Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Bark is one of my very favorite Christmas Candies. I wouldn't be putting this up till Christmas time, but we always make some to give to grandma on thanks giving. This year is the prettiest it has turned out in a long time, but unfortunately the camera's battery is dead, and I don't know where the spare is. :( It is also very easy, we have, in years past always crushed the candy canes, by hand, but this year we discovered that the blender does it in about 1/4 of the time.

1 package of 12 candy canes
1 24 oz. package vanilla candy coating (almond bark)
Unwrap candy canes, and place in blender. Blend until there are no big chunks.
Put candy coating in large bowl (sometimes, the coating will have a hard plastic peace under neath, make sure that is removed.) and microwave 1 minute at a time until completely melted and smooth. mix crushed candy canes and coating thoroughly and pour onto a large sheet of wax paper. When it is completely set up, cut or break up and place in gift bags (or eat ;D)
Blessings!
~Elissa

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, but I can't find the recipes for the dishes I was going to post. I still can't find them, but as soon as I do I'll post them.
~Elissa

Green bean casserole

This is my favorite Thanksgiving side dish! Mmm! Mmm!

Ingredients:
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. soy sauce
Dash ground black pepper
4 cups cooked cut green beans
1 1/3 cups French Fried Onions

Directions:
MIX soup, milk, soy, black pepper, beans and 2/3 cup onions in 1 1/2-qt. casserole.
BAKE at 350°F. for 25 min. or until hot. STIR . Sprinkle with remaining onions. Bake 5 min.

pumpkin cookies

This is not a thanksgiving dessert, but it is fallish, so I thought I'd post it.

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup pumpkin (not one can ;D)
2 cups flour
1tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp.nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ginger

Cream shortening and sugar together. Beast eggs and pumpkin together. Mix and stir. Add dry ingredients and stir until smooth. Drop by teaspoon 2" apart on a greased baking sheat. Bake at 375* for about 10 minutes.

Frosting: (I always double this recipe, because there is never enough if you don't)
this is not the doubled version.
3 Tbls. Butter
4 tsp. milk
1/2 cup brown suger.
3/4 tsp. vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
Melt butter, milk and brown sugar until dissolved. Cool. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Blend well. Frost warm cookies or dunk them.

Mmm! Mmm!
Blessings!
~Elissa

Pumkin Pie

For the filling I use the recipe off of Libby's 100% Pumpkin. But during the holidays, I substitute the evaporated milk with egg nog. It is so delicious!

Famous Pumpkin Pie from Libby's canned pumpkin.

Makes 2 pies

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
4 large eggs
1 can (29 oz.) Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
2 cans (12 fl. oz. each) Evaporated milk ( substitute with 3 cups egg nog)

Pie shell (crust)

makes 2 pieces

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
Blend until crumbly, slowly add 2/3 cup ice cold water.
Roll.

Two years ago I also added leaves made out of pie crust.

Homemade whipped cream
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2/3 cup sugar.
Whip until beaters form stiff peaks when lifted out of cream.


YUM!! I can already taste it!
Blessings!
~Elissa

Dirt Pudding

Now that is almost thanksgiving, I am going to start posting my favorite thanksgiving recipes.

This is my all time favorite thanksgiving desert.

Dirt Pudding

1 large package Oreos, crushed
16 ounces of cream cheese, softened
1/4 stick of butter
2 cups powdered sugar
3 1/2 cups milk
2 small packages of instant vanilla pudding
12 ounces of Cool Whip

Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and butter together. Set aside. Mix milk, pudding and Cool Whip together. Fold both mixtures together. Layer Oreos, and mixture ending with Oreos.

Enjoy!
Blessings!
~Elissa

Mom's cheeseball

Cheese ball

1-3oz dried beef chopped
2-8oz cream cheese
1/4 cup mayo
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated
2 Tablespoons onion finely chopped
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
2 tablespoon finely chopped carrot
2 Tablespoons finely chopped celery
1/2 teaspoons salt.
Blend all ingredients. Place on large piece of plastic wrap--using the wrap and your hands mold into a ball. Place plastic wrapped ball into a bowl and place in fridge for at least 1 hour. Unmold and serve with crackers, wheat thins, and veggies.

This is an absolutely DELICIOUS cheese ball. The canned meat may not be the healthiest of ingredients, but for a treat now and then it doesn't hurt. Everybody love this stuff, especially people who aren't always fond of cheese ball. We usually end up making this during autumn, but it's great any time of the year!!
Blessings!
~Elissa