Category: recipes

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Recipes Peppermint Brownies

How to Make Peppermint Brownies Recipe

About this Peppermint Brownies Recipe

Everybody loves rich and chewy brownies. This peppermint brownies recipe is a great one to make and serve on the holiday dessert tray. You can also use it in January, with all of the leftover candy canes.

Yield: 16 brownies

Today’s Quote: “I really believe there’s no such thing as accidents, only opportunities. God gives everyone the ingredients to a good, happy life. It’s up to us to make the most of them.” – – Rachael Ray

Peppermint Brownies Ingredients

4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, broken into 1″ or smaller pieces.

1 cup unsalted butter or margarine

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

5 ounces (about 10 squares) of dark chocolate candy with mint filling

1/4 cup of candy canes, crushed

How to Make Peppermint Brownies Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Spray a 9″ square baking dish with cooking oil spray, and dust with flour.
Melt unsweetened chocolate and butter in a double boiler, stirring frequently until smooth.
Cool to room temperature.
While the chocolate is cooling, in a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, and peppermint extract until well combined.
Beat in the chocolate mixture.
Slowly, stir in flour.
Pour batter into greased pan.
Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
Test brownies with a toothpick for doneness.
Arrange mint chocolate squares on top of brownies.
Return to oven for just a minute or two, until mint squares are soft/melted.
Use a spatula to spread mint squares across all brownies.
Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.
Allow to cool before cutting and serving.

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Recipes Peppermint Bark Candy

How to Make Peppermint Bark Candy Recipe

About this Peppermint Bark Candy Recipe

During the Christmas holiday, you can go to almost any store to get your fill of Peppermint Bark candy. Or, you can make this treat yourself. As a matter of fact, you can make this peppermint bark candy recipe at any time of the year. Here’s a very easy recipe that is quick to make.

Today’s Quote: “Good food and a warm kitchen are what makes a house a home.” – – Rachael Ray

Peppermint Bark Candy Ingredients

There are just two ingredients to this easy-to-make recipe:

2 bags (12 ounces each) of white chocolate chips
1 cup peppermint candies, unwrapped

How to Make Peppermint Bark Candy Directions

Line a 15″ x 10″ x 1″ baking pan with aluminum foil.
Coat foil with non-stick cooking spray.
Place chips in a large bowl.
Microwave at 1/2 power for 1 1/2 minutes.
Stir and repeat n microwave, until smooth.
Place candies in a 1-quart size resealable plastic bag.
Crush peppermint candies with a rolling pin or saucepan.
Fold 1/2 of the peppermint candy into the melted chocolate.
Pour mixture into the pan with foil.
Sprinkle the top with the remaining crushed candies.
Refrigerate until firm.
Beak apart into bite-sized pieces.

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Recipes Peanut Butter Kisses

Peanut Butter Kisses Recipe

About this Peanut Butter Kisses Recipe

In our family, Peanut Butter Cookies are one of the most popular holiday cookies. No Christmas party or gathering is without them. But, wait a minute. You can make this peanut butter cookie recipe any time of the year and it tastes just as good as it does during the holidays.

Everyone knows that peanut butter and chocolate are a wonderful combination. Open up a Reese’s peanut butter cup and you know what pleasure. Eating a peanut butter kiss cookie brings almost as much pleasure.

From the Kitchen of: Debbie M., Rochester, NY.

Today’s Quote: “A balanced diet is a cookie in both hands.” – – Paula Deen

Peanut Butter Kisses Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup shortening

1 cup light brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 sup milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 eggs

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/3 cup granulated sugar (for rolling cookies)

1 11oz. package chocolate kisses

How to Make Peanut Kisses Cookies

Preheat oven to 375° F.
In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, shortening and sugars.
Stir in milk, vanilla extract and eggs. Add flour, baking soda and salt.
Mix thoroughly.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
Roll dough balls in granulated sugar.
Place dough balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes.
Remove from oven and press a chocolate kiss into the cookie.
Bake in oven for three minutes.
Remove from oven and place cookies on a wire rack to cool.

Did You Know? There’s a special day for Peanut Butter Cookies!

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Recipes Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

About this Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

This peanut butter cookie recipe is very popular for kids and teens. We found Granma and Grandpa like them, too, along with every age group in between. Some people call them “Peanut Butter Sandies”. When you make a batch of these cookies, they go very fast.

Yield: 4 to 5 dozen

Today’s Quote: “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock” – – Thomas Jefferson

Peanut Butter Cookies Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup shortening

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

How to Make Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat oven to 375° F.
Beat shortening, peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl until creamy.
Gradually add sugars, beating well after each addition.
Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
Slowly add dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture in the first bowl, mixing well.
Shape dough into 1″ diameter balls.
Place cookie balls on an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing about 2″ apart.
Flatten cookies.
Criss-cross cookie with a fork, if desired.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

Did You Know? There’s a special day for Peanut Butter Cookies!

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Recipes Peanut Butter Blossoms

Hershey's Kisses Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Recipe

About this Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Recipe

This peanut butter blossoms cookie recipe is popular for every day and especially many cookie-serving events. It is very popular during the holidays. You will find it on cookie trays at most office and home parties.

From the Kitchen of: Contributed by Debbie M., Rochester, NY.

Yield: 48 cookies

Today’s Quote: “A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” – – Ingrid Bergman

Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

granulated sugar

48 Hershey kisses

Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookie Directions

Preheat oven to 375° F.
Remove the foil from the Hershey Kisses and set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together shortening and peanut butter.
Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat until fluffy.
Add in egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat together.
Gradually stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat together.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
Roll dough balls into granulated sugar.
Place dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 – 10 minutes until lightly browned.
Remove cookies from the oven and immediately push a Hersey kiss into the center of the cookie.
Place cookies onto a wire rack to cool.

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Recipes Peanut Brittle

Homemade Peanut Brittle Recipe

About this Peanut Brittle Recipe

Who would have thought you could make peanut brittle at home? Well, you certainly can! And, it’s not hard to do. Use this homemade peanut brittle recipe to make a special snack that ever seems to go out of style. Now you can make your own, for just about any party or event.

Just a fair warning: You may have to make extra, as it goes fast!

Today’s Chuckle: “Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker.” – – OgdenNash

Homemade Peanut Brittle Ingredients

1 cup Karo syrup

1 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon water

2 cups peanuts, unsalted

1 teaspoon baking soda

Peanut Brittle Directions

In a pan, add Karo syrup, water, and sugar.
Bring to a boil slowly, stirring almost constantly.
Add peanuts.
Continue to stir and cook to thicken.
When it is brown, add baking soda, stirring to mix in.
Pour mixture out onto buttered aluminum foil to cool.
After it is completely cool, it can be broken into bite-sized pieces.

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Recipes Party Punch

How to Make Party Punch Recipe

About this Non-Alcoholic Party Punch Recipe

This non-alcoholic party punch recipe is a favorite. It goes well with any of your parties and special events. You can use it any time of the year. It is an old-fashioned recipe, including freshly squeezed juice of lemons and oranges. It serves a large group. However, you can cut the recipe ingredients in half for a smaller group.

Serves: 25-30

Today’s Quote: “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” – – Norman Vincent Peale

Party Punch Ingredients

4 cups sugar

2 cups water

Juice of 12 lemons

Juice of 12 oranges or 3 cups of orange juice

1 large can of pineapple juice

2 cups of black tea

3 gallons water

12 oz. maraschino cherries

2 quarts ginger ale

Orange and Lemon slices for garnish

Tip: For Halloween and other seasonal parties, float a frozen hand in the punch. It’s novel! See: Frozen Hand Recipe

Party Punch Directions

Mix together sugar, and two cups water.
Bring to a boil to make syrup. Set aside to cool.
Pour and mix the cool syrup with the remaining ingredients, except ginger ale.
Add ginger ale just before serving.
Float orange and lemon slices on top of the punch.

Related Recipes

Here is another punch recipe for you to try at your next party:

Festive Party Punch

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Recipes Cheesy Party Potatoes

How to Make Cheesy Party Potatoes Recipe

About this Cheesy Party Potatoes Recipe

My family just loves this Cheesy Party Potatoes recipe. And, your family will love it, too. Make it for holidays, special days, or birthdays. It goes well with just about any meat. And, it’s quick and easy to make. So, make cheesy party potatoes for your next get-together. Then, watch people go for big second helpings.

This is an excellent dish to make on National Potato Day

Contributed By: From the kitchen of Debbie Matthews, Rochester, NY

For the Diet Conscious Among us: One large potato contains approximately 284 calories and 65 carbs.

Today’s Chuckle: Trust science. Studies show that if your parents didn’t have children there’s a high probability you won’t either.

Cheesy Party Potatoes Ingredients

1 package of frozen hash browns

2 cans cream of potato soup

1-pint sour cream

1 16-ounce package of shredded cheddar cheese

Directions Cheesy Party Potatoes Recipe

First, preheat the oven to 325 ° F.
First, in a large bowl, combine all ingredients and 3/4 of the cheddar cheese package.
Next, pour the mixture into a large baking dish.
Then, top the potato mixture with the remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake in the oven for 90 minutes.
Serve hot.

Kitchen Cleaning Tip

Over time, dirt and grime can discolor kitchen floor tiles. Here’s an easy way to clean it and restore the grout’s original color:

In a spray bottle, combine one part of hydrogen peroxide with two parts of water. Then, spray the grout. Wait one hour. Then, wipe it off.

You’ll love the result!

Recipes Okra Seafood Gumbo

How to Make Okra Seafood Gumbo Recipe

About this Okra Seafood Gumbo Recipe

Are you ready to try your hand at New Orleans Cajun cooking? try this Okra Seafood Gumbo recipe. Enjoy it on Mardi Gras or any time of the year when you’re looking for something for dinner that’s just a little bit out of your ordinary. In other words, make it at any time of the year.

Today’s Quote: “I have a wonderful make-up crew. They’re the same people restoring the Statue of Liberty.” – – Bob Hope

Okra Seafood Gumbo Ingredients

2 lb. shrimp, shelled, deveined, cooked

2 Tablespoons flour

3 Tablespoons butter

1 lb. okra, sliced

1 onion, minced

1/2 green pepper, chopped

2 cups stewed tomatoes

2 quarts water

1 teaspoon salt

1 can oysters, with liquid

1 package of frozen crab meat

1/4 teaspoon tabasco sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cups rice, cooked

How to Make Okra Seafood Gumbo Directions

In a large pot, combine butter, onion, green pepper, and flour.
Begin to cook.
Add stewed tomatoes, and bring to near a boil.
Add water and salt.
Simmer for 20 minutes.
Add shrimp and oysters.
Continue to simmer for 15 more minutes.
Add tobasco, Worcestershire, and crab meat.
Simmer for another 15 minutes.
Serve hot over cooked rice.

Recipe Tip: Don’t hesitate to experiment. Try additional seafoods, as available.

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