Stuffed Dates with almonds

Updated recipe.

This was a first try and it was easy.  Hubby loves  dates so I figured I'd give the dates a whirl and stuff them with a few almonds.

I did almost but not exactly as the recipe below says and I remember my Mom doing it the same way. 

Hubby said they tasted delicious so I think I'll serve some for Christmas.

Very easy to do with great results. 

Pitted dates 

Whole almonds( choose smaller size almonds)

Confectionery (powdered sugar)

 



Here's the recipe I followed.

Preheat an oven to 350°F.

1. 
   
   Place the nuts on a baking pan in the middle rack of the oven. Bake
2. 
   
   for 15 minutes stirring frequently.
3. 
   
   Cool for 10 minutes before use.
4. 
   
   Place one almond inside the date. Roll in powdered sugar if
5. 
   
   desired. Place on wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Enjoy!  Easy peasy!

12/3/14 original 

Courtesy Food.com

Banana cream Trifle

Omgoodness this is a keeper.  I saw a few recipes and made this one my way!!! Yummy!

Here’s my recipe:

Ingredients;

I box vanilla wafers

1-8 oz cream cheese softened( I softened mine on counter overnight)
***2- small packages vanilla instant pudding

***3 cups milk 

1 pint heavy whipping cream( beat with 3 tablespoons confectionery sugar)

***1-8oz. Cool whip( optional)  you can use all whipped cream) 

Note: I used cool whip in center to stabilize.  I beat it in with pudding.  c

5 bananas sliced on the thicker side ( do not use over ripe bananas)

Beat cream cheese with 2T confectionery sugar.   Set aside.  Beat vanilla instant pudding with milk.  When pudding is starting to thicken add cream cheese mixture.  Beat slowly until all is blended.

Beat whipped cream with 2 T confectionery sugar. Set aside.

Later  several wafers on bottom of large clear bowl.  I used a trifle bowl.

Then add a layer of bananas, then cream cheese mixture, wafers , real whipped cream , wafers , bananas and so on.  Top with real whipped cream and finely ground wafers. Top with several sprinkles of  ( I added some graham crackers crumbs to several ground wafers.wafers).

Enjoy!  Make it with confidence because it will be delicious anyway you later it.

Merry Christmas!  Stay safe and healthy.

***Note:  cream cheese mixture is Softened cream cheese, confectionery sugar, cool whip and pudding )

Pre-Christmas 2022

Nate’s visit 

My secret lasagna recipe!

Before

After

Our grandson Nate came for an early Christmas  visit on Friday.  He goes to school at NCU and works too.  He doesn’t get a lot of free time but managed a short visit with us.  Our son and his family joined us.

It was such a good evening of good food and the best conversation.

I was sorry that the evening had to end but he’s coming back for a short breakfast visit on Sunday.

He did request anise pizzelles and loves banana cream pie so I made a banana cream trifle.  A few small cannoli and my usual Biscotti.  I made a few snowball cookies too!

Our main menu was a small charcuterie board.  Usually I go crazy with something new in that area but this year kept it simple.  

A large Italian seasoned salad(my secret dressing).

Small Charcuterie board 

Fresh baked bread 

Poppy giving his o words of wisdom! Lol

Nate and Zoe two of our five grandchildren. 

Zoe

Nate

Our son Mark and I.

A few bottles of wine to start.  Not all

Are shown lol

Of course a small cookie platter I made.

My lasagna made with fresh hot and sweet sausage.

Love my Spode dishes. I have the set.

In a blink of an eye it was over although I will say a wonderful relaxing evening to add to our memories.

Christmas Dinner from my kitchen to yours!

I was thinking of changing the Christmas Day menu but it seems this year will be a repeat of last years.  I asked the kids and they said"Mom make it easy on yourself" so I am.

I make my chicken soup early in the week and clean up the pot so the broth, chicken and carrots are cut and are nicely placed in containers in my refrigerator.  I bought the homemade cappelletti's this year.  I usually make them but this year I'm letting someone else have that job!

 I will get soup and antipasto together a few hours before the children and grandchildren hit our house.

Everyone will be hungry and excited so we'll nibble a bit and eat and nibble but there won't be presents opened until we have our dinner. 

First Course:  The Soup

Second Course:  The Antipasto
I love making the antipasto so that is easy for me.

Last but least the lasagna.  The sauce will be prepared this weekend and on Wednesday I will put it all together and refrigerate it until early Christmas morning when I'll take it out of the refrigerator about an hour before I place it in the oven. 

Desserts we'll have to see but requests from the grandchildren are Italian Anise cookies.  That's all they want so I'll  make a double batch of them on Sunday.

  

 I've done the spiced pecans and pretzel turtles and they are in tins in my garage.  Knowing me I'll surely make a few other delights, that is unless I get the urge to buy an ice cream cake  roll. (the one that is a rolled chocolate cake (jelly roll type)filled with vanilla ice cream).  I just love them and no one seems to sell them anymore.  

The grandchildren are excited every year because first they are with their cousins who they love and we even set up a table so they can eat and chat without the parents.  We all sit and have dessert together and then we play a game involving both families and modest gifts.  We give them hints and the family that comes closest to guessing correctly wins the prize.  It's always fun with laughs galore!

Make some memories.  One of my greatest enjoyments is seeing them (all 5) coloring something holiday on a tablecloth I bought years ago and laughing at how terrible they think they colored then.

  So much Love to share. 


Merry Christmas to you and yours,
                                                                                                                                        

A Very Happy and Healthy Christmas and New Year From my Family to yours,

 M.j. Al,  Son Mark, Daughter Susan and their families

12/19/14

Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies

Updated:  12/9/2022

Note:  I've eaten these cookies and they are fabulous!

This is a recipe from a friend who makes them often for the kiddo's so this is one of the recipes that will be included in the graduation party dessert tray. 

Our grandson is graduating this weekend and Grammie knows there are several special cookies that he and his brothers like so along with the cookie recipe below (loves CC Cookies) and my Italian Anise cookies (note if you don't care for anise substitute your favorite extract) if you like.

Daniel is our oldest and first grandchild for us.  I can't believe how the time has flown. The little chubby baby born that warm day in August has become such a pride and joy to us.  We were excited to become grandparents but didn't realize how quickly time would fly and in a blink of an eye(what seemed to us) he'd be graduating from high school and off to college.

He is graduating with honors and will attend Penn State Main campus.  An engineering major he has pretty much made up his mind what he wants to do and I am sure he'll do it well.  We are so proud of him!!!

On to this wonderful Chocolate Chip recipe.  Enjoy!

4  1/4 cups All purpose flour

1tsp. Baking soda

1tsp. Baking powder 

1 1/2 cups butter

1  1/4 cups sugar

1  1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

2 Eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla 

2 cups chocolate chunks or morsels

Heat oven to 375°.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda in a bowl and set aside.

In your upright mixer combine butter, regular sugar and brown sugar.  Beat at medium speed.  Add eggs and vanilla.

Reduce speed beat on low slowly adding flour mixture.  Best until we’ll mixed.  Add chocolate .  Mix chocolate with a wooden spoon until incorporated.

Using a meatball size scooper( tablespoon size). Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Spacing well.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes depending on size and your oven.****  Ovens vary in temperature.. 

 Do not overbake but they should be light golden brown.

Let stand a few minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

For approximately 2 to 2 1/2 size cookie you will get about 4 dozen.

Original 2015

Check out the label selection of the blog under cookies or desserts for more fabulous recipes.