Feeling Christmasy

  I start the day with wanting to try and make the best of the holiday season. I was thinking of making some Christmas goodies, maybe some fudge and cookies, with all those fabulous recipes out there, it's kinda hard to decide what to try. We all love fudge here but I am more of a white chocolate or maple fudge kind of person, I love peanut butter fudge if it's made right.

So I try and pick something we all will like. I usually make goodie trays for family and friends , but I think being we are like alot of our fellow Illinoisans and on unemployment the cash flow will prevent lots of tradition this year. It's sad but what is..is..we will manage we always do. So we will keep this Christmas simple, and still enjoy it.
 I love the recipes from all recipes, here are a few we enjoy.

Ingredients

• 4 cups white sugar
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme

Directions

1. Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish and set aside. Butter a 3 quart saucepan.
2. Place buttered saucepan over medium heat, and combine sugar, evaporated milk and 1 cup butter within. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface.
3. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and marshmallow creme. Beat vigorously until smooth. Pour quickly into prepared baking dish. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Candy Cane  Martini: this sounds great... even though we don't drink much, I can see us drinking this

Ingredients

• 3 fluid ounces rum
• 2 fluid ounces peppermint schnapps
• 1/2 fluid ounce grenadine syrup
• 1 small candy cane

Directions

1. Pour the rum, schnapps, and grenadine into a cocktail shaker over ice. Cover, and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with the candy cane to serve.

 My favorite is candy cane pie but it's hard to find the right recipe this one is very good.

Peppermint Candy Cane Pie

9-inch chocolate cookie crust
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 c. cold milk
6 to 8 peppermint candy canes
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs, separated
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. red food coloring
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
2 T. butter or margarine
1 1/2 T. milk
1 c. powdered sugar, sifted
pinch of salt
1/4 t. vanilla

Soften gelatin in 1/2 cup cold milk. Crush candy canes;
measure 1/2 cup. In saucepan combine 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup
of sugar, slightly beaten egg yolks and salt. Mix well.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until slightly
thick. Add softened gelatin and stir to dissolve. Blend
in food coloring. Chill until mixture begins to thicken.

Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar
and beat until stiff. Beat cream until stiff. Fold gently
into custard, then fold in egg whites. Chill until filling
holds its shape when stirred. Stir in peppermint, then
spoon into pie shell and chill until firm, about 4 hours.

Melt chocolate and butter together. Blend in milk, powdered
sugar, pinch of salt and vanilla; blend until smooth. Thin
with some cream if necessary. Serve over pie


OK so now I have a nagging sweet tooth and must go bake some goodies.