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Patty Craig: A Slice of Time

December is a month for cooking. We cook for events, for gifting and for family-and-friend gatherings. Many of us do more cooking in December than in any other month. But, sometimes it’s hard to think of another good dish. The recipes below may offer additional choices.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
1 12 oz. package fresh cranberries
¼ c. green onion, chopped
¼ c. cilantro, chopped
1 small jalapeno pepper
1 ¼ c. sugar
¼ tsp. cumin
2 T. lemon juice
Dash salt
2 8 oz. packages cream cheese
1.    Put cranberries in a food processor (may also use a mini chopper or simply chop them).
2.    Chop the green onion, the cilantro, and the jalapeno pepper into small pieces, being careful of the seeds – the hot part of the pepper. If preferred, the jalapeno pepper may be left out.
3.    Add all ingredients, except the cream cheese, into a bowl. Mix them well, cover and store in the refrigerator. The sugar some needs time to soak into the cranberries and break up their bitter taste.
4.    When ready to serve, place the cream cheese bricks on a plate. Spread the cream cheese out as evenly as possible.
5.    Pour the cranberry mixture over the cream cheese. Spread it all around.
6.    Serve immediately with Club Crackers, Wheat Thins, Ritz crackers or tortilla chips.

Gayle’s Crock-pot Vegetable Soup
1 lb. stew meat
1 (28 oz.) can crushed or petite diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can sliced carrots
1 can green beans (drained)
1 can corn
1 pkg. Lipton Beefy Onion soup mix
Salt
Pepper
Put all ingredients in crock pot (meat raw). Cook on low about 6 hours.

Broccoli Cornbread
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
3 eggs
¾ c. cottage cheese
1 small box chopped broccoli (10 0z), drained
1 stick melted butter
1 tsp. salt
1 small onion, finely chopped
Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until done (a little brown on top). If using an iron skillet, heat the greased skillet in oven about 10 minutes before adding cornbread mixture. This gives the cornbread a nice crust.

Crockpot Corn
2 large family-size frozen corn
2 packages cream cheese
1 stick margarine
8 slices Velveeta cheese
Milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Cover just the bottom with milk and add all the ingredients. Cook in the crockpot on high for 4 hours. Stir it every hour. Salt and pepper to taste.

Rita’s Old-fashioned Pot Roast
1 boneless chuck roast (about 3 lbs.)
6 T. all-purpose flour (divided)
6 T. butter (divided)
3 c. water
2 tsp. beef bouillon granules
1 medium onion, quartered
1 celery rib, cut in pieces
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
4 carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
Sprinkle the roast with 1 T. flour. In Dutch oven, brown the roast on all sides in half of the butter. Add the water, bouillon, onion, celery, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add carrots; cover and simmer 45-60 minutes longer or until meat is tender. Remove meat and carrots to a serving platter and keep warm. Strain cooking juices and set aside. In the same Dutch oven, melt remaining butter. Stir in remaining flour, cooking and stirring until bubbly. Add 2 cups of the cooking juices and blend until smooth. Cook and stir until thickened, adding additional cooking juices until gravy has desired consistency. Serves 6-8.

Basic Trifle
2 instant pudding or custard mixes
2 (1 lb) bags frozen or fresh fruit
1/3 cup of a fruit juice, water or sherry wine
1 pre-made cake
½ carton (8 ounces) of whipped topping, thawed
Additional fresh fruit (to garnish)
1.   Prepare the pudding or custard according to directions.
2.   Mix the fruit with the juice, water or sherry.
3.   Cut the cake into 1 inch chunks and place half of the chunks in the bottom of a trifle bowl.
4.   Layer half of the fruit on top of the cake layer and top with half the pudding.
5.   Repeat layering
6.   Top with whipped topping and garnish with fresh fruit.
7.   Chill well before serving.

Variations (http://www.food.com/recipe/basic-trifle-recipe-119065#activity-feed):
•    To make a low fat trifle, use angel food cake, fat-free pudding and low fat whipped cream.
•    Strawberry Shortcake Trifle: Yellow or Angel food cake, custard and strawberries.
•    Black Forest Trifle: Chocolate cake, raspberries and custard.
•    Tropical Trifle: Angel food cake, mixed pineapple, mangoes, papayas, vanilla or lemon pudding. Sprinkle with shredded coconut.
•    Apples and cream Trifle: Spice Cake, Apple pie filling and custard.
•    Banana Creme Trifle: White or chocolate cake, Sliced Bananas, Custard.

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