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