Delicious Christmas Sugar Cookies and Frosting

FROSTING:

1 stick butter (or margarine)

4 C. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/8 c. milk - then by teaspoon to make it the right consistency (not too thin, food coloring will thin it out)

Food coloring

*  Mix butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk with a mixer on low.  Slowly add milk by teaspoon full until frosting is desired consistency.  Remember that the frosting will be thinner after adding food coloring, so leave it a little thick.  I divide the frosting into several bowls and mix food coloring for decorating the Christmas cookies.

THE SUGAR COOKIES:

2 1/4 cups flour

1/4 t. salt

2 t. baking powder

1/2 c. shortening

1 c. sugar

2 eggs - beaten

1/2 t. vanilla

1 T. milk

*Cream the shortening & sugar together.

*Add the eggs and vanilla

*Add the remaining ingredients.

Roll out onto a floured surfacel  I like to leave the thicker than 1/4 inch so the cookies stay nice and soft.  Use cookie cutters to cut out your favorite Christmas cookies and bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes.  DO NOT OVERCOOK!  Your sugar cookies will look light when you take them out of the oven.  If you wait for the edges to brown, they will be hard and nobody wants a cruncy sugar cookie.

Cook your cookies on a cooling rack, or even a large piece of foil on the counter.  Decorate with frosting that you have in your bowls.  Absolutely delicious and a family tradition.

Smoked Baked Beans

1 Large can Van Kamps or Campbells Pork N Beans

Brown sugar

1/2 - 1 c ketchup

1 pound thick cut bacon

Disposable 9 X 13 pan



*Open Pork N Beans, I prefer Campbells and Scott preferrs Van Kamps. I drain out the extra liquid from the top of the can of beans.

*Pour beans into the disposable 9 X 13 pan

*Mix in 1/2 cup of ketchup. You can add more later after adding in the brown sugar.

*Mix in brown sugar. I usually start with about 2 cups. I stir and taste the sauce portion to check for the desired sweetness compared to the saltiness of the ketchup.

*Add more brown sugar or ketchup to taste.

*Cut the bacon into 2 inch pieces. Separate the pieces and mix half of them into the beans.

*Use the remaining half to sprinkle over the top of the beans to make a nice bacon topping on your baked beans.

*Place in smoker on the second rack, under whatever delicious meat you are already smoking. The temp should be about 225 degrees for approximately 2 hours.

*You can tell when the beans are done when the bacon on top is brown and the sauce has thickened.

These are the most delicious baked beans you will ever eat! It's amazing how a mild smoke flavor actually penetrates the baked beans. They go great with baby-back ribs, smoked chops, pulled pork, or smoked chicken! Plus, instead of having a crock pot to clean up when you're done, all you have to do is toss out the disposable pan!

It's A Delicious Dessert

Pie filling (apple, peach, cherry, blueberry, or any other favorite.) You can buy pre-made or make your own.

1 Box Puff-Pastry dough from the freezer section, but thawed.

1-2 egg yolks

1 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

* Put sugar into a bowl and pour the vanilla over it. Set aside.

* Unroll puff-pastry dough onto a flat surface. Cut into 6 pieces (1 cut lengthwise and 2 cuts across)

* Place a scoop of filling into the center of each square.

* Beat egg yolks in a bowl. Brush the inside edges of each square and fold over to form a triange. Press the edges together and use a fork to seal the outter edges of dough.

* Do this for all 6 squares, and follow same directions for second roll of puff-pastry dough.

* Brush tops of each triangle with egg wash.

* With your fingers, mix vanilla and sugar together to form a crumbly topping. Sprinkle over the top of each triangle.

* Bake 375 degree's for approximately 25 minutes, until golden brown.

Tracy's Fajita's

1 package boneless chicken breast

1 sirloin steak

1 each: green pepper, red pepper, orange pepper, yellow pepper

1 white onion

8 oz. pkg shredded mild cheddar

1 package shredded lettuck

1 tomato

2 pkg small flour tortilla's (taco size)

Sour cream

Marinade:
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/8 c. worcheseshire sauce
Montreal Steak Seasoning to taste

* Trim fat from boneless chicken and sirloin steak.

* Put boneless chicken in gallon size ziploc bag and pour marinade ingredients directly over chicken. Regrigerate 2 to 4 hours.

* Grill chicken and steak to desired doneness. Set aside.

* Clean peppers and thinly slice. Put in large saute pan with 2 Tbs butter and a little olive oil. Add a dash of salt.

* Cut white onion in half and then cut into thin slices. Once the pepper begin to soften slightly, add onions to same pan. The peppers take longer to cook than the onions so it's best to give them a few minutes longer to cook.

* On a large cutting board, slice chicken and steak into thin slices and place on a plate.

To assemble your delicious fajita's:

Warm a package of soft shells in the microwave for 45 seconds. Lie flat on plate and place a small amount of sour cream on the shell. Add sliced chicken or steak, and layer on saute'd onions and peppers, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Fold in half and eat!

This is an incredibly easy meal. It's also great for the picky eaters in your household because you can pick and choose which ingredients to top your chicken and steak with. My kids eat their fajita with chiken and shredded mild cheddar. It's easy to make and not very expensive!

Bacon Wrapped Heaven

16 - 18 Jalapeno peppers
1 pkg. cream cheese
1 pkg. regular sliced bacon
Toothpicks

*Put on some latex gloves to protect your hands from the peppers. You'll thank me later after you rub your eyes and don't have any oil on them from the peppers.

*Rinse jalapeno peppers and slice in half length-wise.

*Scoop out seeds and ribs (you can leave some behind if you like your peppers hot.)

*Rinse inside and out if you don't want your peppers to be so hot. I don't rinse the inside of Scott's but I take all the hot stuff out of mine and rinse them.

*Stuff half the pepper with cream cheese. I overfill them a little so when I put the two halves back together they are full.

*Wrap with one slice of bacon and secure with toothpick. I use one toothpick for the hot ones that have not been rinsed, and two toothpicks for the milder peppers that I've rinsed inside and out.

*Cook over charcoal or on gas grill until bacon is done. By this time the pepper will be soft as well, and very delicious!

These make a great appetizer or easy lunch. I usually count the slices of bacon that I'm buying so I know how many peppers to buy! Trust me, I don't like anything hot, and these peppers are DELICIOUS!!!!

Brisket - Cooked In A Smoker

*Buy a brisket at Costco

*Buy an 18 pack of Miller Lite

*Invite Scott and his smoker over for dinner

Voila!

Marinated Mushrooms

These are great if you are having steak, of any sort, but it's best with prime rib.

Rosemary
I large box beef broth
fresh garlic clove
salt/garlic salt
2 small or one large package of small button mushrooms: fresh

*Wash and snipt the ends off your mushrooms. If they are a little bigger I cut them in half.

*Mince 4 to 6 large garlic cloves and add to mushrooms

*Strip 4 or 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary and finely chop with a butcher knife. Add to mushroom.

*Dump in entire box of beef broth.

*I cook on high until it comes to a boil, then turn to medium to simmer until muchrooms are cooked and soft. I usually cook the mushrooms until they are 1/2 to 3/4 their original size and bron.

*Add salt to taste, I prefer garlic salt but add small amounts and taste so you don'yt make it too salty.

**These mushrooms are delicious on top of your steak and I like to scoop out the liquid into a small bowl and it makes the most delicious au jus you'll ever taste. If you ever had the pleasure of eating at Mountaing Jacks, this is very similar!