Week 10: Christmas Goodies

It's December and we are getting closer and closer to Christmas. Growing up my grandma and my mom would usually start baking the 2nd week of December. At grandma's house she would always have fudge, divinity and peanut brittle. She has children and grandchildren scattered throughout the United States and that was her gift to them. She would fill the shoe boxes with candies and wrap them in pretty paper and then in a brown paper bag. She also loved the cut out sugar cookies. My daughter came home on December 10th from college. We spent hours in the kitchen the whole week baking all sorts of things. Here is a list of them: chocolate fudge, peppermint fudge, peanut butter fudge, cream cheese cookies, peanut brittle, coconut snowball cookies, cranberry almond biscotti, and raspberry gumdrops. All were amazingly good. Just spending time with my daughter was such a blessing. My son contributed some, mostly taste testing. Hey, it is an important job. Hope you are enjoying time in the kitchen this holiday season, maybe with someone you love. Memories like that are to be cherished a lifetime.

Week 9: Cranberry Eggnog Cornbread Scones

I almost made it through this week without baking. So much baking for Thanksgiving, I didn't even know what sounded good and I have plans for lots of Christmas goodies the next few weeks. I wanted something that was right for the season yet not so sweet and great with coffee or tea. Scones were perfect. I searched many recipes until I found this one. Eggnog and craisons, and a hint of nutmeg to bring out the eggnog flavor. Great with tea or coffee. This is a great recipe and very easy. Smells great baking. You need to serve this one warm or at room temperature. You could put a glaze on after it cools a bit or sprinkle some crystallized sugar before it bakes. Substitute eggnog for the milk in the glaze recipe. It really compliments the eggnog in the scones. Hope you enjoy this one. I know my family did. I might even make some for gifts. Enjoy!

Week 8: White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake

Happy Holidays my friends! I love this season. So many memories about food during this time of year. I think I already told you how wonderful my grandmothers were in the kitchen. I miss them so much. I decided after my one grandmother died, we would make everything she always made and also try out a new recipe or two. Well, Katlyn learned how to make my grandmother's famous chicken n dumplings. They were amazing. Everyone loved them and I know grandma was smiling down from heaven. I let her make the recipe this week since she was home. She chose White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake. It was so good. The crust was made with crushed ginger snap cookies and the filling was made with pumpkin, spices, sugar, and some yummy white chocolate. This has to be one of my favorites so far. I'm so proud of my daughter for her love for cooking. She is a real joy in my life. I know this will be one a many great cooking experiences for the two of us. Wow, it's already week 9 and I am only now writing week 8. Guess I better get busy.