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Recipes listed below are "Honourable Mentions" Marshmallow Popcorn Balls (for the Christmas tree) Chocolate Cake (a scrumptious classic dessert) Chicken Breasts with Ritz Cheddar Cheese Crackers (very very tasty) Gingerbread Cookies (for Christmas and the holiday season) Chicken with Salsa (from an old friend of mine, very very good) Persians (cinnamon buns with icing, native to my hometown, a delicious dessert/snack) Cornbread (native to Canada, dates back to the 1800s) Bannock (a delicious First Nations Canadian bread/pastry) Chicken with Minnesota Wild Rice (a very common grain grown in Northern Minnesota)  

To be concluded prior to Christmas Eve, if not, it's been a pleasure sharing these recipes with my readers and supporters during 2024, all the very best in 2025 to you all, have a prosperous new year.

Nanaimo Bars This is probably the most popular festive dessert/snack during the holiday season in Canada, however, it is extremely rich and loaded with calories, so bake accordingly to your low-fat diets and tastes. Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter (or margarine) (you must also use separately 1/4 cup and 1 tsp. butter/margarine) 1/4 cup white granulated sugar 1 egg 4 tbsp. cocoa powder 2 cups graham wafer crumbs 1 cup coconut 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts preferred) 3 tbsp. milk 2 tbsp. vanilla custard powder (or vanilla pudding powder) 2 cups sifted icing sugar 4 squares semi-sweet chocolate Directions: Mix in sizeable bowl the 1/2 cup butter/margarine, white sugar, egg and cocoa to start. Set over boiling water, and stir until mixture resembles a custard. Combine g/w crumbs, coconut and walnuts with the custard, blending mixture together very well. Spread and press tightly into 9 by 9 inch baking pan. Cream the 1/4 cup butter/margarine, milk, custard/pudding powder and icing sugar. Spread...

Christmas Pecan Balls Ingredients: 1 cup softened butter (or margarine) 1 cup ground pecans 1/2 cup sifted icing sugar 1/4 cup corn starch 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup pecan halves Directions: Beat butter (or margarine) until creamy. Stir in ground pecans. Sift together icing sugar and corn starch. Blend into butter/margarine mixture. (*Please note*) (I've tried to stress "low fat" ingredients in  these many recipes as well). Stir in vanilla extract. Gradually stir in flour. Shape into balls. (Before this step, you may want to stiffen the dough in fridge for 30 minutes). Place balls 2 inches apart, and press each with a pecan half. Use an ungreased, foil lined, dark coloured baking pan, and place in pre-heated oven at 300 degrees F. for 20 minutes. Sift with icing sugar, while cookies are still slightly warm straight  out of the oven. Store for 10 days in the fridge or freezer, depending on when this light dessert or snack will be served. En...

Perhaps some honourable mentions as well, and this blog will conclude, but stay tuned, more to come heading into 2025, Happy Holidays to you and yours; keep on creating and bye for now. 

Santa's Whiskers Very fancy cookies, and a Christmas household treat, thanks Mom. Ingredients: 1 cup butter (or margarine, if so desired) 1 cup white granulated sugar 2 tbsp. milk 1 tsp. vanilla (or rum) extract 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 3/4 cups each of finely chopped red and green candied cherries and flaked coconut 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans Directions: In mixing bowl, cream together butter (or margarine) and sugar, blend in milk and chosen extract. Stir in flour, candied cherries and nuts. Form into 2 rolls, each 2 inches in diameter and 8 inches  long. Roll in the coconut. Wrap and chill for several hours, or overnight, as preferred. Slice 1/4 inch thick and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in pre-heated oven at 375 degrees F. for 12 minutes, or until edges are golden. Makes about 5 dozen (60) cookies total, to enjoy as a festive dessert or snack.  

Cherry Snowballs This is a traditional Christmas favourite from my late mother, rest in eternal peace. Ingredients: 1 cup soft butter (or margarine, if preferred) 1/2 cup icing sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. salt 3/4 cup(s) finely chopped pecans Maraschino cherries (very well drained, use desired amount) Directions: Blend butter (or margarine), icing sugar and vanilla; stir in flour and salt, then mix in nuts and chill the dough. Wrap a heaping amount of dough around each cherry for each cookie. Bake in pre-heated oven at 400 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes. Please take note that the cherries must be dry and the cookies will be set, but not brown. While cookies remain warm out of the oven, roll them in icing sugar. Let cookies cool completely, and roll them one more time in the icing sugar. Enjoy this holiday treat.