New Year's

Most people eat something special on New Year's Day for luck or prosperity.  Last year, I made Hoppin' John.  It is a southern dish of cooked black-eyed peas served over rice.  I will be making it again for New Year's Day dinner tomorrow.  What are you having to celebrate the coming year?  Happy New Year!!

Crockpot Chicken

This is a recipe I have been making for years.  It has that warm comforting feel of chicken noodle soup without the noodle soup.  Actually, after making it this time, I am wondering if you could make it into chicken noodle soup.  I think all you would have to do is add more broth.  Then when it is finished cooking shred up the chicken, removing skin and bones.  Add chicken back to veggies and broth and serve with egg-free noodles.  What do you think?  Let me know if you try it before I do!

I know my husband will prefer the recipe here, since he is not a soup lover.  I usually serve the chicken and veggies with a quick and easy rice pilaf.  I hope you and your family enjoys this healthy, comforting meal!

If you like this recipe, you may also like Thyme Roasted Chicken with Onions and Potatoes (EF, GF).

Crockpot Chicken

1 pound carrots, peeled and chopped

4 celery ribs, washed and chopped

1 large onion, diced

4 split chicken breasts (with bones and skin – about 4 pounds)

1 c chicken broth*

2 t dried basil

2 t salt

1 t black pepper

Place celery, onion and carrots in the bottom of slow cooker.  Top with chicken.  Pour broth over chicken.   Sprinkle chicken with basil, salt and pepper.  Cook on low for 7-9 hours.  Remove skin from chicken prior to serving.  Serve with cooked vegetables. 

*If you have a gluten allergy, make sure the chicken broth you use is gluten free.

Chocolate Thumbprints {Egg-free}

Have you made some delicious Christmas cookies yet?  If not, try these!  I found this recipe on Pinterest.  I thought the cookies flattened out a little bit more than I would have liked.  Next time, I plan to omit the extra two tablespoons of butter, using just the two sticks.  Haha. . . just two sticks!  I also ended up doubling the frosting.  Maybe I used too much.  My husband assured me that there isn't any such thing as too much frosting!

We will also be making this Cut Out Cookie (EF) recipe this week.  I will try to post a picture after the fact.  Have a very Merry Christmas!!

Chocolate Thumbprints - Click here to link to recipe.

Reindeer Cupcakes {Egg-free}

Here is another fun Pinterest find.  We made these fun cupcakes for school.  My kids really enjoyed helping me make these cute little chocolate reindeer.

I used candy eyes in place of the white M&Ms for the eyes.  I also used red and brown M&Ms for the nose, attached with a dab of frosting.  Note:  I think the original post used regular wafer cookies.  I used the mini ones.  I think I like the bigger ones better but I couldn't remember which one I needed when I was at the store.  Also, make sure your wafer cookies meet your dietary needs.  Nilla Wafers do contain egg.  I used Keebler Vanilla Wafers, which do not contain eggs.

Pillsbury Chocolate Cupcakes (EF) - Click the link for the recipe.

Reindeer Cupcakes - Click the link to see instructions for assembling the reindeer.

Cinnamon Jello Salad

I think every family has a favorite holiday jello salad that goes a few generations back!  My husband's family has such a jello salad.  They had this jello for every major holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and sometimes New Years! 

He grew up calling it Red Hot Salad.  And that is what we call it at our house, too.  But for this post, I am renaming it Cinnamon Jello Salad because it seems to better describe it for my recipe index.  This recipe uses cherry jello but you can't taste cherry.  All you taste is the cinnamon.  You could probably use another red jello, if cherry is not available.

 

Cinnamon Jello Salad

1 lg cherry jello (6oz)

½ c cinnamon imperials (aka red hot candies)

3 c water, separated

1 c unsweetened applesauce

Put one cup of water in refrigerator to chill.  Meanwhile, put remaining two cups of water in a small sauce pan on high heat.  Once water has reached boiling, add cinnamon imperials and stir frequently until all candies have dissolved in water.  Remove from heat, stir in jello until dissolved.  Pour jello mixture into glass serving bowl.  Add cool water, stirring until combined.  Refrigerate just until mixture is cool and just starting to thicken.  Stir in applesauce until distributed throughout jello.  Refrigerate until jello is set, at least 4 hours. 

Cranberry Christmas Punch

We had a Christmas party this past week!  So much fun.  I made this quick, easy punch for the party.  I really liked it because it isn't super sweet which went nicely with all the sweet treats we had at the party!  I found the idea on Pinterest but the link was flagged as an link with inappropriate content so I will not link to it.  :)

Cranberry Christmas Punch

Cranberry Juice
Apple Juice
Ginger Ale

Chill all three drinks at least over night.  Just before serving, mix equal parts of cranberry juice, apple juice and ginger ale. 

I did about 3 cups of each liquid for a total of 9 cups for a party of about 30 people.  We also had other drink options.