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AuntJamelle

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    Where are online sale date/time start times documented?

    in 2020

    Posted

    I totally apologize if I am missing this!  I'm having a really hard time telling when some stores are starting their sales - for example, Target.  Yes, it starts on 11/22 but what time?  What time zone?  I've looked at the sale ad fine print and no joy.  The Kohls ad was super clear on dates and times though.  Just trying to figure out what my level of sleep deprivation is going to be!  :gdsleep3:

     

    I thought in the past that there was an area here on the forums dedicated to planning online shopping strategies but I'm not seeing that either?  Was surprised as I thought with things as they are this year that more emphasis would be on shopping online than ever before.

     

    If that info is gathered and available somewhere and someone can point me to it I truly appreciate it!

    Favorite Holiday Recipes

    in 2019

    Posted

    This is something my MIL has made for ages - all the boys in my husband's family love it - it is really very good- especially if served with Cool Whip or freshly whipped cream!  She adds celery to hers - I have NOT included that in recipe below - just not my thing in a recipe like this - but rhubarb is a nice alternative.  Or you can just omit and it works out fine!

     

    Cranberry Jello Mold

     

    1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

    1 bag cranberries, fresh or frozen

    1 large box black cherry jello

    1 large box orange jello (mandarin flavor)

    2 cups peeled, chopped apples

    2 cups grapes (purple seedless cut in half)

    Optional: 1 cup finely diced rhubarb, frozen is fine

    1 cup frozen OJ concentrate

    1 cup sugar

     

    Wash and putt cranberries in food processor or just very finely chop- then put in 3-4 quart pot with orange juice, sugar, both boxes of jello and 2 cups water.  Bring to a boil and stir until sugar and jello are dissolved. Take off heat and cool. When cooled add rest of ingredients and put in mold and chill until firm.


    Cranberry Gorgonzola Tossed Salad

     

    This salad is GOOD!  It serves a big crowd!

     

    2/3 c. vegetable oil

    ½ c. seasoned rice vinegar

    1 ½ tsp. Dijon mustard

    2 cloves garlic, pressed

     

    3 - 5 heads Romaine Lettuce, rinsed, patted dry, torn into pieces (just fill a BIG bowl)

    2 Granny Smith apples, diced

    2/3 c. coarsely chopped walnuts

    1 bag dried cranberries (use less if desired, just eyeball it!)

    8 oz. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

    12 oz to 1 lb crumbled bacon

    ½ med. Sweet onion, thinly sliced

     

    Dressing:  Combine oil, rice vinegar, mustard and garlic several hours in advance (mason jar good for this!).  Refrigerate.  

     

    Chill remaining ingredients before combining in a large bowl.  Pour dressing sparingly over salad; toss gently. Serve immediately.  


    Roasted Butternut Squash with Kale and Almond Pecan Parmesan

     

    • 2-2.5 pound butternut squash

    • 2 lg. cloves garlic, minced

    • 2-3 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley or 1 T dried

    • 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

    • 1/2 tsp fine grain sea salt (Kosher salt works well too - if using table salt reduce to ¼ tsp)

    • 1 cup de-stemmed and roughly chopped Lacinato kale (you can omit this if desired or you can’t find, I've used regular Kale too)

     

    Almond Pecan Parmesan 

    • 1/4 cup slivered almonds

    • 1/4 cup pecans

    • 1 tbsp Parmesan Cheese (grated from the can)

    • 1/8th tsp fine grain sea salt (Kosher fine, Table Salt I would just use a pinch)

    • 2-3 tsp extra virgin olive oil

     

    1. Preheat oven to 400F and lightly grease a casserole dish with oil.

    2. Peel the squash. Thinly slice off the bottom and top and then slice through the middle lengthwise to make two halves. Remove seeds & guts with a grapefruit spoon or ice cream scoop. Chop two halves into 1-inch chunks and place into casserole dish.

    3. Add minced garlic, parsley, oil, and salt into casserole dish and stir until well combined with the squash. Do not add the kale yet.

    4. Cover casserole dish with a lid (or tin foil with a few holes poked) and bake at 400F for about 45 minutes.

    5. Meanwhile, process the parmesan ingredients together until chunky (or just chop by hand and mix in a bowl). Make sure to leave lots of nut pieces for texture. 

    6. After about 45 mins (or when squash is just fork tender), remove from the oven and reduce heat to 350F. Stir in the chopped kale and stir the parmesan mixture gently into the squash. Bake for another 5-8 minutes, until the nuts are lightly toasted. Watch closely so you don’t burn them. Remove & serve!

     

    This. Is. HEAVEN on a plate!  #truth

     

    Holiday Baking - Cookies and More

    in 2019

    Posted

    My baking list this year is as follows:

     

    Chunky Chocolate Gobs (Big chocolate cookies with chopped up Oreos, Mounds candy bars + choc chips)

    Browned Butter Mocha Caramel Cookies

    Sea Salt Butterscotch Pretzel Cookies

    Lemon Snowballs

    Gingersnaps (SO good - nothing like store bought!)

    Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies

    Kieflees (Spelling wrong!!!  How DO you spell that word??? - OLD recipe - dough wrapped around sweetened ground pecan filling - SO good)

    Pecan Sandies

    Cocoa Kiss Cookies

    White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

    Drop Style Sugar Cookies

    Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies

    Butterfinger Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe made with Dark Choc, Dried Cranberries and slivered Almonds

     

    I bake and freeze ahead of time - have for years - which is the only way I get this long list done in time!!! :)

    Holiday Baking - Cookies and More

    in 2019

    Posted

    "I would like to find more cookie recipes that do not require eggs - I have someone at work that doesn't eat eggs, and every year I stretch to find some recipe that doesn't have eggs, and it's always some kind of shortbread. Is there anything else out there?

     

    I can throw a couple egg free cookie recipes your way for sure!!!  Ones I've made for years that just don't happen to have eggs - never really though about an allergy!!!  :)"

     

     

    Lemon Snowball Cookies

     

    • 2 cups (282g) all-purpose flour

    • 3 Tbsp (24g) cornstarch

    • 1/4 tsp salt

    • 1 cup (8 oz) butter, softened

    • 2/3 cup (84g) powdered sugar

    • Zest of 2 lemons (about 4 tsp)

    • 2 tsp lemon extract

    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

    • 1/2 cup (68g) finely chopped almonds

    • 1 1/2 cups (180g) powdered sugar, for coating

    Directions

    • In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cornstarch and salt, set aside.

    • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix butter on medium speed until creamy, about 20 seconds. Blend in 2/3 cup powdered sugar. Mix in lemon zest, lemon extract and vanilla extract. With mixer set on low speed slowly add in flour mixture and mix just until combine. Stir in almonds. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill 30 minutes, preheat oven to 350 degrees halfway through chilling.

    • Scoop dough out 1 Tbsp at a time and roll into a ball, then place balls on Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2-inches apart and bake in preheated oven for 16 - 18 minutes (these are a cookie that I think are best when they aren't moist in the center so I'd say don't under bake them. 

    These actually are a cookie that are meant to be dry. Dry but a melt in your mouth kind of dry). Remove from oven and allow to cool several minutes then while cookies are still warm, pour 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar into a bowl and roll cookies in powdered sugar. 

     

    Transfer to a wire rack to cool then once cookies are cool, roll in powdered sugar once more, this time to generously coat (I pressed it into the powdered sugar to give it a thick coating). Store cookies in an airtight container.

     

    Cocoa Kiss Cookies

     

    1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

    ⅔ cup sugar

    1 tsp vanilla

    1 ⅔ cups all purpose flour

    ¼ cup cocoa powder

    1 cup FINELY chopped pecans

    1 bag (9 oz) Hershey’s Kisses

    Powdered Sugar

     

    Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until creamy.  Stir together flour and cocoa; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended.  Add pecans. Beat well. Refrigerate dough 1 hour or overnight. Needs to be firm enough to handle.

     

    Heat oven to 375.  Remove wrappers from kisses.  Mold tablespoon of dough around each chocolate piece, covering it completely.  Shape into balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet - or one lined with parchment paper.

     

    Bake 10-12 minutes or until set.  Cool slightly. Remove to wire rack, cool completely.  Roll in powdered sugar. Roll again in sugar just before serving if desired.

     

    Black Friday 2019 Countdown & Anticipation Thread

    in 2019

    Posted

    I'm getting excited too!!!  I think I'll go back and review my shopping lists from Black Friday's past - just to pass the time  :lmao:

     

    I'm curious to see what the weather ends up being like here for BF this year - all signs point to an early and colder winter from what I'm reading and hearing people say.  We might just have a white BF and a white Christmas (finally!!!) this year!

    How & When do you wrap your gifts?

    in 2019

    Posted

    I started wrapping early this year - knew I'd be focused on our Disney trip in Sept.  Have a nice stash upstairs all ready to go.  I only have to hide DS's presents - DH never goes up there :)

     

    Going to try and wrap some every weekend between now and Christmas, as possible.  Even if only for an 1/2 hour - every little bit helps.  I can leave the supplies out upstairs which is helpful.

    • Like 1

    100 Days Until ....

    in 2019

    Posted

    I am started to get excited!!!  Started feeling the urge to check the BF forum a couple days ago - Can't wait for the first ads to come out!!!

     

    I've got a decent amount of gifts tucked away and a bunch I've made as well.  Plenty left to do, as always!!!

    Stocking Stuffers

    in 2018

    Posted

    For DH I do packages of jerky, different flavors and brands; blocks of specialty smoked cheeses that you can find in deli area of groc store - don't need refrigeration; canned cheese (lol - I know, I know, but he loves it and we never buy it); Summer Sausage; Little bottles of hot sauce are good too for someone who likes spicy foods.

     

    For DS I get lots of little fun things - Grow Capsules from the Target One Spot, Magic Washcloths from the same, this year I got him a set of colored ink pens, Pokemon cards, a small transformer toy, etc. and so on...

     

    For women I'll get lip balms/chapsticks, face masks, lotions, manicure sets, small candles, beauty samples I collect all year as I order my makeup from Sephora, etc., cute mini notebooks, makeup remover wipes, room sprays...

     

    For tween girls I might get anything on the previous list as well as stud earring sets, fun night lights, glitter tattoos, funky jumbo paperclips, etc.

    2018 So where is Everyone on their Buying, Shipments, Wrapping and Baking?

    in 2018

    Posted

    I can't believe we are less than a week out now!!!!

     

    Shopping done

    Gifts were shipped last Monday - all confirmed to have arrived

    Christmas Cards mailed

    Baking - 90% done and given out already - more baking needed to have enough to finish up cookie platters for various folks.  I baked and froze many different types of cookies starting in November but didn't make quite enough apparently, lol; Baked a quadruple batch of cinnamon rolls this weekend and delivered the last of them this morning!

    Wrapping - 80% done - still have lots left to do!!!  :runaway:

     

    I am really REALLY grateful for Starbucks!  And Airbourne!!!

    • Like 2

    Air Fryers - Yes or No

    in 2018

    Posted

    We've had a NuWave for 5 years now?  Something like that - works GREAT!  We got while we were in an apartment temporarily due to a house fire and didn't want to constantly set off the super sensitive smoke alarm - it cooks everything and air fries.

     

    I've done turkeys, pizzas, most of the things mentioned on this thread - except for steak and pork chops ...now I'm in intrigued!

     

    Mexican yumminess wrapped in a tortilla and brushed with oil fries up beautifully - then I transfer to a cake pan, cover with cheese and pop back in just long enough to melt the cheese.

     

    I really HATE extra small appliances but this one is good enough that it wins a place on the pantry shelf!  We did have an issue with the original dome cracking a couple of years ago - ordered replacement for $25 I think...totally worth it.

    Help hanging garland

    in 2018

    Posted

    Use a tension rod - like for a shower curtain - in between the casings of a window or doorway to support garland at the top and that will take most of the weight so you can then let the rest of the garland fall down the sides of the window/door and if it dangles too loosely - use a few command hooks to anchor it as needed.

     

    If putting a heavy garland arrangement on a mantel, I've seen folks cut a rough wooden board that will fit on top of the mantle (I would cut a piece of scrap cloth or felt to fit underneath the board too so you don't scratch the mantle).  Then they can use any nails they need to to have the right amount of anchors for their garland/greenery arrangements.  This would be for a super deluxe garland type scenario - one spilling down the sides etc.  Usually mantles aren't the issue :)

     

    Other than command hooks I can't think of anything other than maybe tacks?

    • Like 2

    Holiday Recipes

    in 2018

    Posted

     

    • I left out the  jalapenos when I made this one 
    • total Time: 55 minutes plus 3 hours rising time
    • Yield: 8
    •  
    • Method: baking
    •  
    INGREDIENTS
    • 15 Rhodes rolls (frozen unbaked roll dough)
    • 4 tablespoons butter melted
    • 1 jalapeno seeded and finely minced
    • 1 teaspoonn dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
    • 1 cup Gouda cheese shredded
    • 1/4 cup parmesan
    INSTRUCTIONS
     
    1. Thaw the rolls for 30 minutes and cut in half. In large bowl combine butter, half of the jalapeno, oregano, basil, garlic powder, 1/2 cup cheddar, 1/2 cup Gouda, Parmesan and cut Rhodes rolls. When mixed transfer to 9 inch spring-form pan that has been coated with nonstick baking spray. Cover pan with plastic wrap and allow dough to double in size; depending on heat and humidity 2-3 1/2 hours.
    2. When doubled in size add remaining cheddar, Gouda and jalapenos to the top of the rolls. Cover the bottom of the spring-form pan with aluminum foil to catch any dripping butter.
    3. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees or until the rolls are done in the middle of the pan.
    4. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and release the spring form pan.

    Jalapeno-Cheddar-Pull-Apart-Bread-PicMon

     

     

    THIS ....LOOKS....AWESOME!!!!

     

    Totally trying it!  

     

    FYI - If you forget the thaw step you can thaw the Rhodes dinner rolls in the microwave - place 6 or 7 on dinner plate and cover lightly with plastic wrap spritzed with cooking spray.  cook on defrost for 20 seconds or so - flip them, recover and another 20 seconds.  You should be able to use a good pair of kitchen shears to cut them in half at that point.  Repeat for remaining rolls in recipe.  These instructions came from Rhodes - on a recipe they put out years ago and I've saved and made many times.

     

    Also - to catch drips of butter from the springform pan - I use a plastic turkey bag or crockpot liner bag - just sit the pan down in that and then put on a cookie sheet.  That is how I keep my cheesecake crusts warm and dry in their water bath too!  :)

    Share your holiday cookie recipes!

    in 2018

    Posted

    SO many recipes to try now!!!  Here are some we make every year:

     

    For Fall/Halloween these are the best!  Reese's Soft Bake Peanut Butter Cookies - with Reese's Pieces AND chocolate chips/chunks!  Yes please!

     

    https://www.averiecooks.com/reeses-pieces-soft-peanut-butter-cookies/

     

    The rest of these are ones I make for Christmas eating...ahem...giving...

     

    Chunky Chocolate Gobs - Use chopped oreos, Mounds bars and chocolate chips - if you have someone who likes chocolate and coconut, these will be a hit!

     

    https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chunky-chocolate-gobs-0

     

    Cocoa Kiss Cookies - You shape the dough around a Hershey's Kiss, bake and then roll in powdered sugar

     

    http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cocoa-Kiss-Cookies/

     

    Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl Cookies - These are always a popular item on the cookie tray!

     

    http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/02/24/soft-baked-peanut-butter-chocolate-swirl-cookies/

     

    Seven Layer Magic Bar Cookies - Graham cracker crumbs in the dough, need I say more?

     

    http://www.averiecooks.com/2013/07/soft-and-chewy-seven-layer-magic-bar-cookies.html

    • Like 2

    Holiday Recipes

    in 2018

    Posted

    GREAT thread!  Saving these recipes!  I am a huge cook/baker so this is right up my alley!  Sounds like you have a lot going on so I went through my files for some easy things:

     

    No Name But Amazing Appetizer:  1 container marinated mozzarella balls + 1 small clam shell grape tomatoes (red ones, purple ones, yellow ones - it’s all good!)...Cut tomatoes in half.  Mix entire contents of cheese container, oil and all with the tomatoes. Chill for at least 2 hours. Serve on toasted baguette slices - grab baguette from the bakery.

     

    Easiest Bread Dip Ever:  1 container sour cream (16 oz) + 1 packet Lipton’s Vegetable Soup Mix + 1 round loaf of bakery bread...Mix sour cream and soup mix packet, chill at least an hour or two.  Hollow out middle of bread loaf, reserving bread pieces. Place chilled sour cream mixture in bread, place bread on large platter, surround with saved bread pieces for dipping.  Supply knife for cutting more pieces out of bread for dipping.

     

    Quick Stuffed Mushrooms: Small button mushrooms (as many as you're wanting to make) + boxed/frozen Spinach Artichoke Dip  + Seasoned bread crumbs -- Pull stems from mushrooms (throw away or finely chop and use to stretch filling) then fill with thawed dip and top with bread crumbs.  Broil until crumbs turn golden/filling is hot.


    Spicy Fruity Cream Cheese Cracker Appetizer:  1 block of cream cheese topped with 1 jar of raspberry fruit spread mixed with one jar of red pepper jelly - serve with crackers - YUM!!!

     
    You asked about desserts?  Fill store bought pie crusts with the following filling.  Very easy and thickens up like magic!  Top with the crumble/crisp topping (further down).
     

    Stovetop Apple Pie Filling

    Ingredients

    • 4 medium apples (Granny Smith are best IMHO, but just avoid eating apples like Red Delicious)

    • 3 tablespoons water

    • 2 tablespoons butter

    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

    • 1/3 cup sugar

    • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cornstarch

    • 2 tablespoons water

    Instructions

    1. Peel, core and slice apples.

    2. Melt butter and cinnamon over medium heat. Stir in apples, sugar & 3 tablespoons water.

    3. Cover and cook stirring occasionally for 4-6 minutes or until very slightly softened.

    4. In a small dish combine cornstarch and water. Add to pan while stirring and continue to cook until apples are soft (not mushy) and filling is thickened. Let bubble 1 minute. Cool.

    Notes

    Some apples are juicier than others. If you would like your filling thicker, combine 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water. Add a little at a time while the mixture is boiling until you reach desired consistency.

     

    Crisp/Crumble Topping - Use over pies or over store bought pie filling spread in a pan to make an easy crisp/cobbler.  Serve with ice cream if desired.

     

    ¾ c. firmly packed brown sugar

    ½ c. flour

    ½ c. oats

    ¾ tsp cinnamon

    ¾ tsp nutmeg

    1/3 c. softened butter

    Cut the butter into the other ingredients with a pastry blender or two butter knives.  Sprinkle over pie filling - bake at 350 until crust is browning and topping is golden and filling piping hot!  30 minutes?
    • Like 3
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