Ornament

All you need is Styrofoam ball, fabric and ribbon. We put 3 rubber bands around the ball to create 6 wedges. (mark with marker) Then cut fabric just a little bigger than your lines you made on ball, then take a butter knife and push fabric into the ball on your lines. Super cute and fun.

Coconut Bread

2 c. sugar

1 c. butter

4 eggs

1 T. coconut flavoring

1 c. Buttermilk

1 c. coconut flakes

1 c. chopped pecans ( optional )

Cream butter, sugar, add eggs, flavoring,

buttermilk, coconut flakes, and nuts.

Blend in 3 c. flour, 1/2 t. salt, 1/2 t. baking soda,

and 1/2 t. baking powder

Bake in greased loaf pans @ 325 for approx. 40 min.

Glaze

! 1/2 c. sugar

3 T. butter

1/3 c. water

1 t. coconut flavoring

Bring to boil. Let bread cool for 5 min. Poke holes in it with

a skewer, pour glaze over each loaf, while still in pans.

Let set 5 min. Remove from pans, place on cooling rack. Pour additional glaze over them.

If you don't want it too rich, place glaze just on top of loaf without holes. I prefer not using the nuts.

Everyone I share this with loves it. Enjoy!

Holiday Salad

This is from my sister-in-laws food blog http://bmrobertsrecipes.blogspot.com/. I made it for Thanksgiving last year, and for a little friend party I went to this year. So many people were asking for the recipe. I love it when that happens! I think everyone really enjoys the pomegranates. Something you don't see often, but tastes delicious. I didn't have any almonds so I used pecans and it was awesome.

-Dry Creek Ward YW Cookbook, 32, Thomalee Abraham

2 heads Romaine lettuce, chilled and torn
1/2 to 1 pomegranate, seeded
1/2 red onion, finely sliced
4 oz. slivered almonds, sugared

To sugar almonds, place in a saucepan with 3 tablespoons sugar over medium heat. Stir frequently until almonds are coated and sugar disappears. Cool on wax paper.

Dressing:
2/3 Tbsp. poppy seeds
1/3 c. white vinegar
1/2 c. salad oil
1/3 c. sugar
3/4 Tbsp. grated onion
3/4 tsp. salt
1/3 tsp. dry mustard

Mix ingredients in blender. Pour over salad just before serving.

Tamara’s Ginger Snaps

A much loved classic!

2 cup sugar

1/2 cup dark molasses

1 ½ cup softened butter

2 egg

4 ½ cups flour

4 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon each salt, ginger and cloves

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Additional sugar

Cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy.

Beat in eggs and molasses.

Combine dry ingredients and

gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.

Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

Roll into 1” balls and then in sugar.

Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

(I always do 8 minutes. They stay softer!)

Chocolate Kiss Cookies

Have you ever wondered what the Roberts Chocolate Chip Cookie would be like in a chocolate form? This is it! The recipe is almost exactly the same, but just switching some flour out for some cocoa. Super cute, fun, and yummy. Took them to a craft night, people were asking for the recipe. ;)

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Recipe by Our Best Bites

1/2 c. butter-flavored shortening (I used regular)
1/2 c. real butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
optional: 1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract (I used 1 tsp. vanilla, and 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract, good combine for my taste buds)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. flour, lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled with a knife

(this didn't work for me, mine came out to have too much flour, the dough was way to crumbly, next time I would add slowly to a good cookie dough consistency then leave the rest out.)
1/4 c. + 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 c. dark chocolate chips
48 Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream together softened butter, shortening, brown sugar, and white sugar for 1-2 minutes on medium-high speed or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Meanwhile, combine the baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, and cocoa powder. Add to the butter/sugar mixture and mix until combined. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the centers are set but still soft. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes. Top each cookie with an unwrapped Candy Cane Kiss. Allow to cool completely, long enough for the Kiss to harden. If necessary, after the cookies have cooled, they can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer to re-solidify the Kiss.
(I didn't wait to put the kiss in the middle and when it started to melt some I pushed the center down, so it looked more like a drop of frosting on top, I think it's a little cuter than a melted kiss look.)

Also like this version....  from black peppercorn....  
no shortening...  

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter , softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 40-45 Hershey's Peppermint Kisses

Instructions

• Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, both sugars, eggs, milk and vanilla until smooth.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat the flour mixture into the wet mixture slowly.
• Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place the balls 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and press a chocolate peppermint kiss in the centre of each cookie.

Cold Pasta Salad

From Dena.

This is the best ever! It was served at the Relief Society Christmas dinner.

Pasta

16 oz. bow tie pasta

2 bags of fresh baby spinach

1 small can of sliced water chestnuts, chopped

2 small cans of mandarins oranges

1 - 2 cups of craisins

1 red pepper, chopped

1 - 2 bunch green onions, chopped

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds

2-3 cups cubes/torn chicken breast

1 cup honey roasted peanuts/cashews ( if serving a large crowd peanuts are less expensive)

Dressing

1 cup veg. Oil

2/3 cup white wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2/3 cup teriyaki sauce

5 Tbl. sugar

Cook pasta, drain and cool. Whisk dressing. Marinade pasta in dressing for at least one hour or longer. Boil chicken and cube.

Combine salad ingredients and toss...add spinach last and mandarin oranges last.

Serves 6-8

Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Glaze

Dicy's

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup pumpkin (I used can pumpkin)

Cream together then add:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnimon

1/2 tsp. salt

chocolate chips

Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. 375 degrees for 10 minutes

Glaze

Melt 6 Tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium low heat. Add 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar and stir till blended. Slowly pour in 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons milk and bring to boil. Scrap into bowl and cool 10 minutes. Then add one cup powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and beat till smooth, and frost cookies.

Deliciousness.