Illinoismom

pecan sandies Ingredients 2 cups butter, softened 1 cup confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons water 4 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups chopped pecans Additional confectioners' sugar Directions In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add water and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour; fold in pecans. Roll dough into 1-in. balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets and flatten with fingers. Bake at 300° for 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. When cool, dust with confectioners' sugar. Yield: about 5 dozen. Pumpkin Lasagna Ingredients 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms 1 small onion, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin 1/2 cup half-and-half cream 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves Dash pepper 9 no-cook lasagna noodles 1 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese Directions In a small skillet, saute the mushrooms, onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt in oil until tender; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin, cream, sage, pepper and remaining salt. Spread 1/2 cup pumpkin sauce in an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with three noodles (noodles will overlap slightly). Spread 1/2 cup pumpkin sauce to edges of noodles. Top with half of mushroom mixture, 1/2 cup ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles and sauce. Cover and bake at 375° for 45 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Yield: 6 servings.

Reindeer cookies Ingredients 1 package (17-1/2 ounces) peanut butter cookie mix 1/3 cup canola oil 1 egg 60 miniature pretzels 60 semisweet chocolate chips 30 red-hot candies Directions In a large bowl, beat the cookie mix, oil and egg until well combined. Shape into a 7-1/2-in. roll; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using thumb and forefinger, make a slight indentation one-third of the way down the sides of each slice. Press in pretzels for antlers, chocolate chips for eyes and a red-hot for the nose. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until light brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

candy cane cookies Ingredients 1/2 tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring Directions In a large bowl, beat the cookie dough, flour and extract until smooth. Divide dough in half; mix food coloring into one portion. Shape 1 teaspoon of white dough into a 6-in. rope. Shape 1 teaspoon of red dough into a 6-in. rope. Place ropes side by side; press together lightly and twist. Place on an ungreased baking sheet; curve top of cookie to form handle of cane. Repeat with remaining dough, placing cookies 2 in. apart on baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool for 2 minutes before carefully removing to wire racks. Yield: 3 dozen. bread pudding Ingredients 12 slices cinnamon bread, crusts removed 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 2 cups half-and-half cream 1 cup milk 4 eggs 3/4 cup sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions Cut bread in half diagonally. Arrange half of the slices in a single layer, overlapping if necessary, in an ungreased shallow 2-qt. microwave-safe dish. Drizzle with half of the chocolate; top with remaining bread. In a 1-qt. microwave-safe bowl, combine the cream and milk; microwave, uncovered, on high for 2-4 minutes or until hot but not boiling. In a small bowl, beat eggs; add sugar. Add a small amount of cream mixture; mix well. Return all to the larger bowl; stir in vanilla. Pour over bread; drizzle with the remaining chocolate. Cover and microwave at 50% power for 9-11 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, rotating a half-turn one (mixture will be puff up during cooking). Uncover and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve warm or cold. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 6-8 servings. mincemeat cookies Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 1-1/2 cups sugar 3 eggs 3-1/4 cups prepared mincemeat 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped pecans FROSTING: 1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar 3/4 cup butter, cubed 1 cup confectioners' sugar 6 tablespoons half-and-half cream 1 teaspoon rum extract 9 dozen pecan halves Directions In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs. Add mincemeat; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in pecans. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 14-16 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. For the frosting, combine the brown sugar and butter in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 6-8 minutes, stirring twice, or until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add the confectioners' sugar, cream and extract; beat until smooth. Frost the cookies; top each with a pecan half. Yield: 9 dozen Festive Mint Cream Dessert Recipe Ingredients 3/4 cup butter, divided 1 package (16 ounces) chocolate cream-filled sandwich cookies, crushed 8 cups mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened 1-1/2 cups milk chocolate chips X Featured sponsor Bake Some Love with Nestlé® Nothing says “I love you” like fresh baked Nestlé® Toll House® chocolate chip cookies. Who would you bake some love for? Visit tollhouse.com to be inspired by real baking stories, recipes, tips and more! 1 cup confectioners' sugar 3/4 cup evaporated milk 1 carton (16 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed Chocolate syrup and red and green sprinkles, optional Directions In a microwave, melt 1/2 cup butter. Stir in cookie crumbs. Press into a 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Freeze for 30 minutes or until firm. Spread ice cream over crust; return to the freezer until firm. In a large saucepan, combine chocolate chips, confectioners' sugar, milk and remaining butter. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until thickened. Cool to room temperature. When cool, spread over ice cream; return to freezer until firm. Spread whipped topping over ice cream (dish will be full). Cover and freeze for until firm or overnight. Remove from the freezer 15-20 minutes before serving. If desired, drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with sprinkles. Yield: 24 servings. Cinnamon Candy Popcorn Recipe Ingredients 8 quarts popped popcorn 1 cup butter, cubed 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1 package (9 ounces) red-hot candies Directions Place popcorn in a large bowl; set aside. In a large saucepan, combine the butter, corn syrup and candies; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour over popcorn and toss to coat. Transfer to two greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans. Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from pans and place on waxed paper to cool. Break apart; store in airtight containers. Yield: 8 quarts. Candy Strawberries Recipe http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/exps4684_CT0720C41.jpg Ingredients 1-1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts 1-1/2 cups shredded coconut 3 packages (3 ounces each) strawberry gelatin 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup water 6 to 8 drops green food coloring 3/4 cup slivered almonds 1/3 cup each red and green decorator's sugar Directions In a bowl, combine walnuts, coconut and gelatin. Stir in milk and vanilla; mix well. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, combine water and green food coloring; add almonds. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until almonds are deep green. Drain and let dry on paper towels. Using rounded teaspoonfuls of dough, form into strawberry shapes. Roll sides in red sugar; dip top end into green sugar. Insert an almond in the top for a stem. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. Yield: about 9 dozen.

Italian christmas cookies Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 2 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 carton (15 ounces) ricotta cheese 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda FROSTING: 1/4 cup butter, softened 3 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 to 4 tablespoons milk Colored sprinkles Directions In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in ricotta and vanilla. Combine flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. In a bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add enough milk until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Frost cooled cookies and immediately decorate with sprinkles. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 8-1/2 dozen. since we don't do meat Christmas eve here is one that every one loved Ingredients 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 1/4 cup butter, cubed 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 cup milk 1 cup half-and-half cream 2 cups cooked long grain rice 1 cup chopped cooked peeled shrimp 1 cup crabmeat, drained, flaked and cartilage removed 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon chopped pimientos 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided Directions In a small saucepan, saute onion in butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until blended. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in the rice, shrimp, crab, water chestnuts, lemon juice, pimientos, parsley and 1/2 cup cheese. Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Yield: 6 servings.

Italian staple and since no one here can make a true one, I make them myself Cannoli Shells 3 cups of sifted all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon of sugar 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon 3/4 cup of port Salad oil or shortening for deep-frying 1 egg yolk, slightly beaten Sift flour with sugar and cinnamon onto a board. Make a well in center and fill with port. With a fork, gradually blend flour into port. When dough is stiff enough to handle, knead about 15 minutes, or until dough is smooth and stiff (if too moist and sticky, knead in a little more sifted flour). Refrigerate dough, covered for 2 hours. In deep-fat-fryer, electric skillet, or heavy saucepan, slowly heat salad oil (3-4 inches deep), to 400ºF. on deep-frying thermometer. Meanwhile, on lightly floured surface, roll 1/3 of dough to paper thinness, making a 16 inch round. Cut into 8 (5 inch) circles. Wrap a circle loosely around a 6 inch long Cannole form or dowel, 1 inch in diameter; seal with egg yolk. Gently drop dough-covered forms, 2 at a time, into hot oil and fry 1 minute, or until lightly browned on all sides (turn if necessary). With tongs or slotted utensils, lift out of oil, and drain on paper towels. Carefully remove forms. Continue until all dough is used. Cannoli shells can be made a day or two ahead and stored, covered, at room temperature. Fill shell about hour before serving. Makes 24. Filling: 3 pounds of ricotta cheese 2 1/2 cups of confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate pieces or grated sweet chocolate 2 tablespoons of chopped citron 10 candied cherries, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon Chopped pistachio nuts (optional) Confectioners' sugar In a large bowl, with portable electric mixer, beat ricotta cheese 1 minute. Add 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar and beat until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Add chocolate, citron, cherries, cinnamon; beat at low speed until well blended. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Fill shell with mixture and garnish ends with pistachios; sprinkle tops with confectioners' sugar.

thats why you love me

let the whining begin. I didn't win I didn't win.

Mom's with children donot bother me. Pregnant women don't bother me. hell nothing bothers me if it was ment to be it will be

you didn't see it because he or she edited their post and removed that comment

OkAY I did three of the four, I didnt do the one that I won with last year http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/IMG_6940.jpg Mississippi river between Iowa and Illinois http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/IMG_6941.jpg Arsenal Island and lock and dam 14 http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/IMG_6942.jpg Adler theater http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/IMG_6943.jpg Modern woodman ball park http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/IMG_6944.jpg Modernwoodman ball park http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/1024091548.jpg kohls http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/1024091727.jpg Faarm and fleet

I don't do well finding good buys as I am not a reg Target shopper. Although yesterday I did find 2 timex watches for stocking stuffers for 3.24 a piece and some earings for 1.24 each

why is it people want to change behavior at Christmas, If you haven't done it all year why do it at Christmas.Why punish children at what is suppose to be the most exciting time of the year. I never get that

for a little girl you could start with a holiday barbie every year

nothing

I keep a binder with every ones list, the ads, the reciepts. On a each childs page I write what I bought plus the cost and keep a running total. I then the following year move everything to a large envelope

any thing rudolph, snowman, christmas salt and pepper shakers, santa's snowmen, angels and hallmark dated ornaments, snow globes http://illinoischristmas2007.tripod.com/index.html http://illinoismomof4.tripod.com/index.html

My two cents, I own to HP lap tops one was the walmart one from 4 years ago, one is pavilion, I have had zero trouble with niether of them, we own 1 toshbia that was junk, one that my son loves and we have a dell. each one has their advantages and each have their disavantages. You have to decide what you want. I use an external hard drive to store all my photos and we have a lot. My very first computer was an acer and from that experiance I tend to shy away from acers.

stocks, oneshare.com

I have one the tommy 20 gun, boy was that a pita

My Hp laptop from Walmart, the 2 portable dvd players, the tv combo, the 19 inch tv's the flat screen monitor, the gizzilion dvd's Ive bought.

I whined but he finally did a contest I could win and I did. Love my shirt. I am prepared to whine again and have fun playing

What I want to know is why you would come on a forum like this being a new member and post garbage to incite people and you knew that was going to happen. Black Friday has always been known as the beginning of the HOLIDAY SEASON. Not the beginning of the Christmas Season. And I believe you are wrong on people shopping for Christmas are the biggest spenders. Show me the statistics that prove what you are trying to preach here.

wow, Do you have problems with other religions, Hanukah is a celebration as is Christmas. are you that one dimentinal that you cannot see this. If happy holiday's bothers you then tell people Merry Christmas. Our schools have Holiday Party's as not to offend other religions. So what is wrong with a 30 foot Menorah If I remember right Jesus was Jewish and celebrated Hanukah. It's a Holiday season just enjoy it and enjoy with family as you never know when you will be alone and have no family left to celebrate with.

Wow lots of fights, We go to a 24- hour walmart at about 1:15 AM, I buy 2 dz donuts and give them out to the employees working. I help people find what they need as I have a crew that stands by what I am wanting to get. One year after we were done with walmart and went to TRU I don't go there very often but it was the year of the transformer. I sent my son to go stand in line and my older daughter was helping my mother in law find what she was looking for. I scored 2 transformers and made my way back to my son who was snaking around the store in the check out line. While in line there were two ladies in front of us who had thier items and we were chit chating, They realized they didn't have several items they went there for, So my two daughters and I went around the store gathering what they wanted so they wouldnt have to get out of line. Now when we brought that stuff back there were other people who were close to us in the line and asked us would we mind going to get things for them. This makes for a great black friday experiance. It helps my children learn the meaning of helping people even if it's in a black friday cashiers line. Also do I get to whine this year till I win a prize. That was the highlight of my year last year to wear my shirt with pride in the mist of an awful bad year.

good deal more presents gone