Christmas 2013

Mrs. Jerses Coffee Cake

This recipe was handed down from my sister, Mary, who got it from her friend. Mrs. Jerses was Mary's friend's family's housekeeper and would make this coffee cake for the family at Christmastime. 

Cream:                                         

• 1 1/2 cups butter with
• 2 cups sugar
• Beat in 4 eggs

Mix:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

Mix:

• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Process:

• Add flour mixture and sour cream mixture alternately to the butter, sugar, and egg mixture.
• Pour half of batter into greased bundt pan.
• Sprinkle half of cinnamon/sugar mixture on top of batter.
• Add remaining batter.
• Sprinkle remaining cinnamon/sugar mixture on top.

Bake at 350 til done. (I have no idea how long to cook this. My mom wrote the recipe for me and this is how she wrote it. :)
I think I start testing it at about 45 minutes or so....

Baklava

Ingredients:

• 4 cups walnuts (16 oz), finely chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 sticks butter
• 1 lb. phyllo
• 1 - 12 oz. jar honey

Process:

 Mix walnuts, sugar, and cinnamon

In greased 9 x 13 baking dish, place 1 sheet of phyllo and brush with butter.
Repeat 5 more times.
Sprinkle with 1 scant cup of walnut mixture.
Repeat the phyllo/butter layers to make at least 6 layers.
Sprinkle with 1 cup of walnut mixture.
Repeat a couple more times, ending with phyllo on top.
With a sharp knife, cut halfway through the layers in a triangle pattern to make 24 servings. (I cut it into 3 rows by 4 rows then cut the squares in half diagonally.)
Bake at 300 for 1 - 1 1/2 hours until top is golden brown.
Pour honey evenly over Baklava while hot.
Cool and finish cutting through layers before serving.

Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

This is the best sausage gravy ever. Many thanks to my friend, Pam, for sharing!

Ingredients:

• 1 roll Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage
• 7 1/2 tablespoons flour
• 7 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 1 American cheese slice
• Salt & pepper
• Refrigerator biscuits

Process:

 Brown and drain sausage.
Melt butter and stir in flour.
Gradually add milk.
Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.
Heat thoroughly, stirring often until it gets to a creamy gravy consistency. Don't let it get too thick because it will thicken when you add the sausage.
Add 1 slice of American cheese.
Add sausage and heat.
Serve immediately over biscuits.

If it gets too thick, add a little milk.

Tennessee Pride Hashbrown Casserole

Years ago I tried Cracker Barrel's hashbrown casserole and loved it. I tried finding a copycat recipe online but couldn't. (This was long before you could find ANYTHING online!) When I ran across this recipe, I knew it wasn't the same but it sure sounded good. It has become the staple breakfast casserole at many family gatherings. It doesn't get any better than this! 

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of sausage (hot and/or mild)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1-8oz. chip dip
• 1 cup onion
• 1/4 cup green pepper
• 1/4 cup red pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1-30 oz. frozen hash browns, thawed (cubed or shredded)

Process:

• Brown sausage and drain well
• Combine cheese, chicken soup, sour cream, chip dip, onion, peppers, salt and pepper
• Fold in hash browns
• Mix well
• Place in 9 x 13 pan

Baking:

Bake at 350 for one hour or until golden brown. 

Tips:

Sometimes I start browning my sausage then add the onions and peppers so they begin cooking and aren't crunchy in the casserole. Depends on your taste! 

Pioneer Woman's Cowboy Quiche

I added a quiche this year to our normal menu and the one I thought sounded best was the Cowboy Quiche from The Pioneer Woman. I loved it! I didn't make my own crust and the recipe calls for a single deep dish crust. I bought a 2-pack of deep dish crusts and still had to divide the filling between the two crusts because it makes so much! Next time I will buy regular crusts so they are filled up. 

Ingredients:

• 1 whole Unbaked Pie Crust (enough For A Deep Dish Pan)
• 2 whole Yellow Onions, Sliced
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 8 slices Bacon
• 8 whole Large Eggs
• 1-1/2 cup Heavy Cream Or Half-and-Half
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Process:

• Fry the onions in the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat for at least 15 to 20 minutes (maybe longer), stirring occasionally, until the onions are deep golden brown. Set aside to cool.

• Fry the bacon until chewy. Chop into large bite-sized pieces and set aside to cool.

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll out the pie crust and press it into a large fluted deep tart pan (or a deep dish pie pan).

• Whip the eggs, cream, salt and pepper in a large bowl, then mix in the onions, bacon, and cheese. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.

• Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet, cover lightly with aluminum foil, and bake it for about 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the quiche is set and the crust is golden brown. (The quiche will still seem slightly loose, but will continue to set once remove from the oven.)

• Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. If using a tart pan, remove the quiche from the pan, cut into slices with a sharp serrated knife, and serve!

Orange Salad Dessert

Ingredients:

• 2 small or 1 large package of orange Jello
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 small can frozen orange juice
• 2 small cans mandarin oranges-drained (and cut up if desired)
• 1 large can crushed pineapple-not drained
• 1 small package instant vanilla pudding
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 - 8 oz.Cool Whip
• Finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Process:

• Dissolve Jello in boiling water. 
• Cool Jello and add orange juice, oranges, and pineapple.
• Place in 9 x 13 pan and put in refrigerator until set.
• Beat the milk and pudding.
• Refrigerate until set.
• Fold pudding into Cool Whip.
• Spread on jello.
• Top with finely chopped walnuts just before serving.