Peg Herring, Mystery Author

If you've got a houseful of company for the holidays, here's a breakfast treat you can make ahead and pop in the oven just before the gift opening begins. It makes the house smell great, and when the last of the unwrapping is done, there's breakfast for everyone! 1 doz. eggs dash pepper 1 tsp. salt 2 1/2 c. milk 1 c. American cheese, grated 3 slices bread, cubed Mix ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate. Get creative with things your family likes by adding chopped ham, crumbled bacon, peppers, onion, sausage, etc. In the morning, pour mixture into 9x13 pan and bake for 45 min. at 350 degrees. You can serve this on bagels or English muffins, or with toast on the side for a complete and wonderful holiday breakfast.

1 pkg. cream-filled cookies (such as Oreos but not double-stuffed) 1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese Smash the cookies to fine crumbs. Stir in softened cream cheese. Roll into balls and chill for 1 hour. Melt 12 oz. white chocolate. (Some use regular chocolate.) Using toothpicks, dip the balls into melted chocolate and set on waxed paper and chill to harden. If you like, you can drizzle dark chocolate over the white to make them pretty or decorate in some other way. We like to color the white chocolate green and leave a "buckeye" showing the cookie mixture. Any way you do it, these don't last long, and they make great gifts for friends, family, and others on your list!

Just what they sound like--great for parties Crust: 1/2 c. oleo 1/2 c. shortening 1 c. brown sugar 2 c. flour Mix well and press into 9x13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes Topping: Mix 5 eggs 1 c. syrup (I use light but recipe says you can use light or dark) 3/4 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 2 c. pecans, broken Pour mixture over crust and bake at 275 degrees for about 50 min. Cut into bars.

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!)

Also called Macaroon Pie, this one's easy but really good! In a blender: 2 eggs 1 c. milk 3/4 c. sugar 1/2 c. flour 2 tbsp. melted butter/oleo 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. salt Blend well. Pour into greased pie plate and sprinkle with 1 c. flaked coconut. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown.

                                                       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!

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