Christmas Eggnog PoundCake

1 cup butter
1 cup shortening
3 cup all-purpose flour 
3 cup sugar
1 cup flaked coconut (optional)
1 cup eggnog
6 eggs
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. coconut extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a large bowl cream the butter and the shortening until well blended. Gradually add in the sugar, mixing as you go so you don’t get big clumps. Beat in the eggs one at a time making sure each egg is completely mixed in before you add the next egg.  Slowly add the flour a few spoonfulls at a time, alternating with the eggnog until well blended. Mix in the extracts, and spoon in the flaked coconut.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until set in the center.

Cool to room temp before trying to remove from pan.

classic green bean casserole

• 1 (10 3/4 oz) can of Cream of Mushroom soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 (9oz) packs of frozen cut green beans, thawed
• 1 1/3 cups (2.8 oz can) French's French Fried Onions

Preheat oven to 375 (f)

In a buttered casserole dish combine: soup, milk, cheese, and pepper.  Mix well.   Stir in beans and 2/3 cup fried onions.  Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Stir and sprinkle with remaining fried onions.  Bake 5 more minutes or until onions are golden.

source: Clipping from Nana’s box

Peppermint Holiday Bark

I could sit and eat this candy ALL DAY.  It is so good, and super easy to make.  You don’t even have to chew it, just pop in a piece and let the heat of your mouth melt it away.  So good!  Great served with hot cocoa or coffee!!!

• 4 sq white almond bark
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
• 10 peppermint candies (crushed)
• food coloring (if desired)

Put the candies in a baggy and beat em up with a rollin pin.  :P

Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

Melt the almond bark in the microwave (30 seconds, stir, 30 seconds, stir… until melted)  If you want, stir in some food coloring.  Mix in the crushed peppermints and extract. 

Spread the mixture onto the foil lined pan.  Let cool.  Once hardened peel off the foil and break it into pieces.

ENJOY!

EZ Peppermint Patties

These are SOOO good.  Better then YORK Patties you can buy at the store!

• 1 lb powdered sugar
• 3 Tbs butter
• 2 or 3 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 evaporated milk
• 2 cups chocolate chips  (Nestles seems to work better then Hershey for some reason)
• 2 Tbs Crisco

In a bowl combine powdered sugar, butter, peppermint, and vanilla.  Add the milk and mix well.  Mixture will seem kind of thick.  Thats ok! 

Line a big cookie sheet with wax paper.

Roll the mixture into abt 1 inch balls and place on wax paper.   Chill for 15-20 minutes.  Using a glass or bowl bottom, flatten out the balls, and then chill for another 25-30 minutes. 

In a pan or microwave melt the chocolate chips and shortening.  Mix well.    Dip your chilled patties one at a time into the chocolate mixture and return them to the wax paper.  Chill for about an hour or until the chocolate sets.

Enjoy!