English Toffee

 

Here is another candy recipe that we make every year at Christmas time. We also make it throughout the year as well. We love Toffee. It is so good and very easy to make. 

Ingredients

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1 c. pecans, chopped coarsely

Directions

Line the pan with parchment paper or lightly butter the bottom of the pan for easy removal.  

Spread the chopped pecans in a single layer on top of the parchment paper or buttered pan bottom. Or you can press the nuts into the melted chocolate. You can also put half the nuts on the bottom of the pan and the other half of the nuts on the top.

In a large, heavy saucepan, combine butter, sugar, water and salt.

Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat until the mixture registers the hard-crack stage or 300°.  Watch the mixture carefully because it does have a tendency to burn. 

Gently stir in the vanilla extract. 

Pour into prepared pan. Allow to cool for a minute or two.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top and spread them in an even layer when they are melted. 

If you want to put the nuts in the chocolate, you can do so at this point and press them in slightly. 

Allow it to cool  for 2 to 3 hours or you can put the pan in the refrigerator and chill the candy for at least 30 minutes. 

Remove from the pan and break into bite-size pieces.

 Sugar Cookies

 

Sugar Cookies are great any time of the year. Every year for Christmas, we make holiday shaped sugar cookies.  I still use my mother's cookie cutters. As my kids and I make cookies together, I remember back to the times when my mother and I made sugar cookies together. Her dad lived with us as well and he would sit in the kitchen and wait to have those cookies come out of the oven so he could begin eating.  Her dad loved to eat cookies! I think they were his favorite food ever!!

Ingredients

2 c. butter, room temperature
2 c. sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
2 Tbs. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
6 c. flour
Extra sugar for top of cookies

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one.  

Pour in the vanilla and mix well. Scrape the bottom and sides of the mixing bowl to make sure everything is evenly mixed in.

Turn the mixer down to low and add the baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Mix in the flour, 2 cups at a time.  The dough should be thick, stiff, and not sticky. It should not be crumbly either.

Fill a small bowl with sugar to roll the balls in.

Remove a tablespoonful of dough. Gently roll the dough between the palms of your hands into a 1-inch ball. Roll the balls in the sugar, coating all sides evenly. 

Place the sugar cookies on a cookie sheet, spacing them about an inch apart. 

Dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and then flatten each sugar cookie ball. Dipping in sugar will keep the dough from sticking to the glass and it will give just a bit more sugar on the top.  

Bake 6 to 8 minutes depending on the size and thickness of the cookies.  Watch the cookies and remove from the oven just before they turn brown all around the edges. Do not over bake.  The cookies will come out of the oven puffy, but as they cool, they will fall. So when you see that, it is nothing to worry about.

Allow the cookies to cool for 4 to 5 minutes, then remove and place the cookies on wire racks to cool.

If you want to make shaped or cutout sugar cookies, remove some of the dough from the bowl.  Roll out on a lightly floured surface until it is 3/8" thick. Cut out in shapes with a cookie cutter. If the dough sticks to the cookie cutter, you can either dip the cookie cutter in flour, or sugar to keep it from sticking. 

Frost or decorate if desired.

 

Divinity

 Every year, my mother would make Divinity. She would bring it out after we were all in bed sleeping and leave it under the tree as a gift from Santa.

You don't have to wait until Christmas to make this delicious, melt in your mouth candy. Although, for best results, it should be made on days with low humidity.  

Ingredients

4 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
3/4 c. water
3 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Place wax paper on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.  Set aside.

In a large, heavy saucepan, mix sugar, syrup, and water over medium-low heat.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  

Cook without stirring over medium heat to 260° or hard ball stage, on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat. 

While the candy is cooking, prepare the egg whites. Put the egg whites in a large mixing bowl. With the mixer on high speed, beat them until stiff peaks form. 

When the candy is the right temperature, pour the hot liquid in a thin stream into the egg whites with the mixer on medium speed.  Do not turn off the mixer while doing this. 

Pour in the vanilla.  Continue beating until the candy starts to hold its shape and the mixture becomes slightly dull.

Quickly drop from a teaspoon or tablespoon onto waxed paper. I use two lightly buttered spoons to do this. One spoon to scoop the divinity out of the bowl and the other to help push the divinity onto the sheet of waxed paper. 

Set aside in a cool location to set up. 

Spicy Cheese Whiz 

Sometimes, we will make Spicy Cheese Whiz, put it on crackers and that will be our supper.  It is a wonderful treat with simple ingredients.  But Spicy Cheese Whiz is great on so many other foods as well. You can serve it with nachos, enchiladas, tacos or use it with macaroni.  You can omit the hot peppers, or add as many as you like. We always use a variety of different cheeses in ours as well. Experiment with what you like best.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds cheese, cubed (We use American, Cheddar, and or Pepper Jack Cheese)
2 cups evaporated milk
2 or more hot peppers, chopped (optional)
1 pkg. cream cheese
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
3 beaten eggs

Directions

Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Set aside

Place the cheese in a medium, large heavy saucepan. Pour in one can of evaporated milk and add the hot peppers.  Cook and stir over low heat, cook and stir until cheese is melted.  

Pour in the other can of evaporated milk, salt, and dry mustard. Mix well. 

Add the cream cheese and stir until melted.

Remove from heat. Pour a tablespoonful of cheese sauce into the eggs, beating well as you add the cheese. Add at least 3 tablespoons of the cheese sauce into the eggs to temper them. If you don't do that, they will cook in the cheese, and you will have pieces of egg instead of a smooth cheese spread or dip. Pour the tempered eggs into the cheese, stirring constantly. 

Return the heat to low.  Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Remove the pan from the heat. 

You can use immediately or allow it the cheese to cool. If you want to let it cool, remember to stir it frequently. This will prevent a skin from forming on the top. To store, place in a container with a tight-fitting lid and place in the refrigerator. It can last up to 2 weeks, although ours is gone long before then.

Turkey Pocket Sandwiches

Turkey Pocket Sandwiches or Pasties

If you have leftover turkey or chicken, you can create a delicious meal by making pocket sandwiches or  pasties. They consist of turkey meat and vegetables in a pastry pocket.  You can make these ahead of time for a quick meal. Simply heat them up and take them on the go. Or serve them for dinner with leftover gravy, or fresh make gravy.

Although this recipe uses a pie crust for the outside, you don't have to. You can use crescent rolls, home-made pizza dough, or biscuit dough. You can change out the vegetable ingredients and add something else. Some recipes call for rutabaga.  Other recipes use cheese inside the pocket sandwiches. There are so many variations.

This recipe is a good way to use those Thanksgiving leftovers, so be creative!

Ingredients

Dough

3 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 c. shortening
6  to 8 Tbsp. water

Filling

1 1/2 c. carrots, chopped
1 Tbs. water
4 Tbs. butter or margarine
2 tsp. chicken bouillon or 2 chicken bouillon cubes
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 onion, chopped
1 to 2 ribs celery, chopped fine
1 lb. turkey or chicken, cooked and shredded
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°.

Make the dough for the pocket sandwiches or pasties.   

In a large bowl, mix the flour, and salt together. Cut in the shortening with a pastry knife or two knives held together.  You'll want the shortening to be about the size of small peas. 

Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring with a fork until a dough forms.  The amount of water you use depends on the humidity. On dry days, you may need more water to for the dough. While on humid days, you will probably use less water.  Don't work the dough too much or the crust will be tough. Place the dough in a plastic bag and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

In a small saucepan combine add the water, butter, and chicken bouillon. Stir until the butter melts and the bouillon is dissolved. 

In a large bowl, combine meat, carrots, potatoes, onion, celery and turkey or chicken meat. Season with salt and pepper. 

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it into six or four pieces. Shape the dough into a round ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a 6-inch circle. If you are making four pasties, divide the dough into fourths. Roll each ball into a 10-inch circle.

If making 6 pasties, place approximately 1 cup filling on one one side of the dough. Draw the other half of the pastry over the filling. Crimp edges to seal in filling with your finger or the tines of a fork. Cut a small hole in the top of the pasties to allow the steam to escape. 

Or if you are making four pasties, divide the filling into 4 portions. Place the meat mixture on one side of the dough. Fold the other half of the dough over and seal with fingers or a fork. 

Bake 1 hour at 375°.

 

Butterscotch Sweet Rolls

 Grandma Ann's Butterscotch Sweet Rolls

My grandmother made the best sweet rolls and this is one of her recipes. She was always baking for her large family. Her Butterscotch Sweet Rolls were light, fluffy and delicious! I must admit, butterscotch is one of my favorite flavors.  

Ingredients

2 pkg, yeast
2/3 c. warm water
1 Tbs. sugar
3 c. milk
1/3 c. milk
3 eggs beaten
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. sugar
6 to 8 c. flour

Filling

1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 Tbs  cinnamon

Butterscotch Glaze

1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. boiling water
1 lb. pecans (optional)

Directions

Grease three 13 x 9 inch pans.  Set aside

Mix the yeast, warm water and sugar together in a large bowl. Place in a warm location for 10 minutes, so the yeast can bloom and grow. 

Pour the milk into a small saucepan.  Heat the milk to scald. Do not boil.  Add the butter to the warm milk.  The butter does not have to melt. You just want it softened. Cool to lukewarm. 

Add the milk, butter, eggs, salt, sugar and 2 cups of flour.  Beat well with a wooden spoon for about two minutes. Gradually add the rest of the flour until you have a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured board or countertop and knead for 10 minutes.  Add more flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking. 

Grease the bowl you used to make the dough in and place the dough inside.  Turn the dough over to coat the other side with grease. Cover with a sheet of plastic wrap, or a lint-free dishtowel. Place in a warm location. Let rise until doubled.

Punch dough down. Let rise again until doubled. 

Turn out on a lightly floured surface and divide into 3 balls. Allow the dough to rest as you prepare the glaze for the rolls. 

Mix brown sugar, butter and boiling water until sugar is dissolved, and the butter is melted. . Pour into metal pans until approximately 1/4 inch deep. Add pecans, either whole or chopped as you prefer.

Roll out each ball into a rectangle that is 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface.

Brush the surface with a third of the softened butter.   

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon to make the filling. Sprinkle a third of the cinnamon sugar over the top of the butter. 

Roll up the dough and pinch the seam shut. Cut into 1/2 inch slices. Use a sharp knife or dental floss to cut the dough easily.  Place the dough, cut side up, in the prepared pan, on top of the brown sugar, butter and water. . Repeat with the rest of the dough. Do not crowd the rolls.  We usually place our rolls in rows of 4 across the width of the pan. 

Place the pans in a warm location and allow the rolls to rise until doubled in size.  Depending on the size of your oven, put 1 or 2 pans in a warm location to rise first. Keep the other pans in a cooler location, so you can bake them right after the other ones come out of the oven.

Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes.  Remove the pan from the oven  

Wait for 1 to 2 minutes, then invert the pan onto a cookie sheet or large platter. 

Repeat baking and inverting steps with the other pan or pans.

Allow to cool at least a little bit. Serve and enjoy.

 Turkey Noodle Soup

Cleaning the meat off the turkey bones if a daunting task that seems to take forever.  So instead of standing at the counter trying to get all the meat off, why not make some great tasting Turkey Soup.   We often make homemade bread with this meal for the best tasting meal.

Ingredients

1 turkey carcass from a 12-pound or larger turkey
4 quarts water
1 onion, diced
2 to 3 large carrots, chopped fine
2 to 3 ribs celery, chopped fine
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
4 oz or 5 cups egg noodles, uncooked
Cut up turkey meat if you want more than what fell off the bones
Salt and pepper

Directions

Place the turkey carcass into a large pot. If it does not fit, you may need to cut the carcass up into pieces.  Pour in the water and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer the turkey bones for 1 to 2 hours. The longer you simmer the bones, the better the soup will taste.  You'll want the meat falling off the bones. Remove the turkey carcass. At this point, you may want to remove the turkey meat from the broth and allow it to cool, so you can cut it up into smaller pieces. Then strain the liquid to make sure all the bones are removed from the soup. 

Measure 8 cups of broth out for your soup.  Place the rest of the broth in the refrigerator to use for other dishes.  Pour the 8 cups broth back into the pot.

Add the chopped up turkey meat, onion, carrots, celery, and bay leaves. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 1 hour.

Stir in the egg noodles. Continue to simmer, uncovered, until the noodles are tender. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.  Serve and enjoy!