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Showing posts with the label holiday

30 Days of Christmas Day 30: A Pet Quiz

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1. A dark science room                                                   ____Chow Chow 2. Teutonic minder of ewes                                             ____Black Lab 3. Colorful insect chaser                                                 ____Papillon 4. Pugilist                                                                        ____Mexican Hairless 5. Food-food                                                                   ____West Highland Doxie 6. French butterfly                                                          ____Husky 7. Scots mountain girlfriend                                           ____Bluetick Hound 8. Bald southern neighbor                                                                          ____German Shepherd 9. Not fat, just over-sized                                                                            ____Saint Bernarnd 10. Beatified author Cornwell                                                                   ____Boxer

So Easy, but Such a Crowd-Pleaser

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1 can whole water chestnuts 1/2 strip of bacon for each chestnut (you can use pre-cooked) Sauce: We like barbeque sauce, French dressing, or Russian dressing, but teriyaki, soy, Zesty Italian, etc. are also possible choices. Cook the bacon in a skillet or microwave but don't let it get crispy. When it cools, wrap it around a water chestnut and skewer with a toothpick. Set them on a foil-covered broiler pan, brush with the sauce of your choice, and broil until the bacon sizzles and turns crisp. Make lots, because no one can eat just one of these!

Fruit Pizza

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I don't claim this one is exactly healthy, but it does have fruit, and you can make it look very festive by focusing on reds and greens. Make sugar cookie dough and flatten it onto a lightly greased pizza pan. You can use your own recipe or even store-bought, but here's one that works: Crust: 1 c. butter or margarine 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. almond extract 1 tsp. soda 1 tsp. cream of tartar Blend butter, sugar, egg & almond extract well. Mix flour, soda, and tartar and blend in. Bake in 375 degree oven until lightly browned. Cool. Topping When cool crust is completely cool, spread with topping. 1 pkg. cream cheese, softened 1/3 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla Fruit: Top with fresh fruit: pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, bananas, etc. (Note: I've never gotten as creative as the pic above, but someday I might!)

Brownie Pudding

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                                                       This one always makes me feel like I can do magic! Brownie batter 1 c. flour 3/4 c. sugar 2 tbsp. cocoa 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 c. milk 2 tbsp. oil 1 tsp. vanilla Pudding 3/4 c. brown sugar 1/4 c. cocoa 1 3/4 c. hot water Mix together first 5 ingredients. Add milk, oil, and vanilla (I add 1/2 c. walnuts here). Stir well and put into greased 8x8 baking pan. (Batter is thick; I flatten it a little with a spatula.) Combine brown sugar and cocoa in a bowl. Pour hot water in and stir until liquified. Pour over the brownie batter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. When done, the brownies are on top and below them is rich, dark pudding. Scoop out a serving, turn it upside down in a bowl, and add ice cream or whipped cream, and you've got a major treat that was easy to make!

Four-layer Delight

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The pudding you use is your choice. I like pistachio for this one. 1 stick oleo/butter 1 c. flour 1/2 c. chopped nuts 8 oz. cream cheese 1 c. powdered sugar 1 package Cool Whip 3 c. milk 2 small packages instant pudding Layer 1: Melt oleo, add flour and nuts. Press into 9x13 pan and bake at 375 degrees for 15 min. Layer 2: Blend cream cheese & p. sugar, add 1 c. Cool Whip. Mix and spread over cooled Layer 1. Layer 3: Mix 2 pudding mixes with milk. Pour over 1 & 2. Chill until set. Layer 4: Spread remaining Cool Whip on top