Sweet Home Quilt Co.

I’m one of those “I hate fruitcake” people…there, I said it! Is there a holiday food more ridiculed than the fruitcake? Bad jokes abound about fruitcakes surviving all sorts of catastrophic events intact, or the “gift that keeps on giving” that gets passed around from year to year! And is there a more dreaded Christmas gift? Who in their right mind thinks a gift of fruitcake would be welcomed?

Everyone knows there’s a lot of bad fruitcake out there. Especially those dense, dry loaves speckled with lumps of green, yellow and red that don’t resemble any fruit I’ve ever seen! Even those that are steeped in booze are often inedible, giving off clouds of alcohol fumes strong enough to give you a serious hangover! I remember my mother baking fruitcakes weeks in advance of the holidays, wrapping them in rum-soaked cheesecloth (and periodically dampening the cheesecloth with rum again!) leaving plenty of time to “cure.” Ugh!

Forget everything you know – and perhaps dislike – about traditional holiday fruitcakes. I’m sharing one of my all-time favorite recipes with you, and I promise it is unlike any other fruitcake you’ve ever had. Even better, it’s a breeze to make and a little slice to nibble on is just the right amount to satisfy your sweet tooth!

No Bake Ice Box Fruit Cake

1 box vanilla wafers or graham crackers

1 can Eagle Brand milk

1 box coconut

1 box golden raisins

1 qt. chopped pecans

Crush vanilla wafers or crackers with a rolling pin. Mix all ingredients thoroughly by hand. Roll into about a 2-inch round log (recipe will make several logs), wrap tightly in waxed paper and refrigerate for several hours (best overnight). Slice into about ¼ inch rounds to serve. Will keep several weeks in refrigerator, tightly wrapped in wax paper.

It’s the ONLY fruitcake I’ll eat! I hope you’ll give the recipe a try, and let me know how you like it!

Melisa

One of my favorite things about living in Georgia this time of year is the abundance of fresh pecans. I love cooking with them, and I love eating them raw…fresh-cracked, of course! A favorite childhood memory is us kids spending Saturday afternoons picking up pecans at the neighbor’s pecan orchard and getting paid a nickel a pound for all we picked up! We didn’t have any of those fancy gizmos that you see today for picking up the nuts either…we had to stoop over and pick up every single nut by hand! We didn’t know it was work, though…we were happy to be outside with our friends and earning a little spending money!

At our house, pecan pie is a must for the Thanksgiving (and Christmas!) dinner table. Over the years, I’ve perfected my pecan pie recipe and it is always the first dessert to disappear! I always make extra pies so the kids can each take one home to enjoy later. We like our pecan pie plain…just the ooey-gooey filling and crunchy nuts! But a little whipped cream or vanilla ice cream is good, too, especially if the pie is warm out of the oven!

Here’s my recipe…if you make it, drop me a note and let me know how you like it!

PECAN PIE

7 whole eggs
3 cups pecans (I use whole halves, but you could coarsely chop the nuts, too)
2 cups light Karo syrup
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 stick melted butter (the real stuff, NOT margarine)
3 teaspoons vanilla extract (again, real vanilla extract, not imitation)
3 deep-dish frozen pie crusts (I use the frozen pie crusts because I’m usually making many pies and time is a factor for me; feel free to use your favorite homemade pie crust if you’re so inclined!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients (except pie crusts!) and mix well; divide filling evenly and pour into pie crusts. Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees, then lower temperature to 300 degrees and continue baking for one hour or until firm. (Note: I usually add one tablespoon of cornstarch to the mixture before baking for a firmer filling.) Allow pie to cool at least one hour before cutting. This pie freezes well; allow 30 minutes to thaw before serving.

Do you have a favorite dessert that always makes an appearance on your holiday table? Share the recipe…I’m always looking for new recipes to try!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Melisa

I found this recipe earlier this week while perusing this blog, and I made sure to pick up all the ingredients while I was at the grocery store. Tonight was the first time I’ve been home early enough to actually cook dinner and it was delish! I did plan ahead and cooked the chicken last night so all I had to do was shred it…that helped speed things up! You could also use leftover chicken or even a rotisserie chicken in a pinch. Here’s the recipe…let me know if you try it!

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed or shredded
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 medium onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
4 oz. can diced green chilies
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
2 (10 oz) cans green chili enchilada sauce (I used mild)
2/3 cup red enchilada sauce (I used mild)
1 can large black olives, cut in half
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
16 oz. penne pasta

Cook pasta in boiling water until tender. Heat oil in large non-stick skillet and add the onion; cook for 2-3 minutes until onion is translucent. Add the garlic and red pepper and cook another 2 minutes until red pepper is tender. Add the cooked chicken, green chilies, spices, enchilada sauces and olives. Simmer the sauce for about 8-10 minutes. Add the sour cream and cheese and heat through until the cheese is melted (be careful not to boil so the sour cream doesn’t curdle!) Pour the sauce over the hot pasta. Garnish with additional sour cream, cheese, diced tomatoes, green onions, or crushed tortilla chips.  Serves 6-8.

Enjoy!

Melisa

P.S. I forgot to take a picture, so I grabbed the photo from the Dinner Inspiration blog…but mine looked exactly like that!

Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow tomorrow? Folks have been tracking that crazy groundhog and his shadow since 1886! The record shows he has seen his shadow 98 times, has not seen his shadow 15 times, and for 10 years his prediction is unknown.

Here is Phil’s prognostication record if you’re interested…

As the story goes, if he sees his shadow then that means six more weeks of winter weather. And if he doesn’t, spring will come early. We’re remaining optimistic, but either way, you win!

• If he DOES see his shadow you can take 25% off any one regular price item.

• If he DOESN’T see his shadow you can still get a great deal with 15% off any one regular price item.

This deal is good for Groundhog Day only (Wednesday, Feb. 2nd) in the shop or online. Online shoppers please enter code PHIL2011 in the Comments section of the shopping cart to receive your discount. We will adjust the order total before processing your credit card.

And if that wasn’t enough fun for you, why not bake a Groundhog Cake to celebrate!  I ran across this link this morning and thought "what a fun idea!" This isn’t normally a holiday most people celebrate, but this cake is so cute how could anyone resist?  Click here for the recipe. Enjoy!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Melisa

I’m sad that this is the last day of the Mistletoe Make & Bake Blog Hop, but I’m excited that it is my turn to share a fun holiday project with you! But first, let’s talk about cookie exchanges since you have dozens of new cookie recipes to try!

Hosting a Cookie Exchange Party is the perfect way to get together with friends over the holidays with the added bonus of getting a variety of cookies to have for other holiday occasions without all the work!

I’ve been to cookie exchanges where guests brought copies of their recipes along with their cookies. If you plan your date far enough in advance you can have your guests send their recipes to you in advance so you can compile a book of cookie recipes for each guest as a party favor! Having prizes is another fun idea – you could give prizes for the best-looking cookies or the most creative packaging and give mini cookie cutters, jars of sprinkles or flavorings as the prizes.

Don’t forget the Christmas music!

There are hundreds of resources on the web to help you plan – everything from The Rules of the Cookie Exchange to Cookie Exchange Invitations. There are a gazillion recipe sites, too, but you won’t be needing those because you’ve got plenty of new cookie recipes from this blog hop to keep you busy for a while! There’s still time to plan a fun Cookie Exchange Party with your friends so get out your calendar and pick a date!

The cookie recipe I’m sharing with you today was shared with me a couple of years ago by my good friend, Ruthanne. These rank right up at near the top of my favorite cookies list … I think I made at least a half dozen batches that first Christmas!

To download and print the pdf version of the recipe card, click here.

I decided since we were baking all these cookies that we needed a cute decoration to dress up our cookie jars. My Cookie Jar Wrap is quick to make – add them to cute jars filled with homemade cookies for those last minute gifts on your list! It could also be adapted to use as a Candle Wrap, and by all means, make it with fabric instead of wool if you prefer!

Our other featured designer today is Vickie over at Spun Sugar Quilts. I can’t wait to see what she’s cooked up for you! And don’t forget to grab the recipes from everyone else, too!

I have enjoyed reading your comments so much – seems we’ve brought back lots of memories for you with our stories and cookie recipes, and I love the stories you’ve shared in your comments. As one of the featured blogs today, I get to have a little giveaway so you’ll want to be sure to leave a comment on this post. I’ll post the winner on Sunday. Oh, I should probably tell you what you’ll win…how about this cute little kit!

Oopsie Daisy Charm Kit featuring the Lollipop collection by Sandy Gervais for Moda.

Make sure you’ve left a comment on each blog each day so you’ll be entered to win the grand prizes…yes, I said prizes! Seems we have enough great stuff to put together TWO grand prizes…I wish I could win! Sherri over at This & That will announce the grand prize winners on her blog Sunday so be sure to check back…it might be YOU!

Melisa

P.S. Don’t forget to add my blog to your favorites….or better yet, subscribe to this blog. Then you’ll get email updates when I write a new post! I hope you’ll come back to visit often!

Today is the first day of the Mistletoe Make & Bake Holiday Blog Hop, and we’ve got some really fun plans for the week! First up is Sherri Falls of This and That  so be sure to hop over to see what fun project she has for you today, and be sure to check out all the other designer’s blogs for their cookie recipes. Most importantly, don’t forget to comment on the blogs…you could win a great prize!

As I was thinking about today’s theme, Christmas Trivia … myth or truth, my thoughts kept going back to my Grandfather’s love of soft peppermint candy at Christmastime. Candy canes can be found every where at Christmas, and are as much a decoration as a sugary treat. I did a little research on the origin of the candy cane, and learned that it wasn’t always crooked or striped.

Historians say that candy canes were originally all white sugar sticks used as tree decorations. In the late 1600’s a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany bent the sugar candy sticks to resemble a shepherd’s staff, and gave the candy canes out to children to keep them quiet during long nativity services.

Striped candy canes appeared about 1900, along with peppermint and wintergreen flavors, which became the traditional favorites.

My grandfather’s favorite were the soft peppermint sticks, not the hard brittle candy canes that are usually found at this time of year. At one point, Bob’s Candies in Albany, GA (which was about 35 miles from my grandparents’ home) was the world’s largest manufacturer of candy canes, and every year someone would give my grandfather a big box of Bob’s Candies Mint Sticks as a gift. My grandmother would dole these out to the grandchildren during our visits, usually accompanied by a glass of chocolate milk. We’d sip our milk using the mint sticks as our straws until they literally dissolved…that’s how soft and porous they were! I think this is probably the reason I can’t eat chocolate and mint together today…we would make ourselves sick drinking chocolate milk with peppermint stick straws!

I do love peppermint candy, though, particularly the soft peppermints – I just love the way they dissolve on my tongue! In celebration of the candy cane, enjoy this fun recipe for Candy Cane Sugar Cookies:

To download the recipe card as a pdf file click here!

Come back tomorrow when I’ll share another cookie recipe and my tip for saving your sanity during the crazy busy Christmas season.

Melisa

I have set a goal for myself for 2009 to get into shape. Why you ask? Because I will be turning 50 in August – how the heck did that happen?!?!  At any rate, I have started to think about the lifestyle changes I need to make to meet that goal (and now that I’ve put it out there for everyone to see, hopefully I’ll be motivated to follow through!)  I stepped on the scale yesterday and had lost 8 pounds! Woo and Hoo! So I’m all psyched to continue whatever it is I’ve been doing that has netted me an 8 lb. weight loss.

Is it this? Breakfast of champions? Every single day my routine is to eat breakfast as soon as I get to the shop, generally like 7AM. And except for the type of cereal, I always eat the same thing – cereal with low fat milk and a Diet Coke. I never start my day without a Diet Coke!

This is a pretty healthy way to start the day, don’t you think? Well, except for the Diet Coke part. But there are some things I am just not willing to give up and Diet Coke is right up there at the top of the list. It may not be good for me, but at least it’s calorie-free!

So I’ve already had the “talk” with myself about watching what I eat during the holidays, and now that I’ve had a little weight loss, at least maintaining that over the next few weeks. And I had every intention of doing just that – and then it started…

This arrived yesterday afternoon at the shop. A holiday gift from a neighboring business. Ok, I thought, fruit is good and it won’t pack on the pounds like chocolate or cookies. So I ate an apple and a tangerine as a snack. And felt very smug and virtuous, too, I might add.

I can do this! I have plenty of fruit on hand now to get me through the next couple of weeks.

Yeah right!  Then this arrived…

(Sorry for the glare – I didn’t dare take the plastic covering off ’cause I knew I’d just dive right into this yummy goodness!)  What is it, you ask? Why it’s a box of my favorite Belgian Chocolates, compliments of our accountant.  With names like Deliz (milk chocolate with creamy hazelnut praline center), Zanzibar (dark chocolate with ganache filling), and Aramis (white chocolate with truffle and raspberry flavored center). My mouth is watering just typing the words!

Reality check here! I know for a fact that this box of chocolates won’t last 3 days here! Every time I walk by that box is going to call my name, and sooner or later (ok, we all know it’s going to be sooner!) I’m going to cave and have a piece of chocolate – probably that white chocolate truffle with the raspberry center. And next thing you know the box will be empty and there will be 8 pounds packed back on my butt!

I figure January will be soon enough to start working on this goal, right? Christmas only comes once a year, and the temptation is just too strong! And why should I punish my friends and loved ones by forgoing all the treats and goodies I usually make during this season? How’s that for rationalization! At least I’m honest, right?

In the spirit of the season, I wanted to share the bounty with you. I’ll be making these little gems for gift-giving and having a few myself, too. Easy OREO Truffles from Kraft Foods – go here for the recipe. I’ve already made out my grocery list!

So what are some of your favorite holiday goodies? Do you make cookies and candy to give as gifts or just to have during the season? I love to cook, so share your favorite recipes with me.

And after January 1st, you may have to remind me about this goal. It’s pretty obvious I have no willpower so I’ll be counting on all of you to keep me on track!

To make this post somewhat quilty, I’m off to sew! I’ll be whipping up 35 pillowcases for the local nursing home residents and a few for the grandies. They’re all cut out and ready to sew so it will be “pedal to the medal” for me all day long. I’ll share a pic tomorrow when they’re all done! I hope you’re having a quilty day, too.

Melisa

P.S. Head over to the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop blog and tell Sarah about your favorite childhood vacation memory – she’s giving away Batik fat quarters! You’ll want to check the Shop Hop blog often, all of the participating shops will be having giveaways as we count down to Shop Hop 2009.