Baird's Coffee Cake

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 c. supgar

3 eggs

1 c. sour cream

1 tsp. baking powder

2 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. almond flavoring

1 c. brown sugar

1 tbsp. cinnamon

1/2 c. pecans

creamed butter, sugar, add eggs, add sour cream and flour alternately

grease pans, sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar on top

Bake 25 min. at 350.

To double it:

2 sticks of butter

3. c. sugar

4 eggs

2 c. sour cream

4 tsp vanilla

4 c. flour

2 tsp baking powder 

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1c. chopped pecans

Delicious Strawberry Cupcakes... that I'll probably bake again ;)

These cupcakes were delicious and best served warm or right out of the oven. Of course, fan them (like they do on my fave, "The Great British Baking Show"), so that the frosting doesn't melt off.  These recipes have been tweaked, but are all inspired by another great show, "Cupcake Wars."

For the Cupcakes:

3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. strawberry yogurt
1/4-1/2 c. sour cream
1 tsp. baking pow.
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Add dry to wet. Bake at 350 for 15-18 min.

For the Strawberry Compote Filling:

1/2 c. strawberries
1 tbsp. pow. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. water

Cook down about 10 min. Scoop out centers by cutting in a circle with a knife. Use a small spoon to fill cupcakes.

For the Buttercream Frosting:

3-31/2 c. pow. sugar
1 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1-2 tbsp. milk

Use beaters and make sure the butter is softened but only a little. 

This recipe was perfect- it bakes up nicely, and I will definitely do the compote filling again. So yummy and a win with all of my kiddos and Molly's friends. ;)

An Aldi Christmas Feast

You can totally feast on food that costs a total of under $40. Don't believe me?  We made it happen this year by shopping at Aldi. It was totally yummy! I'm saving all of my recipes so that we can repeat this again next year.

Courses:

1st Course (Brunch- 10:30)
Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Casserole
Hashbrown Casserole
Grapes

Mid-day Snack (1pm)
Upside Down Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
Egg nog

2nd Course (Dinner- 6pm)
Cornish Game Hen
Leftover Hashbrown Casserole

End the day with egg nog and Christmas goodies


To make...

Sausage Egg and Cheese Casserole

1 lb sausage
6 eggs
1 tsp. onion
2 c. milk
1 tsp. salt and pepper
1 c. cheese
4 slices bread (or croutons)

grease pan. beat eggs, add ingredients.
pour into greased pan
Let it sit 20 min.
Bake on 350 for 30-40 min.

Hashbrown Casserole

1 large pkg. hashbrowns, thawed
1/2 c. onion*
2 c. cheese
1 container lite sour cream
1 1/2 c. roux (with butter, flour, milk, and salt)
1 c. crushed corn flakes
1/2 c. butter melted

grease pan. bake on 350 for 45 min.
at the end, add crushed corn flakes and pour 1/2 c. melted butter over top.
continue baking last 10-15 min.

Cornish Game Hen

I made one and it fed two people.  This was fine- the kids actually didn't eat it this year. Next year, I should probably buy 2-3 game hens, as they are pretty small (almost 3/4 the size of a roast chicken).

Coat with butter and salt and pepper.
Roast at 375 for about 45 minutes.

Sticky buns~ my Mom's recipe!
Similar

Candy Cane Hot Cocoa

Recipe for Candy Cane Hot Cocoa:

3 candy canes, crushed

1 cup nonfat dry milk

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa powder

1/4 cup chocolate chips, chopped

Mix and store in an airtight container.

Add 1/4 cup to 3/4 cup boiling water

Cranberry Sauce

How to make the best cranberry sauce:

Recipe is as follows...

The Best Lemonade

4 lemons
1 1/4 c. hot water
2/3 c. sugar
stir
add ice
+
stir

Yum!


alternatively:

8 lemons
2 1/2 c. hot water
1 1/3 c. sugar
stir
add ice

Cheesy Black Bean Soup

My kids love to eat soup. In fact, I think they could live on chicken noodle soup and crackers if I let them!  I have worried so much about finding meals that they will gobble up, no question. Chicken noodle soup is definitely one of those things.

For many years, I have been making some variation of a chili or taco soup, with fritos and sour cream, or with tortilla chips, or sometimes cornbread or cornbread muffins.

Recently I have found a good hack for black bean soup, and it has become our new staple.  It is so tasty and yummy!

Recipe for Cheesy Black Bean Soup

2 boxes black bean soup, from whole foods.
1 can stewed, crushed, or diced tomatoes
1 can pinto beans, drained
1/2 bag (about 3/4 c.) frozen corn kernels
1/2 finely diced green pepper
1/2 tsp. chili powder
Garlic salt, to taste
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
shredded mexican cheese

Throw everything (except cheese and corn) in the slow cooker on low.  Add frozen corn kernels and green pepper in the last 30 min. of cooking.

Serve with cornbread muffins and lots of butter!
Top with shredded cheese!