Cannoli

One of my sister's favorite desserts are cannoli. So this Christmas, after seeing a semi-homemade version, I called my Aunt and got our grandmother's cannoli filling recipe.

1 container ricotta (don't drain it like the link says. My Aunt was shocked!! She said if you drain it, you'll break the cheese up to shit) plus 1 cup powdered sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla.... then with an electric mixer "whip the hell out of it. The more you whip it the fluffier it will get". Then fold in mini chocolate chips. 

Do not fill the cones until you are about to eat them Otherwise the cones/shells will get soggy. 

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Gummy's Molasses Cookies

This molasses cookie recipe has been in  my family for generations. It's not Christmas without these being made...even if it is the day after Christmas. 

When my cousin was stationed in Afghanistan we would pack up a care package with unfrosted cookies in them and a note saying "Share". (haha)

The one (unique) thing about these cookies is it uses BACON GREASE as the shortening. I know it sounds strange but trust me.

Ingredients:

1 C Sugar

You can see it's a well loved recipe. 

1 C Bacon grease, melted

1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs, beaten

1 C molasses

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/2 C hot coffee

1/2 tsp vanilla

4 C flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*

1. Cream together sugar, grease/shortening and eggs

2. In separate bowl combine molasses and baking soda, set aside until it doubles in size. Once doubled add sugar/shortening mix into molasses. 

3. Add cinnamon, cloves and ginger into flour

4. Mix vanilla into hot coffee. 

5. Alternate mixing flour mix and hot coffee into molasses mixture (ending on flour mix: flour, coffee, flour, coffee, flour)

6. Drop large spoonfuls onto cold/room temperature cookie sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes. 

Let cool. Eat with Royal Icing or unfrosted. 

Christmas Meatballs

hamburger, italian sausage, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, milk, salt & pepper

I had to split off the casings - couldn't find ground sausage

grate 1/2 an onion into the hamburger & sausage

add egg and dash of milk

Mix in salt, pepper and a few handfuls of bread crumbs
(also parmesan cheese which I forgot this time)

Roll into golf ball size mound and place on ungreased cookie sheets

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes - let cool slightly

Place into stew pot and add favorite spaghetti sauce.
Let simmer additional 20+ minutes.

Memphis Mafia Banana Bread

Memphis Mafia

So this banana bread has peanut butter and chocolate chips in it. Reminds me of the Voodoo Doughnut Memphis Mafia banana fritter (chocolate and peanut butter drizzled banana fritter). 

The first time I heard of this banana bread combination was from a friend (and fellow blogger) Marni. 

I had a White Elephant and Potluck party at work and with so many bananas in my freezer I figured there was no better time than now to give it a try.... and I turned mine into muffins instead of a loaf.

Here's the recipe I used but I altered it some (because of what was or wasn't in my cupboards):

ignore the baking powder above....it snuck into the picture

1 1/2 C ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 C cream cheese, softened

1/2 C peanut butter, creamy

3 Tbs butter, melted

1 egg

1/2 C white sugar

1/2 C brown sugar, packed

1 1/2 C flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 C semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400*

Cream bananas, cream cheese, peanut butter, butter and egg. 

Add sugars. Mix well. 

Add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Blend well. 

Fold in chocolate chips. 

Spoon 2 TB worth of batter into papered muffin tins. 

Bake for 25 minutes. Yields 2 dozen. 

Soft Ginger Cookies

So Betty Crocker sometimes is the best way to go
when you're rushed and busy with holidays, etc.

Just follow the directions and mix up all the ingredients

This time we turned "gingerbread" into soft/chewy ginger cookies.

Rolling them in sugar added a fun and festive sparkle to the cookies

Yum. Yum.

Arrzo con Chorizo

Cook chorizo

Dice onions

Add onions and mild green chilies to par-cooked chorizo

Finish cooking thoroughly

Serve on rice and enjoy

Mexican Wedding Kisses

Mexican Wedding Kisses are a MustHave around my house during the holidays. We've already make Fyne Cakes and Dream Lover's Cookies so last night was Wedding Kisses time.

Some people may also know them as Russian Tea Cakes.

Ingredients:

1 Stick Butter
3 TB powdered sugar
1 C flour, sifted
1 C finely chopped pecans
extra powdered sugar for rolling in


Directions:
Heat over to 350*
Cream butter and sugar together.
Add flour.
Fold in chopped pecans.
Make 1 inch rolled balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet (they do not spread much at all so go ahead and put them close together).

Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes.
Roll cookies in powdered sugar.
Let finish cooling and enjoy!