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December 22, 2004



                        
 

Thought for the Day
You cannot hurt your eyesight by looking on the bright side.


How to print out only part of the newsletter
1.  Drag the mouse over text  (with the left mouse button pressed.) It will highlight the part of the newsletter you wish to print.
2.  While the text is highlighted Press the Ctrl Key and the P Key at the same time.
3. Under the print range change it from ALL to SELECTION.
4. This will only print out the section you have highlighted and not the entire page.


How to Clean House for Christmas
1. Open a new file in your PC.
2. Name it "Housework."
3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN
4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN
5. Your PC will ask you, "Are you sure you want to delete Housework permanently?"
6. Answer calmly, "Yes," and press the mouse button firmly....
7. Feel better?
Joe from Arizona


I have an old cast iron skillet that became rusted over the years. Does anyone know a safe way to get rid of the rust without using chemicals?
Kathie in Arizona


I am so glad someone finally asked who Siggy was. I had always thought Siggy was the hubby. LOL! Now after reading the story of Siggy I have to laugh out loud! I have a very dominating cat at home and am an owner of my own pet sitting business, so I can understand what it takes have a "siggy".
Still laughing... Dawn, Cape Cod, MA


Thank you so much Margaret for the lovely new bed for Siggy.  He has never had his own bed and is a bit confused about it.  I gave him the cute mouse with catnip too.  He played and played with the mouse and after he got done put the mouse in the bed.  Last night he spent most of the night moving his favorite toys into his new bed as well.  This morning I tried to explain to him that the bed was for him and not the toys.  Maybe someday in the near future he will understand that he can sleep in the bed and it is not his toy holder.

Thank you for the two bags of treats as well.  He was most impressed with the one bag that had the smell of your kitty on it.  He spent sometime putting his scent on it as well.

I also want to thank other members that have sent Siggy money for toys.  In a couple of days (after the snow goes away) I will go to Petsmart and see that he gets some fun toys.

Siggy is impressed with the snow on the ground today.  He has spent his time watching it fall.  He was so excited and woke me up the first thing this morning to let me know it had snowed. 
Nancy


Hi Nancy, Siggy, and everybody! I wanted to share a recipe I got from Razzledazzlerecipes.com, and I made yesterday. It was for Christmas hard candy. The first batch was so good, I made several batches, and put them in pretty tins, and I'm keeping some, and giving some for gifts, and taking some to my in-laws in Wisconsin for Christmas. It was great fun to make, and the end product was delicious!

The recipe calls for flavoring oils, and I used those originally, but decided later to try simple flavored extracts, since I have several kinds. They worked very well, but I had to use a lot more than the oils, of course. I put in about 1/8 to 1/4 a small bottle of flavoring extracts. You have to be a little careful, since it tends to sputter a little with the extracts - my guess would be because of the alcohol content in them. I did make sure I had turned off the heat when I added them, and added them slowly while stirring them in. I thought the flavoring extracts gave it a milder, but very pleasant taste.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to everybody, from Brenda, and my feline friends Samson and Ashira, and my canine friend Noah. Here is the recipe:

Christmas Hard Candy
2 cups of sugar
1 cup of water
3/4 cup of light corn syrup
Food coloring
Oil flavoring (or extracts) of any kind

Cook sugar, water, and corn syrup to 300 F on a candy thermometer (or until mixture makes a hard boil and strings when dropped into cold water). Turn off heat, and add in food coloring and oil flavoring, (or extract, add them slowly and carefully), of choice.

Pour into a buttered platter and cool a few minutes (the recipe said 5 minutes, but I didn't wait that long. It gets really hard and brittle after 5 minutes).

Cut into pieces with scissors. Roll each piece in powdered sugar. (Note: if you let candy cool for entire 5 minutes, it will be too hard to cut).

Brenda in Minnesota


I would like to Thank Jaylene from Canada on the maple fudge recipe. It was perfect. My mom was a very happy lady. Thanks Again.
It was in the December 17 Newsletter.
Thanks, Monica


Hi every one...
Happy holidays. Nancy I love your site, it is like having friends all over the place. The recipes are sooo good. My daughter and I were going through looking for recipes for Christmas and she said to me.. BUT mom mostly they are deserts.. And she was right. But oh soo good.

I am responding to Jaylene -- Canada, about tomato soup. I never like to be any canned soup. They just never taste good to me. Not that I am a gourmet cook. But I love to cook and bake. This recipe for tomato soup I have made for my family for yrs. And even the kids love it. I puree tons of tomatoes, usually getting 2 or 3 qts. I had garlic and onion. My son hates to see an onion so I puree them as well. I cut up tomatoes and some times green peppers, and I add about 2 cups of chopped tomatoes.. and about 1/2 as much beef broth. I make my own broths. I will had the low sodium tomato paste to thicken at times. This is soo good. I serve this as soup or put some away for tomato sauce and then I will also had cabbage, other vegetables and either ground beef or chicken and make a vegetable soup. If you put on some parmesan cheese when serving it ads flavor. Its really easy and what a taste it has compared to canned soup. its no different then making any other type of soup. season to taste. My husband as me freeze in small containers so when he wants some he can thaw it and cook egg in it making a tomato egg drop soup. All those recipes you see on the commercial for Campbell's. but taste soo much better, hardly any sodium. and you can keep the base for chili, spaghetti sauce anything you like.. as with any recipe, use your imagination.
I hope this is ok.
God Bless and Merry Christmas..
Sue. TX


Great Family Christmas Present
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This is for Joyce who asked for the recipe for Pecan Pie for a Crowd on 12/20/04.

Pecan Pie for a Crowd
Pie Crust: 2 C flour, 1 cup butter, 3/4 C loosely packed brown sugar
Pie Filling: 5 beaten eggs (whip with fork), 1 C brown sugar, 1/2 C melted butter, 1-1/2 C white corn syrup, 3/4 tsp. salt, 1-1/2 C roughly chopped pecans (save half for decoration on top), 1/8 cup (2 tab) flour

First: Cream butter with brown sugar and flour, mix well. Spread 3 cups of this mixture in greased 9 x 13 pan and pat down. Reserve rest for topping.

Second: Beat eggs and mix with brown sugar. Add melted butter and stir it all up. Then mix in white corn syrup, salt and pecan pieces. Add flour, mix thoroughly. Pour this mixture on top of crust you just baked. Sprinkle reserved mixture from first step. Decorate top with pecans. Bake 350 30-35 min. Cool. May top with dollop of whipped cream.

Sorry I can?t help you with the corn recipe you are asking for.
Betty in Mississippi


?Also to Vickie in Ohio - I don't know if sweet milk is called different things according to geography. I notice in Texas they say it's regular milk.?

This is for Sheldon in Ontario. I thing you are right when you say ?sweet milk? could be a regional thing. I know my mother and the ladies of her generation, around me in the South , always referred to regular milk as sweet milk. I usually refer to regular milk as ?milk? but on occasion still lapse into saying ?Sweet milk.? My daughters know what I mean.

Thanks for all your information. It was helpful.
Betty in Mississippi


I would like to Thank Jaylene from Canada on the maple fudge recipe. It was perfect. My mom was a very happy lady. Thanks Again. It was in the December 17 Newsletter.
Thanks, Monica


Nancy, I did not have the cheese ball recipe that Joann in San Antonio described in the Dec 21st newsletter but I made this cheese ball for our Christmas Party last night and it was a big hit. Everyone wanted the recipe. It is yummy served with ritz crackers or buttery type crackers...Kathy in Alabama

Cheese Ball
1 (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 (4.25oz) cans deviled ham (I use Underwood brand deviled ham)
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. finely minced onion
3 tbsp. Tabasco sauce
3/4 cups chopped pecans

With electric mixer cream together cream cheese and mayonnaise. Add deviled ham, minced onion, Tabasco sauce and mix well. Stir in cheddar cheese. Refrigerate mixture overnight. The next day shape mixture into a ball or log and roll in pecan pieces. Refrigerate until ready to serve.


I'm not sure who sent in the pudding cakes, but they said if there was an interest, they would send more after the holidays. I am interested, Nancy. Thanks,
Jan in NW Pa.

Comment
You might want to check out Nancy's Kitchen Pudding Cake Recipes.


I found a very simple recipe on the back of a Bisquick box it was a hamburger mixture rolled into a Bisquick crust to form a meat roll. I would love to find that recipe again but can not remember any more about it than that. If anyone could help I would appreciate it.
Thanks, Susan


Nancy this is for Kotton in MN who in the Dec 21st newsletter wanted a recipe for a Fruit Cocktail Cake. I think this maybe the one described in the newsletter.
Kathy in Alabama

Fruit Cocktail Cake
2 cups flour
1 can fruit cocktail
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Combine all ingredients. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

ICING -
1/2 stick of margarine
1/2 cup each of coconut and chopped nuts
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Combine margarine and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan until margarine is melted. Add coconut and chopped nuts. Pour over baked cake.

This cake is very moist and should be stored in the refrigerator in warm weather.


I got this recipe several years from this newsletter.  It is a great recipe for those busy days before and right after Christmas
Linda in NM

Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Makes: 6-8 servings

1-1/2 lbs ground beef
1 small onions, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup chopped green peppers, optional
1 (12-ounce) bottle chili sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish

Brown meat, onion, celery, and green pepper until meat loses its pink color. Drain off fat. Put meat mixture into crock pot. Add remaining ingredients. Stir. Cook on low for 3-4 hours .


This is for Jaylenne in Canada
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all

I use one can of chopped tomatoes; regular can or a large depends on how many you need to serve. Put in an enamel pan on stove and cook to simmer, add 1/2 teaspoon soda (this will bubble up so be careful) keep stirring until it quits foaming. Add milk or cream or whatever you prefer I sometimes add butter and pepper or garlic powder My Mother used to make this and we really liked it. You could use home grown tomatoes also which is better but we do not grow them ourselves where we live.
I hope this works for you. Max in Montana


Laura and Maggie,
I'm Beth and originally asked for the pizelle recipe. The recipes I was given last year also had melted butter, and trying to make them got very expensive because I wasn't satisfied with the finished product. I will try the recipe you sent in Maggie, and I would also appreciate the other recipe, and any words of wisdom you can pass along. Thanks to the Phyllis for sending in the storage tip. Seasons Greetings to Nancy and Siggy, May you have a wonderful holiday. May 2005 bring joy, health, and many new friendships to you.
Beth in PA


Hi Nancy,
I was wondering if you could tell me why pumpkin pie filling spilts on the top after it has been baked. How can I stop this from happening? Does anyone out there have any tricks?
Thanks so much! Sheri in Ohio


Dear Nancy and Siggy, Help. How long can you keep 3 bean salad in the frig? I make refrigerator cucumbers and keep them for about 3 months. I made the salad Thanksgiving and have much left over. Have a Great Christmas and the best New Year to you, your "staff" and all our friends in Nancyland.
Jean in Va


Hi In making fudge can I use Spenda in place of sugar? If so, is it equal measurements? I am diabetic and would love to have some fudge
Leslie in Texas


This is for Jaylene in Canada. I found 2 recipes for 2 servings that you
can make with fresh.

Creamy Tomato Soup
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce (or use homemade)
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/8 to 1/4 onion powder
dash pepper
2 cups milk

In a saucepan, combine the first four ingredients. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Grad stir in milk: cook and stir until heated through (do not boil)
YEILD: 2 servings


Happy Holidays. In the Dec 21 newsletter, Kotton from MN was asking about a recipe for a fruit cocktail cake which had sweetened condensed milk as an ingredient. Awhile back I remember making a cake like the one that she described, but when I went looking for the exact recipe the only one I could find is the following which contains both evaporated and sweetened condensed milk. It is called an Icebox Cake. The one I remember was made more like a dump cake. But anyway, here is the recipe, I hope this is the recipe that you remember.

Ice Box Cake
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 (12 fluid ounce) cans evaporated milk
1 (16 ounce) can fruit cocktail
2 eggs
1 (12 ounce) package pound cake
1 teaspoon lemon extract

Drain fruit cocktail, and set fruit aside. Combine juice from fruit cocktail, milks, and eggs in a small saucepan. Cook and stir over medium low heat until thick, but not separated. Add lemon flavoring. Dice pound cake. Layer cake, custard, and fruit in a 9 x 12 casserole dish or a trifle dish. Refrigerate overnight. Serve cold.
Merry Christmas, Mary H from Alabama


Christmas Cherry Cola Salad
1 can (1 lb 1 oz) pitted dark sweet Bing cherries
1 can (13 1/2 oz) crushed pineapple
1 cup chopped nuts
1 package (3 oz) each Jell-O Black Cherry and Strawberry Gelatins
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup Coca-Cola or port wine
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup boiling water

Blend cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Dissolve Jell-O Gelatins in boiling water. Stir into cheese mixture, blending well. Drain cherries and pineapple, measuring 1 1/2 cups syrup. Then add syrup and cola or wine to gelatin. Chill until very thick. Fold in cherries, pineapple, and nuts. Pour into a 1 1/2 quart mold. Chill until firm. Unmold.
Makes about 6-1/2 cups, or 12 servings.


How do I cook a turkey crown on a webber grill (charcoal)
Thanks AM


Hi Nancy,
I wanted to prepare cake at home during this Christmas season. When I searched for recipes, I found many recipes, and all of them talk about turning the pan. I didn?t understand what this means. Could you please help me?
Regards, Edna Benjamin


For Kotton in MN - 12/21/04
Hope this is what you are looking for, it doesn't have condensed milk, but after cooking the evaporated milk, it looks like condensed. I had an old Betty Crocker (from the sixties) that must have been lost in a move. There was a recipe for Autumn Soup. It was made with ground beef. I hope someone can help.


Nancy, hopefully you will get some time off and enjoy it. A Happy Holidays to you and Siggy. Doris, S. Indiana you had so many different suggestions for mailing the cookies I was just wondering what you used so if I have to mail any in the future I will know what to use. Doris have a great Christmas and enjoy the grandkids.
Susie Indy


Chocolate Chip Bars
15 to 18 servings
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package (18.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine the chocolate chips, pecans, and brown sugar; mix well and set aside. In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, beat the cake mix, butter, and eggs until thoroughly combined (the mixture will be stiff). Stir half of the nut mixture into the batter and spread over the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining nut mixture over the batter and bake for 30 to 35
minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely, then cut into bars and serve.

Chocolate Chip Coffee Bars
2 eggs
1 c. coffee
1 lb. brown sugar
3 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1 c. oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chocolate chips

Beat eggs. Add coffee (not boiling). Add brown sugar. Mix well. Add sifted flour and other dry ingredients. Add oil and vanilla. Blend well. Pour onto a large ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of batter. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Peanut Butter Bars
Melt 1 cup margarine
Add 2 cups crushed graham crackers
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter

Mix well and press into ungreased 9 x 13 pan. Melt 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips with 4 TBSP peanut butter. Mix well and spread over the crust in pan. Let set in refrigerator 1 hour before cutting into squares. Can mix all together and spread in pan, and it's good too

PEANUT BUTTER BARS
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup oatmeal (quick-cooking)

Drizzle:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tbs milk

Using mixer, blend margarine, sugars and peanut butter until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well. Combine flour, soda, salt and oatmeal. Stir into creamed mixture. Spread into sprayed or greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 10 minutes. Combine remaining peanut butter, powdered sugar and milk, then drizzle over bars.
Heather


To Nancy and Siggy, I wish you both a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you Nancy for your daily news letter. You bring so much joy to so many people.
Nettie from Mooers Forks.


Maybe that is why you thought it was condensed milk?

FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE
1-3/4 cup sugar
1 (1 lb 1 oz can) fruit cocktail (undrained)
2 cups flour (all-purpose)
2 eggs
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Add baking soda to fruit cocktail and mix until foamy. Add eggs, vanilla, sugar and flour. Pour into tube pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 325? for 30-35 minutes.

TOPPING:
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup shredded coconut

Mix all ingredients except coconut and bring to boil for 2-3 minutes. Add coconut, mix and cook until thickened. Top cooled cake.
LaVerne - Alabama


Confetti Turkey Roll-Ups
Deli smoked turkey combines with colorful vegetables for easy-to-make sandwiches or appetizers rolled in flour tortillas.

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup LAND O LAKES? Sour Cream
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves*
8 large (10-inch) flour tortillas, warmed
8 slices (1 ounce each) deli smoked turkery
1 (16-ounce) package broccoli slaw mix
1/2 pound (2 cups) LAND O LAKES? Deli Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 (2 1/4-ounce) can (1/2 cup) sliced pitted ripe olives, drained
Combine cream cheese, sour cream and mustard in small mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth (1 to 2 minutes). Stir in basil. Spread 1/4 cup cream cheese mixture onto each tortilla to within 1/4 inch of edge.
Combine broccoli slaw, cheese, onions and olives in large bowl. Layer each tortilla with 1 slice turkey and 1 1/4 cups broccoli slaw mixture. Roll up tightly; secure with toothpick.
To serve, cut each roll-up into thirds. Secure with toothpicks.
Makes 24 roll-ups or 64 (1-inch) appetizers.

*Substitute 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves.

TIP: To warm tortillas, heat in microwave on HIGH 30 to 60 seconds.

TIP: To make appetizers, trim each end of roll-up. Cut into 8 (1-inch) pieces. Repeat for remaining roll-ups.

MAKE-AHEAD: These roll-ups can be assembled up to 4 hours ahead. Wrap in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until serving time.

Nutrition Facts (1 roll-up)
Calories: 190   Fat: 11 g   Cholesterol: 30 mg    Sodium: 360 mg
Carbohydrates: 16 g   Dietary Fiber: 1 g   Protein: 7 g
Source: Cooks.com
Recipe provided courtesy of Land O Lakes, Inc.
Cat in Oklahoma


For Sandy Miller looking for tiramisu recipes
http://www.heavenlytiramisu.com/recipes.htm
http://www.heavenlytiramisu.com/basic.htm
http://www.recipegal.com/tiramisu/default.htm
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/cat/181/0.shtml
from Lynette in NY


This is for Shirley in MO who wanted the orange slice cookies in the 12/12 newsletter These are from my Mother-in-law.

ORANGE SLICE COOKIES
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 c shortening
2 eggs
pinch salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
1 c corn flakes
2 c quick oatmeal
2 c flour
1 to 1-1/2 c cut up orange slices candies

Mix thoroughly and drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 until light brown.
JUDY on OK


Nancy, I like everyone else is very grateful to you for all the time you put into the daily newsletter. May you have a very Merry Christmas and good health in the New year.
God Bless you.
Rosie - PA


More replies and recipes tomorrow. 
Have a great day.
Nancy


http://www.nancyskitchen.com

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