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Christmas Cookin'

This time of the year always puts me in the mood for
baking, and if it's cold and snowy all the better!
The following are just a very few of my favorites. I hope
you enjoy these simple and easy recipes as much as I do!

Devils Food Cookies

1 box Duncan Hines Devils Food Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup Crisco oil
1 6oz package semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 tablespoon water

Mix all ingredients together. Roll into 1 inch balls,
roll in powdered sugar. Bake 7 - 10 mintues at 350.
Simple and delicious!!

Mexican Tortilla Cookies

1 package flour tortillas
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
Oil for frying

Cut flour tortillas into strips or wedges using a
knife or pizza cutter. Fry in hot oil until golden brown.
Roll in sugar, cinnamon mixture (or place sugar and 
in bag and shake tortillas until coated.)

I sent these out for Valentines Day but they are so
good I have to share them again. From my sister Sandy who 
shared this recipe with the family. We all love them!

Sugar Cookies

1 cup soft butter	2 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil	1 tsp baking soda
1 cup granulated sugar	4 cups flour
1 cup powdered sugar	1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp vanilla	1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375. 
Thoroughly cream vegetable oil, butter and both sugars.
Add vanilla and eggs. Add dry ingredients. 
Roll a teaspoon of soft dough in a ball, roll ball in granulated sugar.
Place balls on cookie sheet 2" apart.
With a glass dipped in sugar, flatten each ball.
Bake about 12 minutes.
(you could roll them in colored sugar if you like)

Pecan Pie
I've tried lots of pecan pie recipes but this is my favorite.

One unbaked 9" pastry shell

1 cup Karo syrup
3 eggs slightly beaten
1/8 tsp salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup pecans

Mix all ingredients for filling together,
adding pecans last.
Bake in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.; then reduce
oven temp to 350 and bake 30 to 35 minutes longer.

Best Cheesecake
This recipe is NOT simple and easy. It is time consuming, and
complicated but it is so delicious that it is always worth the trouble
for very special occasions. I hope you will try it.

First you must bake the sponge cake layer:

1\2 cup sifted cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
3 extra large eggs, separated
1/3 cup sugar plus 2 tbs sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 drops pure lemon extract
3 tbs unsalted butter, melted
1/4 tsp cream of tartar

1. Preheat oven to 350 and generously butter a
9" springform pan.  Wrap the outside of the pan
with aluminum foil, covering the bottom and extending
up the sides. 
Sift the cake flour, baking powder, 
and salt together and set aside.

2. Beat the egg yolks together in a large bowl with an
electric mixer on high for 3 minutes. Then, with mixer
still running, gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar
and continue beating until thick lite-yellow ribbons
form in the bowl (about 5 minutes more) Beat in
the vanilla and lemon extracts.

3. Sift the flour mixture over the batter and stir it
in by hand until no more white flecks appear. 
Then blend in the butter.

4. In a clean bowl, using dry beaters, beat the egg 
whites and cream of tartar together on high until frothy. 
Gradually add the remaining 2 tbs sugar and continue beating 
until stiff peaks form. Stir about a 1/3 cup of the whites 
into the batter, then gently fold in the remaining whites.
(don't worry if a few white specks remain)

5. Gently spoon the batter into the pan. Bake the cake until 
the center of the cake springs back when lightly touched,
only about 10 minutes so watch it carefully.
Let the cake cool on a wire rack while you make the
cheesecake filling. Do not remove from pan!
Leave the oven on.

Cream Cheese Filling:

4- 8ounce packages cream cheese
1 2/3 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tb pure vanilla extract
2 extra large eggs
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1. While the cake cools make the filling.
Place one 8 oz package of cream cheese, 
1/3 cup of the sugar,
and the cornstarch in a large bowl.
Beat with an electric mixer on low until creamy, about
3 minutes. Beat in the remaining 3 pks of cream cheese.

2. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat in the
remaining 1 - 1/3 cups of sugar, then beat in the vanilla. 
Blend in the eggs, one at a time, beating the batter well
after adding each one. Blend in the heavy cream.
At this point mix the filling only until completely blended,
be careful not to overmix the batter.

3. Gently spoon the cheese filling on top of the baked 
sponge cake layer. Place the springform pan into a
large shallow pan containing hot water that comes
about one inch up the sides of the pan.
Bake the cheesecake at 350 until the center barely
jiggles when you shake the pan.
About one hour and 10 to 20 minutes.

4. Cool the cake on a wire rack for one hour. Then 
cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until
completely cold, at least 4 hours or better yet,
overnight. Remove the sides of the springform pan.
Slide the cake off the bottom onto a serving plate, or
if you wish simply leave the cake on the removable bottom
of the springform pan. Store leftover cake covered with
plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

Optional: You can serve with cherry pie filling on top 
or any other fruit filling.  

And last is this recipe that my mother used to make 
and serve every Christmas eve. I always loved them!

Party Meat Balls & Sauce

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup corn flake crumbs
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup ketchup or chili sauce
1 tb Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp pepper

Mix all ingredients together. Wet hands and shape
into small balls (tablespoon size)
Place on a baking sheet (13 x 9 is fine)
Bake at 400 12 to 15 minutes until brown
and cooked through.

Sauce
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tbs brown sugar
2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
2 tbs pickle relish (drained)
dash of pepper
2 tbs water
1 tb vinegar

Mix and cook in a 2 quart saucepan until well blended.
Add meatballs.

To print out any of these recipes I have tried to make
it a little simpler for you, just click the one you want.

Devils Food Cookies
Mexican Tortilla Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Pecan Pie
Best Cheesecake
Party Meatballs