poppyseed bread

i made some homemade goodies for a few gifts this year. one of them being this poppyseed bread. i'd like to thank my oldest sister for being hot enough to have a suitor have his mom make this bread and send it to her with the recipe... cause this bread is amazing.
it has a delicious glaze to make the edges crispy, sweet and mouthwatering.

here is the recipe.

3 cups flour
2 ½ cup sugar
1 ½ t. salt
1 ½ t. baking powder
3 eggs
1 ½ cup milk
1 1/8 cup oil
1 ½ T. poppy seeds
1 ½ t. vanilla
1 ½ t. almond extract
1 ½ t. butter flavoring

Mix together and beat 2 minutes. Bake in 2 large loaf pans (greased) at 350 for 1 hour. As soon as out of oven, pour glaze over bread after poking a few holes in bread with toothpick. Be careful to brush it on slowly so that it can be absorbed.

¾ cup sugar
¼ cup orange juice
½ t. vanilla
½ t. almond extract
½ t. butter flavoring

Take out of pans when cooled.

egg nog punch

this is a perfect beverage for the christmas season. we used to have it every new years eve at my egg nog loving brother's request.

1 quart egg nog
2 cups milk
2 (24 oz.) bottles 7-up (don't use sprite or any of the other options, 7-up really is the best for this)
1 quart vanilla ice cream

combine. let ice cream dissolve in punch so that it looks light and fluffy.

the best ever sugar cookies

add veeda's request, an amazing sugar cookie recipe. i love, love, love these. they are not dry like most sugar cookies. they are light almost like a cookie muffin. they make a lot, too. these will be a great cookie to make for company for the holiday season. or just anytime at all.

cream:
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar

beat in:
4 eggs
2 T. milk
4 t. vanilla
1 T. lemon extract (this slight lemon flavor really sets these cookies apart. it's not enough that a citrus hater would be turned off)

add:
4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
5 cups flour

chill 30 minutes to an hour. form into balls then smash down with bottom of floured glass (about 1/4 inch thick, these cookies should be about the same thickness as those pink grandma sycamore's cookies and a little smaller in circumference.) bake at 375° for 6-8 minutes.

frosting:
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. shortening
1 t. vanilla
1/8 t. salt
4 c. powdered sugar
2-4 T. milk

in large bowl, beat butter and shortening until light and fluffy. add vanilla and salt. beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, scraping down sides of bowl. add 2 T. milk; beat at high speed until light and fluffy. add enough additional milk for desired spreading consistency. **(this frosting may be made up to 2 weeks in advance and kept in and airtight container before serving. bring to room temperature before serving)**

christmas cookies: spritz

another christmas classic is the spritz cookie. little butter cookies formed with a cookie press like this. i love these little cookies and have OD'd on them more than once.

1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter, softened
1/2 t. vanilla
1 egg
2 1/3 c. flour
1/4 t. salt

heat oven to 400 degrees. in large bowl, beat sugar, butter, vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. stir in flour and salt; blend well. fill cookie press; press onto ungreased cookie sheets. sprinkle with desired candies and bake. cool completely. makes 5 dozen.

wassail party

so, i had a wassail party and made my mom's insanely good citrus wassail. i didn't get a chance to take a picture of it but i found something online that looks pretty close.

this recipe gets RAVE reviews and is very much one of my favorite things about the holiday season. my mom always keeps some on hand for me.

1 quart water
2 1/4 c. sugar
10 cloves
8 allspice berries
2 sticks cinnamon
1 piece of candied ginger
2 quarts apple cider or juice
1 quart orange juice (i like the extra pulp kind)
2 c. lemon juice

mix water and sugar; boil for 5 minutes. remove from heat. stir in cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon and ginger. let stand 1 hour or more. strain. stir in apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice. serve warm. yield: 16 servings.

granola

my oldest sister, kristin told me about this granola the other day and it's so delish and easy to make.


1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla

mix together and then add:

3 cups oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup sliced almonds

Mix together and pour onto greased cookie sheet (i used a silpat and i think it helps it to not burn.) Bake at 350 for 20 minutes stirring often. Add handful of raisins while cooling (i put them in the last few minutes so they'd plump up a bit.)