Zesty Orange Cookie Cups

I found this recipe Wednesday in the commissary, right there in the holiday baking section. Doesn’t it look wonderful? I can’t wait until the FFA oranges come in and I try it. Be sure to check out all the recipes at tollhouse.com.

Zesty Orange Cookie Cups

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
2 cups al-purpose flour
2 cups (12-oz pkg.) NESTLE TOLL HOUSE PREMIER WHITE MORSELS
2 large eggs
1 can (14-oz.) NESTLE CARNATION SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
½ to ¾ teaspoon orange extract
1 tablespoon grated orange peel (1 medium orange)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 48 mini-muffin cups

Beat butter and sugar with wire whisk. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and orange extract. Spoon almost a measuring tablespoon of mixture into each muffin cup, filling about ¾ full.

Bake for 15-17 minutes or until centers are puffed and edges are just beginning to brown. Upon removing from oven, gently run knife around each cup.

While still warm, top each cup with 8 to 10 morsels (they will soften and retain their shape). Cool completely in pans on wire racks.

With tip of knife, remove cookie cups from muffin pans. Top with grated orange peel just before serving. Store in covered container in refrigerator.

Makes 48 cookie cups.

Triple Layer Chocolate Bars

This is another wonderful recipe from the folks at HERSHEY’S and EAGLE Brand. And it’s easy! And did I mention that it’s chocolate? Yeah. Perfect to take off from home or save for yourself.

Triple Layer Chocolate Bars

1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
½ cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa, divided
¼ cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 (14-oz.) can EAGLE BRAND Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon baking powder
¾ cup chopped nuts
2 cups (12-oz. package) HERSHEY’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine crumbs, ¼ cup cocoa, sugar and butter. Press firmly on bottom of 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

In large mixer bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk, flour, remaining ¼ cup cocoa, egg, vanilla and baking powder. Stir in nuts. Spread evenly over prepared crust. Top with chips.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Makes 24 to 36 bars.

Easy Karo Pecan Pie

I’m not sure it’s possible to have a holiday meal without Pecan Pie. At least not in the Deep South. It’s one of those staples we always see. Of course, that doesn’t mean that every Pecan Pie is good. This recipe is from a Karo advertisement a long time ago. Karo syrup makes a big difference in pecan pies so be sure to give this recipe a try.

Easy Karo Pecan Pie

3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup Karo light or dark corn syrup
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups pecan halves
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

In large bowl, stir together eggs, Karo syrup, sugar, margarine and vanilla until well blended. Stir in pecans. Pour into shell.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Cool.

Makes 8 servings.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Follow recipe for Easy Karo Pecan Pie. Melt 4 squares (1-oz. each) semisweet chocolate with margarine.

Heavenly Ambrosia

This recipe comes from the November 1990 Redbook magazine. Ambrosia is a favorite around our family table during the holidays.

Heavenly Ambrosia

1 fresh, ripe pineapple, 3 to 3 ½ lbs., peeled, cored and cut into about ten ½-inch slices, or one 20-oz. can sliced pineapple, drained
10 seedless oranges
2 large, firm, ripe bananas, about 1 lb., cut into ½-inch slices, about 1 ½ cups
1 ½ cups grated coconut, fresh or frozen, or one 3 ½-oz. can flaked coconut, toasted
¼ cup maraschino cherries, stemmed and halved

Place pineapple in large bowl.

Peel oranges with small sharp knife, removing orange skin and all white pith; slice thinly and add juice and all to bowl with pineapple.

Toss bananas, coconut and cherries gently but thoroughly with fruit in bowl.

Serve ambrosia in large, deep platter or bowl.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

To prepare fresh grated coconut, pierce “eyes” of one small coconut with ice-pick or nail; drain off and discard clear liquid. Bake coconut in preheated 375 degree oven about 20 minutes until shell cracks. Tap shell with hammer to loosen meat; tap hard to crack shell open. Remove coconut meat from shell; peel off brown skin with small sharp knife or vegetable peeler. Cut meat into 1-inch chunks; grate in food processor or with hand grater. Store unused coconut in airtight plastic bag in freezer up to 6 months.

To toast coconut, heat dry 12-inch skillet over medium heat; add coconut; cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently until golden. Cool before using.

Classic Baked Corn Pudding

This is another great recipe from Pillsbury. Doesn't it look delicious? I can't wait to give it a try.

The recipe calls for frozen corn but the folks at Pillsbury say you can use three 15.25-ounce cans of Green Giant® whole kernel corn, drained, instead of the frozen corn. Also, for a change of flavor, you can add 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves with the parsley. 

               

Classic Baked Corn Pudding

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2  teaspoon salt

1/2  teaspoon pepper

4  cups milk (1 quart)

6  eggs, slightly beaten

2  cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

2  bags (12 oz) Green Giant ® Valley Fresh Steamers™ Niblets® frozen corn, thawed, drained

1/2  cup chopped fresh parsley or 2 tablespoon parsley flakes

3/4  cup Progresso® plain bread crumbs

3  tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

 

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish or 3-quart casserole with cooking spray.

 In 4-quart Dutch oven, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until well blended. Stir in milk. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Gradually stir in eggs and cheese. Stir in corn and parsley. Pour into baking dish.

 In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and 3 tablespoons melted butter; sprinkle over corn mixture.

 Bake uncovered 55 to 65 minutes or until mixture is set and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

 

One serving is 260 calories.

Chocolate Lime Pie

This recipe comes from an old yellowed newspaper clipping. There’s just nothing quite like a chocolate pie unless, of course, you mix it with a little bit of lime. Yum!
This is a different version of a recipe I published earlier. Sometimes the best recipes are combinations of two favorites. I think I'll give it a try. Nothing like a taste test, don't you agree?

Chocolate Lime Pie

One 12-oz. can evaporated milk
One 3-oz. box lime gelatin
1 cup hot water
One 8-oz. package cream cheese
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Chocolate wafer crust

Chill evaporated milk thoroughly (it must be VERY cold).

Mix the gelatin and hot water. Chill until it is slightly thickened, or about the consistency of unbeaten egg whites.

Cream together the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Fold in thickened gelatin.

Whip the evaporated milk until stiff peaks form. Fold milk into the gelatin and cream cheese mixture.

Pour into chocolate cookie crust and chill thoroughly before serving.

Variation:

Substitute lemon gelatin and use a graham cracker crust.

Chocolate Wafer Crust

1 ½ cups chocolate wafer crumbs

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

Combine crumbs and butter until well mixed. Firmly press crumb mixture evenly over bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate.

Makes 1 pie crust.

Easy Pumpkin Mousse

This recipe comes from the December 1990 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. That magazine is still one of the best for providing wonderful recipes, especially at Christmas.

Easy Pumpkin Mousse

1 16-oz. can solid-pack pumpkin
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 ½ cups heavy or whipping cream
Chocolate curls for garnish

About 30 minutes before servings:

In large bowl, stir pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat heavy or whipping cream until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into pumpkin mixture.

Spoon mixture into six 8-oz. glasses. Garnish with chocolate curls.

Makes 6 servings, about 325 calories per serving.