Stained Glass Gingerbread Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

3-1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. all spice
1/2 t. cinnamon
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 t. water
9 cinnamon hard candies, crushed in food processor

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all dry ingredients; set aside.
Mix together butter and sugar until creamy.
Gradually add molasses and water alternately with flour mixture.
Divide into 6 equal portions wrapping in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate overnight.

Roll out dough to 1/4" thickness on a floured surface.
Cut out using an cookie cutter about 3"- 4". I like to use apple-shaped.
Place on foil-lined cookie sheet or use Silpat baking pads for ease in removing the cookies.
With a smaller cookie cutter about 2" - 3" cut out the center of each cut-out and place on a regular cookie sheet - no need to line the center cookies.

Fill the center of the apples with crushed cinnamon candies being careful not to spill outside the outer edge.

Bake in a pre-heated 375 oven for 5-6 minutes until candies melt in center.

Allow cookies to cool before removing to wax paper.

Makes 3 - 4 dozen.

Posted by Debi

Photo Credit: kitchensimplicity.com

Pumpkin Dip

INGREDIENTS:

2-8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
1-30 oz. can pumpkin pie filling
1 t. ginger
2 t. cinnamon
4 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients together and serve in a hollowed out pumpkin. Great with ginger snaps or these gingerbread cookies.

Makes a lot, so you can use it all during the holidays.

Posted by Debi

Photo by Calee on Food.com

Big Mama's Cornbread Stuffing

INGREDIENTS:

Aunt Jemima self-rising buttermilk corn meal
Pepperidge Farms herbed stuffing mix, small
1 stick of butter
3 onions, chopped
6 celery stalks, chopped
3 eggs
32 oz. box of chicken broth + more as needed
16 oz. bulk pork sausage
1 T. Sage
Salt and Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Make 9 x 9 pan of cornbread according to package directions. Let it cool completely, then break it up into crumbs in a large bowl. Add herbed stuffing mix, sage, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

In large skillet brown the sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. In same skillet saute' onions and celery until tender. Add to cornbread mixture along with sausage and stir. Whisk eggs in separate bowl and add to cornbread mixture. Stir with your hands to thoroughly mix adding chicken broth a ladle at a time. The goal is to reach a consistency like thick oatmeal.

Pour into a 13 x 9 greased pan. Bake at 400 degrees for an hour to an hour and a half until browned and cooked through. If you make a day ahead, pour an additional cup of broth over the stuffing before baking.

Posted by Debi

Photo Credit: allfreecasserolerecipes.com