Tag Archives: holiday recipes

Quick & Easy Fudge Recipe

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Julie

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a sweet tooth. I cut way back on sweet goodies about 6 months ago but now it’s the holiday season and I’m indulging a little here and there. I love to bake and I can’t possibly resist all of my favorites but I am vowing not to go overboard this season.

One of my holiday staples is making this quick and easy fudge recipe:

It’s simple, delicious and it makes a great gift. I usually make two to three batches per season. That seems crazy, but it makes a great gift!

I save a little for us and then I give the rest away to teachers, friends and neighbors.

It is always a hit and the best part is it’s a no-fail fudge recipe. You won’t be fussing with a candy thermometer and your chance of success is very high!

I found the recipe online at allrecipes.com and made a few very simple adjustments to suit our tastes.

Aunt Teen's Creamy Chocolate Fudge

2014-12-11 09:00:47

Yields 48

An easy no-fail fudge recipe that can be made in about 15 minutes.

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Ingredients

1 7 oz. jar marshmallow creme
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2/3 cups evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

Line an 8 x 8 inch pan with aluminum foil. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt. Bring to a full boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring.
Remove from heat and pour in chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours or until firm.

Notes

The original recipe calls for 2 cups milk chocolate chips and 1 cup semi-sweet chips. The original also calls for 1/2 cup chopped nuts. I prefer fudge without nuts and I prefer the taste of all milk chocolate, so feel free to add/adjust to your own taste!

Lilacs and Longhorns http://www.lilacsandlonghorns.com/

Do you like to bake during the holidays as much as I do?

Here are a few of my past holiday recipe posts I’ve shared:

Snowball Cookies
Farmer Cookies
Almond Bark Pretzels

I would love to hear about your favorite holiday treats!

Have a wonderful day,

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POSTED IN: baking, Christmas, fudge, holiday recipes

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A Family Favorite Recipe – Virtual Cookie Exchange

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Julie

Do you love cookies as much as I do?

Today is going to be a lot fun for me because I’m sharing a cherished cookie recipe as a part of this wonderful “virtual” cookie exchange:

Some people are sentimental about things, others are sentimental about holidays but I am really sentimental about food.

I know, it may sound weird, but eating, cooking and baking recipes that were a part of my family makes me feel at home. The tastes and smells bring back good memories of special times and special people.

One of my favorite recipes from my Grandma (on my mom’s side) is a cookie recipe handed down to her from her mother – Farmer Cookies.

Ever heard of them?

Probably not.

I have honestly never had them anywhere else but in my own family. And, to be completely truthful, it feels a little weird to be posting about them here on my blog, but food is for sharing and today, I’m giving you the recipe.

So, first, let me describe a Farmer Cookie since you have probably never heard of them.

It is soft and cake-like and it has a very mild flavor — it doesn’t taste like a butter or shortbread cookie but it is along those same lines. It is a sour cream cookie but not like others I have tasted — all the others I have tried are usually crisp or chewy. These are not crisp and they are not chewy. They are not highly seasoned, and they don’t have an overpowering flavor. But, they are GOOD!

I have never met anyone who has tried them and not liked them. And, what is kind of funny is that they seem grow on you. What usually happens when someone tastes one is they try it, they’re not blown away first but they like it. Then, they ask for another one, and then another one. And, then one day they are asking me for the recipe or, they’re asking me to bake them! (My sister-in-law, who is gluten-sensitive, cheats on her diet with them.)

(As a side note, I did an Internet search for Farmer Cookies and came up “Swedish Farmer Cookies” that are buttery almond cookies. These are not the same. )

Here’s my family recipe:

Farmer Cookies

2013-12-09 09:34:09

A simple and delicious cake-like cut-out cookie good for any time of the year.

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Ingredients

1 1/2 C. granulated sugar
1 C. butter or margarine
2 eggs
pinch of salt
1 C. sour cream
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Flour to make a soft dough (about 3 cups)

Instructions

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs.
Add baking soda to the sour cream and stir together. Add to butter sugar and eggs.
Add vanilla.
Stir in dry ingredients.
Roll out and bake in a quick oven.at 425 degrees F.
(roll dough to about 1/4 inch)

By Julie {Lilacs & Longhorns}

Lilacs and Longhorns http://www.lilacsandlonghorns.com/

I’ve added a video tutorial regarding the dough because it’s a little different to work with than regular cut-out cookies (the dough is sticky like a drop cookie but it is rolled out). In the video I say that you roll them about a half inch thick. I mis-spoke…it’s really about 1/4 of an inch. Regular cut-out cookies are rolled about 1/8 inch thickness, so these are thicker cookies.

*Also, please don’t judge me on the way I look. Bad lighting and an ice/snow day home with the kids is my excuse! (Also, thanks to my kids for putting together this little production on my iPhone for me!)

Ready for more inspirational and delicious cookie recipes?

You can find 29 more recipes during this week-long Virtual Cookie Exchange:

Please visit the following blogs to see what cookies

they have “brought” to the Christmas Cookie Exchange…

Monday, Dec. 9th

The Everyday Home

Atta Girl Says

Southern Color

All Things Heart and Home

Deja Vue Designs

Shabby Art Boutique

Tuesday, Dec. 10th

Worthing Court

Town and Country Living

Lilacs and Longhorns

Inspiration for Moms

Vintage News Junkie

Designers Sweet Spot

Wednesday, Dec. 11th

Marty’s Musings

Domestically Speaking

My Soulful Home

Sweet Pea

Our Southern Home

A Delightsome Life

Thursday, Dec. 12th

Cottage at the Crossroads

Pennywise

Major Hoff Takes a Wife

Country Design Style

House on the Way

Fresh Idea Studio

Friday, Dec. 13th

Confessions of a Plate Addict

Stone Gable

Create and Babble

So Much Better With Age

Cupcakes and Crinolines

The Happier Homemaker

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POSTED IN: baking, cookies, cut out cookies, farmer cookies, holiday recipes, recipes

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Rich and Delicious Pecan Pie Recipe

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Julie

If you’ve been reading my blog lately, you know that I love Thanksgiving.

I love the focus on being grateful, I love the traditional food and most of all, I love the pies.

In my opinion, Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t be complete without pumpkin or pecan pies.

Today, I’m honored to be participating in a Virtual Progressive Thanksgiving Dinner with more than 20 bloggers. Each of us bringing you our very best Thanksgiving dinner recipes, decorations and all of the things that make a Thanksgiving dinner special.

Today, I’m sharing my signature pecan pie recipe.

Yes…it’s my “signature” recipe.

(Kind of like Shelby in “Steel Magnolias” when she says that pink is her signature color)

It became my “signature” dessert several years back when I first start making pecan pie for my husband.

It was his very favorite pie and he always wanted one at Thanksgiving. And, me who believes cooking/baking is a way of showing my love was always happy to oblige.

I tried several recipes and each time he took a bite of a new version he would tell me what he did or did not like about it. It seemed like every recipe was good but was missing that certain something.

So, I continued trying recipes and then began tweaking and perfecting until I landed on just the right combination.

It is rich and delicious and I’ve been making it this way ever since.

It is always a hit with pecan pie lovers and non-pecan pie eaters alike.

I think it’s because I chop my pecans in to small pieces making it easier to eat and less offensive to those who don’t really love nuts (like me). The nuts blend in to the pie a little more so if you love the yummy inside, you’ll love the pecans, too.

Of course, if you love pecans then by all means don’t chop up the nuts! You’ll still love the pie!

Rich & Delicious Pecan Pie

2014-11-05 19:44:14

Yummy and rich pecan pie

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Ingredients

One pie crust for a 9 inch pie.
4 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup dark Caro syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup pecans, chopped*

Instructions

Roll out pie crust and place in to a 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edges
Whisk together eggs and next 6 ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat until well blended. Pour in to pie crust and sprinkle with pecans.
Bake at 350 on lower rack 30 minutes or until pie is set.

Notes