N1.Buckeye Balls

Christmas is only 5 days away and Christmas Eve just 4 days away from now! This time of the year is about being around with your family and enjoying family quality time. I have just the special treat to make your family gathers just a touch better. This touch is extra special because it’s homemade especially from my mother. It’s the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter put together. It only takes 10 minutes to prepare and they are completely ready within an hour and 25 minutes. The original recipe of the buckeye balls yields 5 dozens. To make the buckeye balls you will need: creamy peanut butter, butter, vanilla extract, confectioners’ sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips and shortening. How to:

Step 1: line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside for later use.

Step 2: in a medium size mixing bowl, add 1 ½ cups of creamy peanut butter with ½ cup of softened butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 4 cups of sifted confectioners’ sugar with hands to form a smooth stiff dough.  

Step 3: shape the dough into balls using 2 teaspoons of dough for each ball. Then place them on the prepared wax papered pan and place in refrigerator. 

Step 4: now melt 2 tablespoons of shortening and 6 ounces of the semi-sweet chocolate chips together in a metal bowl over a pan of light simmering water. Make sure to stir occasionally until smooth, then remove from the heat. 

Step 5: Now remove the balls from the refrigerator. Then insert a toothpick into the ball and dip into the melted chocolate. Next return the balls to the making sure the chocolate side is down and remove the tooth pick. Repeat with all the other remaining balls.

Step 6: Then refrigerate for 30 minutes!

M1. Hershey's Peanut Butter Blossoms

Looking for quick and easy Christmas cookies to make that are fun for the kids?! Well then Hershey's Peanut Butter Blossoms are just for you! And on the bright side they take no longer than 20 minutes. I personally recommend these cookies for the holiday season because they go great with  hot chocolate around the fire. This recipe yields around 48 cookies give or take a w. For this delicious Christmas cookie you will need: Hershey kisses, shortening, Reese's creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, egg, milk, vanilla extract, all purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Now let's begin the steps! How to:

Step 1: preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and while doing that Unwrap 48 Hershey kisses.

Step 2: then beat 1/2 cup of shortening with 3/4 cups of the peanut butter into a large bowl until well blended. Then add 1/3 cup of granulated and 1/3 cup of brown sugar and beat until fluffy.

Step 4: next add one egg, 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and beat well. Then stir together 1 1/2 cups of the flour along with 1teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

 Step 5: gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

Step 6: now shape the dough into 1-inch balls. And roll in granulated sugar, and place on an ungreased baking sheet.

Step 7: bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Then immediately press a Hershey kiss in the center of each cookie.
        * beware the cookies will crack when place the chocolate on them.

Step 8: remove the cookie sheet to the wire rack and cool completely.

ENJOY!

NUTRITION FACTS:

For each cookie there's about....
Calories: 90
Total fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 5mg
Total carbohydrates: 10g
Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 6g

M2. Sugar Christmas Cokies

Christmas is only 15 days away! I think it is time for you and your family to get a start on your Christmas cookies! For the next couple of blogs I am going to give out recipes for various types of Christmas cookies. This blog I am going to show you how to make sugar cookies. Sugar cookies are super easy to make and quick! A batch makes between 15 to 17 medium sized cookies. You will need: all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, large egg, vanilla extract; for the cookies. Then for the icing you will need confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, warm water, assorted sprinkles, colored sugar and small candy pieces and food coloring but that is optional. How to:

COOKIES:

Step 1: sift together 2 cups of flour with 2 teaspoons of baking powder and ½ teaspoons of slat. Then in a stand mixer, cream ½ cup, equivalent to 1 stick, of butter, and 1 cup of granulated sugar until light and fluffy mixture.

Step 2: Add 1 large egg and mix until combined. Next gradually add the sifted dry ingredients, one spoonful at a time, until thoroughly combined. 

Step 3: Add ½ teaspoons of vanilla. Then chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

Step 5: Roll out half of the dough at a time, keeping the remainder of the dough in the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a ¼ inch thickness and cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. 

Step 6: Next place the cutout cookies 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookies sheet and put the cookies sheet in the fridge for a few minutes just before putting  them in the oven. 

   *This helps the cookies to retain their shape.

Step 7: Now bake until just before the edges of the cookies start to brown up for about 8 to 10 minutes. Then cool the cookies for 1 to  2 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing the wire racks to cool completely.

ICING:

Step 1: in a medium size mixing bowl, combine a 12 ounce box of confectioners’ sugar along with 3 tablespoons of meringue powder and 1/3 cup of warm water with a wire whisk. And stir until the icing is smooth.

Step 2: Adjust the consistency of the icing by adding more confectioners’ sugar or more water, as needed.

   *If you want you can food coloring if desired

Step 3: spread the icing on the cooled cookies and then top the with the assorted sprinkles and candies! 

ENJOY!

L1. Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce

The natural sweetness of fresh apples and pears makes this homemade Spiced Apple-Pear sauce a standout over the store bought version. Lemon juice adds brightness and keeps the fruit from browning, and cinnamon and nutmeg lend warm spice notes. This apple pear sauce is super easy and very quick to make! It serves up to 4 people and only takes 20 minutes to cook and 10 minutes to prep everything. To make this delicious recipe you will need: McIntosh apples, Bartlett pears, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, and sugar. Now how-to:

Step 1: combine 3 apples and 3 pears with 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, 6 cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoons of sugar and ¼ cup of water into a medium saucepan.

   *For the apples and pears make sure they are peeled, cored and chopped into ½ inch pieces

Step 2: Then bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover; reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the apples and pears are very soft but still just a little bit chunky. Should cook for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then taste the texture and add the remaining tablespoon of sugar if desired. 

Step 3: Next remove the sauce from the heat and stir a few times until the sauce is well combined with small chunks. Then cool to room temperature.

Step 4: Remove the cinnamon sticks and serve. 

    *for a smoother sauce, remove the heat, remove the cinnamon sticks and then whisk the mixture until smooth before cooling.

ENJOY!

NOTES:

This recipe can be prepared several days in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. Let it stand at room temperature for a few hours before serving. Also you could add really as much sugar as desired to meet your own needs. This sauce goes great with a dinner!

L2. Ginger Crinkle Cookies

Now that Thanksgiving and November are officially over with it’s now time to move into the winter treats! I am going to tell you how to make old-fashioned ginger crinkle cookies. These cookies are super easy to make and very fast as well. And it makes about 4 dozen cookies a batch. To make these cookies you’ll need: all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, kosher salt, ground allspice, ground cloves, vegetable shortening, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, molasses, granulated sugar, egg  and turbinando sugar. How-to:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups of flour with 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 ½ teaspoons of ginger, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of allspice and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves.

Step 3: Now add ½ cup of the shortening along with ¼ cup of unsalted butter and ½ cup of firmly packed light brown sugar, and ½ cup of granulated sugar. Next beat on medium speed until light and fluffy for about 3 to 4 minutes. Then slip in ¼ cup of molasses and one large egg and beat until well incorporated. 

Step 4: Add the flour mixture by spoonful’s and beat until combined. 

Step 5: Now add ¼ cup plus an additional tablespoon of turbinando sugar to a small plate or bowl. Then roll the dough into balls that are 1 inch in diameter then roll into the sugar.

Step 6: place 12 balls on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart and bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes, rotating halfway through the baking time. Then cool on the baking sheet for 4 minutes and continue cooling on wire racks.

Step 7: repeat with the second batch

NOTES: These cookies are nice and chewy on the inside with a tad bit of crunch on the outside. Also they have a soft texture from using both shortening and butter. And when you bake these cookies your house will smell just like Christmas!

K1. Deep Dish Apple Pie

This recipe I am sharing with you right now isn’t just your ordinary apple pie it is a deep dish apple pie! This is an intermediate level making recipe and takes only one hour to cook and 45 minutes to prep. The ingredients you will need for this is: Granny Smith apples, lemon, orange, freshly squeezed lemon juice and orange juice, all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, pie crust and egg beaten with water. How To:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: Cut 4 pounds of the apple quarters in thirds crosswise and combine in a mixing bowl with 1 zested lemon and orange with 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the oranges juice along with ½ cup of sugar, ¼ cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, ¾ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon of allspice.

Step 3: Now roll out half the pie dough and drape it over a 9 or 10 inch pie pan to extend about ½ inch over the rim. Then don’t stretch the dough! IT it’s too small, just put it back on the board and re rolls it.

Step 4: Next fill the pie with the apple mixture you just made. Then brush the edge of the bottom pie crust with the egg wash so the top of the crust will adhere. 

Step 5: Top with the second crust and trim the edges to about 1 inch over the rim. Next tuck the edge of the top crust under the edge of the bottom crust and crimp the 2 together with a fork our fingers.

Step 6: Brush the entire top crust with the egg wash, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sugar and cut about 4 or 5 slits.

To make the perfect pie crust:

Ingredients: unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, kosher salt, sugar, cold vegetable shortening, and ice water.

Step 1: Ice 12 tablespoons of unsalted butter and return it to the fridge while preparing the flour mixture.

Step 2: Place 3 cups of flour with 1 tablespoons of sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix.

Step 3: Add the butter and 1/3 cup of shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas.

Step 4: With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball,

Step 5: Now dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Then wrap in plastic wrap and fridge for 30 minutes.

Step 6: Next cut the dough in half. And roll each piece on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn’t stick to the board.

Step 7: Now fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with top crust.

This yields 2 (10 inch) pie crusts