It is not a secret that any holiday requires good preparations both in decorating the house and hosting a feast. That is why once the Christmas is approaching it is the very time to prepare for decorations and think over the menu of your festive dinner.

No doubt, this will help you to enhance the beauty of the festival and delight family and your quests. What else but Christmas recipes represent good contribution to the Christmas party?

This year it is up to you either to use traditional or contemporary recipes. The major thing is to get pleasure while cooking the food items.

Nowadays one can fin various Christmas recipes for free. One of their main sources is internet. Just find some time, search for numerous sites and you’ll find special food recipes for this year Christmas dinner.

If you are going to surprise your guests with new delicious and modern food items, go ahead, do not doubt. Be sure, it will worth your efforts.  One of the key menu items are cookies. They can be prepared in various shapes, sizes, colors and of different tastes.

Try to get in advance such needed ingredients as margarine, sugar, eggs, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, red and green cherries, dates and pecans. Once you have everything you need for baking try to get as much pleasure from cooking as you can. Merry Christmas!!

For inhabitants of Poland Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated and famous holiday. In this country people celebrate more Christmas Eve, or co-called Wigilia, than Christmas day itself.

What is the holiday without tasty food items? Here are some Polish Christmas recipes you can use this year no matter what country you are from.

Kutia

It represents a sweet grain pudding that is customary eaten on Christmas in Polish, Ukrainian and Lithuanian cultures seldom served at other times of the year. To cook it one should do some preparations. Firstly you should simmer poppy seeds in hot water until they can be crushed between the fingertips.

Ground them three times in a food processor or a meat grinder. Afterward it is needed to strain out the water from the poppy seeds and wheat allowing them to cool. The final touch is mixing of the poppy seeds and wheat, adding some liquid honey or dissolving sugar along with nuts, raisins, almonds, pieces of oranges.

Pickled Herring - Sledzie Marynowane

Sledzie Marynowane meal made of salt herrings, large chopped shallots, peppercorns and whole allspice. The herrings should be soaked in cold water for 24 hours. The water should be changed every 8 hours. Afterwards you should take off the milt, skin, and bones; cut each herring into pieces. For decoration place onions and herring in layers in a jar and pour boiled vinegar mixed with sugar. The meal should be kept in cool place for at least 10 hours

Christmas is the very time to pamper your family with tasty Christmas cakes and Christmas goodies recipes. The customary Christmas cake represents the plum cake.

Christmas goodies can be wrapped in splendid Christmas baskets and can be gifted as Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. Homemade Christmas goodie recipes make your Christmas celebrations an unforgettable ones.

Given as a present they delight and make the recipient smile. To surprise your closed and loved one you can prepare the following goodies.

Raspberry Chocolate Trifle:

You will need1 package instant chocolate pudding mix, 2 cups cold milk, 1 frozen pound cake, 2 cups of fresh or frozen thawed raspberries, 1 cup of raspberry preserves, whipped cream or topping and raspberries for garnish.
How to prepare it

Follow the package direction when mixing pudding and milk. Let it cool. Cut pound cake into 1-inch cubes, placing half in small trifle bowl. Afterwards stir along with raspberries and preserves. Spoon half of this mixture over cake.

Put half of the pudding over raspberries repeating the layers again and again. Chill the meal until it becomes ready to be served. It can be decorated with the help of whipped topping and more raspberries.

Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Goodies Recipe:

You will need 1 1/2 large chocolate bar with almonds, 9 oz tub Cool Whip,1/2 tsp peppermint flavoring and crushed nuts.

How to prepare

Chocolate bars should be melted in top of double boiler, afterward remove them from heat and stir. Put cool Whip and peppermint to the received chocolate and beat until the mixture becomes well blended. Place it into the fridge for about 45 minutes. Then form spoonfuls of mixture into balls and roll balls in crushed nuts. Once they are done, place the balls into the fridge within about an hour.

Food gift recipes are those including some gift mixes layered in canning jars, spice mixtures, brown mixes, cookie mixes, a chocolate chip pie mix in a jar, muffin mix in a jar, etc.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar may be made of chocolate chips or other baking chips and tiny candies.

To make it  you will need
•    light brown sugar,
•    granulated sugar,
•    semisweet chocolate chips,
•     chocolate candy-coated candies,
•     Baking powder and soda.

The method of preparation.

Butter should be beaten in a bowl until getting fluffy mixture. Then stir eggs along with vanilla using a wooden spoon to get a creamy blended mixture. Afterwards put the mixture into baking sheets. It should be baked until light brown crown ( the time depends on the size of cookies).

To prepare the Herbed Cashew Mix you will need the following ingredients
•    corn,
•    shredded wheat cereal,
•    butter
•     pretzel sticks,
•     onion powder
•    pepper sauce.

The method of preparation
•    While oven is heating to a high temperature mix the cereals, cashew and pretzel sticks. Then melt the butter and add it to the above mixture. Now it is time to mix, onion powder and pepper sauce. The final touch is baking the received mixture uncovered and serving hot or cool.

In Sweden people celebrate Christmas Eve, the 24th of December that is followed by the two holidays called Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Christmas celebrations represent many traditional activities and attributes, the most essential among them are the Christmas tree, the Christmas dinner and the visit of the tomte (Christmas gnome).

Among one of the favorite Swedish food recipes are Julen and Caramel candy under the name Swedish Christmas Kola.

Among customary meals also there are pickled herring, beet-root salad, liver paste, brawn of pig or chicken, rolled lamb, smoked leg of lamb, Christmas Ham with mustard, prunes and apple sauce. On this holiday one can eat three kinds of bread such as thin unleavened bread, wort loaf and Christmas buns.

Bread is usually served butter, Edamer cheese and soft whey cheese. The ham is usually served with hot potatoes and hot red cabbage.  Swedish people usually drink Christmas beer and vodka.

Swedish Christmas Kola (Caramel Candy)

This meal is made from granulated sugar, dark corn syrup, butter, vanilla extract, cream, chopped almonds. To prepare it one should mix all the above ingredients with exception of the almonds in a large sauté pan, and simmer. The mixture is ready once you are able to make a soft ball by rolling it between your fingers. After pouring caramel onto a large nonstick baking sheet, sprinkle the mixture with chopped almonds.  Then put it into the fridge in order to chill. When it is almost set, slice into portions and wrap in wax paper squares.

Christmas fruit cake recipe - For baking an uncommon Fruit Cake for Christmas table you can use the following recipe:

You will need 1/8 cup chopped dried cherries, 1/8 cup chopped dried mango, 1/4 cup dried cranberries,1/4 cup dried currants,2 tablespoons chopped candied citron, 1/4 cup chopped pecans,1/2 cup light rum, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/8 teaspoon baking soda,1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon,1/4 cup molasses,1 egg, 2 tablespoons milk and 8 tablespoons butter

Method of preparation

The dried fruits should be soaked in quarter cup rum for at least 24 hours. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; afterwards beat the egg and cream along with the butter and sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy. Then add the flour in three shifts and stir it with milk and molasses. Stir in the rum mixture and nuts. Put batter into the pan, and bake the mixture for 45 minutes in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F. Once it is ready leave it in the pan for about10 minutes and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of rum. The fruit cake should be wrapped onto a parchment paper and unfolded in cheesecloth. One of the main advantages of this Fruit cake recipe is its ability to be stored in an airtight container for about 2,5 months.

Cookies and candies are widely believed to be an integral part of our holiday dinner. They perfectly go for splendid Christmas showers.

During holiday season the majority of the stores are flooded with goodies and favorites. Here once can find one of the best kinds of mouthwatering cookies and candies. If this year you decide to cook your own handmade cookies we can offer you a good recipe for delicious Andy Candy Cookies. This is a cookie that gives you the feel of a candy. No doubt, you will get pleasure while cooking them and eating them.

For preparation of Andes Candy Cookies you will need 3 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of softened butter, 1/2 cup of firmly packed brown sugar,2 eggs, 1 teaspoon of vanilla,1 package andes candy and walnut halves.

The method of preparation

First of all you need to mix the butter and brown sugar battering them until getting creamy mixture. Afterwards put vanilla and eggs. Mix flour, soda, salt and blend it carefully with the butter mixture.

Place scant teaspoonfuls of the mixture 2 inches apart on the non-greased cookie sheet. On the top of every one put 1/2 a candy. Afterwards you need to cover it with a scant teaspoon of dough and put a walnut half on top; smoothen the edges. The above mixture should be baked at 375° F withing 9 - 12 minutes.

To pamper your closed ones who suffer from diabetics you can use the beneath given recipes.

Fresh Cranberry and Wild Rice Stuffing

You will need
•    uncooked wild rice,
•    water,
•    dark or golden raisins,
•    chopped scallions,
•    canola oil,
•    chopped celery or fennel bulb,
•    cranberries,
•    grated orange rind,
•    dried thyme.

Method of preparation
Place the wild rice in a saucepan adding the water and raisins, cooking it over medium heat for about 60 minutes. Then rice should be drained. Sautee the onions and celery in the oil until they become tender adding the cranberries, orange rind, thyme and rice. It should be served as a side dish along with meat (poultry dishes such as Cornish game hen or lighter pork dishes such as pan seared pork loin). The quantity of calories, sodium, cholesterol, fat and carbohydrates are relatively low in this dish; thus it will be a great food item for any of diabetic patients.

Cognac-Laced Truffles

You will need
•    cognac,
•    heavy cream,
•    chopped semisweet chocolate,
•    baking chocolate,
•    unsweetened chocolate,
•    confectioners’ sugar.
•     unsweetened cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar for coating.

Method of preparation
Firstly you need to line the baking sheets with waxed paper. Meantime heat the cognac adding cream. Put all the chocolate and confectioners’ sugar in a food processor and whirl until it is chopped. Afterwards add cream mixture in a steady stream stirring until it becomes smooth. Pour the mixture received into a medium-size bowl and leave into the fridge for holding its shape. Then drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on baking sheets and return to the fridge again. Meantime make the coating using sift cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar. The final touch is adding truffles and tossing to coat.

Christmas is the very time to make fun, get pleasure and merriment. Various types of cookies, cakes, jelly triangles and much other delicious stuff represent a perfect contribution to Christmas festivities. This is the very season when people are in a mood to make cookies and serve them to our family members and friends.

Sending baking Christmas recipes has become a good tradition followed by the majority of people all over the world.  Usually the recipes are sent to our relatives along with Christmas greetings cards or the holiday trims.

Some people tend to prefer following some traditional favorite recipes. However there are those who like experimentation and are always in constant search for new recipes every Christmas. Nowadays a great number of cookbooks are sold in numerous stores of each town. The only thing you need to do is to opt the appropriate one and begin exploring the boundaries of your creativity and imagination.

If you are looking for an uncommon and tasty food item Biscotti is the very one you will delight your family with. Having Italian roots, biscottis are not so difficult to prepare. The major ingredients you will need to cook this delicious food item are  sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, soda, butter or oil (it is up to you what namely ingredient to select).

To make splendid toppings you will also need to get dried fruits and cherries. To get a spicy taste, you can mix cinnamon and cardamom. Just make then in shapes into loaves, bake them and slice afterwards. To make sure Biscottis are brownie and crispy it is better to bake them two times. Good appetite!!!

Well prepared smoked salmon, marinated shrimp or spinach cheese swirls will perfectly contribute to your Christmas dinner.

Christmas Appetizer recipes will enhance forthcoming holiday feats for sure.

It is not a secret that no other time but Christmas season gives a lot of opportunities to pamper your family and guests with delicious food items, various cookies and appetizers. Decorations, tasty food will greatly work for making your feel this gaiety and pleasure for the whole Christmas celebrations.

Of course, there is no Christmas without gifts and presents galore, overcrowded joyous streets, crowded stores and kids playing with snowballs! That is a perfect winter holiday!! No doubt, festive dinner, feast and fiesta are the integral parts of traditional celebrations. Thus, try to prepare in advance. Find some time and select tasty Christmas Appetizers in town.

It is up to you either to cook on your own or use the services of various restaurants or online sites. The main think is to make the right choice in order to delight all your closed and loved ones. So hurry up, pamper your family with delicious food items this Christmas!!!

Christmas Hard Candy

This candy is delicious. The recipe below is for one batch of one flavor. So, if you want many flavors, you make many batches but you will need at least two people and of course it is more fun with two. Be careful you don’t burn your fingers. This candy makes a great gift.

Ingredients

* 2/3 cup white Karo
* 2 cups sugar
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 teaspoon oil flavoring (approximate)
* 1/2 teaspoon food coloring, of choice (approximate)
* 3 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions

1.Put a couple of LIGHTLY oiled and then wiped out, 10″ frying pan (metal–not cast iron) in the freezer for 20 minutes or so before starting the candy (one for each batch).
2.Put the confectioners sugar in a bowl and put on the table where you will be working with the candy.
3.Put the Karo syrup, sugar, and water in a large saucepan; bring it to a boil and cook over medium heat till thermometer reaches 300F to 305F (hard crack stage).
4.Immediately take off the stove and add the flavoring and the food coloring.
5.Pour into the cold pans and wait till it starts to set; it will cool around the edges first.
6.When it does, start picking up and snipping with scissors to desired size.
7.Put into the confectioners sugar and leave there, tossing every so often, till you are done.
8. When that particular flavor is done, put the candy in a sifter and sift the confectioners sugar off and put into a clean bowl; save this sugar for the next batch.
9.AMOUNT OF OIL FLAVORING THAT I USE:.
10.cinnamon–scant 1/2 teaspoon (deep red); lemon–full 1/2 teaspoon (yellow); anise–full 1/2 teaspoon (blue); lime–full 1/2 teaspoon (light green); spearmint–exactly 1/2 teaspoon (dark green); orange–full 1/2 teaspoon (medium orange); clove–level 1/4 teaspoon (this flavor is very strong–no color).

Candy Christmas Train

These are great for little and big kids on your Christmas list.

Ingredients

* 1 (16 ounce) can betty crocker vanilla frosting
* 16 ounces fun size Snickers candy bars
* 1 (1 1/4 ounce)  roll LifeSavers five-flavor roll candy
* 1 yellow M&Ms plain chocolate candy
* 1 piece aluminum foil, wrapped santa
* 1 orange slice
* 1 Hershey’s chocolate kiss, in red or green aluminum foil
* 1 (1 lb) bag red & green M&Ms plain chocolate candy
* 3 Tootsie Rolls, midgies
* 1 small red lollipops
* 1 small green lollipops
* 2 red starbrite peppermint candies
* 2 foil wrapped candies

Directions

1.Start with cardboard cut into 5″ wide by 18″ long. Wrap it with foil and tape foil to the back.
2.Set a yardstick down the middle and mark it with a pen along each long side for the full length.
3.Pipe the 2 lines with canned frosting.
4.Take 5 of the unwrapped candybars and use frosting to glue on the green and red M&Ms as wheels.
5.1″ from the end, place the orange slice, gluing it down with some frosting. This will be the cow catcher.
6.Place 1 of the candy bars with “wheels” (and some frosting for glue underneath it)butting it up next to the orange slice. Push down slightly for frosting to hold.
7.Take off wrapper from lifesavers, and open 1 end and remove some candies so that it is the same length as the candy bar. Cut off the excess wrapper leaving enough foil to fold over.
8.Pipe a line of frosting down center of 1st candy bar and then press down foil covered lifesavers (make sure that cut end is facing away from the orange slice.).
9.Put frosting on end of lifesavers foil(above orange slice, cow catcher)press on the yellow m&m as a light.
10.Pipe some frosting directly on foil base behind 1st candy bar and on the end (away from orange slice)and now press the foil santa’s feet into the frosting on the base and his belly onto the back of the candy bar & lifesafers.
11.Leave about 1.5 inches and put down the next candy car and then 1.5″ space then the next and so forth until all 5 candy bar “cars” have been placed and look centered on the foil base.
12.On the second car, frost the top and then place 3 tootsie roll midgees to look like logs, using frosting to hold them.
13.On third car, frost the top and then stick the 2 lollipops into it with them both facing forward.
14.On the forth car, frost the top and then stick on the starbrite candies on their sides facing each other with a dap of frosting between them to help them stand up.
15.on the fifth car, frost the top and then push down the foil wrapped candies.

Easy Microwave Hard Christmas Rock Candy

Follow the directions exactly and be careful and use oven mits.

Ingredients

* 2 cups sugar
* 1 cup light corn syrup
* 1 teaspoon lorann flavoring oil (1 dram)
* food coloring (optional)

Directions

1.Use a good heavy glass bowl such as a pyrex brand. Grease a 11 X 15 inch jelly roll pan. Mix sugar and corn syrup into microwave safe glass bowl. Cover with plastic wrap such as Saran Wrap tightly.
2.Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Take out carefully, remove plastic wrap and stir. Put on a new piece of plastic wrap and microwave another 3 minutes. Take out carefully and stir again. Put on another new piece of plastic wrap and microwave another 3 minutes — Take out again, remove plastic wrap, add oil carefully and food coloring if using and stir — pour into your greased jelly roll pan and spread out onto sheet — you can sprinkle powdered sugar over top if desired — place in a cool place to harden — after it hardens break up into pieces and store in airtight container. Enjoy.

Christmas Cool Whip Candy

Ingredients

* 3 (8 ounce)  Hershey Bars
* 2 (12 ounce) cartons Cool Whip, thawed
* 1-2 cup vanilla wafer crumbs

Directions

1.Melt chocolate in microwave, stir until smooth.cool slightly.
2.Stir in cool whip, drop by tspful into crumbs or nuts.
3.Cover all sides and place on waxed paper .
4.Store covered in refrigerator.

Christmas Jelly Candy

Ingredients

* 5 (1/4 ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 2 cups desired fruit juice (or nectar such as cranberry, grape, orange or apricot)
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

1.In 1 1/2 quart saucepan combine gelatin and sugar.
2.Add fruit juice;wait 5 minutes.
3.Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
4.Cook and stir till gelatin dissolves.
5.Add lemon juice.
6.Pour into shallow pans or paper bake cups.
7.Cool; chill till firm.
8.(If desired loosen sides. Carefully turn out of pans, using a wide spatula. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on wire rack to dry.) Cover pans or store cutouts in single layers, between waxed paper, in airtight containers up to 5 days.

Christmas Peppermint Candy Cheesecake

Ingredients

* 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1/4 cup melted butter, plus
* 2 tablespoons melted butter
* 1 1/2 cups sour cream
* 2 eggs
* 1 tablespoon flour
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup coarsely crushed candy cane
* whipped cream
* chocolate leaves
* more coarsely chopped candy canes

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 325.
2.Blend graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup melted butter in bottom of ungreased 8″ springform pan; press mixture evenly over bottom.
3.In blender or food processor, blend sour cream, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla until smooth.
4.Add cream cheese and blend; then blend in 2 tablespoons remaining melted butter until completely smooth.
5.Stir in crushed candy canes,then pour mixture over crust in pan.
6.Bake in lower third of oven for 45 minutes.
7.Remove; allow to cool.
8.Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
9.The chocolate leaves will form the petals of a poinsettia flower, with the crushed candy canes in the very center.

Christmas Bark Candy

Ingredients

* 1 (12 ounce) package vanilla chips or milk chocolate chips
* 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
* 1 1/4-1 1/2 cups miniature M&M baking bits or broken pretzels, pieces

Directions

1.In a microwave safe bowl, heat chips and oil at 50% power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave 10 to 20 seconds longer or until chips are melted, stirring occasionally.
2.Cool for 5 minutes.
3.Stir in baking bits or pretzels. Spread onto wax paper lined baking sheet. Chill for 10 minutes. Remove from refrigerator; break into pieces.
4.Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Candy Wreath

Ingredients

* wire clothes hanger (or 8-inch wide round lamp shade ring)
* 2 1/2 bags candies, wrapped in colored foil
* curly ribbon

Directions

1.Make a circle out of a clothes hanger or use lamp shade ring.
2.Tie curly ribbon around one end of the candy, then tie the other end around the wreath.
3.Keep pushing the candy together so that it is stuck out in every direction.
4.This is an excellent gift and very beautiful when done.
5.You can make them in all sizes, the smaller the better.

Italian Christmas Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

* 8 eggs
* 1 cup oil
* 1 cup sugar substitute
* 1 cup milk
* 5 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 8 teaspoons baking powder
* 6 cups whole wheat flour

Directions

1. Mix together all liquid ingredients with mixer and then add flour until you get a dough (similar to a bread dough but not as dry).
2. Cut dough in four pieces.
3. Cut a slice approximately 1/2 inch and roll out. You can either twist into a braid or a circle (what ever shape you wish).
4. Bake @ 325 degrees for approximately 20 minutes (until slightly brown).
5. Glaze (Optional) Confectionary Sugar, Milk and Vanilla (mix until you get a slightly stiff glaze and then apply to cookies).


Festive Italian Christmas Cookies

3/4 c. shortening
1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 tbsp. vanilla
2 c. sifted flour
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Blend shortening, butter, salt, sugar and vanilla. Add flour and pecans. Drop by tablespoon full onto cookie sheet. Bake in slow 325 degree oven for 25 minutes. Cool then roll in confectioners’ sugar.


Spumoni Slices - Italian Christmas Cookies

These three colored cookies are pretty simple to make and add a nice touch of color to your gift platters.

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup shortening
* 1/2 cup butter
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 egg
* 2 tablespoons milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 (1 ounce) semi-sweet chocolate baking square, melted and cooled
* 4 teaspoons milk
* 1/3 cup chopped candied red cherry
* 1/2 cup chopped pistachio nut
* 1/4 teaspoon rum flavoring
* 3 drops green food coloring
* powdered sugar icing (optional) or melted chocolate (optional)

Directions

1.Beat shortening and margarine or butter about 30 seconds or till softened.
2.Add half the flour, the sugar, egg, 2 Tbsp.
3. milk, vanilla, baking soda, and 1/4 tsp.
4.salt.
5.Beat till thoroughly combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
6.Stir in remaining flour.
7.Divide dough into thirds.
8.Into one portion, mix chocolate and 2 tsp.
9.of the milk.
10.Into second portion, mix cherries.
11.Into third portion mix nuts, remaining milk, flavoring, and enough green food coloring to tint dough.
12.To shape dough, line bottom and sides of an 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pan with clear plastic wrap.
13.Press pink dough evenly in pan.
14.Top with chocolate dough.
15.Top with green dough.
16.Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.
17. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
18.Invert pan; remove dough.
19.Remove plastic wrap.
20.Cut dough into 1/4 inch thick slices; cut each slice crosswise into three pieces.
21.Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
22.Bake in 375 oven 8 to 10 minutes or till edges are lightly browned.
23.Remove and cool on rack.
24.Drizzle with powdered sugar icing tinted green or with melted chocolate.


Italian Christmas Wine Cookies

3 c. Mazola oil
1 1/2 c. red wine
1 1/2 c. white wine
Pinch of cinnamon

Boil above together for 1 minute. Sift 8 cups of flour into large bowl. Add: 1 tbsp. honey 3 tsp. salt 2 beaten eggs

Mix well, slowly add the hot mixture; knead until very stiff; if dough is still too soft and sticky, add more flour. Pinch off golf ball size pieces of dough and roll over a grooved board or ravioli board. Fry in deep hot oil. After all the dough is cooked, dip in hot honey, adding a little water to honey as each batch is cooked. Add more honey as needed.

A delicious recipe that is taylor-made for the holidays by choosing colorful ingredients and creating Christmas color patterns.

Ingredients

For Salad

* 1 (8 ounce) bag mixed greens
* 2 (5 ounce) cans sliced water chestnuts, drained
* 1 red pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
* 1 green pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
* 2 cucumbers, peeled, sliced
* 2 small tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges
* 1 (10 ounce) package frozen green peas

For Topping

* 3 cups mayonnaise
* 1 (1 ounce) package salad dressing mix
* bacon bit
* 4 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
* 2 tomatoes, cut into eight wedges

DIRECTIONS
1. Layer all of the salad ingredients in a clear glass bowl in the order above, beginning with the greens and ending with the frozen peas.
2.Mix the dressing mix into the mayonnaise to taste (about 1/2 to 3/4 of the package). Spread the mixture over the salad so that it is completely covered. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
3.Just before serving, garnish the top by alternating egg and tomato slices on the top. Sprinkle bacon bits over the top.

Different Christmas Ribbon Salad

Ingredients

* 1 1/4 cups boiling water
* 1 (3 ounce) package cherry Jell-O
* 1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
* 1 cup boiling water
* 1 (3 ounce) package lime Jell-O gelatin
* 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
* 1/3 cup mayonnaise
* 8 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Directions

1. Pour 1 1/4 cup boiling water over cherry Jell-O. Stir until dissolved. Stir in cherry pie filling. Pour into 13 x 9 glass pan. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
2. Pour 1 cup boiling water over lime Jell-O. Stir until dissolved. Stir in pineapple with juice. Refrigerate until slightly thickened, but not set, about 30 minutes.
3. Mix mayonnaise and Cool Whip. Gradually stir pineapple mixture into Cool Whip mixture. Pour over cherry layer.
4. Chill until set.

You can lighten it up using sugar-free Jell-O and lite mayo and Cool Whip. Cook time is chill time.

Easy to make and easy to serve. Great with gravy or cranberry sauce. Plus will serve a crowd.

Ingredients

* 4 chicken breasts, cooked, chopped
* 12 cornbread muffins
* 10 biscuits
* 1-2 teaspoon sage
* 1/2 chopped small onion
* 1 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 16 ounces cream of chicken soup
* 16 ounces chicken stock or broth

1. Crumble the cornbread and biscuits, add everything else.
2. Allow to sit about 15 minutes to allow the broth to be absorbed into the breads.
3. Grease a 2 quart casserole dish or similar pan size.
4. Pour into pan and back till golden in middle and no longer mushy, about 30 minutes but check often.

Quick and easy. Instead of the cranberries you can make the 1/2 cup of fruit in to 1 cup, that is the original recipe, like the vegetable shortening.

Ingredients

* 2 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
* 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
* 1 cup full cream milk powder, sifted
* 1 cup desiccated coconut
* 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit
* 1/2 cup dried cranberries
* 5-6 glace green cherries, chopped
* 8 ounces vegetable shortening or margarine or butter, melted

Directions

1. Put all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix.
2. Add the shortening; stir it so everything is evenly coated.
3. Press into a greased 12 inch/8 inch sponge roll pan.
4. Refrigerate until solid.
5. Cut into small pieces or squares.

Christmas cookie recipe:

Angel Cookies

2 Eggs
1/2   cup Granulated sugar
1 cup Light brown sugar
3 cups Flour
1/2cup Cream cheese
1/2 cup shortening
2cup candied fruit
1 table spoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2 cup Broken pecans or almonds

How to cook:
In a large bowl cream the shortening and the cream cheese and then add the eggs and sugar. Mix very well. In another bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda. Now mix the flour mixture with the creamy mixture. When it is smoothly add the nuts and the fruits. Grease a baking sheet and with spoon form the cookies. Preheat the oven and bake at 190C for 15 minutes.

Eggnog with light rum
4 cups milk
4 cups light cream
12 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups light rum
5 whole cloves
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a saucepan mix cloves, milk, cinnamon and vanilla, heat and slowly bring the mixture to boil. In separate large bowl combine sugar and egg yolks. Beat well and slowly add the milk mixture. Cook over medium heat and stir constantly for 4-5 minutes. Remove the cloves and cool for 2 hours. Stir cream, rum, vanilla and nugmet. Put in refrigerator for one night and serve it.

Alekery Eggnog
4 egg yolks
4 egg whites
4 1/2 cups milk
1 can condensed milk
1 tablespoon white sugar
Rum
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl till thickened and gradually stir in milk, condensed milk, sugar and vanilla. Separately beat the egg whites until stuff. Then add the milk mixture. Add rum to taste. When the drink is ready garnish it with nugmet.

Coconut Eggnog
4 egg yolks
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup water
1 cup white rum
ground cinnamon
3 cinnamon sticks

Combine the three milks and the rum in a blender. Boil the cinnamon stick s in the water. Cool and discard the sticks. Now mix all the ingredients except the ground cinnamon in a mixer. Put in refrigerator to cool and before serving sprinkle the cinnamon on the top.

Mariandar Eggnog
6 eggs
1,2 l milk
400 g sweetened condensed milk
160 g milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
160 g whipped cream
3 g ground nutmeg
3 g salt

Mix milk, condense milk, vanilla and salt. Separately beat eggs and whipped cream. Add the beaten eggs to milk mixture. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve the drink chilled.

Nut cookies
250g flour
250g butter
50 g sugar
2 eggs
Salt
1 cup milk

For the cream:
250g sugar
30g nuts
200 g cookies
10 g lemon juice
Mix the flour, butter and sugar very well. Leave it for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
To prepare the cream: Boil syrup from the sugar and 1 1/2 cups water. Add the nuts and cookies and the lemon juice and stir very well. Separate the dough on to 40 pieces and spread it. Put the cream on the bottom side and shape the kisses. Bake it in 20min/160C.

Wall nut cookies
150 g flour
150g almonds
1 teaspoon baking powder
150g sugar
Salt
1 egg
100g melted butter
250 g apricot jam
150 g melted chocolate
48 wal-nut pieces
Mix the flour, almonds and baking powder and then add sugar, salt, and egg. Ten add butter. Prepare the dough and leave for 1 hour in the refrigerator. Spread it on a baking sheet and cut circles and place them on greased baking dish and bake them 10min/220C.When ready stick two by two with jam. Pour it over with melted chocolate and decorate with wal-nut pieces.

Almond cookies
350g almonds
10g lemon juice
300g sugar
3 eggs
Salt
Powdered sugar
Mix 300g almonds with 150 g sugar, lemon juice. Mix the eggs with some salt and beat very well and then add the almond mixture. Spread the dough on a baking sheet -3sm, and separate it on pieces and place them in a greased baking dish. Leave them to dry for two hours and bake till get golden color. White still hot put some powdered sugar.

Chocolate cookies
50g melted chocolate
3 spoons cream
65g butter
150 g sugar
3 eggs
1 spoon rum
1 spoon lemon juice
500g flour
1 tea spoon baking powder
Vegetable oil
Powdered sugar
Mix the chocolate, cream, butter and sugar and then add eggs, rum and lemon juice. When the mixture is ready add the flour and baking powder. Leave the dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Spread it on a baking sheet-5 mm and with teaspoon give them almonds shape. Heat the oil and fry the almonds till get golden brown. Then cool them and decorate with the powdered sugar.