Recipe(tried): Family Holiday Recipes

These are recipes that I and my family fix during the Thanksgiving / Christmas / New Years holidays.
Many I fix throughout the year.

The recipes are for:
Ambrosia for the Gods (Houston Chronicle 7/97)
Family Party Cheese Ball
Potato Delight
Texas Pecan Pie w/Cream Cheese Crust
(does not use corn syrup)
Santa Button Cookies

Ambrosia of the Gods
from the Houston Chronicle
18 June 1997

1 16 oz. can Chunky Pineapple, undrained
1 8 oz. can Crushed Pineapple, undrained
1 small pkg. Instant Pistachio Pudding mix (3 oz)
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup shredded coconut
1 12 - 16 oz. whipped topping mix (thawed - Cool Whip)
1 cup miniature marshmallows

Mix the chunky and crushed pineapple. Sprinkle the pudding mix over pineable mixture. Mix together and let stand for 3 - 5 minutes.

Mix the nuts and coconut together in a separate bowl. Then add to the pineapple / pudding mix.

Blend in the whipped topping and marshmallows.

Refrigerate for at least two hours.
Serve well chilled.


Party Cheese Ball

3 large Philadelphia Cream Cheese blocks, softened
(I generally use the light cheese)
2 bunches spring onions (green onions, include green tops, chop somewhat fine)
3-5 pkgs dried corn beef, chopped somewhat fine
(I use Buddig brand and use at least 4 packages)
2 Tbsp. Accent
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

Hold back one package of dried beef, (chop as others)

Mix all the ingredients together. Form into two balls, or like we do, one larger cheese ball. Roll in remaining package of chopped beef. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Best if
refrigerated overnight.

I sometimes add chopped olives (black or green) and have on occasion been brave and added a few drops of hot sauce.

Serve with crackers (especially Harvest Blend 5 Grain) or crisp sliced vegetables such
as peppers and endive leaves.


Potato Delight

2 lb. pkg frozen Hash Browns ( I use Ore-Ida Regular Hash Browns that are cubed up, I have used the shredded kind, but we like the cubed better)
1 stick butter
1 pt. sour cream (16 oz.)
1 can cream chicken soup
1 cup diced onions (diced small or use green onions chopped, include green tops)
2 cup shredded cheese (8 oz pkg.) *
(I use Kraft's or Sargento's, generally a blended package, such as Kraft's Four
Mexican Cheese or Colby and Monterey Jack).
1 cup crushed potato chips

Pre-heat oven to 350
Let hash browns thaw for 30 minutes
Melt butter in a 9 x 13 baking dish or pan
In large bowl, combine potatoes, melted butter, and next four ingredients. Mix until well blended. Place in baking dish, top with crushed chips.

Bake uncovered for 1 hour at 350

* If use a block cheese, such as Cracker Barrel Sharp Cheddar, before to grate the cheese

Can mix ingredients together in baking dish, I just find it less messy to mix separately in another bowl.


Texas Pecan Pie

Pie Filling

1 cup dark brown sugar
cup white sugar
cup water
3 Tbsp flour
tsp salt

2 eggs
cup evaporated milk
1 - 2 cup pecan halves (or combo of halves and pieces)
tsp vanilla

Mix first 5 ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Then beat in eggs one at a time. Add the evaporated milk and mix thoroughly. Add pecans and vanilla. Blend well.

Bake at 400 for 10 minutes then turn oven down to 350 , continue baking for 35 - 40 minutes, or until filling swells.


Cream Cheese Pie Crust
1 3oz. block of cream cheese, softened
1 cup flour
cup butter, melted (1 stick)

Blend flour with cream cheese. Add butter and mix well. Shape in to pie shell and place in to pie pan. Refrigerate at least one hour. Fill and bake.

I sometimes have to double recipe for larger or deep pie pans.


Santa's Buttons

1 C. soft butter or margarine (I use butter)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C. sifted confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 C. sifted flour
1 C. finely chopped pecans
Maraschino cherries (1 lb covers 2.5 recipes, can be halved)

Blend together butter, salt, sugar and vanilla. Add flour and pecans and mix well. Chill, if desired.

Shape into small balls and place on ungreased baking sheet. Press small hole in center of each ball with finger and insert cherry in to each ball (this is more like molding the dough around the cherry, similar to Hershey Kisses Cookies).

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and glaze cookies while warm with:
1 1/2 C. confectioners sugar mixed with
6 tsp milk and
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Makes about 60 cookies. (Most of the time I halve the cherries or by those that are already halved)