spread with cream cheese.

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Cranberry Caramel Bars

Today's recipe is...

Cranberry Caramel Bars

1 cup fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups uncooked regular oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 (10-ounce) package chopped dates
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 (12-ounce) jar caramel sauce

Preheat oven to 350 F and line a 13x9x2 pan with aluminum foil, leaving a little overhang, and you can lift bars out to cut with no problem.

Combine 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small bowl with the cranberries and set aside. Combine 2 cups of flour and the next four ingredients. Stir in melted butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of this mixture and set aside. Press remaining mixture into bottom of a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish or pan (use a piece of wax paper placed over the top to press down the mixture). Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with dates, pecans, and the cranberry mixture. Stir the caramel sauce and the remaining 1/3 cup flour together until smooth, spoon over cranberries. Sprinkle with the reserved 1 cup flour mixture. Bake an additional 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool on a wire rack. Lift out of pan with foil overhang. Cut into bars, makes approximately 24

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Sweet Potato Pudding

Today's recipe is...

Sweet Potato Pudding

1 lg. sweet potato, grated
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 stick butter, melted
3 eggs

Beat sugar, eggs, milk, add other ingredients. Mix well. Pour into a dish greased with a little butter.

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Sweet Potato Custard Pie

Today's recipe is...

Sweet Potato Custard Pie

4 med. sweet potatoes
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
6 lg. marshmallows, quartered
1 c. grated coconut

Bake or boil sweet potatoes; when well done mix with sugar and butter; add marshmallows and grated coconut. Pour into pie shell and bake 1 hour in 350 degree oven.

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Sweet Potato Balls

Today's recipe is...

Sweet Potato Balls

2 c. cooked sweet potatoes
6 marshmallows
2 c. prepared cereal crumbs

Mash sweet potatoes and season to taste; shape into balls, roll in crumbs. Place on broiler grill until brown. Turn, place a marshmallow on top of each ball, brown lightly. If desired you can place a marshmallow in the center of the balls, then roll in the crumbs and broil.

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Brine For Truffled Turkey

Today's recipe is...

Brine For Truffled Turkey

2 gallons cold water
1 cup kosher salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon peppercorns

Pour the cold water into a 5 gallon bucket or stock pot. (If you're using a bucket, make sure its been thoroughly cleaned). Dissolve the salt and sugar in a little bit of warm water, and add it to the cold water. Add the peppercorns and any other seasoning you might want to flavor the bird. Place the bird breast-side down in the bucket and cover. Store the bucket in a cold, dry place (like your refrigerator) and turn the bird once during brining. A 10-pound turkey should brine about 6 to 10 hours. A breast should soak for at least 4 hours and a duck for 2 hours. Once brining is done, pat the meat dry and cook it immediately.

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Pumpkin Pie

Today's recipe is...

Pumpkin Pie

3 eggs, slightly beaten
2 c. pumpkin
1/2 c. Sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves

With mixer or blender, mix above ingredients. Pour into prepared pie crusts and bake at 350 for approximately 40 minutes. Makes two

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