Some of my favorite recipes for the holidays . . .

I thought I would share some of my Holiday recipes - Enjoy :)


Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
1 Block of cream cheese

1c sweet relish

1c peach preserves

10-15 pieces of sliced pickled jalapenos (or to taste)

Festive Crackers

Combine relish, peach preserves and jalapenos in blender will become like a sauce - taste. It should have a sweet and spicy taste. You can add a few more jalapenos if you choose.

Place cream cheese on platter and cover with "sauce". Serve with crackers. You will not use all the "sauce" and you can keep it in a sealed container for up to 6 months.

It sounds like an odd combination but it is delicious - especially with a glass of peach tea :)

Baked Beans
3 large cans of Baked Beans - drain off juice from can (I use the country style and brown sugar ones from Aldi since I "doctor" them anyway
1 onion
1/2 lb of bacon
3 T of honey
1/4c of brown sugar
3- 4 T of BBQ sauce with honey
1 T Catalina Dressing
1 T - garlic powder
1 T - onion powder as a substitute if you don't use actual onion

Saute onions and bacon, drain and add to beans in a baking dish.
add all other ingredients (taste and adjust accordingly) - Bake at 375 for about 25 minutes uncovered

Mexican corn bread
2 boxes jiffy mix corn bread
(follow directions on box)
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
1 12-16 oz jar of salsa (mild or medium)
1 12 oz pack of shredded cheese (I use the Mexican mix)
1 T Sugar

Prepare Jiffy mix as directed. Add the corn, 1/2 to 3/4 of the salsa, 1/2 of the cheese and the sugar.
Mix well. If it seems to thick you can add a little more salsa.

Put in a well greased 9X13 pan and bake at 425 in a pre-heated oven for about 20 - 25 minutes.
If you like you can sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and bake additional 5-7 minutes

I do everything just by taste and the way it looks, but I think this is pretty close.

Russian Spice Tea
2 cups orange-flavored drink mix (e.g. Tang)
2 cups white sugar
1 lemon-flavored instant tea powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions
In a large bowl, combine orange drink mix, sugar, tea powder, cinnamon and cloves. Mix well and store in an airtight container.
To serve, put 3 teaspoons of mix in a mug. Stir in 1 cup boiling water. Adjust to taste. It is also good cold - adjust amount of mix to amount of water used

Pizza Rolls
1 refrigerator Pizza crust (by the biscuits)
1 bag pepperoni
1 cans mushrooms
1 large onion
1 can sliced black olives
1 3c bag of shredded cheese
1 pack of microwave bacon
1 roll of sausage cooked and drained(if you want)
1 spaghetti sauce for dip
Garlic salt
Olive Oil

Open pizza crust on well greased cookie sheet and fill with ingredients roll closed brush olive oil on top and sprinkle with garlic salt (I like the California Garlic mix (the Aldi's version))

Bake at 400 for approximately 20-25 minutes

Let cool. Cut in slices and serve with sauce - YUM!!!!

Salsa

3-12 oz cans of whole tomatoes
1-1/2 T Garlic salt
1 small onion
25-30 pieces of sliced pickled jalapenos (or less for mild)
3 squirts of lime juice
2 T dried cilantro

Combine in blender - either crush to liquid or chopped depending on the consistency that you prefer.
Serve with Tortilla Chips

Camp Cake
1 White or Yellow cake Mix
2 Cans of Apple of Cherry Pie Filling (You can use the Sugar free with Splenda if you like)
1 stick of butter (or I Can't Believe it's Not Butter) Do not use margarine it will not melt right
Cinnamon - if you use apples

Pre-Heat oven to 350

Put fruit filling into greased 9X13 cake pan
Sprinkle dry cake mix over fruit
Cut stick of butter into 1/8" pads and randomly cover the cake mix
If you use apples - sprinkle with cinnamon

Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and yummy

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Tater Tots (from Man vs Food on Travel Channel)
1 lb THICK bacon (usually 14-18 slices)
28-36 Tater tots
28-36 Jalapenos

Partially Thaw tater tots. Cut bacon in half. Wrap 1 tater tot and one jalapeno in bacon and secure with a tooth pic.
We have deep fried them and baked them - you can do which ever you choose.
If you Deep Fry - heat oil to around 350 and fry until bacon is crisp.
If you bake - Pre-heat oven to 425 and bake 30-40 minutes or until bacon is crispy - it may take longer depending on the thickness of the bacon.

Serve with dipping sauce or naked - it is up to you - they are good either way :)
By the way of you are not sure about the jalapenos - leave them out - it is still a nice finger food - just a little less spicy.

Well these are a few of our family favorites - hope you enjoy :)