Holiday Recipes

I figured I would put up some of the recipes from this Christmas. Sorry I don't have photos, I did not think to take them :(

I'm going to break this down into categories so it's easier. Let's start with the good stuff, desserts!

Toffee Crackle Cookies (from Publix Sweet Ideas)

What you need:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (I used Kosher salt)
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup of chocolate covered toffee pieces (I used Heath)
• Granulated sugar

What to do:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees
• In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds
• Add brown sugar, baking powder and salt
• Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally
• Beat in egg and vanilla until combined
• Beat in flour
• Stir in toffee pieces
• Shape dough into balls
• Roll balls in granulated sugar
• Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until tops are cracked and sides are set (do not let edges brown)
• After done baking transfer to wire rack and let cool

These cookies were a big hit. I have one (seriously) left. Aaron walked by the rack at one point and stole one while I was baking, these are his favorites.

Peanut Butter Blossoms (You know, the Hershey Kiss cookies)

What you need:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (I use unsalted)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (or 1/4 cup honey)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• Granulated sugar

What to do:

• In a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds (really until creamy)
• Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and baking powder
• Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally
• Beat in egg and vanilla until combined
• Beat in flour
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls
• Roll in additional granulated sugar to coat.
• Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet
• Bake at 375 for 7 to 9 minutes
• When done baking place kisses in center (kissing noise optional)
• Transfer to wire rack to cool

Side note for both cookie recipes: I use Splenda instead of sugar. Anytime I put a recipe up that says sugar, I use Splenda. My in laws are diabetic and honestly you cannot tell the difference between real sugar and Splenda.

Here a links to the French Silk Pie, Chocolate Covered Brownie Bites and Chocolate Truffles.

Dinner

I made ham and polish sausage for dinner. I would give you the recipe for the sausage, but then I would have to kill you. The recipe has been in my family for years. My great-grandparents would make this sausage and sell it in their store that they had in South Chicago until they sold it to the Slotkowski family after my great-grandfather passed away. If you are from the Chicagoland area (specifically south-side) you probably know what I am talking about and have probably had this sausage. It's super yummy! My Dad made this batch and it was great, and no you are not getting the recipe. :)

To go with the ham and sausage Mimi made bread and cornbread dressing (both ridiculously good and old family recipes and no I'm not passing that on) and I made garlic mashed potatoes, here's that recipe:

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

What you need:

• 4-6 Red or Yukon Gold potatoes, cleaned, unpeeled and quartered
• 1 (8oz) garlic or chive cream cheese
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• Milk if needed

What to do:

Cook potatoes and minced garlic in boiling water until potatoes are tender, drain
Mash potatoes
Add tub of cream cheese
Beat potatoes and cream cheese with mixer until well blended
Add milk if necessary


All of these recipes are really easy and really good! Enjoy!