Caramelized Onion & BBQ Quesadillas

This is one of our favorite uses for leftover chicken or shredded beef.
Ingredients:
1 onion, sliced
your favorite bbq sauce. We like Sweet baby Rays with these.
leftover meat, chicken or shredded beef
shredded cheese of your choice
whole wheat tortillas

The most time consuming part of this recipe is caramelizing onions which takes about 25-30 minutes. I start out with a little olive oil in a skillet at med-high heat. Add the onions and stir frequently. As they start to caramelize you can turn down the heat and add a little honey/sugar to increase the caramelization. Once they are done, set aside and let cool for a few minutes. You can even make these ahead and store in the fridge for a few days in advance.

Now it is time to build your quesadilla. Start with a tablespoon of bbq sauce. Then add your meat, cheese and caramelized onions. Cook in a skillet or quesadilla maker.

Peanut butter balls

Another holiday favorite! These are perfect to put in cute little bags and give away as gifts.
Ingredients:
1 lb powdered sugar
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 sticks butter, melted
1 cup peanut butter

Mix together and roll into small balls. I put in the freezer at this point to harden up a bit.

Chocolate coating
2 packages semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 package butterscotch chips.

Melt chips in microwave or double boiler. If you are using the microwave be very careful not to burn the chips. Stirring them frequently while melting is key. Once melted dip the frozen balls in chocolate sauce. I line baking sheets with wax paper and put them back in the freezer to harden once again. Once frozen you can bag them up. We like them frozen at our house but they are good room temp too!

Christmas sugar cookies

This is our family Christmas cookie recipe to make cut out cookies. Delicious! This year Abby and I made 3 double batches to share between us. 3 double batches of cookies covered my entire table and a large part of my counters!

Ingredients for 1 single batch:
1 cup crisco
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/4 t salt
1 t almond extract
1 t vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour

Roll small portions of dough on a floured surface. Cut with cookie cutters and bake 8-10 minutes at 350. I only roll out the dough twice so it doesn't get too tough.

Aunt Lynda's frosting
1 stick butter
1 cup crisco
2 T hot water
2 lbs powdered sugar
1 t salt
2 t vanilla
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Mix water, butter, crisco. Add half of the powdered sugar, then add salt and vanilla. Mix remaining powdered sugar and evaporated milk, alternately until frosting resembles whipped cream. 1 recipe of frosting is enough for 2 double batches of cookies. If you don't use all the frosting it does freeze really well.

Red Velvet Cake

This is a recipe that I have grown up with. It is a favorite at Christmas time and birthdays.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 bottle red food color
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
2 T cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/4 cups flour
1 t vinegar
1 t vanilla

Cream shortening, sugar, eggs. Add remaining ingredients alternating between dry and wet ingredients. Lastly, add vanilla, baking soda and vinegar. Bake at 350 for 28-30 minutes in 2 9 inch round pans. Cool completely on wire racks.

Buttercream frosting
3 T flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup milk
1 t vanilla

Cook flour and milk over medium heat until bubbly and thick. Do not boil. Let mixture cool completely in the refrigerator. Cream sugar, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Mix in the cooled milk/flour mixture. Now you are ready to frost!

Warning: This is what your two year old will look like if you let them help you make this!