Christmas Crispix

• 8 Cups Crispix
• 1 Cup (8 oz) slivered almonds
• 1 Cup coconut

Sauce:

• 1/2 Cup sugar
• 1/2 Cup Karo syrup
• 6 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp baking soda

Boil sugar, syrup and butter for 2 minutes until soft ball stage. Add vanilla and baking soda. Pour sauce over cereal mixture and mix well. Cover.

Popcorn Balls

• 3 cups sugar
• 1 cup vinegar (5%)
• 1/2 cup white corn syrup
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp food coloring
• 1 square margarine
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pan of Popcorn

Put sugar, vinegar, syrup, salt and food coloring into a pan. Cook to soft ball stage (240 degrees) until it barely holds together in a cup of cold water. Add margarine. Let melt and then add vanilla. Use clean spoon each time you stir. Add to pan of popcorn. Butter hands. Use cold water to dip fingers in while making balls.

Candy Cane Cookies

• 1 Cup soft shortening (may use 1/2 butter or margarine)
• 1 Cup confectioner's sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp red food coloring

Mix shortening, sugar, eggs and flavorings. Mix flour and salt. Stir in. Divide dough in half. Mix 1/2 with red food coloring. Roll into long, thin rolls. Twist with white dough rolled the same way. Shape into candy canes. Put on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9 minutes in 375 degree oven.

Christmas Ornaments... NOT to eat!

• 1 Cup Salt
• 2 Cups flour
• 1 Cup water

Blend salt and flour, adding water a little at a time. Knead dough 7-10 minutes until firm. Roll dough about 1/4" thick then use cookie cutters to cut out ornaments. Using a nail, make a hole in the top of each ornament for a thread. Using a fork, add a design pattern. Bake on a cookie sheet at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

THEME FOR DECEMBER

Just in time for the Christmas, this month's theme is
NEIGHBOR TREATS!
As always, continue to post any new recipes from the other month's themes at anytime and don't forget to vote for January's theme.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 med onion
3 garlic cloves (minced)
2 T oil
2 lbs chicken
28 oz can diced tomatoes
10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups beef broth
1 can tomato soup ( progresso tomato with basil is really good)
1 T cumin
1 tsp chili powder

Cook First four ingredients until chicken is cook through . Add remaining ingredients and cook for 1 hour on medium heat. I like this soup a bit creamier so I also add a can of evaporated milk. At the end of the cooking time, I thicken the soup with flour and water or cornstarch and water.
Serve with baked tortillas cut into strips or tortilla chips, grated cheese and sour cream.

Spicy Chili

I am all about easy and this is way too easy (kinda cheating)

Canned chili, however many that you want/need
1 can of Rotel (in the canned tomato section)
Spicy sausage browned
Sliced jalepeno's (however many desired)
Anything else that you want to add to it

Add everything and heat on med - low. It is perfect!

Melinda Harr

Baked Potato Soup

4 large baking potatoes (about 2-3/4 lbs)
2/3 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper (I use black)
6 cups milk
1 cup (8oz) sour cream
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Bake potatoes at 350 degrees for an hour, cool completely. Peel and cube. In a large saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat, whisk in sour cream. Add potatoes and green onions. Garnish with bacon and cheese.

Autumn Soup

2 lb ground beef
2 c chopped onion
6 c water
2 c cut up carrots
2 c diced celery
2 c cubed potatoes
4 tsp salt
2 tsp Kitchen Bouquet
1/2 tsp pepper
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp basil
2-28oz cans tomatoes (or 2 quarts canned)
salt to taste

Brown meat. Add onions and remaining ingredients. Boil and simmer 30 minutes until vegetables are tender. Makes 12 servings.

Creamy Black Bean Salsa Chicken

• 2 to 4 Boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can corn (drained)
• 1 can Black Beans (drained)
• 1 pkg. Taco seasoning
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

Place chicken in greased 3 1/2 to 5 quart slow cooker. Pour broth, salsa, corn, beans, and taco seasoning over chicken. Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours. Remove chicken and shred into pieces. Stir sour cream and cheese into sauce in the slow cooker. Add chicken back in. Serve over rice. (You can also put the mixture into flour tortillas to make them into more taco like meals.)

Tortilla Soup (White Chili)

• 3-4 cans Great Northern white beans (drained)
• 1 can green enchilada sauce
• 1 can green chilis
• 1 jar Pace picante sauce
• 1-2 small bags shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Throw everything into the crock pot. Cook for several hours. Serve with tortillas or tortilla chips.

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili

courtesy of :http://weight-watchers-points-recipes.blogspot.com

Prep Time: 5 minutes

1 onion, chopped
1 16-oz can black beans
1 16-oz can kidney beans
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
10 oz package frozen corn kernels
2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes w/chilies
1 packet taco seasoning
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
24 0z. (3) boneless skinless chicken breasts
chili peppers, chopped (optional)
chopped fresh cilantro

Combine beans, onion, chili peppers, corn, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder and taco seasoning in a slow cooker. Place chicken on top and cover. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred.

Cheese and Broccoli Soup

• 6 large carrots
• 1 medium cauliflower
• 1 head broccoli
• 3 quarts chicken broth
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes
• 3 cubes butter
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 large jar Cheese Whiz

Cut up veggies and simmer in broth for 25 minutes. Add bouillon cubes. In another pan melt butter. Add flour and stir until thick and bubbly. Add this to veggie pan. Once this is all stirred in add Cheese Whiz. Simmer until Cheese Whiz is melted.

Chicken Barley Soup

• 8 Cups water
• 2 cans Cream of Chicken
• 1 Cup carrots
• 1 Cup celery
• 1 onion
• 1/3 Cup Barley (quick cook)
  
• 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Boil chicken in 8 cups water until cooked. Shred chicken into bite sized pieces. Use the same water, add barley, Cream of Chicken, chopped carrots, celery and onion. Bring to a boil and stir. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Let sit for 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

THEME FOR NOVEMBER

Just in time for the cold season, this month's theme is
SOUP!
As always, continue to post any new recipes from the other month's themes at anytime and don't forget to vote for December's theme.