Carrot Cookies (submitted by Deb)

1 c sugar
1 c shortening
1 egg
1c carrots (cooked and mashed)
1c pecans, coarsely chopped
2 c flour
2tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla

mix in the order listed. chill. drop by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. or until done. Top with orange glaze.

Glaze
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp orange juice
1 1/2 C powdered sugar

mmm.. I love em :)

Happy Holidays, Deb



CHOCOLATE HAYSTACKS (submitted by GrammarQueen)

Makes 2 doz.

1 (6 oz.) package semisweet chocolate bits
1 (6 oz.) package butterscotch bits
1 (3 oz.) can chow mein noodles
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds (optional)

Melt chocolate and butterscotch bits in a DOUBLE BOILER over simmering water. Take off heat and mix in chow mein noodles and nuts (optional). Drop by tablespoonfuls on wax paper and cool to room temp. About 85 calories each.

*NOTE* I found that using my Oscar food processor to chop the nuts worked best. I've used pecans and even though the recipe says to chop them coarsely, I found that using the processor to chop them finely adds more flavor and doesn't detract from the crunchiness. NOTE TO ALL WHO READ THIS!!! This recipe was taken from Elaine Hanna's "Doubleday Cookbook", a fine volume published in 1975 by the lady who lived next door to my Aunt Trudy. She was a transplanted Brit and a lovely lady!



SURPRISE SUGAR STARS (submitted by Merry)

1 cup butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups flour
2 tsps baking powder
2 tsps ground nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 can (21 ounce) cherry pie filling

ICING

2 cups icing sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
1/2 tsp almond extract
Colored sugar, optional

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; add to the creamed mixture alternately with butter milk. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until easy to handle. On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 in thickness. Cut with 2-in. star cookie cutter or the cutter of your choice. Place half of the stars on ungreased baking sheets. Spoon 1& 1/2 tsp of pie filling into the center of each Top with remaining stars. Pinch edges to seal; cut a small slit in top of each cookie. Bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes or until lighly browned. Cool on wire racks. For icing, combine icing sugar, milk and extract in a bowl: whisk until smooth. Spread over cookies. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. 4 dozen. Enjoy!



Rich Homemade Fudge (submitted by Di)

1 or 2 packages Powdered Sugar
1 package Semi-sweet Chocolate Bits
1 16 oz. Cream Cheese
1 stick margerine
(optional) nuts and/or marshmellows
*Note*-Always best to double this recipe.

Melt the Chocolate bits and margerine together. Mix in the Cream Cheese and Sugar until desired texture is obtained. Put down a piece of wax paper and spread the mixture onto it in a square shape. Refridgerate at least 6 hours. Take the cold mixture out of the fridge, and using the wax paper, roll the fudge into a log shape. You can either slice it or display it as a log for parties, etc. VARIATION-Before rolling, spread with Cream Cheese frosting and then roll it. This is VERY rich, but make's it look more festive when rolled. Decorate with Holly!



PAINTBRUSH COOKIES (submitted by Kaleigh)

Mix well with a wooden spoon in a large bowl: shortening cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Blend in:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
In a small bowl combine:

1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon water
Divide the mixture into small cups and tint with food color to make "paint" Roll the chilled dough to 1/8" thickness on a lightly floured cloth. Cut with cookie cutters Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Paint designs on the cookies. If paint thickens, add a drop of water. Bake 6 - 8 minutes or until lightly browned on edges. Cool on a wire rack. Enjoy your cookies.



Peanut Butter Bars (submitted by Kaleigh)

Combine together until thoroughly blended:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1- 12 oz. Jar peanut butter
1 lb. Confectioners sugar
2 sticks butter or margarine
Press in a 13 x 9 pan.
Melt together:
1 120z. bag chocolate chips
1 Tablespoons Crisco shortening

Spread chocolate mixture on top of peanut butter mixture. Chill until chocolate is firm. Cut into bars.



Shortbread (submitted by Kaleigh)

This is an old family recipe from relatives near Edinburgh, Scotland. When it was given to me, all ingredients were weighed. I changed it to "American" methods of measuring, that is, using volume instead of weight.

*NOTE* DO NOT use margarine. The texture of this treat relies on butter. Pre-heat oven to 375

2 cups flour
1 cup granulated sugar
8 ounces (2 sticks) butter
Pinch of salt

On a pastry sheet make one pile of the flour, another of the sugar. Work the butter into the sugar. A little at a time, work the flour into the sugar-butter mixture, adding the pinch of salt somewhere along the line. It may take a while to work all the flour in. If you have a shortbread mold , press the mixture into the mold, prick with fork and bake until golden. I have an eight-inch mold that holds the entire batch. It bakes for around 30 minutes. If you do not have a shortbread pan, you can either use an 8"x8= " pan and score where you will be cutting,, baking for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. , OR you can form the dough into two circular "patties and score. Make sure you prick the dough with a fork. Bake the small circles for 20-25 minutes or until golden on the top. Allow the shortbread to cool for about 20 minutes. Turn it onto a board and cut into serving pieces.



Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies (submitted by Wren)

1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsps vanilla
1 & 1/2 tsps baking soda (not arm and hammer)
1 & 1/2 cups chocolate chips
3 cups light brown sugar
4 eggs
3 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 & 1/2 tsps salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter until smooth. Add sugars gradually. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Sift flour, salt and baking soda and beat into mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop 1 TBSP batter onto cookie (spray w/ PAM). (I get 9 cookies per sheet.) Bake about 17 minutes (watch them...they are EXACTLY 17 minutes in my oven). Let cookies cool on rack.



Sugar Sticks (submitted by Wren)

this is so quick and easy!

Flour Tortillas cut into strips
Confectioner's sugar (pour into large zip-lock bag)

Deep fry tortillas. Drain on absorbent towels. Drop tortilla strips into bag w/ confectioner's sugar and coat shake to coat them well. Store sugar strips in airtight container. I keep them on hand for snacks.



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