Red Pepper Flake Seasoned Crackers {Jennifer's Recipe}

Red Pepper Flake Seasoned Crackers  are a sure way to  wow  your guest at any gathering.  I have been making these for years with oyster crackers, but in the last years, my daughter began to make them with saltine crackers, and her husband introduced the red pepper flakes. A perfect match to an already delicious cracker! When I take them somewhere, I have people so intrigued with these crackers.  They will take a bite and then ask, "how long do you bake them, and how much butter is in them?"  You almost want to keep them a secret....giggles.

Mince Cream Cheese Pie {aka Mincemeat Cheesecake Pie}

At Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are plenty of pies on the dessert table , but there is one that stands out to me, my Mincemeat Cheesecake Pie .  The traditional Mincemeat Pie is made with a double crust and filled with a homemade mincemeat. For years, I made a more traditional one with a boxed mincemeat that had to be softened in water, somewhat how you would plump up raisins in a recipe. In 1976, I came across this recipe for Mince Cream Cheese Pie in my Betty Crocker Cookbook and have been making it this way ever since for the Holidays.  This summer, I made another adaptation to this recipe using apples, Apple Cheesecake Pie . This cookbook is full of standout recipes I have made over the years.  Don't you just treasure this kind of cookbooks! 

Linzer Christmas Cookies

Linzer Cookies are Austria's most famous dessert.  Traditionally the cookies are made with almond flour, and the cookies are sandwiched together with a layer of jelly or jam.  The top cookie is dusted with powered sugar and has a cutout so the jam, typically raspberry,  is visible making them very decadent. Linzer Christmas Cookies are an embellished version of the real thing.  I make mine from my favorite sugar cookie recipe, sandwich them with seedless jam, and embellish them with drizzled white chocolate and sprinkles of coarse sugar, which makes them irresistible.

Inspirations and Thoughts #3

Classic Christmas music from my younger days...hope you enjoy! Join the fun here !

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Pie {My New Favorite}

This pie recipe is a twist on an old favorite cookie recipe.  It reminds me of the Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe you mix up almost the same ingredients as the cookie--- flour, brown sugar, butter, egg, and semi-sweet chocolate chips, and pour it in an iron skillet and bake.

Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole {Granny's Recipe}

Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole , bubbly, cheesy, rich and so very good.  The perfect old fashioned side dish that graces our table every gathering. This Broccoli-Cheese Rice Casserole goes way back.  In the 70's, it was on every dinner table as the star side dish .

Crusty Italian Bread {C-r-a-z-y Easy To Make}

Crusty Italian Bread is an easy homemade bread recipe made with two main ingredients, flour and yeast.  The rest is salt and water.  It has the perfect crust, crunchy and slightly chewiness.  And the inside is dreamy soft, and delightful!  All you want in a loaf of crusty bread. Making a Crusty Italian Bread doesn't have to be as pain laboring as I thought.   As soon as I saw this recipe over at Food For A Hungry Soul , I knew it would be my go-to crusty bread recipe too.  There is no kneading; you just mix all the ingredients, let it rise for four hours, shape it into loaves, and bake.  How c-r-a-z-y easy is that?