Christmas "Merry Mix"

Cati Beth, Mimi and I made this for the very first time yesterday.  We just loosely followed a "recipe" that I found on Pinterest.  Cati Beth absolutely LOVED making it, and said that she wants it to become a new tradition.  It is perfect for kids, becuase it is easy...just dump the packages into the big container!  

This can be always be tweaked...adding what we like the most and/or taking out the things that weren't our favorites.  The things I'm listing below are the things I think I want to include next year.

 Combine the following ingredients in large Rubber Maid tub, and then package individually for friends and neighbors.

Peanut M&Ms in red/green holiday colors

Cheese Its

Pretzel twists

Yogurt covered dried cranberries

Yogurt covered pretzels

Chololate chips

White chocolate chips

Cashews

Dry roasted peanuts

Quaker oat squares

We used the following items yesterday, but I'm not sure I will include them next year.  They taste good, but tended to break apart and/or get messy.

Oreo minis (regular and/or vanilla)

Fudge Stripe minis

Reata's Cheese Grits

Reata is one of our favorite restaurants in Fort Worth.  We love having dinner on their rooftop, while taking in the view of the city.  I usually order a filet, and their cheese grits.  I was happy to happen across their recipe on a friend's Facebook post one day!

3 cups water
3 cups heavy cream
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
1 T kosher salt, or to taste
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
2 1/2 cups dry grits
4 T unsalted butter
2 C sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Combine the water, cream, jalapenos, salt and pepper in a large saucepan, and cook over high heat until the liquid reaches a rapid boil.

At the boiling point, slowly whisk in the grits, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.

Lower the heat to medium and continue to stir.  Stirring frequently, cook until the grits are soft and creamy, usually about 30-40 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add the butter and grated cheese.

Season with more salt and pepper, if needed.

Let cool slightly before serving so the grits can be mounded easily.  They should be the consistency of mashed potatoes.

Chocolate Poke Cake

I think that I got this recipe from Melody Taylor when we lived in Little Rock.  It is one of my favorites!

1 box chololate devil's food cake mix
2 cans Eagle Brand MIlk
1 tub Cool Whip
Hershey's chocolate syrup
bag of chopped Heath bar bits

Bake cake according to box instructions. 

Poke holes in it with the end of a wooden spoon.

Pour 2 cans of Eagle Brand milk over the cake. 

Drizzle generously with chocolate syrup.

Cover with Cool Whip.

Top with Heath bits.  Drizzle more chocolate to make it look pretty.

Keep refrigerated.

Teresa's Mexican Layer Dip

1 can Frito bean dip
1 container guacamole (by sour cream)
jar of thick salsa
package of taco seasoning
16 oz. sour cream
Mexican shredded cheese
Tostito rounds

Mix sour cream with taco seasoning.

Layer into 9x13 pan as follows...
bean dip
guacamole
salsa
sour cream/ taco seasoning mix
shredded cheese

Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serve with tortilla chips.

(To make it heartier, you can brown a pound of ground beef with taco seasoning, and add that as an additional layer.)

Barbara's Shepherd's Pie

I had this for the first time on one of our beach trips.  Barbara made it for us all to eat after we came in from doing a beach session.  It was delicious.

chuck roast
Dry onion soup mix
dry  mushroom gravy mix
8 Yukon Gold mashed potoatoes
butter
salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Cook chuck roast overnight with dry onion soup mix.  No liquid added.  Low heat

Remove meat.  Spray casserole pan with Pam.  Spread roast shreds into casserole pan.

Make gravy with dry mushroom gravy mix and beef juice.

When it thickens, and boils, pour over meat.

Make mashed potatoes with the 8 Yukon Gold potatoes, butter, salt and pepper.  Spread over top.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

Mimi's Pound Cake

I grew up eating this pound cake.  Mimi would butter and toast it for us, and that is always my very favorite way to eat it!!

2 sticks butter
1/2 cup Crisco
3 C sugar
3 C flour
1 C milk
5 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream shortening, butter and sugar.

Add eggs, one at a time.

Add baking powder, flour and milk alternately.  (Begin with 1/3 of flour, then 1/2 milk, 1/3 flour, 1/2 milk, 1/3 flour.)

Add vanilla.

Bake in 2 greased and floured bread loaf pans.

350 for 1 1/4 hours.

Don't open oven door until baking time is almost up.

Check to see if cake test done.

Mimi's Sugar Cookies

Mimi makes the softest, lightest, most wonderful sugar cookies at Christmas.  She often gives them as gifts in cookie tins.  They are addictive, and I could eat a million of them!

1 C sugar
1 C powdered sugar
1 C oil
1 C butter

2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
4 C flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
dash salt

Mix first 4 until creamy.

I separate bowl- flour, soda, tartar, salt.  Mix, then add to above.

Roll into balls, then press with glass.

Bake 350 for 15 minutes...until brown along edges. 

Makes a lot!