Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Fruit Drops

1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup soft butter or margarine
1 candied pineapple slice, cut in pieces
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped dates
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup candied cherries, cut in pieces
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Preheat oven to 325°F.
With electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together well; beat in egg, then vanilla.
With a wooden spoon, stir in flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
Add remaining ingredients and combine well.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet; I use parchment paper on the cookie sheet when I bake these to prevent sticking.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes.



Christmas Eve Cheese Ball

1 tsp finely chopped green peppers
1 tsp lemon juice
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 tsp finely chopped onions
chopped pecans, toasted
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
assorted crackers
1 tsp diced pimientos

Combine cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, onions, pimientos, green peppers, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice in a bowl and mix well.
Shape into 2 balls.
Roll in the pecans.
Cover and chill.
Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving.
Serve with crackers.



Christmas Spaghetti

1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp pepper
1 can tomato soup
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 1/2 tsps salt
1 (12 1/2 ounce) can stewed tomatoes, mashed
1/2 cup American cheese, grated
2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup stuffed green olives, sliced
1 (4 ounce) can mushroom pieces
1 (12 ounce) box spaghetti, cooked

Saute onions, bell pepper, and garlic in 5 tablespoons of olive oil.
Add beef and cook until no longer pink.
Add stewed tomatoes, olives, salt, pepper, and cheese.
Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
Then add Worchestershire sauce, mushroom pieces and tomato soup.
Combine mixture with cooked spaghetti, refrigerate overnight.
To serve, heat in oven at 350 degrees for approximately 45-60 minutes, or until heated through.



Christmas Eve Cranberry Salad Dinner Recipe

1 lb fresh cranberries, chopped very fine
2 cups sugar (I use less)
1 large Jello gelatin ("or" two small ones)
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 (8 ounce) can pineapples, chopped

Mix all dry ingredients together.
Make jello in half the required water.
Add jello liquid, juice from pinapple.
Mix thouroughly.
Place in a bowl or a mold.
Put in refrigerator until sets.
Serve with dinner.



Christmas Mincemeat Squares

2 cups mincemeat
1 cup whole wheat flour (or use all-purpose)
3/4 cup melted butter (or margarine, but butter is best)
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups oats (not instant)

Preheat oven to 375° F deegree; grease a 13x9 pan and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar and baking soda.
Stir in melted butter and mix together until mixture appears crumbly.
Firmly pat half the crumb mixture into prepared pan, then cover evenly with mincemeat.
Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over mincemeat and pat lightly.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until squares appear golden brown.
Cool before cutting into squares.