Chocolate Pecan Pie

Melt:

1/2 cup butter

6 oz chocolate chips

in a double boiler or microwave.

When cool, add:

2 slightly beaten eggs

1 cup sugar

Add:

1/2 cup flour

pinch of salt

1 t vanilla

Stir in:

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans (or walnuts)

Pour into a prepared or store-bought chocolate wafer crust (unbaked).

Sprinkle on top another 1/2 cup unbroken pecans.

Bake at 300 for 30 minutes (I have to bake it a lot longer).

Cool before serving, or chill.

I like to serve it with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

My mother gave me the recipe about 20 years ago, and we make it almost every holiday season. It's very sweet and chocolaty!!

Choco-Dot Pumpkin Cake

Mix the following:

2 cups flour

2 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1 1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

1/4 t. allspice

1/4 t. ginger

2 cups sugar

Set aside.

Beat in a mixer:

4 eggs till foamy

2 c. pumpkin

1 c. vegetable oil

1 c. bran cereal

Add dry ingredients. Then add:

6 oz. chocolate chips

1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Pour into greased and floured bundt pan.

Bake at 350 for 70 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes and then turn over on a plate. Let cool more before removing pan. Then ice.

Ice with:

4 T. butter melted

3 T. milk or cream

1 t. vanilla

powdered sugar until good consistency for pouring

My family found this recipe on the back of a box of 100% Bran cereal (Nabisco) in 1975 while we were stationed at Minot AFB in North Dakota. We have all made it every year since. It represents the holidays for us all!

Oatmeal Christmas Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamon
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup white chocolate chips (or the new swirled chocolate chips)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients. Add to butter mixture and stir until well blended. Add dried cranberries. Drop by teaspoonful onto parchment covered baking sheet. Bake about 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Cool.

I got the basic recipe from the Food Network, but added the extras. Really yummy.