Seventh Day of Christmas: Swedish Cream Wafers

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love made for me...

7 Swedish Wafers

"Cassie--here is some of our favorite Christmas cookies passed down from my grandma Anna."

Note: It said to cut them fairly thick, but I'm not sure if maybe I over-did that part. Only Penne knows for sure.

Aunt Penne's Swedish Cream Wafers

Mix together thoroughly 1/3 cup whipping cream, 2 cups flour, 1 cup butter. Chill.

When chilled, roll out dough, fairly thick. Cut with round cookie cutter. Sprinkle each cookie with sugar and prick a few times with fork.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet @ 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Cook cookies; put together with filling made of 1 egg yolk, 1/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 t almond extract.

Use food coloring to dye filling green and red.

Sixth Day of Christmas: Crab dip and Shrimp Cocktail

For the sixth day of Christmas my true love made for me...

Six Triscuits with crab dip

"As a child I soo looked forward to Christmas Eve (and not just because we got to open a present early at the end of the night)--I loved as each of the older kids arrived home, the food, the tradition, the eating around the coffee table, the family being together and the lively discussions. I knew our meal was different from what other folks did. I knew-for back then- it was sophisticated fare. It was a special meal on a special night."

Note: I brought my electric fondue pot, and left the electric cord at home, so no cheese fondue this time. With yesterday's eggnog and the crab dip and shrimp, the Christmas Eve Feast is almost complete.

Aunt Beth's/Grandma's Crab Dip

1 package of cream cheese (have this softening on the counter-top for a few hours)
Green Onion
Worcestershire Sauce
1 can of crab 6 oz (Crown Prince fancy white lump preferred)
Pam

Preheat over to 300 degrees.
\Pam the inside of medium small casserole dish.
Chop very thin green onions using white and light green sections only
Mix drained crab, cream cheese and onions in a bowl
Add Worcestershire until mix goes from white to very light cream (or to taste)
Put in casserole dish and level out evenly in the dish
Place in oven for 30 min or until top is golden brown.

Serve with triscuits (a Carlton family tradition) or Carr's water crackers. I double this when I have people over-exact ingredients times 2. I add more time for cooking based on top going golden brown.

For the shrimp, I bought store bought shrimp and cocktail.

Fifth Day of Christmas: Eggnog

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love made for me...

Five golden glasses of eggnog

I don't have many pictures because I was distracted by how difficult getting egg whites to stiffen was when you don't have egg beaters. I can provide a picture of my tears, if you'd like.

"Evokes lots of great Christmas memories--Brian's eggnog, Cindy's Beer and cheese fondue, Beth's hot sauce for shrimp, mom's hot crab dip! Sitting at the coffee table in front of the Christmas tree." --Aunt Cindy.

Brian's Better Eggnog
(adjusted to serve Carlton's need for "More")

7 eggs
3/4 sugar
6 milk
3 teaspoons of Vanilla
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup Apricot Brandy (I omitted this...this time)

1) Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry
2) Mix egg yolks, add sugar and milk, beating until well blended . Add vanilla. Fold in egg whites, fold whip cream for extra thickness.
3) Pour into champagne glasses. Sprinkle Nutmeg on top.

Fourth Day of Christmas: Pizza Squares

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love made for me...

4 Pizza Sqaures

"Cassie- the first time I made this recipe, there was some doubt from the family, especially after seeing it. But once they tried it, it became a request every Christmas ever. Should any be left over it's finished off on New Year's Eve. Hugs."

Terri's Pizza Squares

Preheat oven to Broiler

1 pound ground chuck
1 pound Hot Italian Sausage--casing removed
1 pound Light Velveeta-cubed
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 loaf party rye bread

In a large skillet cook meat until browned stirring to make sure that all is combined and crumbled. While still warm, spread mixture, about 1 TBLSP, on slices of party rye

Broil until lightly browned and bubbly. Make sure that the rack is not too close to the broiler or squares will burn and not heat completely

Can be made ahead and frozen uncooked for later use. Place squares on a cookie sheet to freeze individually and stored in a plastic freezer bags.

Thaw before broiling(from 1980s).

Third Day of Christmas: Corn Casserole

On the third day of Christmas my true love made for me..

3 bowls of corn casserole

"My family learned this one from friends who were from MA when we were kids. It immediately became out favorite side for both thanksgiving and Christmas! Hope you enjoy!"

Heather's Corn Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 can creamed corn
1 can kernal corn
1 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 box jiffy corn mix
1 stick of butter pats

Mix all ingredients until combined. Pour into 9x13 casserole dish. Top with butter pats.

Bake at 350 degrees until golden borwn and center is set. 35-45 minutes.

Second Day of Christmas

The second day of Christmas my true love made for me...

2 Southwest Salads

"This is a fun salad to serve at holiday gatherings," says Grandma Jeanne.

Jeanne's Southwest Salad

1 Package shredded cabbage
1 inch nacho flavored Doritos

Mix with Western dressing. Sprinkle with shreddeed cheese. Amounts vary by number of guests expected.

12 Days of Christmas

I am taking a quick break from "Sweet Aunts" and will be doing a recipe a day for a "12 Days of Christmas" theme from my holiday collection. It will be much briefer, as I will only include what the friend or family member wrote for me on the card.

The first day of Christmas my true love made for me...

3 loaves of Pumpkin Bread.

I started with this one because even if it isn't "pumpkin season" this is a delicious way to start your day (or end it). It is moist and delicious and the best pumpkin recipe I have tried.

Pumpkin Bread Recipe from Doris

3 c sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
3 tsp baking soda
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 1/2 c flour
1 c walnuts
2 c pumpkin (small can)
2/3 c water
1 c oil
4 eggs

Mix all dry ingredients and then add the remaining ones. Beat well until blended. Bake in loaf pans. Fill pans 1/2 full. Grease pans and bake at 350 for 1 hour. This recipe yields 3 pans.