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Monday, December 13, 2010

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS BLOG PARTY #7 and Eggnog Cranberry White Chocolate Muffins

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Blog Party #7
Eat, Drink & Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Here is a list of all the recipes I baked this year
12 days of Christmas Goodies Blog Hop Party
Christmas is coming and my holiday baking is DONE! I have officially baked for two days straight and have almost all of my 78 packages ready to be delivered. (I ran out of stuff, believe it or not, I guess that means another day of baking (AH)). And yes I said 78!!! I have 78 family, friends, kids friends, neighbors, dance coaches, husband's co-workers, my co-workers and my son's co-workers, Pastor, secretary, Principals, school office staff, my parents and wow whoever else just happens to stop by and needs a box of goodies! Plus I need ALL of these packages delivered in the next few days as we are going on a Family Christmas Cruise this year (yes are we NUTS or what???). We return 3 days before Christmas, oh and did I mention I am hosting some of my husbands family for 9 days in my home. Yes, 22 people in my home for 9 days. BUT IT'S GONNA BE SO MUCH FUN, I AM SO EXCITED! My mother-in-law is here house sitting and she is going to do some more baking and prepping for the holiday's while I am on the cruise (GOSH, I love my mother-in-law)!!!

Now let's get to today's recipe. When we decided to do "holiday beverages" for today's theme. I will admit I was totally lost. We do not have ANY holiday drinks that are a tradition in my family. The only one that comes to mind is my grandmothers tea, but other then that I couldn't think of anything. I just kinda waited until one day something popped into my in box from a wonderful blogger Your Homebased Mom, she shared this muffin recipe with Eggnog in it. Eggnog is for sure a holiday drink and what better way to have it then in a delicious muffin. And this Streusel Topping is to die-for (one of the best I've ever had, I will for sure be using this again and again).


Eggnog Cranberry White Chocolate Muffins
from Your Homebased Mom

2-1/4 cup  flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup plus 2 tbsp granulated sugar, divided
2 large eggs
3/4 cup eggnog
5 1/3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp almond extract
1-1/2 cup coarsely chopped cranberries ( I used the cranberries as is)
1 cup white chocolate chips

Streusel Topping:
½ cup sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp ground cinnamon
4 tbsp unsalted butter, slightly softened
½ cup chopped pecans (optional, yep, I used the pecans)

Preheat the oven to 400° F.  Line 14-16 muffin cups with paper liners (we got 22 muffins). In a bowl, add together the flour, baking powder and salt and stir to combine.  In a large bowl, add together 1 cup of sugar, eggs, eggnog, melted butter and almond extract.  Stir until well combined.   Add in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Do not over mix. Toss the cranberries with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, and fold into the batter along with the white chocolate chips.  Fill the prepared muffin liners 2/3 full.

Streusel topping:
Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter.  Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or a fork until a coarse, crumbly mixture forms.  Add nuts if using.  Sprinkle the mixture on top of the muffin batter.

Bake for about 18-22 minutes, or a until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

This post is also linked to: Merry Merry Munchies
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Everyone is invited, if you don’t have a blog, then please post your recipe HERE in the comments for others to see.

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS is celebrating Christmas again, but with a twist. We would like to get recipes for Holiday Drinks (or be creative and use a holiday drink to make something, like these Eggnog Cranberry White Chocolate Muffins). 

This week's theme
Eat, Drink and Have a Very Merry Christmas!

The SIMPLE Rules: (Click for complete list of guidelines for This Week's Cravings)
  1. Please stick to the THEME and only link up recipes that go with our theme for the week.
  2. Add our button and/or a DIRECT link back to this post, inside of your post (not just on a wall of linky parties, this is rude and doesn't allow YOUR readers to come back to the linky party and see all the fun recipes! Which this is the intent of a linky party in the first place).
  3. Also we'd love for you to hop around and visit the other link-ups! After all it's a BLOG PARTY and it's not fun for everyone linking up if you don't hop around and say Hello!!!
PLEASE follow the simple rules, so everyone can enjoy the linky party! If you forget to link back or add a button IN YOUR post you will receive a gentle reminder to add it, before we delete your post! THANKS A MILLION!

This Week's Cravings Past & Future Recipe Links

November 29 - Crock-Pot Recipes

Sunday, December 12, 2010

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES: Nut Clusters (Butterscotch and Almond Clusters in Crock-Pot)

Day 5 of 12 Days of Christmas Goodies

My mother-in-law is here for a month (from Oregon; we live in California) and I am LOVIN' IT!! No, I do not have a "monster-in-law" for my in-laws! My mother-in-law is 77 years old and is more like a grandmother to me; as my mother is only 54 years old and is very young (my mother and I are only 15 years apart and we share many other things in common like shopping, camping and bbq's & pool parties and things like that, but NOT baking), so I get alot of my baking wisdom and stories and things from long ago from my wonderful mother-in-law. She is here visiting at my request and is here to spend Christmas with all of us.  I knew this was my prime baking time so I asked her to bring some of her favorite recipes (of course all of the ones my husband loves too)! I need to master these sooner or later (I've been married almost 12 years now)!


Grandma's Butterscotch Clusters
from Grandma Hudgens

1 package of Butterscotch Chips
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
2-1/4 cup unroasted/unsalted peanuts

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a sauce pan on the stove top on low heat. Stir constantly until melted, remove from heat. Add 1 cup of peanut butter (creamy), 1 tsp vanilla stir until well combined. Then mix in the peanuts and stir. After everything is mixed then you may drop them on wax or parchment paper in small clusters (or drop into mini muffin tin papers).


Almond Clusters (in the Crock-Pot)
recipe adapted from Delighful Country Cookin'

1 lb bag of Melting Chocolates
1 bag of White Chocolate Chips
1 bar of Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar (found in the baking aisle)
2 cups of Whole Almonds (also made with my favorite mixed nut combination and it was just as good)

Put crock-pot on low and add in all ingredients in order starting with chocolate on the bottom and ending with the nuts. Do NOT open the crock-pot or mix while heating. The crock-pot takes approximately 45 minutes to melt everything (check is at the 45 minute mark and if you need longer, judge your time then, but watching for burning). Once all ingredients is melted, mixed and ready, you can drop into mini-muffin tins (this makes it less messy). These are the tasty almond clusters I have ever had (I believe they are WAY fresher tasting then any store bought or candy store)!!!


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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES BLOG HOP PARTY


If you would like to play along on the 12 Days of Christmas Goodies Blog Hop Party, feel free to link up a recipe or two of some GOODIES you are making this year. And if you wish to add this BLOG HOP PARTY to your own post, see below for the link and add it! You and your readers will then be able to see all the recipes people link up right on your own blog. (What a FUN and COOL idea! Gotta LOVE Mr. Linky)


Looking for the 12 DAYS OF CHRSITMAS GOODIES Blog Hop....

Saturday, December 11, 2010

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES: White Chocolate Cherry Chunkies

Day 4 of 12 Days of Christmas Goodies

Here is a cookie I made last year to send off to the troops in Iraq. I just sent off my last two soldier boxes today! I love to bake and what better way to share a little joy with our men and women who work so hard to protect our country. I try and bake all year round with this great group called Operation Baking Gals. Check them out if you wish to get on board and bake for some soldiers next month. They LOVE receiving the homemade goodies, since they are so far away from home.
PhotobucketWhite Chocolate Cherry Chunkies

1 stick butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1/2 cup candied cherries
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chunks 

Preheat oven to 375. In a medium bowl, with electric mixer, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until just combined. Set aside.   Sift together flour, soda, and salt. Add milk to the butter mixture and then add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Batter should be stiff.  In another bowl, combine nuts, cherries, and white chocolate. Then add to batter, stirring only to blend. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for approximately 11 to 13 minutes. Cool on wire rack.


GRAB OUR BUTTON AND JOIN IN THE
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES BLOG HOP PARTY


If you would like to play along on the 12 Days of Christmas Goodies Blog Hop Party, feel free to link up a recipe or two of some GOODIES you are making this year. And if you wish to add this BLOG HOP PARTY to your own post, see below for the link and add it! You and your readers will then be able to see all the recipes people link up right on your own blog. (What a FUN and COOL idea! Gotta LOVE Mr. Linky)

Here's the list of the 12 Days of Christmas Goodies in case you need an idea (or two) for baking this year!

Looking for the 12 DAYS OF CHRSITMAS GOODIES Blog Hop....

Friday, December 10, 2010

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES: Red Velvet Cake Balls

Day 3 of 12 Days of Christmas Goodies

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES BLOG HOP PARTY


I have to say these cake balls are the most delicious little treat that I have ever had (or made)! I found this recipe last year on a friends facebook post. And of course I thought "cake balls" what the heck is a cake ball? I immediately went out to the store and purchased everything to make them (as you can see all you need is 3 ingredients) and I thought how easy. It was Christmas time and I knew I just had to make some and include them in my treat boxes. Of course they became my number one requested treat of last year and I know I made at least 10 batches (if not more). I now stock up on Red Velvet Cake Mixes when they are 99 cents! I would say they were just a wee-bit popular.

Now, I am not sure if this recipe came from Bakerella or not (and I don't want to leave any credit out where credit is due). I now know that this is how she makes her cake pops (which of course I have the cookbook now and they are OH SO CUTE!), but I had never ever heard of Bakerella until I started blogging in September 2010 and this recipe was shared with me long before that. I have tried this recipe with a strawberry cake mix and a vanilla cake mix and I do NOT like them, and neither does my family. We ONLY like the Red Velvet Cake Balls (I am sure it's just personal preference, but in my house we only make these with Red Velvet Cake!) J

Red Velvet Cake Balls
from a facebook friend of a friend

1 box Red Velvet Cake (cook as directed on box in a 9x13 pan)
1 can cream cheese frosting
2 pkg White or Chocolate Bark (or melting chocolate from a cake store)

Make sure cake is completely cooled. Crumble into a large bowl and mix in frosting. Roll into quarter size balls (it's easier to use a small melon scoop); place on wax paper and then freeze for at least 3 hours. (I freeze overnight) Melt chocolate (a little at a time). Roll cake balls into white chocolate (use a spoon for less mess); and place back on wax paper. (I like to use sprinkles too)

If you would like to play along on the 12 Days of Christmas Goodies Blog Hop Party, feel free to link up a recipe or two of some GOODIES you are making this year. Are you making goodies to to give away to friends, family and neighbors or just some sweet treats you plan on having over the holidays? And if you wish to add this BLOG HOP PARTY to your own post, see below for the link and add it! You and your readers will then be able to see all the recipes people link up right on your own blog. (What a FUN and COOL idea! Gotta LOVE Mr. Linky)

Looking for the 12 DAYS OF CHRSITMAS GOODIES Blog Hop....

Thursday, December 9, 2010

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES: Munchable Mice

Day 2 of 12 Days of Christmas Goodies

The Night Before Christmas
by Clement C. Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads......

I made these Munchable Mice for Halloween and thought they would also be so cute for Christmas,
it reminds me so much of the The Night Before Christmas poem.

Munchable Mice
with a few changes, original recipe from Gooseberry Patch Halloween Cookbook

6 oz pkg melting chocolate
24 Maraschino Cherries with stems, well drained
24 milk chocolate Hershey Kisses
48 almond slices
Candy Eye Balls (from a cake store)

Melt chocolate in microwave, in 30 second increments (and do a little at a time so it doesn't start to harden to quickly). To make each mouse, hold cherry by the stem and dip into melted chocolate mixture. Set on wax paper; press a chocolate drop onto opposite side of cherry from stem. For ears, insert 2 almond slices between cherry and chocolate drop. Using a toothpick dip in melted chocolate and then place the eye ball on the mice using the melted chocolate as your glue. Cover; keep refrigerated. Makes 2 dozen.

GRAB OUR BUTTON AND JOIN IN THE
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES BLOG HOP PARTY

If you would like to play along on the 12 Days of Christmas Goodies Blog Hop Party, feel free to link up a recipe or two of some GOODIES you are making this year. Are you making goodies to to give away to friends, family and neighbors or just some sweet treats you plan on having over the holidays? And if you wish to add this BLOG HOP PARTY to your own post, see below for the link and add it! You and your readers will then be able to see all the recipes people link up right on your own blog. (What a FUN and COOL idea! Gotta LOVE Mr. Linky)

Here's the list of the 12 Days of Christmas Goodies in case you need an idea (or two) for baking this year!

Looking for the 12 DAYS OF CHRSITMAS GOODIES Blog Hop....
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