Wassail

Although we didn’t go wassailing or have any wassailers visit, I did make a batch of this lovely fruity & spicy drink for Christmas Eve. A large tea ball strainer works great for your spices! Be sure to toast, “Be in good health” when you drink.

2 cups sugar

4 1/4 cups water

2 cinnamon sticks

1 Tablespoons whole cloves

1 slice fresh peeled ginger

4 1/4 cups orange juice

2 cups lemon juice

1/2 gallon apple cider

Place sugar and water in large saucepan. Heat to boiling over high heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add spices. Cover and let sit on back of stove for 1 hour.

Strain, or remove tea ball strainer. Add juices and quickly bring it to a boil. Remove and serve. Keep hot in a crock pot.

Easy Egg Nog

This is the easiest recipe for egg nog I’ve seen and it was so tasty that we can’t wait to make it again! It’s not as thick and slimy as the stuff you buy at the store.
That is how it has been described to me by those poor sad individuals who don’t like egg nog. ;o)  The recipe came from AllRecipes UK (which is a very fun site, by the way). I left it in metric and also included my conversions…

I also used egg substitute as I am now back to buying eggs at the store and I didn’t want my 85-year-old grandma drinking raw eggs.

6 eggs or 1 1/2 cups egg substitute

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 L milk (4 1/4 cups)

1 pinch of salt

Beat all the ingredients together until well mixed and smooth.

150ml whipping cream (2/3 cup)

Beat cream to the soft peak stage. Fold into egg nog and chill.

Sprinkle with nutmeg before serving.

Must Have Christmas Treats

The week before Thanksgiving is a frantic rush of trying to get all of the Christmas baking done and in the freezer before Black Friday! All the cookies have to be ready to eat by Saturday, so we can read the Christmas story by candlelight and enjoy hot cocoa and Christmas cookies. The tradition just doesn’t work without the cookies… Not to mention the ease of holiday entertaining with a freezer full of treats ready to pull out in a moment’s notice!

Some are yearly traditions, every year we try a couple of new recipes; some stay and some go. Here is a list of this year’s stash of Christmas treats. Just click on their name to go to the recipe.

From left to right:

Chocolate-dipped chocolate chip: These are my hubby’s all-time favorite dessert! We HAVE to make these!

Cookie Stamp Cookies: I made the stamp by hand while pregnant with our middle son and are fun to make with the kids. This is a fun and sentimental must-have!

  Mint Meltaway Brownies: These chocolate-mint brownies are making their first Christmas appearance but may become a regular… Just make the recipe for my brownies using peppermint extract in place of the vanilla, stir in about 3/4 cup of Ande’s mint baking chips, and top with a swirl of green candy melts. Super easy!

Cranberry Orange Nut Bread: Every cookie tray should have an old family recipe and this one is it! It is my Great-Grandma Miller’s recipe and is the ideal blend of cranberry and orange!

Top tier:

See’s Fudge: Easiest best fudge ever! ‘Nuff said!

Petticoat Tails: I haven’t made these for Christmas in a few years. This year I divided the dough into thirds, dyed two red and green. Rolled them flat, stacked them up, rolled them again before chilling and slicing. I like the way they look on a Christmas plate!

Mexican Wedding Cakes:Also known as Russian Teacakes, these were a yearly tradition growing up and will be for my kids, too!

Bottom tier:

Gingerbread: Because it just isn’t Christmas without gingerbread!

Orange biscotti: Dip these in hot cocoa and you’ll know why we make them every year! Chocolate and orange, FANTASTIC!

Egg nog logs: These became a new tradition last year. A truly spectacular cookie with a cup of coffee (or without)!

This Butter Almond Toffee will probably become yet another Christmas staple!

I don’t have a picture, but no cup of Christmas hot cocoa should be without a homemade peppermint marshmallow!!!    It’s like eating a fluffy minty cloud! They aren’t as hard as they seem… give ‘em a try. You won’t be sorry!

Well, that wraps up our Christmas line-up. What’s on your Christmas must-have treat list???

Easy Corn Pudding

This is one of our family’s absolute favorite side dishes! We first had in on Christmas Eve at the Erickson’s while we were in seminary. Moist, delicious, filling and super simple, it is perfect when you need something fast! Yummy with or without sour cream, it is easy to whip up anytime…

1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix

1 can corn, drained

1 can creamed corn

1 cube butter, melted

1/4 cup sour cream, optional

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into greased 9” glass baking dish.

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, or until top is golden brown.

Let sit for about 5 minutes before serving.

Fresh Cranberry Salsa

This is my version of my friend Krisitn’s recipe for cranberry salsa. It’s pretty spicy but can easily be toned down to suit less hearty taste buds… It can be served over cream cheese with Wheat Thins or plain with tortilla chips.

1 bag fresh cranberries, washed & drained

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon fresh ginger

1/2-1 cup cilantro leaves

4-8 cloves garlic

1 jalapeno pepper

juice of 1 lime

zest of 1 orange (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until chopped but not pureed.

Chill until read to serve.