New Year's Eve Ideas!

The idea of celebrating New Year's Eve out at some over-hyped, over-priced, overly loud party is not my idea of a good time, not to mention trying to find a sitter for that night is like trying to get your broken filling fixed on said holiday weekend...it's just not going to happen.

Cabbage Rolls

Rather than going out on the town New Year's Eve, we prefer to stay in, invite a few friends or family over, and celebrate the New Year in a much milder manner than most.  (Say that 5 times fast!)

Cheesy Sausage Muffins

I've included a few recipes here that looked especially appropriate to serve as appetizers and family fodder for our little New Year's Eve/Birthday Party come Saturday Night.  I have to keep the menu kid-friendly and adult-tempting as we will have plenty of both at our house.  (I think I nailed it.)

Crock Pot Italian Meat Balls

So if your ringing in the new year includes staying home and celebrating, I tempt you to try one of these recipes or hang out at Annie's Recipes for a bit because I know you will find something tasty to add to your New Year's Eve buffet.  We love feedback and pictures submitted of your recipe results.  Happy New Year!

New Year's Resolutions? Not Yet!

No need to set about making New Year's resolutions just yet...not with so many wonderful recipes to try at Annie's.  (Unless of course your New Year's resolution is to try 5 new recipes a week from our site.  Then I can deal with that!)

I've compiled a couple of recipes that would make great dishes to take to a New Year's Celebration or to have    for a quiet evening at home watching the ball drop in Times Square.  Whichever your partying capacity or speed, these tasty treats will ring in your New Year with a solid "YUM!"

Enjoy and submit pictures of your results if you try one of our recipes.  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Zucchini Brownies

Two Layer Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Tomato Soup Cake

Angels We Have Heard...

On high...have brought some great recipes down to Earth for us to try!  We have plenty of heavenly recipes that will add an angelic taste to your holiday spread at Annie's Recipes.  Enjoy a little bit of melt-in-your-mouth delight and share them with your family, friends, loved ones and neighbors.

Earn your wings with these fluffly foods!  Happy Holidays!  (We'll all start running January 2nd!)

Angel Cream Biscuits

Angel Food Cake

Cashew Sugar Cookies

Here We Go A Wassailing...

And when we get home we want something yummy to eat!  If you know anything about wassailing (think caroling with a funny name and more chit-chat!) you know that it can be a chilly practice!

A fun and frolicking activity (and caroling's predecessor), wassailing has long been practiced among neighbors and kin alike as a means of giving blessings, hospitality and warm holiday wishes to each other in the form of singing and/or visiting.  (There's your fun Christmas fact for the day!)

So, whether you are 1. receiving wassailers, carolers or neighbors and need something to warm their throats and tummies or 2. busy wassailing to your favorite folks' homes and need a tasty treat waiting to warm you at home...these delicious Amish recipes maybe the answer to your cold weather wassailing wishes!

Enjoy!  Don't forget to submit a photo of your results to our site, as we love to see what's cooking in your kitchens!

Amish Bread Pudding

Amish Funnel Cake

Amish Sour Cream Apple Pie

More Ideas for Christmas Morning!

We haven't yet run out of delicious ideas to help you and your family celebrate Christmas morning.  Whether you have a house full of early risers or some late sleepers, one of our recipes is sure to be a crowd pleaser.  And, if you don't find something here at the blog that tempts your cooking creativity, head over to our site where we have plenty of holiday recipes just waiting for your kitchen.

So, whether you will be serving lumberjack breakfast at 6 A.M. or a casual Christmas brunch at 11 A.M., try adding one of our delectable eatables to your kitchen repertoire for the holidays.  Remember to submit a picture of your results to our site, because we love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Raisin Bread French Toast

Pa Dutch Batter Fried Apples

Cranberry Streusel Muffins

What's Cookin' for Christmas Breakfast?

Christmas and the holiday season are full of opportunities for starting and enjoying so many wonderful family traditions.  One of my favorites is breakfast with my husband and children on Christmas morning.  We have a large extended family on both sides and that keeps us busy hopping from holiday party to holiday party.

But on Christmas morning, we save for just the four of us.  The boys get up early and squeal and open presents, we take a gazillion photos like the goofy parents we are, and then my husband and I make a special Christmas breakfast.  We change it up a little every year because we have yet to find a "signature" Christmas morning menu, and it is fun to experiment.

Do you have any special Christmas morning breakfast favorites or dishes that you make every year, because your family demands it and it just won't be Christmas morning without ___________ (fill in the blank)?  If you don't have something specific in mind to fix for breakfast, or don't have a Christmas morning tradition...now is the time to start.  Here are some ideas just to get you thinking, and cookin'!

Apple Crunch Muffins

Bacon & Egg Casserole

Breakfast Pizza with Strawberries

Unique Christmas Cookies Come to Visit!

Back to our holiday baking, why not try one of our more unique Christmas cookies recipes?  If you have been using the same cookie recipes month after month, year after year...perhaps it's time to explore your cookie options!

Not everyone loves to bake cookies as much as me, I agree.  However, if you love trying new cookie flavors, or you just want to give your relatives and holiday guests something new to "chew on" give one of these recipes a go.  (You can always wrap them up and give them to the neighbors, if you face cookie mutiny!)

Please submit a picture of your results.  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Potato Chip and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Raisin Jumbles

Snowball Cookies

Easy Christmas Goodies For You!

Trending this 2011 Christmas season: simple and peaceful family holidays...We are completely on board with this one!  Finally, something we can fully support.  We've put together a few recipes that will keep your Christmas baking simple and your bank account peaceful.  And hopefully you will get some mouth-watering oohs and ahhs from your family as they sample your delectable delights!

Be sure to submit pictures of your results to our site.  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Brownies

No-Bake Rolled Oat Clusters

Bread Lovers Unite!

Great-grandma always made fresh bread, seriously, every week.  How do I know this?  She used to baby-sit my brother and I when we were very small.  And her house smelled wonderful.  That's what I remember most: pies, breads, Sourkraut, sausages...I digress.  Back to the bread...

Some great things about making and giving home-made bread loaves:  they are inexpensive, you can make up several at one time (double and triple batches), they make your home smell delicious, they are irresistible, and most of all they remind you of loved ones and special familial traditions.

Try one of these scrumptious and simple bread recipes this weekend.  Make up several if you like the way they turn out and give them as Christmas gifts.  Fresh baked bread loaves are a nice way to save money and still give a heartfelt thoughtful gift to people you love!  (Always tasty, always FREE!)

Please post a picture of your results at our site.  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Almond Chocolate Chip Bread

Banana Applesauce Bread

Cherry Pecan Bread

Ready, Set, Bake!

Have you started training for your Christmas Baking Marathon?  (Don't worry, I haven't either.)  As Christmas Day is just under 4 weeks away, I feel I must share a few pointers with you.  I come from a big family and that means we all get very creative when it comes to gift giving.  We tend to keep it simple and share baked goods, instead of spending money on store bought gifts.  (Hey, times are lean and I am frugal!)  Over at Anniesrecipes.com we have plenty of FREE recipes for you to add to your holiday baking list this year!

Please post a picture of your results at our site.  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Cashew Sugar Cookies

Chocolate Chip Caramel Drop Cookies

Lemon Drop Cookies

(Always FREE, always FUN!)

Another Year, Another Turkey!

Did you survive Thanksgiving dinner?  Hopefully most of us lived through the chaos that is making the side dishes, checking the turkey (not to mention getting up at like 5am to put the turkey in the roaster), mashing the taters, baking all the pies, playing hostess to a houseful of family and friends, and acting as stuffing sheriff.  Give yourself a high five for living to see another Thanksgiving come and go.  Now, what's for dinner?  It's gotta be something easy after the hustle and bustle of turkey day...Try one of these tasty recipes!  (The breakfast theme was purely unintentional.)  

Please submit a picture of your results to our site.  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Bacon & Egg Casserole

Bagel Scramble Sandwich

Quiche with a Kick

Have We Got A Side For You!

Thanksgiving looms a whole two days away and many of us are scrambling to pull our menus together.  At Annie's Recipes, we have all kinds of delicious side dish suggestions to compliment your Thanksgiving Dinner.  Whether you are going traditional or whimsical this year, we have a recipe to suite you. 

Please remember to post your results at our website.  We love to see what's cooking in your kitchen!

Mandarin Lettuce Salad

Pasta with Garlic Roasted Broccoli

Taffy Apple Salad

Have You Hugged An Amish Person Today?

The Amish have a rich heritage of simple living and dedicated craftsmanship.  Whether sewing a quilt, working the land, or cooking up a scrumptious family meal, the Amish really know how to show their skills.  Try one of these hearty Amish recipes this winter with your family and serve up delicious...Amish-style! 

Please send us a picture of your results.  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Amish Chicken Casserole

Amish Oven Fried Chicken

Amish Pot Roast

Side Dishes Galore!

Turkeys and pilgrims and pumpkins, oh my!  With Thanksgiving Dinner only nine days away (yes only 9), that gives you about 5 days to finish up and revise the menu and head to the grocery store for last minute ingredients.  If you are like me you can't count the weekend because it's just as hectic as the week so leave yourself plenty of time to prepare!  Let Annie's help take the hectic out of your menu planning by suggesting one of these tempting side dishes...

Baked Macaroni & Cheese Casserole

Pasta with Garlic Roasted Broccoli

Pumpkin Pasta with Pepitas

Remember to post a picture of your results on our website.  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchen!

Grateful For Delicious Desserts!

As the countdown begins to Thanksgiving Dinner, most of us are scurrying to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients for our holiday dinner menus and desserts.  Don't know what your menu is yet?  Don't panic!  Stay calm!  And visit our website!  We have plenty of ideas for gratefully simple dishes your family and friends will enjoy and rave about.  Try out one of these this week!  (Don't forget to submit a picture of your results to our website if you try a recipe!  We love to see what's cookin' in your kitchens!)

Apple Crisp

Carrot Cake With Lemon Cheese

Peach Cobbler Crumb Cake

It's Official! Thanksgiving is 3 weeks away!

Are you ready to plan your Thanksgiving dinner?  Or just need a new recipe to accent the holiday season at your family's next meal?  One of these delicious recipes is sure to please your taste-buds and your holiday budget!

Chocolate Chip Cake

Cucumber Salad

 

Crockpot Potato Soup

Enter Our November Giveaway!

Annie's Monthly Giveaway

This month, enter to win this EZ- Store Collapsible Party Carrier with Pie & Egg Trays, courtesy of our sponsor, Kid Smart Living!

Convenient and handy--this collapsible plastic party carrier is excellent for parties, storage, picnics and more! Use it to carry baked goods, smaller cakes, cookies, pies and even deviled eggs. This collapsible party carrier can hold two 9" pies or 24 deviled eggs and collapses down to conveniently store just half its size.

Non-skid base in tray prevents food from sliding around and top tray reverses from flat to hold 12 deviled eggs and bottom tray holds 12 eggs for a total of 24 eggs

• Dishwasher safe
• 13" Dia, 6.25" Tall Expanded, 3.6" Tall Collapsed
• 2.5" Depth of bottom tray
• Carries two 9" pies or one large meringue pie
• Made of polypropylene plastic
• Dishwasher safe

Rules: Must have a valid SHIPPING address in the continental U.S., 18 years or older. You may enter once per day. Entries will be accepted through midnight, CST on November 30th, 2011. Winner will be drawn at random and notified via email.  They will have 72 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be drawn.

MMM...I Smell Fall!

There is nothing quite like the scent of hot apple cider brewing and cobblers baking to remind you that Fall is here!  These dishes will add a welcome, inviting scent to your home. Try one of these delicious treats or head over to our website for even more Autumn and Thanksgiving recipes.

Batter Fried Apples

Peach Cobbler

Chili

Amish Cornbread

Chicken and Dumplings