December 2005

3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

In a large bowl, beat egg whites with salt until stiff. Add sugar very gradually and continue beating until mixture stands in peaks and sugar is dissolved. Fold in vanilla.

Grease a large baking sheet and drop small spoonfuls of the meringue, shaping in spiral cones.

Bake at 250 degrees for 30-40 minutes. The kisses should be dry but not browned. Do not overbake!

Yield: 3 dozen

Joi

6 Tbsp margarine
1 cup coconut
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
1/2 cup flour
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased and lightly floured pie dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

This is one of the easiest, yet tastiest pie recipes kicking around kitchens. It’s a perfect dessert when you want to whip something up that looks and tastes a lot more complicated than it actually is!

Joi

1/2 gallon milk
1 cup sugar
1 large package vanilla instant pudding
1 tsp vanilla
container of cool whip

Gradually add pudding to milk. Add sugar and vanilla.

Before serving, stir in cool whip.

1 cup pineapple chunks
1 cup coconut
1 cup walnuts or pecans
1 cup Mandarin oranges
1 cup sour cream

Drain the pineapple chunks and orange segments. Toss all ingredients together and chill.

All kinds of delicous!

Joi

Have you noticed the link to the right? It’s for BizRate.com and it’s really worth checking out. Not only do they have the absolute best deals on kitchen and cooking products, they have exercise equipment, computers, toys, clothes, electronics and jewelry. It’s like a Wal-Mart without the crowds or lines. I was amazed at all the goodies I uncovered. They link you to the best deals out there, which is just what you’d expect from a business operated by Shopzilla.com!

I’m very particular about the whos, whats, and wheres I recommend on my blogs because I want to have a reputation for only pointing people in the best direction possible. So I love, love, love it when I can recommend something as good as BizRate - makes my stock go through the roof!

Joi

Here’s a quick and easy one for you to file away in your think tank:

When cooking during the holidays, try to find as many recipes on the backs of food items as you can. By using these recipes, you never have to worry about searching through cookbooks or drawers of recipes. The recipe you need is right there on the ingredient!

Not only is it convenient, but think about it - a manufacturer WILL find the best way to present their product(s). They’ll pay the money necessary for someone to come up with the best possible recipe. And they do…..a lot of my favorite recipes originally came off of a package. Like the Fantasy Fudge recipe I blogged about yesterday, or the peanut brittle recipe I’ve used every year for about 6 years - It came off of a deli package of peanuts.

If you’re needing a last minute GREAT Christmas gift for someone, I strongly suggest going to your nearest Great Harvest Bread store. If you aren’t sure if there’s one near you, check their website ( http://www.greatharvest.com ) - under the OUR COMPANY tab, find BAKERY LOCATOR.

My sweet, wonderful husband has gotten me two different baskets this year from local stores - each one was different, so your own particular store will probably have yet another arrangement. Each had heavenly breads, awesome cookies (sugar cookies worth wrestling away from small children), and jam. The first one had some special tea (a really smooth Kentucky blend). The second basket had chocolate bread, a bread warmer, a special bread knife, honey, and granola that I intend to buy some vanilla yogurt and strawberries to compliment. The chocolate bread and I got intimate over a mug of coffee this morning. It was good for all of us.

I have an aunt and uncle (and a mom) that I’d love to get baskets for….if I could stay out of them!

Honestly, these would be perfect - especially if you need something for a couple - they can be SO hard to find something for. They’d also be ideal as a gift to yourself, so when company comes by you’ll have something else on hand to offer them - unless you do like me and devour it before anyone gets there!

I am so going to have to burn these extra calories.

I’ve tried just about every fudge recipe known to exist (love the stuff!), and this is the recipe I always return to when it has to be PERFECT.

It’s printed on the back of most of the 7 oz jars of Kraft Jet Puffed Marshmallow Creme. But in case you want to buy another brand or if the jars in your area feature another recipe, here it is below. Trust me, this one’s the best!

Fantasy Fudge

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine (or 1-1/2 sticks)
1 small can (5 oz) evaporated milk (2/3 cup)
1-1/2 pkg. (12 squares) BAKER’s semi-sweet baking chocolate, chopped
1 jar(7 oz) JET PUFFED marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp vanilla

Heat sugar, butter and evaporated milk to full rolling boil in 3 quart heavy saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil on medium heat until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees F, stirring constantly to prevent scorching, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in chocolate and marshmallow creme until melted; stir in vanilla and walnuts.

Spread immediately in foil-lined 9 inch square pan. Cool at room temperature at least 4 hours; cut into 1 inch squares. Store in airtight container.

Makes 3 lbs. or 40 2 square servings

Be sure to make all chocohaulics stay away from the pan until at least 4 hours have passed. And don’t let any of them get cute by tossing it into the fridge to shorten the time! The candy is honestly best if allowed to sit and “set” at room temp. I’m one of those chocohaulics that tried the fridge thing one time….by getting a bit too anxious at the very end, it ruined all the effort and time I’d put into the fudge. I learned my lesson….now I have something else chocolatlicous to nibble on while waiting!

Joi

The hot dishes above are available at one of my newest and truest online obsessions - UnCommon Goods.com.

The set of four plates comes in a decorative gift cylinder and are dishwasher/microwave safe. There’s also a FROMAGE CHEESE PLATE SET, sold separaretly. Sexy stuff.

Le sigh…I love these dishes..

Joi

6 yams
2 Tbsp unsalted margarine
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground mace
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp orange juice concentrate
1 Tbsp honey
3 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Wash yams, place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Cool, remove pulp; discard skins. Mash pulp.

Add remaining ingredients except egg whites. When thoroughly combined, gently fold in the egg whites. Transfer mixture to non-stick, ovenproof dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. (Yam mixture will rise slightly.)

Yield: 6 servings

When I use this recipe, I leave out the mace. Oddly enough, I’ve never even bought it, let alone used it!

Joi