[Kitchen Witch]

For Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa!

Well - it's that time of the year again!

A time filled with love, compassion, generosity - a time when families and friends come together to celebrate - to share - to give - to love - to be together.

And it is at this time of the year that the pantry needs to be well stocked! A time when our doors are open to those who wish to visit us....that extra chair for those who will be sharing a meal or two - or some of those delicious home-baked cookies and goodies fresh from your kitchen!!

No matter where you will be spending your holidays this year - you most likely will be cooking and/or baking something; either to fill your home for family and friends, or to take along as a gift for the hostess/host of the gatherings you will be attending. There are office parties, church gatherings, parties at school, day care - you name it!

It is a very expensive time of the year too! Filling Santa?s shoes is a very important (and expensive) job! And don't forget about filling those stockings either! Homemade cookies and candies in festive tins can easily fit into a stocking!

Many will be busy with the decorations, making crafts, etc. as well as keeping those goodies around for everyone to enjoy. There is so much to prepare for!

But we must always remember those that may not be as fortunate as others. It is also a time to give to those we don?t even know - those who are in need.

We always make sure we give to the local food bank throughout the holidays. I know that somewhere there are families that are enjoying my handmade blankets and throws - heads and necks are being warmed with handmade scarves and hats - and that there are children enjoying donations of toys that we have made. It is a wonderful feeling to know that some families are having a better holiday because of the generosity of others.

This thread is for all those special recipes - from Appetizers to Desserts and any goodie gifts that you would like to share. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa - your recipes, ideas, kitchen tips, etc. will be welcomed in this thread.

Wishing all a very happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season -

Kitchen Witch



HOW ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CAKE RECIPE:

Christmas Cake Recipe

1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
4 large brown eggs
2 cups of dried fruit
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of brown sugar
Lemon juice
Nuts
1 bottle of whiskey

Sample the whiskey to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again. To be sure it's the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and beat again. Make sure the whiskey is still OK.

Cry another tup. Tune up the mixer. Beat two eggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fired druit gets stuck in the beaters, pry it goose with a drewscriver.

Sample the whiskey to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares?

Check the whiskey. Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon the sugar or something. Whatever you can find.

Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees.

Don't forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out of the window. Check the whiskey again and go to bed.

KITCHEN WITCH


Would you like to start with some appetizers???

PARTY STUFFED PINWHEELS

1 env. Lipton Recipe Secrets Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella
2 T. milk
1 T. grated Parmesan
2 pkgs. (10 oz. each) refrigerated pizza dough

NOTE: This is also terrific with Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix!

Preheat oven to 425 F. Combine all ingredients except pizza dough; set aside.

Unroll pizza crusts and top evenly with topping. Roll, starting at longest side, jelly-roll fashion. Cut into 32 slices. (If dough is too soft to cut - refrigerate or freeze so cutting is easier.)

Spray baking sheet; place rounds, cut side down.

Bake, uncovered, 13 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 32 pinwheels
KITCHEN WITCH



PIZZA SNACK CUPS

1 can (12 oz.) refrigerated biscuits (10 biscuits)
½ lb. ground beef
14 to 16 oz. spaghetti sauce (jarred or homemade)
½ c. (2 oz.) shredded Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 F. Press one biscuit into each muffin cup - pressing up sides of cup. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Brown meat in skillet; drain. Add sauce; heat through.

Evenly spoon ground beef mixture into muffin cups. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese and return to oven for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and biscuits are golden brown. Gently remove from muffin cups and serve.

Makes 10
KITCHEN WITCH


FESTIVE FRANKS

1 can ( 8 oz.) refrigerated crescent rolls
5 ½ t. barbecue sauce
1/3 c. finely shredded Cheddar cheese
8 hot dogs
1/3 t. poppy seeds (optional)
Additional barbecue sauce (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Unroll dough; separate into 8 triangles. Cut each triangle in half lengthwise to make 2 triangles. Lightly spread barbecue sauce over each triangle. Sprinkle with cheese.

Cut each hotdog in half; trim off rounded ends. Place hotdog at wide end of dough triangle; roll up from wide end. Place point side down on prepared sheet. Sprinkle with poppy seeds, if desired.

Bake 13 minutes or until dough is golden brown. Cool 1 to 2 minutes on baking sheet. Serve with additional barbecue sauce as a dipping sauce.

Makes 16 appetizers
KITCHEN WITCH


BUFFALO-STYLE CHICKEN NACHOS

2 c. diced cooked chicken
1/3 c. hot pepper sauce
2 T. melted butter
1 bag (10 oz.) tortilla chips
3 c. shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine chicken, hot sauce and butter. Layer chips, chicken and cheese in ovenproof baking dish. Bake 5 minutes just until cheese melts. Garnish as desired. Splash on more hot sauce, if desired.

I have used leftover turkey from Thanksgiving that was diced and frozen. Microwave to thaw and proceed with recipe.
KITCHEN WITCH


PIZZA ROLLERS

1 pkg. (10 oz.) refrigerated pizza dough

1/2 c. pizza sauce
18 slices pepperoni
6 sticks mozzarella string cheese

Preheat oven to 425 F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Roll out pizza dough on baking sheet to form 12 X 9-inch rectangle. Cut dough into six rectangles ( 4 X 4 ½-inches). Spread about 1 T. sauce over center third of rectangle. Top with 3 slices of pepperoni and stick of string cheese. Bring ends of cheese together over cheese, pinching to seal. Place seam-side down on prepared sheet.

Bake in center of oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 6 servings.
KITCHEN WITCH

HOLIDAY CHEESE TREE

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 c. (8 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese
3 T. finely chopped red bell pepper
3 T. finely chopped onion
1 T. lemon juice
2 t. Worcestershire sauce
¾ c. chopped fresh parsley
Yellow bell pepper
Baby cherry tomatoes
Lemon peel

Combine cheese, chopped red bell pepper, onion, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce in medium bowl; mix until well blended. Place on plate. Shape to form cone shape; about 6-inches tall.

Press parsley evenly onto cheese tree.

Using a cooie cutter or sharp knife, cut yellow bell pepper into star. Secure star, tomatoes and lemon peel (garland) with toothpicks.

Serve with assorted crackers and breadsticks.

Makes about 4 to 5 cups (14 to 16 appetizer servings)
KITCHEN WITCH

HERBED BLEU CHEESE SPREAD WITH GARLIC TOASTS

1 1/3 c. cottage cheese (low-fat is fine for this)
1 ¼ c. (5 oz.) crumbled bleu cheese, feta or goat cheese
1 large garlic clove
2 t. lemon juice
2 green onions with tops, sliced (about ¼ c.
¼ c. chopped fresh basil or oregano or 1 t. dried basil or oregano leaves
2 T. toasted slivered almonds
Garlic toasts (recipe follows)
To toast almonds, spread in single layer on baking sheet. Bake in preheated 350 F. oven 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently.

Combine cottage cheese, bleu cheese, garlic and lemon juice in food processor. Cover; process until smooth. Add green onions, basil and almonds; pulse until well blended but still chunky.

Spoon into small serving bowl; cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

When ready to serve, prepare Garlic Toasts. Spread 1 T. cheese spread onto each toast slice. Garnish, if desired.

Makes 16


GARLIC TOASTS

32 (½-inch thick) French bread slices
Nonstick cooking spray
¼ t. garlic powder
1/8 t. salt

Place bread slices on nonstick baking sheet. Lightly coat both sides of bread slices with cooking spray. Combine garlic powder and salt in small bowl; sprinkle evenly over bread slices. Broil 6 to 8 inches from heat for 30 to 45 seconds on each side or until bread slices are lightly toasted on both sides.

Makes 32 pieces
KITCHEN WITCH


PECAN CHEESE BALLS

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
¼ c. finely chopped fresh parsley
2 T. finely chopped fresh chives
½ t. Worcestershire sauce
Dash hot pepper sauce
¾ c. finely chopped pecans
Assorted crackers

Combine all ingredients - except pecans and crackers - in medium bowl. Cover; refrigerate until firm. Form cheese mixture into ball. Roll in pecans. Store tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in refrigerator. Allow cheese ball to soften at room temperature before serving with crackers.

Makes 1 cheese ball

VARIATION: Form cheese mixture into 1 ½-inch balls. Roll in paprika, chopped herbs (such as parsley, watercress or basil) or chopped green olives, instead of pecans.

GIFT TIP: Give Pecan Cheese Ball with an assortment of other cheeses, a wooden cheese board, a jar of imported pickles or mustard, and/or a bag of pecans.
KITCHEN WITCH


CHEESY CHRISTMAS TREES

½ c. mayonnaise
1 T. dry ranch-style salad dressing mix
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
¼ c. grate Parmesan
12 slices firm white bread
¼ c. red bell pepper strips
¼ c. green bell pepper strips

Preheat broiler. Combine mayonnaise and salad dressing mix in medium bowl. Add cheeses; mix well.

Cut bread slices into Christmas tree shapes using large cookie cutter. Spread each tree with about 1 T. mayonnaise mixture. Decorate with red and green bell pepper strips. Place on baking sheet.

Broil 4 inches from heat, 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbling. Serve warm.

Makes 12 appetizers

NOTE: Save remaining bread and let dry; process in food processor to make your own dry bread crumbs.
KITCHEN WITCH