TOP 10 COMFORT FOODS

My mother used to say, the older she got the faster the years went by; now I know she was right !!  It seems like, just the other day, I was reminding myself to write 2011 on my checks; where did this year go ???I looked back through my 101 posts for this year and tried to pick out the all time best ones (it wasn't easy), so I decided to narrow it down to OUR TEN FAVORITE COMFORT...

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MINI OREO CHEESECAKES

I served these little gems on Christmas Eve and they were a HUGE hit. Not only do they taste fantastic, but they are nearly fool proof.  Not a single crack in any of them and they go together in a snap.  The only "extra" step, is that they really need to sit in the fridge overnight after baking (to soften the cookie crust), but this step is WELL WORTH IT. You can eat them...

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BRANDY SNAPS and a GIVEAWAY

First and foremost, I am excited to tell you that Shelby, at The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch is hosting an anniversary blog party to celebrate her 4th year of blogging and we are all invited !!  Shelby has some GREAT recipes and I encourage you to pop on over to her web page and say Happy 4th Blogiversary!!  You can also enter her...

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FOOL PROOF PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

I hate using a candy thermometer, although I often do. I tend to gravitate towards classic old recipes that say "gently boil for xxx minutes"; I have the BEST luck with those old recipes. This peanut butter fudge is a good example of one of the recipes I just described. I've made it many, many, many times and it has NEVER failed me.  You can either put it in a  11 x 7 pan...

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SPICED OATMEAL-CRAISIN COOKIES

We have all tried a LOT of oatmeal cookie recipes, some thick and heavy, some thin and crunchy, some bland and doughy. This cookie, however, is everything those "other" cookies weren't; it is tender, chewy, buttery, mildly spiced and they make your kitchen smell heavenly while baking; it is the perfect holiday cookie!!    1/2 cup butter (room temperature)1/2 cup...

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DOG TREATS

If you want to make your dog very happy, bake up a batch of these "puppy treats". They are super easy to make and bake up hard and crunchy. They will "keep" forever, much like a commercial milk bone, but tastier.I have been making these treats for our 7 year old dog since she was little. When the treats are baking, she stations herself in the kitchen, waiting for them to come out of the oven....

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PEANUT TASSIES

In my Christmas buying frenzy, I ended up with two big jars of honey roasted peanuts, so when it came time to make picky-picky husbands favorite Christmas cookie (pecan tassies), I decided to "throw him a curve" and made them with honey roasted peanuts.  Guess what?!? He loved them, and gave them two thumbs up!!PASTRY CRUST1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature6 ounces cream cheese at room...

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Freshly Baked Eggless Cinnamon Rolls

These last couple of months I have been very busy with some personal engagements. Now I have the time I thought I can share one of my favorite baking creations. I wanted to make these eggless as I am sure there are lot of you who would want to try this out without eggs. I was pleasantly surprised that they tasted wonderful too ... so here is the recipeIngredients3 1/4 all purpose flour1 tbsp yeast4...

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CHRISTMAS SPRITZ COOKIES

Butter Spritz cookies are a classic, sweet, crisp (and light as a feather) cookie. They go together in a snap and when they are decorated with a little piece of candied cherry in the center (or any other holiday decoration you can think of), they are pretty enough for any Christmas cookie tray.1 ½ cups butter1 cup granulated sugar1 egg2 tablespoons milk1 teaspoon vanilla½ teaspoon almond...

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Butterscotch Bread Pudding for Two

Bread pudding is one of those comfort food desserts and usually starts with a recipe big enough to feed an army. So, with a little tweaking, I've reduced the size of one of our favorites and it came out great.  We enjoy this butterscotch flavored bread pudding at room temperature and it makes an "over the top" late night snack.5 slices of white sandwich bread (toasted in toaster)1...

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CHERRY-ALMOND COFFEE CAKE

A lot of us have company over the holidays and it is always nice to having something tasty to serve with coffee or tea. This recipe is not only pretty, but would be wonderful for company of all ages.  Picky-picky hubby loves cherry, so I made this with cherry pie filling, but ANY pie filling would work well.This cake is moist, rich and "holiday perfect" !!2 cups flour1 teaspoon baking powder1...

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