I think many of us may need to slow down, take a deep breath, take a look around, and decide what’s really important. Is it the big gift? The big tree? Or maybe it’s the family that we surround ourselves with or the friends we have made our family.
Enjoy the food, enjoy the friends and enjoy your family. Enjoy the Season! Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
Caramel Snack Mix
(Great for gifts or sharing)
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup white corn syrup
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup almonds (you can use any combination of your favorite nuts)
1 (12 ounce) package crispy corn and rice cereal
Directions: Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Spray a large roasting pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium-size microwave safe bowl, mix butter, white corn syrup and brown sugar. Place the mixture in the microwave and cook 2 mins., or until butter melts.
Place the cereal, pecans and almonds into the prepared roasting pan. Pour the melted butter mixture over the cereal and nuts and mix gently until the cereal and nuts are coated. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 mins.
As the snack mix is cooling, be sure to continue to stir so that the mix will not harden in one big lump.
Molasses Cookies
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 cup molasses
1 cup buttermilk
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. Sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg; set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until smooth, then stir in the molasses. Add the sifted ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, mixing well after each addition.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. If the dough is too soft, more flour can be added. Cut out cookies using cookie cutters and place them 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned.
Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Do you have any requests? Is there a recipe you have been looking for or remember from your younger years? Can I help you find it? Do you have any recipes that are special to you that you could share with us? Please contact me at susieqcooking@ainop.com or c/o Pioneer Times, P.O. Box 456, Houlton, Maine 04730.
