Recipe(tried): Recipes(tried): The Rest of Our Family's Favorite Christmas Recipes

First for the corrected copy of my PYRAMID POTATOES:

6 large all purpose potatoes
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup dairy sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

Peel and cube potatoes. In a 4 quart dutch oven, cook potatoes in a small amount of boiling salted water, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Place in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed. Add milk and butter, beat until fluffy.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat cream cheese, sour cream, salt, pepper, and garlic into potato mixture. Stir in onion. Transfer to a 2 quart baking dish. Top with cheddar cheese. Bake about 30 minutes or until bubbly.

I prepare this dish the night or day before and add cheddar cheese just before baking. A great do ahead dish.

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GAN'S CHRISTMAS CORN PUDDING

16 Ears fresh corn (about 8 cups, cut)
2 tsp Flour
2 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 Cups milk
4 Eggs, beaten
1 Tb. Butter

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
To ensure a delicate dish, use only fresh, raw corn. Thinly slice the corn from the cob with a very sharp knife, taking care not to cut too close to the cob. Scrape the cob with the back of your knife to obtain the best part of all.

Combine dry ingredients with milk. Blend in beaten eggs with corn. Laviahly grease a shallow 9/13 inch baking dish with 1 tb. butter. Pour in corn mixture. Bake 1 hour or until top is set.

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TERRI'S APPLE CRANBERRY CASSEROLE

Layer in casserole Dish:
2 Cups fresh cranberries
3 Cups sliced Granny Smith's apples
1/2 Cup sugar

Stir together:
1 Stick of melted butter
3/4 Cup brown sugar1/3 Cup flour
1 Cup oatmeal
1/2 Cup chopped pecans (optional)

Sprinkle on top of apples mixture
Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

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GANS STRAWBERRY ROMAINE SALAD

1 Cup vegetable oil
3/4 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
1 Large head romaine lettuce
1 Head Boston lettuce
1 Pint strawberries, sliced
1 Cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 Cup sugar-toasted walnuts (may use plain walnuts)

FOR THE DRESSING:
Combine the oil, sugar, vinegar, garlic, salt, paprika and pepper in a large jar. Cover and shake vigorously.
Store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

FOR THE SALAD:
Cut or tear the romaine and Boston lettuce into bite-size pieces. Combine with the strawberries, cheese and walnuts in a bowl and toss to mix.
Shake the dressing and add just before serving. Toss to mix. Please don't let the amount of the ingredients keep you from trying this wonderful and pretty salad. Perfect for Christmas!! Great with mandarin oranges too for another time.

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TERRI'S CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

1 1/2 Pkgs. chocolate graham crackers, crushed fine
1/2 Cup melted butter

Mix together. Press 1/3 mixture into bottom of spring form pan. Press rest on to the sides. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

FILLING:
1 lb. Semi sweet Giradelli double chocolate chips (1 1/2 bag)
2 Eggs
4 Egg yolks
4 Egg Whites
2 Cups whipping cream
6 Tb. powdered sugar

1. In a double boiler or microwave, soften chocolate chips until melted. Add 2 whole eggs. Beat by hand until not shiny. Add 4 egg yolks and keep stirring until not shiny.
2. In separate bowl beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
3. In separate bowl beat cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
4. Fold beaten egg whites and cream together.
5. Add 2 cups cream mixture to chocolate mixture, fold gently, add rest of cream mixture.
6. Pour into crust and regrigerate for 6 hours.
THIS IS A CHRITMAS TRADTION OF OUR FAMILY....IT IS JUST DIVINE AND WELL WORTH THE TROUBLE. May serve extra sweetened whipping cream on top, ha!!

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DIANE'S BREAD PUDDING WITH BOURBON SAUCE

1/4 Cup butter
1/2 Of a 1 pound loaf unsliced French bread, torn into 1 inch squares. (about 6 cups)
4 Cups milk
4 Beaten eggs
2 Cups sugar
2 TB. Vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in a 12/8 baking dish. Place baking dish in the preheated oven just until butter melts. Add bread to melted butter in baking dish. Pour milk over bread. In a medium bowl, stir together beaten eggs, sugar and vanilla. Pour egg mixture over bread/milk mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center, comes out clean.
Serve warm with Bourbon Sauce.

BOURBON SAUCE:
1/2 Cup butter
2 Cups packed light brown sugar
2 Cups half and half
1/2 Cup bourbon

Mix together butter and brown sugar. Stir in half and half. Heat until hot and thick. Add bourbon. Spoon over individual servings.
THIS IS ANOTHER MUST HAVE FOR CHRISTMAS.....ONE BITE AND Y'ALL BE WHISTLING DIXIE!!

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OUR CHRISTMAS COCONUT CAKE

2 Cups sugar
1 cup butter
3 cups flour
1 cup milk (1/2 coconut milk and 1/2 cup milk)
3 tsp baking powder
5 egg whites (beaten stiff but not dry)
1 cup of coconut (put in before adding whites)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Cream butter, sugar well. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, sifted twice. Mix together the milks. Add to butter mixture,flour mixture and milk mixture, alternating, ending with flour mixture. Add coconut,stirred in by hand, then add egg whites stirred in by hand and add vanilla stirred in by hand. Pour batter into 3 8" prepared pans and bake 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Cool and soak each layer with 3 tbs coconut milk before stacking layers and putting on Icing. Put toothpicks in layers to keep them from sliding.

WHITE ICING FOR CHRISTMAS COCONUT CAKE:
2 Large Cups sugar
1/2 Cup water
2 TB White Karo syrup
6 Egg Whites, pinch of salt and 3 TB of sugar

Beat egg whites stiff. Cook syrup, water and sugar until it will thread. Pour over egg whites slowly and beat well.
Makes enough for 3 layers.
Put grated fresh coconut over top and sides of cake.

This was my sons grandmother Lanford's recipe. I have been making this cake for Christmas for years...it is Mike's (my younger son's favorite Christmas Cake.) Same as Jamie. Paula Deen's younger son. I saw her cake recipe but have not tried it...let me know Gina how you like it, but of course everything Paula cooks is great and her cake sounds easier!!