Cranberry Salsa Dip with Cream Cheese

My friend Donna made this dip for our New Years Eve party.  This is one of those dips that some will like a lot and others won't like at all.  I am posting it because I think it is awesome.  I love the ginger flavor in the cranberries.  It is very unique, tasty and very addicting if you like the flavor combo!  -Kristin

This recipe is so good! I made it with 1 T. of ginger and thought it was perfect because I'm not the hugest ginger fan but if you are then go for it!-Sarah

1 (12-ounce bag) or 3 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup minced green onions
2 small (approximately 2 tablespoons) jalapeno peppers cored, seeded and minced (optional)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced
2 tablespoons finely-grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese

1/8 cup sugar

Wheat Thin crackers to serve with

• Rinse, drain, and pick over cranberries, (discarding all that are soft or bruised). Place them in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped but not mushy. 

• Place crushed cranberries in a bowl; mix together with green onions, jalapeno peppers, sugar, cilantro leaves, ginger, and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours so flavors develop (salsa will be too sharp and tart to begin with).

• Mix together the cream cheese with the sugar and spread over the bottom of a pie plate.

• When the salsa is ready place that over top of the cream cheese and serve with crackers.

Hot Spinach Dip

I got this recipe from Taste of Home.  It is awesome!  I made it for a Christmas Eve party and everyone loved it.  The bacon in there makes it incredibly delicious!  You can serve this in a bread bowl to be fancy or just put in a baking dish.  The original recipe calls for just a one pound loaf of bread...but, I served it with an extra one and we ate about half of it.  The original recipe also states that fat free cream cheese and mayo do not work well with this recipe.  Also, the original recipe says to broil the bread cubes and I did not, we liked the bread soft.  -Kristin

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened 

1 cup mayonnaise 

1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese 

1 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled 

1/4 cup chopped onion 

1 teaspoon or more of dill weed 

1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced 

2 round, 1 pound loaves of rye or sourdough bread, unsliced

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and mayonnaise until blended. Stir in the spinach, cheese, bacon, onion, dill and garlic; set aside.
• Cut a 1-1/2-in. slice off top of bread; set aside. Carefully hollow out bottom, leaving a 1/2-in. shell.
• Fill bread shell with spinach dip; replace top. Place any dip that doesn't fit in shell in a greased baking dish. Wrap bread in heavy-duty foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until dip is heated through. Cover and bake additional dip for 40-45 minutes or until heated through. Open foil carefully. Serve dip warm with vegetables and reserved bread cubes. 
  

Grandma's Brown Bread

This is one of my favorite sweet breads.  My grandma always served this brown bread around the holidays.  I think of her every time I make it :)  -Kristin

1 rounded full cup of raisins
2 cups water

• Boil 10 minutes and then let cool.  When the raisins are almost cooled add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons molasses
1 egg
3 Tablespoons melted shortening or butter (her original recipe calls for lard)
1 cup sugar
2 3/4 cup flour

• Grease loaf pans and bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.

Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies

This is an amazing whole wheat cookie recipe that has become my favorite!  This is a recipe from my friend Janice.  She made them for a Christmas party we went to and they were a hit.  The have a hint of orange in them that make them very addicting.  -Kristin

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon grated orange peel
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

cinnamon sugar mixture to roll them in

• Combine the butter, sugar, egg, milk, vanilla and orange peel.
• Sift next 5 ingredients and then add to the creamed mixture.
• Shape into 1 inch balls and then roll into the cinnamon/sugar mix.
• Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Whole Wheat Morning Glory Muffins

I am a huge fan of morning glory muffins, this recipe is my favorite.  I put a couple of recipes together and came up with these...they are awesome!  -Kristin

1/2 cup raisins
2 cups whole wheat flour, traditional or white whole wheat
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups carrots, peeled and grated
1/3 c. crushed pineapple
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup wheat bran or germ, optional
3 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable or coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup pineapple or orange juice 

•  In a small bowl, cover the raisins with hot water, and set them aside to soak while you assemble the rest of the recipe.
•  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, spices, and salt.
•  Stir in the carrots, crushed pineapple, coconut, nuts, and wheat germ or bran.
• In a separate bowl combine remaining ingredients.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and combine well.
• Spray muffin tins.  This recipe makes 18 muffins.  Bake at 375 for 18-24 minutes or till done.

Cabbage Soup

This is a delicious cabbage soup recipe.  I love how easy it is.  My family loves this soup!  -Kristin

2 pounds ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups cut up potatoes
2 cups cut up carrots
4-6 cups chopped cabbage
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
6-8 cups beef broth
4-6 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown rice
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves

• Brown the beef and onion together.  Drain the grease.
• Add all the ingredients together in a large pot.  Add more broth or water depending on how thickyou like your soups.  Cover and simmer 2 hours or until the rice is tender.

Eggnog Mini Muffins

We love mini muffins at our house! I just can't resist trying all of the recipes I come across. I modified this from a recipe I found on the internet. They are awesome with the cinnamon sugar or without.-Sarah

1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 cup eggnog
1 1/3 cup flour
3/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. salt
melted butter
cinnamon sugar

• Combine wet ingredients with a whisk. 
• Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
• Scoop into 24 greased mini muffins cups. Bake at 350 degrees about 10 minutes. 
• Dip tops in melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.