Red River Date Muffins

Mom really likes Red River Cereal and wanted me to try it. I agree. It is very good! However, it takes awhile to cook, so we decided to look for muffin recipes that use it. After cooling the muffins, we freeze them for an easy breakfast. Just remember to pull early so they can thaw out.

Baked Beignets

This is one of the recipes Andrea made in Culinary Class this week. I think we all agree it may be our very favorite recipe so far this year. (Ummm, schoool year 🙂 )

Grandma Mabel’s Fruit Cake

This is Grandma Mable’s recipe that she sent to Uncle Tim with some modifications and comments that he and Oma made. While the recipe calls for an angel food cake pan, Uncle Tim only remembers Grandma making in loaf pans. So, that is the way I will make it too 🙂

Instead of using candy fruitcake mix, mix and match your favorite combination of dried fruits; such as apricots, cranberries, currants, golden raisins, candied ginger, orange peel and a few candied cherries.

“Frantic Mother Cookies”

I have no idea where Mom found this recipe years ago. I am pretty sure it was in a “how to Mom” type book. We rarely made chocolate chip cookies growing up, but we made these often. Usually we made them drop cookies, but bar style gets them done a lot faster! They are a dryer, crispier cookie, so add a little extra water if desired.

While you can use any type of cereal, corn flakes or rice cereal is the best. One day I made them for the family I was babysitting and used Cheerios. Dom informed me that I could put most anything I wanted into the cookies I made for them, but NEVER use Cheerios again 🙂

Use 1 cup of your favorite “fillings”. Growing up we usually used half unsweetened coconut flakes and chocolate chips. But mix and match with walnuts, pecans or other favorite nuts, raisins, craisins or dried cherries (or other dried fruit sliced in small pieces) and your favorite chocolate chips.

Cookie Dough Truffles

I am not sure where we found this recipe, but it was one of the first truffle recipes we tried.

If you prefer not to eat “raw” flour, place flour on cookie sheet and bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool before using. The truffles will have a nuttish flavor.

Egg Nog

At a Christmas party this year, one of my children tried store bought egg nog. He was so disappointed that it was nothing like this recipe that Allan has been making us for years. He was sure to request that Daddy make some “real” egg nog soon.

I know that some people prefer alcohol in egg nog, but I think it is non essential! Using freshly grated nutmeg is the best, but use powder if that is what you have.

If you are concerned about eating raw eggs, either buy pasteurized eggs, or look online on how to make them yourself.

Cinnamon Rolls (with Caramel Option)

This recipe is one we often use for Christmas or for the children’s breakfasts as they head to summer camp. They are easy to turn into caramel rolls by a simple step that I included.

If you prefer to make the dough early, you can form the rolls, place in pan and then cover with heavy aluminum foil. Place in the refrigerator at least 12 hours, but not longer than 24. Then, when ready to bake, place unwrapped pan in cold oven and bake until golden brown (35-40 min).

Cream Cheese Truffles with Variations

When we first started learning to make desserts, this is one of the first, and easiest truffles we learned. Have fun experimenting with your own variations!

Caramel

This is our favorite caramel recipe. We have tried a few other ones, but always come back to this.

Artichoke Spinach Cheese Dip

We found this recipe after we tried some very expensive appetizers at a restaurant. It is simple to make and you can personalize it by adding more or less spinach, sauteed onions or chives. This is our favorite way to have it.

The recipe calls for fat free ingredients, feel free to substitute low fat or full fat if desired. They are all very good.