The Night Before Christmas Cookies

For almost 30 years now, I have been the Christmas Cookie Queen.  As a young mother, I wanted an inexpensive way to celebrate family and friends at the holidays. 

I discovered that people began to look forward to my christmas goodie bags.  Folks often commented they were special because 'people just don't take the time anymore'.

We  usually get together on Christmas Eve, so everyone had goodies to nibble while assembling trikes with missing parts, trying to get the 4 yr old back in bed one more time, or something festive with the first cup of coffeeChristmas morning.

My food allergies now keep me from holiday baking, even for others.  So, this year, my gift to you will be all the well loved and dog-eared recipes of Christmases past.  You don't need to make all of these to create a well loved goodie bag, choose your favorites and rotate them year by year.

Merry Christmas to all!


Drinks:  Fill canning jars with drink mix and tie with a ribbon.

Christmas Capuccino
Spicy Winter Tea
A bottle of non-alcoholic apple cider is a great addition too, especially for families/kids.

Breads:  Using small loaf pans or muffin tins make perfect snack sized quick breads.

Pumpkin Bread
Other quick breads like Banana and Zucchini go over well too!

Candy: The holy trinity of Christmas in our family has long been fudge, caramel corn and brittle.

See's Fudge (really from See's!)
Microwave Caramel Corn
Microwave Peanut Brittle
Magic Wands

Cookies: Take the time to ice and decorate your cutouts.  It doesn't have to be fancy! 

Date Pinwheels (Date Nut Bars)
Gingerbread People
Natchez Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookies
Shortbread Cutouts
Spritz

Snacks: By the handful.

Snack Mix
Puppy Chow

Spreads:  Can in smaller jars to spread the love as far as possible.  Any deep stockpot will work fine for boiling water canning.

Apple Jelly
Pumpkin Butter

Bringing Christmas dessert?  Try Jen's Pumpkin Pie.

Vegetables Even Kids Will Eat?  It's just not Christmas without Trees 'n Cheese.

Fruit juice jelly

I always loved apple jelly, but any 100% fruit juice/blend works.

4 C unsweetened apple juice
1/4 C lemon juice
1 1 3/4oz pkg powdered fruit pectin
4 1/2 C sugar

Pour juices into heavy pot.  Sprinkle with pectin and let stand for 1-2 minutes, stir to dissolve.  Bring to a full rolling boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently.  Stir in sugar and return to a full rolling boil, stirring frequently.  Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat, skim off foam with a metal spoon.

Ladle into half pint jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace.  Process in boiling water for 5 minutes, remove jars and let cool until set.

Snack Mix

2 T Worcestershire sauce
6 T butter
1 1/2 t seasoned salt
3/4 t garlic powder
1/2 t onion powder
9 C cereal squares (mix 'em up!)
1 C mixed nuts
1 C pretzels
1 C cheese crackers, bite sized bagel chips, whatever you like

Heat oven to 250.  Melt butter in large roasting pan, stir in seasonings.  Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated.  Bake one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Spread on paper towels to cool.  Store in airtight container.

Buffalo Wontons

Dave may have a more formal source for this recipe... but it's pretty straighforward!  We used 4 pieces of chicken to a package of 48 wontons and ended up with a little chicken left over. 

Boneless/skinless chicken breasts
Hot Sauce (We used Franks Red Hot - takes about 4-6 cups)
Wonton skins
Blue cheese, blue cheese dressing, ranch dressing

Put chicken breasts in a crock pot, cover with hot sauce, and cook until chicken falls apart.  Place chicken in a large bowl, shred into small pieces and let cool slightly.  Add sauce from the crockpot as needed to keep the chicken from being too dry.

Heat frying oil to 350-375.  While oil is heating, assemble the wontons.  Directions for filling/sealing wontons skins are on the package label.  We put chicken only in the wontons, but you could also add cheese.  When the oil comes to temperature, start frying in batches to a golden brown.

Serve with blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Pumpkin butter

1 29oz can pumpkin

2/3C apple juice (or cider)
1 1/2 C sugar
2t ground ginger
1/2t ground cloves
2t ground cinnamon
1/2t ground nutmeg
Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 30-40 minutes, stirring frequently. Spoon into clean jars to within 1/4 inch from the top, run a knife through to remove air bubbles. Wipe rims, cover with lids, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Makes 4 pint jars.

Atomic Buffalo Turds

Sorry for the descriptive title.... another one that's not my recipe but will be served at family gatherings forever.


Cut off stems and split jalapeno peppers in half lenthwise and remove seeds. (Wear gloves!)
Spread in some cream cheese in each half of the jalapenos
Add a "lil smokie" in each one. ( a small pre-cooked sausage)
Wrap in bacon and use a toothpick to secure the bacon
Put under broiler or grill until the bacon cooks and the jalapeno is heated through.

Dave's tip: - I use turkey bacon because it holds it's shape better. I also cook the bacon in the pan about halfway before assembling the turds. So that when I put it on the grill, I only have to turn it once or twice for a total of 2-3 minutes and it's cooked all the way through.

You can thank me later.

Heavenly Deviled Eggs

6 eggs

1/4t prepared mustard
1/8t cider vinegar
few grains sugar
pinch salt
pinch pepper
Miracle Whip
Paprika for garnish

Prick the large end of the eggs with a pin (helps to keep it from cracking while boiling)
Place the eggs in a saucepan and add enough water ot cover by a couple of inches
Bring to a boil
Cover tightly and remove from heat
Let stand for exactly 20 minutes
Drain and run cold water over egg until it can be handled, tap gently and peel. Rinse under cool water and pat dry on paper towels

Cut eggs in half lengthwise and carefully scoop yolks into a small bowl
Mash yolks with a fork, add mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and mix well. Stir in just enough Miracle Whip to make a good stuffing consistency. Taste to see if you need to adjust seasonings.
Spoon filling into egg halves and sprinkle with paprika.

Never Fail Hard Boiled Egg

Prick the large end of the egg with a pin (helps to keep it from cracking while boiling)

Place the egg in a saucepan and add enough water ot cover by a couple of inches
Bring to a boil
Cover tightly and remove from heat, let stand for exactly 20 minutes
Drain and run cold water over egg until it can be handled, tap gently and peel