Christmas Traditions 5

Baking

Like so many of you, we have a plethora of traditions surrounding food at Christmas.

Every year I make sugar cookies (and for other holidays too.)

A few years ago my sister-in-law gave me the recipe for these delicious nuts.
Spiced Pecans

1 pound pecans
1 egg white
1 Tbsp. water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 Tbsp. salt

Beat egg white and water until foamy. Stir in pecans until well coated. Mix dry ingredients and add to pecans coating well.

Spread on cookie sheet. Bake at 225 degrees for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.


My family has also made this cheese ball every year for as long as I can remember:
Cheese Ball
2 packages cream cheese
1 jar Old English cheese
1/2 cup grated cheese
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. onion flakes
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 Tbsp. dry parsley
1 Tbsp. mayonnaise

Mix (and I mean get in there with your hands if you need to) and roll in crushed nuts.


We also have a nice meal on Christmas Eve, but haven't really set a traditional menu; it changes year to year. Maybe we will settle on a favorite, maybe we will keep mixing it up.

However, our Christmas morning meal has remained the same.
Fresh fruit
Breakfast Casserole
Breakfast Rolls

Here is the roll recipe:
16-20 frozen Rhodes rolls
1 pkg. butterscotch pudding mix (non instant)
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. melted butter
1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

Place frozen Rhodes rolls in greased bundt pan. Sprinkle dry ingredients over rolls. pour melted butter over rolls. Let set out overnight. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Let stand. Invert over a tray or large plate. (My note: the tops seem to easily burn, so I usually cover loosely with foil as I bake these.)

Man, now I'm hungry.