APPETIZERS (DATES with BACON) HOLIDAY TREAT!!

DATES with BACON<>CUT 6 strips (thin sliced BACON0 cross-wise into 4 in lengths.<>WRAP each of 18 pitted DATES snugly with a piece of BACON overlapping ends<>Set DATES , seam side DOWN in a 10 to 12 in. NONSTICK (FRYING PAN)<>over medium HEAT<>TURN DATES occasionally until BACON is BROWNED and CRISP. on all sides 6 to 8 minutes total<>DRAIN on paper towels and serve warm or cool<>DELICIOUS ( no-hassel APPETIZERS)!!!!!!!!

HOLIDAY (FUDGE DELIGHTFUL) HO! HO! HO!

HO! HO! HO!  (FUDGE DELIGHTFUL) <>1/4 lb. MARSHMALLOWS<>2 CUPS GRANULATED SUGAR<><>4 TEASPOON COCOA<>1 CUP MILK<.2 TEASPOON BUTTER<>4 TEASPOON MARSHMALLOW CREAM<>1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT<.1 CUP WALNUTS<><>ARRANGE QUARTERED (MARSHMALLOWS so they cover bottom of greased 10in.x6inx2in BAKING PAN.<>IN a saucepan, combine (SUGAR, COCOA, MILK and BUTTER)<>HEAT stirring until DISSOLVED<>BRING to BOIL, continue COOKING without stirring to 236 degrees F. on CANDY THERMOMETER.or until a little mixture in cold water forms SOFT BALL.<>REMOVE MIXTURE from HEAT<>STIR in MARSHMALLOW CREAM, < VANILLA,<NUTS.<><>BEAT until THICK and CREAMY<>POUR over MARSHMALLOWS.<><>(COOL cut into 40 PIECES) !!!!   soooooH  DELICIOUS!!!!!HO! HO! HO!

CHRISTMAS PORK PIE (TOURTIERE)

PORK PIE<>2 LBS. GROUND PORK<>1 LB. HAMBURG<>4 MEDIUM POTATOES<>SMALL ONION<>PEPPER&SALT<>4 1/2 TABLESPOON (BELL'S SEASONING)<>COOK (GROUND PORK 15 to 20 minutes<>STIRRING occasionally ADD HAMBURG<>MIX WELL, (COOK until done 1 /12 to 2 HOURS<>ADD MASHED POTATOES, SALT&PEPPER ONION and SEASONING.<>LET STAND until COOL<>TURN into (UNBAKED PIE SHELLS and BAKE at 400 degrees F. for 20 MINUTES .<><><><>THIS RECIPE IS DOUBLE CRUSTED (TOP&BOTTOM and makes 3--9inch PORK PIES<>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!soooooH, DELICIOUS!!! DELICIOUS!!

HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE (FAVORITE)

HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE<>1 CUP HONEY<>1 CUP OIL<>8 EGGS, SEPARATED<>2 LBS,RAISINS<><><<><>1 LB.CHOPPED DATES<>2 CUPS WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR<>2 CUPS CHOPPED PECANS<>1/2 CUP APPLE CIDER<>1 TEASPOON EACH,<>cinnamon<.allspice<>nutmeg<><><><><>1/2 TEASPOON EACH<>mace<>cloves<.ginger<><>MIX (HONEY and EGG YOLKS and OIL<>COMBINE (RAISINS and DATES with FLOUR and ADD to EGG YOLK mixture along with REMAINING INGREDIENTS, (except EGG WHITES)<>FINALLY FOLD in STIFFLY (BEATEN EGG WHITES) CUT brown paper to fit (THREE 9x5 inch LOAF PANS)<>oil the pans and APPLY BROWN PAPER in PANS,<>then OIL the PAPER in PANS,.<>this is easily done <>BAKE (FRUITCAKE ) in a 275 DEGREE F. OVEN until done about 1 3/4 HOURS)<>WHEN DONE, toothpick inserted will come out clean<>YIELD, (three 9x5 inch LOAVES of DELICIOUS FRUITCAKE)    brings "oh's and :ah's of DELIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

PECAN BUTTER COOKIES (CHRISTMAS CREATIONS)

PECAN BUTTER COOKIES<>1 1/2 CUPS SIFTED ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR<>1/2 CUPS GRANULATED SUGAR<>1/4 TEASPOON SALT<>2 TEASPOONS (INSTANT COFFEE)<>1 CUP BUTTER<>3/4 CUP PECANS COARSELY CHOPPED<><>START HEATING (OVEN to 300 degrees F.)into medium bowl (sift FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT, and COFFEE)<>with PASTRY BLENDER or 2 KNIVES used sissor-fashion CUT in BUTTER until it's the size of small peas.<>PRESS DOUGH TOGETHER.<>SHAPE into SMALL BALLS, roll in PECANS.<>PLACE 2in. apart on ungreased COOKIE SHEETS, flatten with bottom of glass dipped in SUGAR.<>BAKE about 20 minutes or until EDGES are VERY LIGHTLY BROWNED.<>COOL slightly, remove to wire rack.!!    YUM, YUMMY!!!!!

ESCALLOPED TURKEY (talking TURKEY leftovers!!!)

WERE  (TALKING  TURKEY) ****ESCALLOPED  TURKEY<><>6 CUPS unseasoned CROUTONS<>2 MEDIUM ONIONS, sliced<>3/4 TEASPOON SAGE<>2 TEASPOON SALT<>1/2 TEASPOON PEPPER<>1 TEASPOON THYME<>1/4 TEASPOON SWEET BASIL<>1/4 CUP DRY PARSLEY<>2 CUPS CELERY, finely chopped with leaves<>6 CUPS (HOT TURKEY BROTH)<><><><><>6 CUPS (BONED TURKEY)<><>COMBINE the first (NINE ) ingredients<>POUR the boiling BROTH over the MIXTURE, enough to make the CROUTONS SOFT but not mushy.<>STIR , then COVER and allow to steep 15 MINUTES<>MIX AGAIN to be sure CROUTONS are MOIST<>IN ALTERNATING LAYERS, PUT the DRESSING and small pieces of (BONED TURKEY in a (BAKING DISH) ALLOW for a LAYER of DRESSING on the BOTTOM abd TOP of the PAN.<>(BAKE at 300 degrees F. for 30 MINUTES<>SERVE (TOPPED with TURKEY GRAVY)****SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!!!!!!

WHAT i,m THANKFUL FOR ( FAMILY, HEALTH , FRIENDS and FREEDOM)

FOR MY FAMILY, MY HEALTH , a nice soft bed and FOOD upon my table , FRIENDS I can count on and my FREEDOM, a ROOF over my head.<>I,m THANKFUL right now by those whose LIFES TOUCH me MORE THAN they will ever KNOW, I THANK my GOD as I call him HE gives me STRENGTH and PATIENCE  and HE never gives me more than WHAT HE KNOWS (I CAN HANDLE)!!!AND HE gives me a chance to wake up every morning and breath fresh air and HUG my NEIGHBORS little DOG!!!!

SHOOFLY PIE

SHOOFLY PIE<>COMBINE first 6 INGREDIENTS in a BOWL<>MIX WELL.<>CUT in BUTTER until CRUMBLY.<>SPREAD 1 1/3 CUPS MIXTURE in PIE SHELL.<>COMBINE (MOLASSES, SODA and 3/4 CUP BOILING WATER in a bowl<>MIX WELL.<>POUR OVER (CRUMB MIXTURE), SPRINKLE REMAINING (CRUMBS on TOP.<>(BAKE @ 375 degrees F. for 30 to 40 minutes or until LIGHTLY BROWNED>!!!!!!!!!!!YUMMY!!!

NOV. 23, 2011 (NEW FRESH FALLING SNOW)

NEW (FRESH FALLING SNOW) IT'S 3:30 AM , (THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING) when all thru, my house (I AM THE ONLY ONE STIRRING) and I LOOK out my WINDOW and what DO I SEE, IT;s FRESH FALLING SNOW and it is the (DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING)<>NOVEMBER 23, 2011. <><>IT is QUIET and PEACEFUL and no one is in sight. (IT TRULY IS A TIME TO BE THANKFUL!!!!!

STRAWBERRY LATTICE PIE

STRAWBERRY LATTICE PIE<>2 1/2 CUP SLICED STRAWBERRIES<>1/2 CUP SUGAR<>1/4 TEASPOON SALT<>2 1/2 TEASPOON (MINUTE TAPIOCA)<>1 TEASPOON GRATED (LEMON RIND)<>1 recipe 2 CRUST PIE PASTRY<><>COMBINE first 5 INGREDIENTS in a BOWL, MIX WELL.<>SPOON into PASTRY-LINED 9 in PIE PLATE<><>TOP with (LATTICE CRUST)<><><><><><>(BAKE @ 450 degrees F. for 10 MINUTES.<><>REDUCE TEMPERATURE to 350 degrees F.<><>BAKE for 30 MINUTES LONGER!!!!!  (SCRUMPTIOUS ,  yummmy~~~~~~!!!

MAPLE WALNUT ACORN SQUASH ( THERE'S much to be THANKFUL for at a (TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY TABLE)

MAPLE WALNUT ACORN SQUASH<>(2 ACORN SQUASH, QUARTERED< SEEDS REMOVED)<>3 TABLESPOONS VEGETABLE OIL<>KOSHER or SEA SALT and FRESHLY ground BLACK PEPPER<>3 TABLESPOONS unsalted BUTTER<>3 TABLESPOONS (MAPLE SYRUP)<>3 TABLESPOONS chopped WALNUT<><>HEAT OVEN to 400 degrees F<>PLACE (SQUASH, skin side down, on a rimmed BAKING SHEET, lined with foil<>DRIZZLE with OIL, and season with SALT & PEPPER<>(ROAST until TENDER, about 30 MINUTES<>IN A SMALL(SAUCEPAN, MELT BUTTER and MAPLE SYRUP)<>TURN OVEN to BROIL<>(BRUSH SQUASHES with BUTTER MIXTURE and PLACE a few WALNUTS on TOP)<>PLACE UNDER (BROILER until DEEPLY BROWNED about 2 MINUTES)!!!!!!THIS SQUASH with MAPLE WALNUT GLAZE is DELICIOUS!!!!!!