We Have Our Winners!!

The winners of our Friendly Friday "Family Traditions" and this beautiful Kissing Crystal

 from Anastasia's Attic   Are.........

 Samantha of Samantha's Custom Images


                      And.....

 Jacqueline of Purple Chocolat Home

Congrats Ladies!! Send me your mailing address to Cricketheffron@yahoo.com and I will get them in the mail to you. I know it's a bit late to use them this year but I hope this little beauty will add a whole lot of kissing at your house next year ;)
Merry Christmas

Rolo (cookie) Treats

Have you ever stumbled across and incredible recipe that is sooooo easy, fast, inexpensive and just so good you can't stop making it....no...well now you have. This will probably be my pick for favorite  holiday recipe for 2010.

Rolo Cookie Treats

Ingredients:


•Small pretzels (round or square) I like the square myself but couldn't always find them

•ROLO Candies (Chewy Caramels in Milk Chocolate)

•Pecan halves


Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.


2. Place one pretzel for each pretzel treat desired on prepared sheet. Top each pretzel with one ROLO Chewy Caramel in Milk Chocolate.


3. Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until caramel piece begins to soften, but not melt. Remove from oven; top with either pecan half or additional pretzel. Cool completely.

Friendly Friday!!!

Well, it's Friendly Friday and you know what that means....You get to win a prize!!!!!

As I said in my last post...Tradition is a word that seems to pop up a lot at this time of the year. We talked about traditional foods and recipes that our family looks forward to each year. But there are other types of traditions as well.

Our family has a big party every year and we invite all of our friends and family to come but to get in you have to bring a toy for the Toy's For Tot's drive.It is something very dear to my heart.

We take our children and grandchildren to see the lights at Temple Square.

And for pie and hot chocolate afterwards at the local Village Inn.

Traditions can be something you just started and plan to continue each year or something that has been passed down for generations. Different cultures have different Holiday traditions.

 I know a friend of mine who is German and they hide an ornament that looks like a pickle some place on the tree and the first person to find it wins a prize.

Kissing under the mistletoe is a very old tradition. I was going to research it and find out it's roots but hey it's the week before Christmas and who has that kind of time....LOL

There have been songs and poems written about it. Relationships have started with that first sweet kiss under the mistletoe. Arguments forgotten, and families started all because of this wonderful thing called mistletoe.

OK, I did say you could win something right? So here it is....a beautiful Mistletoe Kissing Crystal.

Hang it up year after year and let the smooching begin. Just share with me some of your family traditions and one....awww....it's Christmas...make it TWO lucky people will win one of their very own!!
Remember...you can't win if you don't play!! You just have to be a follower or become one and leave me a message about your family traditions!!
Contest closes at midnight on Thursday Dec. 23, 2010

I am linking this to: Dittle Dattle Amaze Me Monday

Traditional Holiday Recipes

During the holidays we hear the word Tradition a lot. We have Traditions in our family,Traditions with friends, Traditions in our decorating, Traditions with food, and the list goes on.....

In our family at Christmas we have two Traditional recipes that never fail to please.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake and Muddy Buddies.

The Brown Sugar Pound Cake is  a recipe from my sister Marinita. Who I affectionately call "Sissy"
This cake is soooo good. It goes great with a cup of hot tea, hot chocolate, a cup of coffee or my favorite...a cold glass of milk. Every time I make it and take it someplace I am invited back for sure...well...me AND the cake are invited back again...LOL
This cake needs no frosting. After cooling it has a crunchy crust that forms on the top that is to die for.
It is a Southern Classic and a Family Favorite!

Look at how moist this pound cake is!

Sissy's Brown Sugar Pound Cake
1 Box light brown sugar (1.lb)
1 Cup granulated sugar
1 Cup solid shortening (I use Crisco)
1 Stick butter
5 eggs (at room temp.)
1 Cup milk
3 Cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. maple flavoring
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup broken up (not chopped) walnuts
*Walnuts are optional but they really make a difference if you like them*


Preheat oven to 300
Grease and flour bunt pan or loaf pans. If using loaf pans you will want to check them more often as the cooking time is shorter.

Cream butter and shortening.
Add the 2 sugars and mix well.
Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition.
Mix flour and baking powder in a separate bowl.
Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to the creamed mixture.
Add vanilla and maple flavoring, mix well
Add nuts.
Bake 1 1/2 -2 hours.
Cake is done when knife inserted comes out clean.
I know it may seem a bit overwhelming at first but this cake is not hard and it is sooooo worth it!!

Muddy Buddies have been around for a long time, in fact the recipe was originally called "Puppy Chow" and I think we each have our own favorite cereal or combination of ingredients we like to use. I first tasted these about 25 years ago when my sister-in-law Patti made some. And I still love them. At that time we made them with "Chex Cereal" But over the years I have changed to "Crispix" cereal. I think the shape, texture and taste is a lot better. They kind of look like snowflakes.

Muddy Buddies

1 box Crispix cereal (12 oz)
1 bag semi sweet cchocolate chips (12 oz)
1 stick of butter at room temperature
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 paper grocery sack.

Empty cereal into a large bowl and set aside
Put the powered sugar in paper grocery sack and set aside
Combine butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips in a medium sauce pan and melt over medium heat, stirring the whole time so it doesn't stick or burn.

When all is melted and combined and smooth, slowly pour it over cereal and gently stir until all cereal is well coated with chocolate mixture.

Then pour into the paper sack with the powered sugar.
Close top of bag tight, and shake until all cereal is coated and a beautiful white. Let cool

Now you are ready to put your wonderful muddie buddies into a pretty, cello bag, or container of your choice to share with your family and friends.

I added a pretty ornament to dress it up a little!

Do you have recipes you make every year during the holidays  recipes that you always make every year during he holidays because it is "Tradition"

Mango Chicken Chili

Mango Chicken Chili

It sure does get cold here in Utah! And as a working mom I am always looking for one more recipe that is quick, cost effective, yummy and falls under the guide lines of "Comfort Food" and this recipe really hits the spot. I got this recipe from my oh so talented friend Jacki over at Purple Chocolat Home. Sneak over there and take a peek...you will love her too!

Ingrdients:

1 container Mango Salsa (from Costco)

2 - 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth

2 C. frozen white corn

1 tsp. cumin

the meat from 1 rotisserie chicken, cut small

Place in crock pot and simmer for 3 hours.


Place garnishes out and let guests

top their soup with:

sour cream

lime wedges

avocado cubes

grated pepper jack cheese

tortilla chips

Coconut Anyone???

Okay if you know anything about me at all you know I LOVE COCONUT!!! And I will eat it in or on just about anything. I found a new blog "See Jane In The Kitchen" and found this recipe. It is her mom's recipe and of course I just had to share it with you. I have not made it yet, but I will this weekend. I can just tell by the picture I am going to love it and so will you!!

Jane has a ton of fun recipes. make sure to stop by her blog and say hi.

 Jane's Mom's coconut bread



4 eggs, beaten

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

1 Tablespoon coconut extract

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup chopped pecans


In a medium bowl, mix eggs, sugar, oil and coconut extract. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Alternate adding flour and buttermilk to egg mixture. Fold in coconut and pecans.

Bake at 325 degrees for an hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Glaze

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon coconut extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 Tablespoons butter

Put butter, sugar and water in a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add almond and coconut. Pour over warm bread and let sit for a couple of hours to soak in.

Makes 2 large loaves or 6 small loaves.

Yummy Roasted Root Veggies

I love all the fall and winter root vegetables, but don't know many way to make them. I found a couple of recipes on one of my favorite blogs "The Sister's Cafe" and knew I had to share. This next one is so yummy even your pickiest eaters will love it. They have a lot of wonderful recipes to share so make sure and stop over there and check them out.

Roasted Root Vegetables

( Melanie ~The Sisters Cafe)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

1 pound medium-sized potatoes

1 pound sweet potatoes

4 to 6 carrots

1/2 medium-sized red onion



Preheat oven to 400°. Peel vegetables and chop into 1-inch cubes, or bite size pieces for the carrots. In a medium bowl, toss chopped vegetables with olive oil and garlic. Drizzle in more oil if everything did not get coated. Spread vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Place pan in the oven and roast for 40 minutes, stirring after the first 20 minutes. Serve immediately. Alter any ingredients to your taste. You can use this same olive oil + garlic + salt and pepper method for any assortment of veggies, or try spicing things up by adding some red wine vinegar or fresh herbs to the mix too.

This next one is just plain good. What a great side dish along with any course. I have made them with chicken, pork, turkey, and beef and they are always great.

Herb-Roasted Potatoes


( Erin ~ sisterscafe.blogspot.com)

¼ cup olive oil

1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp dried marjoram

¼ tsp dried oregano

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground black pepper

3 russet potatoes (about 2 ¼ pounds), scrubbed (do not peel), cut into ½ -inch cubes



Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine all ingredients except potatoes in large bowl. Stir to blend well. Add potatoes to seasoning; toss to coat. Transfer potatoes to large rimmed baking sheet, spreading out in single layer. Bake until brown and tender, about 40 minutes, turning potatoes halfway through cooking.

*Remember to go on over and check out this amazing blog for more yummy recipes...just click "HERE" *

Adventures In Decorating

Good Morning All....yes it is very early here but I am excited to share something with you. When I started this blog it was for the purpose of sharing recipes, but over time I have added all kinds of little tidbits I thought you might enjoy. You all know I am a blog stalker! Always looking for wonderful other bloggers willing to share their talents. Well you are in for a treat!!

This is Becca.

I found her blog "Adventures In Decorating" and just fell in love. Not only does she live in the South and you all know I am very proud of my southern roots. But....this lady has mad decorating skills. I fell in love with her Nutcracker Mantel......

Then I saw her adorable kitchen with Mr & Mrs Santa Claus and the adorable gingerbread cookies. OMGosh this lady has talent. Her attention to detail is amazing. I just couldn't stop scrolling down and looking at older post's because I just had to see what else she has done. And I was not disappointed. Her house is beautiful and just filled with Southern Charm with a  classy edge. I have recommended blogs to you before but this one is a must see. And if you are stuck for decorating ideas this year, you won't be after a visit with Becca at Adventures In Decorating. Click HERE to visit her and her beautiful home.
I have heard of a blog crush, but didn't know what it meant util now....LOL