Saturday, December 15, 2007

A quick holiday dessert!

Simple Charlotte

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Adapted from a recipe in Christmas with Southern Living, 1996.

2 (3.4 ounce) boxes of instant vanilla or white chocolate pudding mix
2 cups milk
3/4 cups orange juice
2 tablespoons Triple Sec
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
19 ladyfingers, split

Prepare pudding mixes according to directions, using milk and orange juice. Stir in Triple Sec and vanilla. Gently fold in the whipped cream.

Line the bottom and sides of a 9" springform pan with the ladyfingers. Spoon pudding mixture into pan. Cover and chill overnight.

Serves 12.


Sunday, December 9, 2007

Favorite Christmas cookies!

These are my mom's favorite Christmas cookies...

Nutcracker Sweets

(from Southern Living 2002 Annual Recipes)

1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups ground almonds (or use almond flour)
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup maraschino cherries, drained and chopped up
Powdered sugar

Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add flour, almonds, and extract, beating at low speed until well blended. Stir in cherries. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake at 325 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool two minutes. Roll in powdered sugar. Makes about 4 dozen.

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I always add just a little extra chopped cherries. Yum.

I will post other cookie and some candy recipes later!