December Fun!

Me in the Good Things Utah kitchen showing the cooks a thing or two!

Us eating at Olive Garden after Good Things Utah

Christmas Eve at Miriam's

Hiding from Miriam's camera (Kaila and me)

Mom Recipie Corner

Elaine's Famous Family Favorite Salad:

2 packages lemon jello-regular size

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups boiling water

Stir the above 3 ingredients together until dissolved.

Then add:

1 15oz can crushed pineapple (undrained)

Place in fridge and set until syrupy.

Add:

1 cup chopped nuts

1/4 pound medium sharp cheese, grated

1 pint of cream that has been whipped

1 teaspoon vanilla

stir in nuts, cheese, whipped cream and set overnight.

ENJOY!!!

My Christmas Cactus 2008

This is my Christmas cactus. It bloomed early this year. Beautiful isn't it? This huge cactus was originally a small start from my mother's (Nana) plant.

It is called a Christmas cactus because they typically bloom every year during holidays.

Nana's Molasses Cookies

Thought I would start out "blogging" with one of our family's favorite recipes...

Nana's molasses cookies

2 Cups Molasses
1 Cup Shortening (or margarine)
3/4 Cup Buttermilk
2 heaping teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
5 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ginger
Approx. 6 Cups flour (can use part wholewheat)

Cream together molasses and shortening until fluffy. Mix baking soda into buttermilk. Mix salt, cinnamon, and ginger into first two cups of flour. Alternately add buttermilk and flour mixtures while beating. This should be a very soft dough so don't over beat or add flour until it looks like other cookie doughs. On well floured board roll out half of the dough. Cut in good size rounds (biscuit size), and 1/2" thick. Carefully lift with spatula onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 13 - 15 minutes at 350 deg. Cool on cake racks. Keep in airtight container. They will become a family tradition.

Just a little history on these cookies;

Molasses cookies originated in the southern states where there was an abundance of molasses or sourgham and very little sugar during the civil war.

ENJOY!!!

Love to all