We went to a friend’s house Friday night to eat dinner and play the Wii.  There were 3 couples there and we all brought food and had Fajitas will ALL the fixins!   My friend Amy brought this cheese dip and it was AWESOME!!!  I ate way too much of it, but it was just too good not to!  It’s called Texas Best Cheese Dip and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the recipe!  I can’t wait to make it!!

Texas Best Cheese Dip

Printable Version: Texas Best Cheese Dip

Ingredients

• 1 lb Velveeta Mexican Cheese (original will do just fine, too)
• 12 ounces cream cheese
• 1 can ro-tel
• 1 bunch green onions, tops only, chopped (to taste), optional
• 1-2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped (to taste)
• 2-3 fresh garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped (to taste)
• black pepper, cracked

Directions

Melt cheeses together in microwave or on stove top.  Stir in all other ingredients.   Serve warm with tortilla chips.  (You can put cheese dip in a crock pot and keep on warm to keep cheese dip from getting sticky.)

Baking for others is one of my favorite things to do during the holidays. I enjoy making treats for others because they know it comes from the heart. I have always enjoyed baking (desserts mostly) and have always found it so much fun to make all kinds of goodies and wrap them in cute gift bags using fun ribbons and gift tags for friends and family as gifts. The recipe I am about to share with you is my all-time favorite thing to make during the holidays. It is SO simple to make…..and VERY, VERY good (if I do say so myself)!!
My secret fudge…. I know, it’s not much of a secret if I’m sharing the recipe with all of you, but the source of my recipe is a secret….because if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me!

Ok, ok, you twisted my arm….I’ll tell you. I found it on the back of a marshmallow cream jar!! : ) I TOLD you, you wouldn’t believe me!! It may be from the back of a marshmallow cream jar, but you have never tasted better fudge. Or found fudge that was easier to make!

I have many variations to my fudge; plain fudge, fudge with nuts, peanut butter and chocolate fudge (tastes even better than a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup if you can imagine that!), white chocolate fudge, you get the picture. And it so easy to make all of these variations of flavors because this fudge is make with chocolate chips! And these days, you can find all kinds of flavored chocolate chips which you can turn in to fudge!
Now, on to the recipe….

Sunshine’s “Secret” Fudge

Printable Recipe: Sunshine’s “Secret” Fudge

Ingredients:

• 3 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup margarine
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 12-oz. package chocolate chips (or whatever flavor chocolate chips you desire: peanut butter, white chocolate, mint, etc)
• 1 7-oz. jar Kraft Marshmallow Cream
• 1 cup chopped nuts, optional
• 1tsp. Vanilla

Directions:

Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly (and you have to stir constantly or it will burn, trust me!). Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate till melted. Add marshmallow cream, nuts (if desired) & vanilla; beat until blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.

**To make layered fudge (like peanut butter and chocolate, I usually make one batch of each flavor and split it in to two 9X13 pans. Make one flavor first (ex: peanut butter) pour it in to the two pans. Let that layer cool while you make the next batch (I usually put it in the fridge). Make the next batch with the other flavor (ex: choc.) and pour it on top. This way they will not mix in to each other and get all messy.

See, it couldn’t be easier and everyone is SURE to love it! It’s always the go-to holiday recipe for me. I hope you enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!

Looking for something to tide the family over until Christmas dinner?  This will do it!  This is quick and easy and something the whole family will love!

Pull Apart Coffee Cake

Printable Version: Pull Apart Coffee Cake

Ingredients

Need to take a treat to a Christmas party but don’t have enough time to be in the kitchen forever making something?  This little recipe is perfect if you don’t have lots of time.  Throw the ingredients in the crock pot and that’s it!

Crock Pot Candy

Printable Version: Crock Pot Candy

Ingredients

1 (16oz) jar dry roasted peanuts unsalted
1 (16 oz) jar dry roasted peanuts salted
1 (12 oz) pkg chocolate chips
1 (4oz) bar German Chocolate broken into pieces
3 lbs (2 packages) white almond bark broken into pieces

Directions

Place ingredients in a crock pot in the order listed. Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours. Turn off crock pot and let cool slightly, maybe 5 minutes. Mix thoroughly and drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper and let cool completely.  Makes approx. 80 treats.

There’s a million things you can make with white and chocolate candy coating (or bark, as some people call it).  It’s very easy to make a simple, yet yummy snack or dessert.  During the holidays I probably use about 20 pounds of this stuff!  I use it for oreo balls, chocolate covered pretzel rods, peppermint bark, ritz treats, you name it!  A new creation I found to make with chocolate bark is this Creamy Almond Bark.  It not only uses this yummy white candy coating, but sweetened condensed milk…another favorite!

Creamy Almond Bark

Printable Version: Creamy Almond Bark

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds vanilla-flavored candy coating (or almond bark)
• 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk 
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups (about 1 pound) whole almonds, toasted*

To add a sweet little twist, you can add dried cranberries or blueberries!  I’ve had it with the cranberries and love it!

You can also use chocolate bark rather than the white chocolate.  It’s great, too!

Directions

Melt candy coating, sweetened condensed milk and salt in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in almond extract, then almonds.
Spread evenly into wax paper-lined 15 x 10-inch jellyroll pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm.
Turn onto cutting board. Peel off paper; cut into triangles or squares. Store leftovers tightly covered at room temperature.

Microwave Method
Combine candy coating, sweetened condensed milk and salt in 2-quart glass measure. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) 3 to 5 minutes, stirring after each 1 1/2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Proceed as above.
**To toast almonds, spread in single layer in heavy-bottomed skillet. Cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until nuts are lightly browned. Remove from skillet immediately. Cool before using.

Congratulations, Alison!! You are the winner of the Sweet ‘n Salty by Design Giveaway!  Keep an eye on your mailbox, you should be receiving it soon!

Thank you to everyone that entered!  Be on the lookout….there are more great giveaways to come!

Bianca from Sweet N Salty by Design sent me a package of their “The Design Half-Dozen” pretzels last week. I hate to say it, but I was only able to try ONE out the the whole package….my husband ate the other FIVE! I looked at him and told him HE should be the one to tell you guys what Sweet N Salty pretzels taste like! He told me to tell you they were good, otherwise he wouldn’t have eaten all of them!  Quite the comic, isn’t he!

I got to try the one with the mini m&m’s. It was quite good. I sure wish I could tell you what the others tasted like : )

Sweet N Salty has a variety of pretzels and goodies available on their website.  As the holidays are approaching, you will definitely want to check them out. Anyone would be glad to get this as a gift!

During the month of December, Sweet N Salty by Design is offering 10% off all orders for Make Life Delicious readers! Just enter Coupon Code MLD10 at checkout and you will receive 10% off your entire order! This offer is good until December 31, 2009.

As if that wasn’t enough, Sweet N Salty by Design is also sponsoring a giveaway for one of their The Design Half-Dozen pretzel packages!

To enter to win this yummy pretzel package, just leave a comment telling me about one of your favorite holiday traditions.

The Salty N Sweet giveaway ends Sunday, December 6.  The winner will be contacted by email and will have 24 hours to claim their prize.  Good luck!

These little pieces of heaven are about the best melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness there is out there!  Pecan Pralines are a household goodie around the holiday season in the great state of Texas.  You can find them just about anywhere this time of year.  Gas stations, grocery stores, holiday houses, and about every Christmas party you go to.

If I’m not mistaken, pralines are a ’southern thang’ so for those of you that live elsewhere….make your way to the kitchen and whip yourself up a batch so you can get a taste of what I’m talking about!  You’ll thank me for it!

I’m all about the easy way of doing things and I came across a way to make these completely in the microwave…..yes folks, the microwave.  You mock me now, but trust me.  If you can make the best peanut brittle in the microwave, you can certainly make the best pralines, too!  Don’t knock it til you try it.  It will save you tons of time in the kitchen so you can make other holiday treats!

Easy Pecan Pralines – Texas Style

Printable Version: Easy Pecan Pralines – Texas Style

Ingredients

1 cup whipping cream
1 box brown sugar (light or dark, whatever your preference)
2 Tablespoons margarine or butter
2 cups pecan pieces (not too small)

Directions

Stir together whipping cream and brown sugar in very large microwave safe mixing bowl. Cook in microwave on High for 13 minutes. Open microwave about half way through cooking time and give the mixture a stir or two to make sure it is mixed well.

When time is up, take bowl out of microwave, add butter and stir until butter is melted. Add nuts, stir for a couple of minutes or so until mixture starts to thicken slightly. Quickly drop by spoonfuls on a sheet of foil. Allow pralines to cool and then put them in a covered container.

*If mixture is removed from bowl too quickly (too hot and shiny), the pralines will be too thin and may remain sticky. If the first one spreads out to0 much just put it back in the bowl and stir mixture for a minute or so more. If mixture gets to cool (dull in appearance) before it is spooned out on foil, it may become too firm to make individual pralines, but it can always be broken into chunks and eaten. Less attractive, but still good.  Make a couple of batches and you will be able to tell when the mixture is right for spooning.

Chocolate lovers can add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to hot mixture along with the butter. The chips will melt completely producing “chocolate pralines.”

Congratulations, Kelly!! You are the winner of the Lucky Leave Prize Pack!  Keep an eye on your mailbox, you should be receiving it soon!

Thank you to everyone that entered!  Be on the lookout….there are more great giveaways to come!

Lucky Leaf contacted me asking if I would be willing to try some of their new and improved pie fillings, and my answer….OF COURSE!  I have always been a huge fan of Lucky Leaf pie fillings because you can make delicious tasting desserts in a fraction of the time if you were to make them homemade, which I do not always have time to do.  I made a delicious blackberry cobbler a couple of weeks ago.  My husband and I LOVED it!  We served it with some vanilla ice cream and it was wonderful!

Now comes the great news!  Lucky Leaf has been generous enough to offer a great package of Lucky Leaf goodies for one of you!

The Lucky Leaf giveaway package includes one of each of the following:

• Premium Apple Pie Filling
• Premium Strawberry Pie Filling
• Lucky Leaf Recipe Book
• Pie Plate
• Can Opener

For your chance to win this great prize package, leave a comment with what kind of dish(es) you would like to make with the apple and strawberry pie filling.  Giveaway ends Wednesday, December 4.

Winner will be contacted and will have 24 hours to claim your prize.

I look forward to hearing your ideas!  Good luck!

I’m always looking for inventive ways to use leftovers or just a new way of serving up a traditional dish.  This fits the bill perfectly!  If you find yourself with a leftover pie from Thanksgiving (I know, not very likely) you can make this delightful little trifle to spice up this plain ‘ol pecan pie.  You may even want to save this little beauty of a recipe and serve this for Thanksgiving as a nice little variation on pecan pie.  Everyone is sure to love it!

Pecan Pie Trifle

Printable Version: Pecan Pie Trifle

Ingredients

8 0z. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 (2-lb.) pecan pie, homemade or frozen (thawed) and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup chocolate fudge topping
1/3 cup caramel topping
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Beat cream cheese, whipping cream, and vanilla extract in a large bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth and firm.

2. Place half of pie cubes in bottom of a 4-qt. trifle dish or tall, clear 4-qt. glass bowl. Spread half of whipped cream mixture over pie cubes. Drizzle with half of chocolate fudge topping and caramel topping. Sprinkle with half of chopped pecans. Repeat layers ending with whipped cream mixture, chocolate fudge, caramel topping, and chopped pecans (for decoration).

3. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.

Congratulations, Sarah!! You are the winner of the Snapfish Photo Book!  Keep an eye on your mailbox, you should be receiving it soon!

Thank you to everyone that entered!  Be on the lookout….there are more great giveaways to come!

Snapfish by HP has partnered with network star Rachael Ray to support a local community in Wilmington, Ohio, a town devastated by the economic downturn.

In a special which will air today, Monday, November 23, Snapfish has teamed up with Rachael Ray to throw a huge Thanksgiving feast for the town, including replenishment of the Food Bank facilities in order to create a meaningful experience for the community.

To support the effort, Snapfish is providing:

• Custom photo books featuring local high schooler, Zach McCune’s photos of the town, to members of the community, documenting the town and Rachael’s visit through Zach’s lens

• The opportunity for viewers (you!) to receive 50% off their own customizable photo book using promo code RRBOOK from November 25-December 2, with $1 from the purchase proceeds going to local food banks nationwide; and

• An exclusive photo book and gallery on Snapfish.com and RachaelRayShow.com with photos from Rachael’s trip, capturing her favorite moments

Snapfish is also providing a FREE Photo Book for one of YOU!  To enter to win this FREE photo book, leave a comment with what special pictures you would use to make your free photo book….a trip to Disney, a special family outing, your child’s 1st birthday, your 1st Christmas with your spouse?

You have until Friday, November 27 to enter to win.  A winner will be picked at random and you will have 24 hours to claim your prize!

I am in the middle of making a photo book from a trip that my husband and I took to New York last year for Christmas.  It was my first time ever going and we had such a great time.  I look forward to sharing the finished product with you!