Christmas and Holiday Recipes

Holiday Recipes

and

Christmas Legends

and

Crafts to make.

I want to share a fudge recipe with you that I've been making for years. To me this is the best fudge anywhere. I always make many batches of it every year because everyone loves it. One year I got a bit carried away and after making about 10 batches, I sat down and ate one batch myself. I didn't even bother to take it out of the pot I had prepared it in. I just sat down with a spoon and ate the whole thing. LOL Perhaps you know this recipe. If not, here it is.

Domino Sugar Fudge

(just like the name says, it came from the box of Domino Sugar. I found it many years ago and at one point they stopped printing it. I was so glad I wrote it down.)

One pound box of Domino Confectioner's Sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 Tablespoons butter

4 Tablespoons milk

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

In top of double boiler, place over simmering water and stir till smooth and shiny. Add one cup of your favorite chopped nuts and mix. Spread quickly in buttered 9 x 12 inch loaf pan and cool. Hint: I find it easier to lay waxed paper in the pan before pouring the fudge in it instead of buttering the pan. Much easier to lift out and lay flat to cut into squares. You can also ignore the chopped nuts if you prefer. One last little hint: I would suggest that you NOT double or triple the recipe because for some reason it just doesn't turn out right. Believe me, I've tried.

Simple enough isn't it? But oh it is heavenly. I've never found a fudge anywhere to compare with this one. I hope you will try it and let me know if you liked it too.

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CHOCOLATE FUDGE DELUXE

I've heard that this recipe is just as heavenly as my Domino Sugar Fudge so I'm putting it here for you too. I tried it this year to see if it is and I made a mess. That marshmallow creme was difficult for me. Let me know how it works for you. LOL

2 1/2 c Sugar
1/2 c Margarine or butter
2/3 c Evaporated milk
1 Jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme
2 c Semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 c Chopped walnuts
1 ts Vanilla
Line 9 inch square or 13x9 inch pan with foil so that foil extends over sides of pan; butter foil. In large saucepan, combine sugar, margarine and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add marshmallow creme and chocolate chips; blend until smooth. Stir in walnuts and vanilla. Pour into buttered, foil-lined pan. Cool to room temperature. Score fudge into 36-48 squares. Refrigerate until firm.
Remove fudge from pan by lifting foil; remove foil from sides of fudge. Using large knife, cut through scored lines. Store in refrigerator.
Makes about 3 pounds--36-48 squares.

"Happy Fudge Making"

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Another favorite in our family...

Rum Cake

Cake:

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

One 18-1/2 oz. pkg. yellow cake mix

One 3-3/4 oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

1/2 cup cold water

1/2 cup Wesson Oil

1/2 cup Bacardi dark rum

Glaze:

1/4 lb. butter

1/4 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup Bacardi dark rum (buy the lowest

alcohol content, otherwise, you could start a fire)

Preheat oven to 325 º F. Grease and flour 10 inch tube or 12 cup Bundt pan. You can use any kind of cake pan if you don't have a tube or Bundt. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Mix all cake ingredients together. Pour batter over nuts in pan. Bake one hour. Set on rack to cool. Invert on serving plate. Prick top so glaze will soak in. For glaze: melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in rum. Drizzle and brush glaze evenly over top and sides.

Optional: Decorate with border of sugar frosting or whipped cream. Serve with seedless green grapes dusted with powdered sugar and whole maraschino cherries.

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CHRISTMAS LEGENDS:

The Glass Pickle Ornament -

Pickle ornaments are a symbol of good luck. They were considered a special decoration by many families in Germany, where the fir tree was decorated on Christmas Eve. It was always the last ornament to be hung on the Christmas tree, with the parents hiding it in the green boughs among the other ornaments. When the children were allowed to view the tree they would begin gleefullly searching for the pickle ornament. Whoever found the pickle ornament first would receive a special present. Unfortunately for the children, as they grew older, the pickles became smaller!

The Glass Bird Ornament -

Birds are considered a universal symbol of happiness and joy and are regarded by many to be a necessity on the Christmas tree. Because bird ornaments were difficult to create, few glassblowing families in Germany specialized in the making of these special pieces. Birds represent messengers of love and are the harbingers of good things to come.

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