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 FOOD RECIPES.  I hope you enjoy them (

STARTING IN REVERSE:
CLICK ON THE RECIPE TITLE TO SEE THE RECIPE

#10.   THE ULTIMATE POPOVERS

This is a favorite of our grandchildren. Light as air and full of big air pockets that hold melted butter and jam, these are inexpensive, super easy and sure to please.

#9.   CROCKPOT LASAGNA

This is one of those busy day recipes that EVERYONE loves. The raw  noodles are cooked right in the sauce, so they are loaded with flavor. This one is a real keeper.

#8.   GLAZED DONUTS

Glazed donuts are fun to make on the weekends. They put grocery store donuts to shame !!

#7.  PEANUT BUTTER CLOUD PIE

You can make this pie a day or two ahead of time if necessary.
 It is a MUST for peanut butter lovers.

#6.  RED RICE

Some recipes are just for me. Picky-picky husband wouldn't even think of giving this recipe a taste (it has red peppers in it), but it is one of my all time favorites. IF you have any leftovers (which I seldom do with this recipe) it makes a wonderful lunch the next day.

#5.  CLASSIC JELLY ROLL CAKE

If you want to impress your company, try this easy jelly roll recipe. It gives step by step instructions on how to roll the cake. It is delicious and oh so pretty.

#4.  BLUEBERRY UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

This photo does not do this cake justice. It is super moist, rich and delicious warm or cold. Personally, we love it on the warm side (not hot) with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Your family will love this perfect ending to a family meal.

#3.  UPSCALE SLOPPY JOES

We have always enjoyed sloppy joes, so I decided to try and make an upscale version that I could serve to company; the result was fantastic. Everyone loves this recipe of lean chuck roast cooked in the crockpot with sloppy joe seasonings. It is comfort food at its best !!!

#2. STRAWBERRY SPONGE CAKE

This unassuming little sponge cake is a true winner. It can be used for a zillion
different recipes. It is light as air and makes the perfect shortcake.

#1.  CROCKPOT PULLED PORK AND PINTO BEANS

The NUMBER ONE comfort food recipe of the year HAS to be this Mexican pulled pork and pinto beans (done in the crockpot); I serve it over rice.  Not only is it super easy, but it is ultra-flavorful and the leftovers make outrageous burritos !!

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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 as soon as they are chilled, but the cookie will still be crunchy.  If you let them sit in the fridge overnight, the cookie almost becomes part of the cheesecake...scrumptious.

24 Oreo cookies (divided)
1 pound of cream cheese (room temperature)
1/2  cup granulated sugar
1/2  cup sour cream
2  large eggs (lightly beaten)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place 6 (original) Oreo cookies in the food processor and process into fine crumbs (set aside). Preheat your oven to 275 F and put 18 cupcake papers in your cupcake pan. Place a whole Oreo cookie in the base of each cupcake paper and set aside.

With your electric mixer (I used my stand mixer with a paddle attachment), mix the cream cheese on medium speed for three minutes.  Add the sugar and vanilla and mix for another 2 minutes on medium speed, or until very smooth. Add the lightly beaten eggs and mix on LOW until well combined. Fold in the sour cream and cookie crumbs with a spatula.

Fill the cupcake papers almost to the top (I used an ice cream scoop and it seemed to be the perfect measurement). Bake in preheated 275 oven for 30 minutes.

Once they are baked, leave them in the cupcake pan and immediately put them in the fridge. Chill overnight.  Delicious !!!

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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 generous $50 giveaway while you are there (see her rules at the end of MY post today).

UPDATE: Peggy from Peggy's Pantry is the winner!!

Shelby's blogiversary party theme is "small bites, small plates and appetizers", so I am "bringing" BRANDY SNAPS, to the cyber party. This recipe is a festive little dessert I found on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook web page.

BRANDY SNAPS

This fun recipe is super quick and very impressive!!  It is basically a crisp, sweet, lacy, candy shell with whipped cream in it. The shells can be made up several days in advance, then filled with sweetened  whipped cream just before serving.

2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons white corn syrup
1/4 cup butter  (I used only 3 tablespoons)
2 teaspoons brandy (or) 1 teaspoon vanilla (I used rum extract)
1/4 cup all purpose flour

Since this whole process goes VERY fast, it is best to have everything ready before you start cooking the above ingredients. Preheat your oven to 350 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (important). These candy shells REALLY spread as they cook, so only plan on making six of them on each cookie sheet.

Mix the sugar, corn syrup and butter in a small saucepan. STIR over medium heat until the mixture is good and bubbling, then remove from heat and stir in the flour and flavoring.

Drop one (measuring teaspoon per candy shell) of the cooked mixture onto the parchment paper. This will spread out into a circle about 4" in diameter as it bakes for about 6 to 7 minutes, but watch them very carefully, as they go from caramel colored to DARK very fast. It sounds tricky, but it isn't. My candy circles were fairly pale in color until they hit the 6 minute mark in my electric oven, but they were a beautiful light caramel color at 6½ minutes.

When they have turned a nice light caramel color, remove from the oven and let them sit on the cookie sheet for about 30 seconds. If they look a little oily, LIGHTLY dab them with a paper towel.

Use a pointed knife and lift the edge of the candy circle up a little so that you can grab it with your fingers (be careful, this is VERY  hot). One at a time, quickly roll the candy circle around the handle of a wooden spoon (they will cool almost immediately and hold their shape). Once you form it around the spoon handle, it will instantly be cool enough to slide the candy tube off of the handle, and it's done!!  If the other candies get too "hard" to roll, put them back in the oven for 30 seconds or so (but that shouldn't be a problem, as they stay fairly pliable as long as they are on the hot cookie sheet), they only become solid (or rigid) once they cool off.

I didn't use a spoon handle, I used some metal cannoli tubes I have and they worked perfectly (no need to grease the spoon handle).

Keep the cooled candy tubes in an air tight container until you are ready to serve them. Fill them with sweetened whipped cream (the candy tubes can be filled up to about an hour before serving).

Don't be scared off by any of my "warnings' about this recipe, it may sound complicated, but it really is super simple and I hope you try it.

NOTE: I substituted rum extract for the vanilla, the candy tasted like butterscotch. I think ANY extract would work.

NOTE: You don't have to fill these with whipped cream. Almost any mousse like whipped filling would work wonderfully.
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Details for The Life and Love's of Grumpy's Honeybunch giveaway (there are lots of ways to enter).

1. If you leave ME a comment today (telling me what your favorite holiday appetizer is), you will automatically be entered into Shelby's Anniversary giveaway contest.

2. For more ways to enter your name in the contest, visit the other bloggers that are helping Shelby throw this cyber anniversary party (she has a list of them on her web page). When you leave them a comment, your name will be entered again.

3.  The giveaway will end January 7th at 5 PM EST. 

4.  Shelby will announce the winner (on January 8th) on her web page.

5.  Winner will be chosen by random drawing (done by Grumpy himself).

6. The prize is a $50 gift card from ONE of the following: Sears, Kohls, Amazon, Target, Wal-mart, Chili's, Uno's, Marshalls/TJMax, Bed Bath and Beyond, Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, Starbucks or Barnes and Noble.

7.  Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

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