Christmas Goodbye

Farewell, Christmas 2015!

We will miss you!

Happy New Year!

Wishing all of my blog-reading, cooking buddies a wonderful New Year!  Happy 2016 from our table to yours!

                       ~Marcia~Frugalhomekeeping

My Very Favorite Cheeseball

We recently hosted a dinner party, and I made a cheeseball recipe that's been in my family for years.  Although my recipe card says,"Mom" I believe our family first had this cheeseball when Aunt Sis brought it to a family Christmas party.  (She usually served it with crackers called,"Toasteds".)  This is a hearty appetizer with a creamy bold taste.  The longer it sits in the fridge, the better the flavor!  Make this for your Christmas Eve or New Year's party and be prepared to share the recipe!

Santa's Surprise Cookies

This afternoon I made Santa's Surprise cookies.  What's the surprise?  A Milky Way Miniature is hidden in the middle of each cookie!  When you bite into them, there's a melty caramel center.  If you buy ready-made Nestle's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, these cookies are super fast!  (Your favorite homemade dough

is great, too, if you have more time.)

1.  Slice ready made chocolate chip cookie dough.  Wrap a piece of dough around a Milky Way Miniature (the ones that come in a bag and are about the size of a postage stamp).

2.  Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven.

3.  Cool on wire baking racks.

These are good any time, but my crew loves to eat them while they're warm and the caramel is melted!

Spicy Apple Butter Cake

  Here's a quick, spicy, dense cake that your family will love!  It's moist and delicious with a pecan topping, raisins, and a cream cheese filling!

  I  concocted this recipe one time when I was craving a heavy fruit-type cake, but wasn't wanting to make the time investment of a traditional fruit cake.  (Hubby doesn't care for carrot cake, so that was out of the question!)

  Now, this recipe starts with a box of spice cake mix, but that means we're done in half the time!  Stick with me, here!

1.  Make a box of spice cake mix.  Follow  package directions, except, substitute the oil with an equal amount of your favorite cinnamon apple butter (homemade is best!). Add 1/2 C of raisins that have been coated with flour.  Place whole pecan halves in the greased Bundt pan before you pour your prepared batter in the pan. 

 2.  Bake at 350 degrees until it tests done in the middle.

3.  When cake is done, let set for 5 minutes and then invert onto cake plate to finish cooling.

4.  While the cake is cooling, mix a tub of Cool Whip with an 8 oz. package of cream cheese and 1/2 C of powdered sugar.  Beat until smooth.  

5.  When the cake is completely cooled, cut in half horizontally with a serrated bread knife.  Spread creamy filling, replace the top of the cake and sprinkle with powdered sugar (looks like snow!)

6.  Refrigerate any leftover cake.

Time to Make My Christmas Toffee!

This candy is so easy, and one of our favorites!  I only make it once a year.  Enjoy!

I hope you can read my writing!  Here are some photos of the process. 

Only use real butter!

You can use milk chocolate chips (hubby's favorite!) or semi-sweet.