~~~~~~~ Festive Christmas Bread ~~~~~~~

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups of flour
2/3 cups brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsps of baking powder
2 eggs
1/3 cup of butter
1/2 cup of chopped nuts
1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a 9-inch loaf pan.

Drain the cherries but reserve 4 tablespoons of juice.  Chop up the cherries, no need to be precise, and set these aside.

Take a large bowl and combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Mix this up well.

In another bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, eggs and the 4 tablespoons of cherry juice you just set aside.   Mix this up well until it’s all fully combined.

Add this mixture to the dry flour mixture and mix this up well.

Gently fold in the chopped cherries and the nuts.

Scoop this batter into the 9-inch loaf pan and spread it evenly.

Bake for about 45 minutes to an hour until it’s golden brown and baked through.

Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

This is a great bread to serve with a late afternoon coffee or tea break! 

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom

~~~~~ Baked Chicken Parcels ~~~~~

Ingredients:
4 Chicken Breasts
1 cup of mushrooms
2 cups of potatoes
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. parsley
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Salt and Pepper (completely optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Make three (3) slits on top of each chicken breast.
Finely slice the mushrooms and the potatoes. Place these in a large bowl.
Finely chop the parsley and add to the above bowl.
Add the lemon juice and the olive oil (and salt and pepper if you’d like) into the bowl. Mix this thoroughly.
Using aluminium foil, tear off four sheets large enough to house each individual chicken breast.
Place 1 chicken breast on a sheet of foil and place a handful of the mixture in the bowl on top of the chicken breast.
Completely enclose the chicken breast with the foil and be sure that it is entirely sealed.
Do this process with each chicken breast.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom

~~~~~~~ Lemon Drop Cookies ~~~~~~~

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of flour
1 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup of butter
1 egg
1 tsp. lemon extract (extract gives a very full, true flavor)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a cookie sheet.

Mix together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until it’s very creamy.

Next, mix in the egg and the lemon extract.

Grab another bowl and in this bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Add this dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix it up well.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto your cookie sheet.

Bake these for about 9 - 10 minutes or until they turn lightly golden.

Cool for 5 minutes before removing from the sheet.

~~~~~~~ Crock Pot Stew with Sirloin ~~~~~~~

Ingredients:

2 pounds of sirloin
1 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 can of beef broth
1 1/2 cups canned or frozen corn kernels
3 medium carrots
1 medium onion
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Grab your crock pot and have it ready to go.

Cut the sirloin into 1-inch cubes and place into the crock pot.

Slice the carrots and the onions and place these into the crock pot.

Crush the two cloves of garlic and place into the crock pot.

Add the rest of the ingredients - the diced tomatoes, beef broth, corn,  cumin and the bay leaf into the crock pot.

Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours or until the beef is tender.

I just love crock pot recipes!  They are so easy to prepare and you don’t have to worry about dinner once you get home from work.

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom

~~~~~~~ Crock Pot Barbecue Beef ~~~~~~~

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. boneless round steak
1 cup of ketchup
1 cup favorite barbecue sauce
2 tbsp. honey
1 package Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 cup beef broth

Directions:

Be sure you have your crock pot ready.

Cube the round steak into 1 - 1/2 inch squares.

Mix the sirloin and the rest of the ingredients together in a large bowl.

Transfer this mix into your crock pot. Cover and then cook on low for about 8 hours.

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom

~~~~~~~ Christmas Morning French Toast ~~~~~~~

Ingredients:

1/2 (1 pound) loaf of French Bread
4 eggs
1 cup of milk
3/4 cup Half-and-Half Cream
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract (the imitation vanilla does not give as much rich flavor)
1 tbsp. + 1 1/2 teaspoons light corn syrup

Directions:

Butter a 9×13 baking dish.

Cut the french bread diagonally into 1-inch slices.

Place the bread on the bottom of the baking dish.

Grab a large bowl and beat together the eggs, milk, cream, vanilla and cinnamon.  Pour this over the bread slices.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Christmas morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar and corn syrup.  Heat this until it’s bubbly.

Pour this over the bread and egg mixture.

Baked uncovered for 40 minutes.

Tastes great with some fresh ground coffee! 

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom

~~~~~ Eggs & Bagels Casserole ~~~~~

Ingredients:

3 Plain Bagels
12 eggs
1/2 lb. cooked ham (diced)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tbsp. fresh chopped parsley
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup 2% milk
2 tbsp. butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Lightly grease a baking dish.
Melt butter in a heavy skillet. Add the ham and the onions and saute over low heat until the onions are tender (about 2 minutes). Set this aside.
Slice each bagel into 4 thin slices. Arrange around 6 bagel slices on the bottom of your baking dish.
Top these bagel slices with the ham and onions that you just sauteed.
Top it all off with cheddar cheese.
Next, whisk together your eggs, milk, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.
Pour this over the bagel mixture.
Bake this for approximately 30 minutes or until the eggs are firm and cooked through.

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar (powdered and sifted)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour (sifted)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl and mix in vanilla.

Sift flour and salt together and add to the sugar mixture. Gently fold in the chopped pecans.

Shape mixture into golf ball sized balls.

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until baked through and slightly golden.

While cookies are baking place a little extra powdered sugar in a bowl. Once the cookies are done baking roll through the sugar and set aside to cool.

I have to say, these are one of my weaknesses :-)  They taste like fluffy, crumbly, round shortbread cookies.

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom

~~~~~ Spiced Apple Muffins ~~~~~

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs (beaten)
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup butter (melted)
1 cup peeled and grated/shredded apple
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grab a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Mix in brown sugar.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, milk and butter.  Mix well.  Add egg mixture to flour mixture and mix (do not over mix).

Fold in apples and walnuts (if using).  Spoon batter into lightly greased muffin tin.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden and baked through.

Let cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom

~~~~~ Christmas Swirl Brownies ~~~~~

Ingredients:

1 package cake style brownie mix
1/ teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 cup cream
1 package of cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 bag M&Ms holiday edition

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grab a large mixing bowl and cream the sugar and cream cheese until it’s fluffy.

Add the egg, cream and vanilla extra. Mix well and set aside.

Prepare the brownie mix according to instructions.

Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper and then school 2/3 of the batter into the pan.

Place ½ cup of the M&Ms over the brownie batter. Then spoon the cream cheese mixture over the M&Ms and batter.

Finally scoop the remaining brownie mixture over that. Using the tip of a knife swirl the mixture for a marbled effect.

Bake for approximately 45 minutes until baked through but still moist (do not overbake). Cool before cutting into squares.

Happy Cooking!
The Recipe Mom