Gooey Chex Mix

Ingredients
1/2 box (7 cups) Rice Chex
1/2 box (7 cups) Golden Grahams
2 cups coconut
1 cup slivered almonds
3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup karo syrup

Notes / Directions
Stir Rice Chex, Golden Grahams, coconut, and almonds together in a large bowl. In a separate pat, melt butter, sugar, karo syrup on stove till it comes to a full boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove and pour on cereal mixture and stir. Eat out of the bowl, pour onto wax paper, put in little cups or bags...

~ Rachel

Christmas Traditions

Every Christmas Eve growing up we always had clam chowder, oyster crackers, stuffed celery, and crackers and cheese for dinner.  We pulled out our crystal wine glasses for eggnog and cherry 7up and our fine silver stemware (this is the only time of year that we use the glasses and stemware).  The dinner table was always simply but beautifully set with a vibrant red table cloth.  In the center of the table was a tall candle in a slender red vase with candle sticks on each side.  Every Christmas eve, we light the tall candle before dinner and then blow it out when it's time for bed.

After the beautiful dinner, we gather in the living room for Christmas stories and the opening of one gift (almost always new pajama pants made by mom).  Us kids always fell asleep, scattered around the floor, during the stories.

Then of course, Christmas day.  Santa always puts little boxes of cereal all over our Christmas tree :)

Up until this year, I thought these were just my little family's traditions!  But upon asking my grandma and aunts, it turns out that they do about the same thing too!  All these wonderful traditions that's I've known my whole life my dad experienced as a little boy as well.

Ice Cream Balls

Ingredients
Ice cream
Coconut
Nuts
Chocolate shavings 

Notes / Directions
Roll small balls (about the size of an egg) ice cream in several things such some in coconut, some in chopped, some in grated chocolate, etc, so that two or three different balls can be placed in the dessert bowl and topped with either hot fudge, strawberries, carmel sauce, or whatever.

~ Bev

Chocolate Silk Pie

(Either use a small 8” pie crust or 1 1/2 times or even double for a bigger crust)
 
Ingredients
3/4 c sugar
5 Tbsp butter
2 squares unsweetened chocolate (melted, total 2 oz)
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
Lightly sweetened whipped cream
Shaved unsweetened chocolate

Notes / Directions
Cream sugar and butter in small bowl. Add melted chocolate and vanilla. Beat til smooth. Add
1 egg and beat at high speed for 5 minutes. Add second egg and again beat for 5 minutes.
Chill several hours or overnight. Just before serving, garnish with whipped cream and shaved
chocolate. Use regular 8” pie crust. (I definitely prefer a coconut crust with this recipe!)

~ Su

Kleven’s Heaven Buttermilk Syrup

Ingredients

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. buttermilk

3/4 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. almond extract

Notes / Directions

Combine butter, buttermilk, and sugar.  Melt on medium heat until it starts to boil, stirring occasionally.  When all is melted and just  boiling, remove from heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda.  It will foam up so start with a bigger saucepan.  Stir in almond extract.  Serve.

~ Kim

Vichyssoise

Ingredients
3 cups peeled sliced potatoes
3 cups sliced white part of leek (or onions)
1 ½ quarts chicken broth
1 cup whipping cream or half and half

Notes / Directions
Simmer vegetables in chicken broth til done. Puree in blender. Stir in 1 cup whipping cream (or
half and half). Season. Serve hot or cold. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley.

~ Su

Italian Chowder

Ingredients
6-8 chicken bouillon + 2 c. boiling water
6 c. chopped zucchini
3 c. chopped onion
16 oz. can stewed tomatoes (drain & chop)
1/3 c. fresh parsley
3 Tbsp. butter
6 Tbsp. flour
2 1/2 c. milk
1 c. half and half
1/2 lb. cheddar cheese
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
1/2 c. water
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. basil
2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1 can corn
 
Notes / Directions
Add vegetables to boiling water and bouillon, and simmer until tender. Make a roux with butter
and flour. Gradually stir in milk with whisk. Add to vegetables. Add all other ingredients. If
chowder is too thick, add milk and water. If too thin, thicken with cornstarch. Can substitute any
of the following vegetables: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, potato.

~ Kim