Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas

Pat

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas Baking

Today I made a batch of Pretzel Turtles.  These are my Grandson’s favorite.  I love the salty sweet taste.

Christmas Baking

As you can see these are very easy to make

 

Pretzel Turtles

1 pkg. small pretzels – I use the Snyder’s square ones

1 bag of Rolos Candy

Half Pecans

Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil and cover with pretzels.

Top each Pretzel with an unwrapped Rolo – flat side down

Bake at 250 degrees for 4 minutes.  Candy will not melt.

Remove from oven and top each piece with a half pecan pushing down gently.  Cool Slightly and then refrigerate for about 10 minutes or until set.

 

I also made Clove Cookies – they are not too sweet and a very good with a cup of  hot tea.  I got this recipe when I stayed at the Case Sedona Bed and Breakfast in Sedona, Arizona

Christmas Baking 001

Clove Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cloves

Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat.  Remove from heat and stir in sugar until well combined; then stir in vanilla.  Add egg and beat until mixture is smooth.  In a small bowl, stir together flour and cloves; gradually add to butter mixture blending thoroughly.

Drop dough by level teaspoonfuls onto well-greased baking sheets, spacing cookies 2-1/2 to 3 inches apart.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until edge are golden brown and puffy tops start to crinkle and collapse.  Immediately transfer cookies to racks and let cool.  Store airtight.

Makes about 4 dozen.

 

Several years ago a friend gave me a recipe for microwave peanut brittle and it turned out perfect.  Last year we installed a new mixcrowave that is a lot more  powerful than the old one.  So I did not make any peanut brittle.  My youngest strongly protested!  So this year I decided to give it a try.  The first batch burnt.  The second batch was more like a hard caramel – edible but slightly sticky.  So the third time was a charm and I made two batches.

Christmas Baking 002

Tomorrow or later today I will make the Pecan Sandies, Santa’s Whiskers – Southern Living 1985 Annual Recipes Page 323, and Cranberry Nut Bread.

Do you have favorites that you make only for Christmas?

Tomorrow will be the last trip to the grocery store!

Until later.

Pat