Recipe of the Day~

Coconut Pineapple Cookies (Makes about 36)

Basic Cookie Dough Recipe Ingredients: 1/2 cup (or 1 stick) butter (or margarine) at room temperature 1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed 2 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Directions: In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the flour. Beat with an electric mixer, scraping the sides of the bowl several times, until the mixture is light and fluffy. With mixer at a low speed, add the flour gradually, beating just until everything is well blended.
Place the mixture on a baking sheet using a tablespoon measure and press down with a spoon to flatten a bit. Or roll our and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake at 350 F for about 12 to 15 minutes, until golden.
This basic cookie mixture is also the base for the following cookie recipes (all baked in a preheated oven at 350 F).


In addition to the basic dough you will need:

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut 1/3 cup pineapple preserves (use raspberry or apricot if you prefer)
Directions: Add 1 cup of the flaked coconut to the basic dough mixture and mix well. Shape the dough into 1 1/2″ balls and roll in the remaining coconut to coat them. Place the balls 1″ apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Make a deep indentation in the center of each cookie with your fingertip.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookie is firm and the coconut is lightly toasted. When cooled, fill each hole in the center of the cookies with the preserves.
You can vary this basic dough to make a wide variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon. Add chopped dried fruits like apricots or dates. Or bake them plain in holiday shapes and decorate with colored icing.
Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. Here's hoping these quick and easy Christmas cookie recipes help keep the pressure off the cook!

My Top 5 Christmas Links~

1~ Christmas Place http://www.christmasplace.com/

2~ Magical Holiday Home www.magicalholidayhome.com

3~ My Merry Christmas http://www.mymerrychristmas.com/

4~ Robins Christmas Cookie Exchange http://www.robinsweb.com/cookies/cookie-invite.html#homemade

5~ Ugly Christmas Lights http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/

Recipe of the Day

Creamy Chicken Casserole

INGREDIENTS:
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste
6 slices Swiss cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup sherry
croutons
1/2 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Place chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover each chicken breast with a slice of cheese.
In a medium bowl mix together the soup, sherry and pour mixture over chicken.Cover with croutons then drissle melted butter over croutons.
Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through

Recipe of the Day

Even though its Spring its Rainy, Gloomy and a little Chilly here today so what better than a great big pot of stew...

BRUNSWICK STEW

6 cups water
1(28oz) can Stewed Tomatoes
2(14oz) cans diced tomatoes with juice
3/4 cup ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp hot sauce
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup barbecue spice
2(15 oz) cans whole kernel corn
1/2 roasting chicken (about 1-1/2 lbs)
2/3 lb ground beef
1 1/2 lbs onions, diced (about 4 cups)
3/4 lb smoked pork (pulled pork, or 1 lb ground pork, see note)


Cut chicken into pieces, place in a stockpot and cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until chicken is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove chicken and pour stock into a bowl or large measuring cup. When chicken is cool, discard skin. Pull meat from bones and discard bones. Tear meat into small pieces.

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until about half done. Add onions and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add chicken and pulled pork. Stir and cook until well mixed and heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer the meat mixture to the stockpot. Stir in 4 cups of the reserved chicken stock. Stir in tomatoes and their juice, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, pepper, sugar, barbecue spice and corn. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 1 hour. Stir occasionally, adding stock if needed.

Recipe of the Day

Wonderful Christmas Sugar Cookies:

INGREDIENTS
1 cup white sugar
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream together sugars, shortening and butter. Mix in the eggs and mix well.
Stir in flour, cream of tartar and baking soda. Stir in vanilla and salt and stir until well blended.
Roll dough into small balls. Flatten with glass bottom dipped in sugar. Bake for 10 minutes.