Lefse

MMMMM.

A recipe from "The Old Country".  Well, not my Old Country but my grandpa's.  Norway.  Gotta love Norway!  Beautiful! Great sweaters. Great food.  Did I say beautiful.  One day I will get to see it through more than just pictures.

Anyway, let me get on with the recipe.

It has been years since I had lefse.  Last time I had some was when the lady who looked after my grandpa while we were gone made it.  My grandpa passed away in 1989.  So, when I went to my friend's house last night and she was making lefse, I was very happy and my tastebuds were jumping.

So...without further ado

Lefse

8 cups mashed or riced potatoes
1 cup cream milk
2 2/3 cups flour
1/2 cup margarine

Mix together.  Sprinkle flour onto surface and roll lefse dough out very thin (you should almost see through it).  Don't use too much flour to begin with as it will toughen the dough and it can dry out.

Any recipe I ever saw called for a special pan to make the lefse in so I never attempted to make it, thinking it was needed.  Boy was I wrong!  My friend just used a regular old frying pan (with no oil).

Cook, browning slightly on both sides.  Spread margarine on one side and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and roll up like a crepe.  Delicious!  I dare you to just eat one!

If you roll them out too thin it will be very difficult to roll the lefse

Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzels

Easy enough to make with your kids and delicious enough to serve at any holiday gathering.

I know we will be making these for this year's holiday feastings.

Check out the recipe here. I know Taste of Home has given me plenty of ideas for my holiday entertaining.

Herb Mix for Dipping Oil

All I can say is "YUM"...

For this recipe, click here.

Chocolatey Christmas Snack Mix

Here's an idea for a super quick gift idea for those people on your list who you'd like to give just a little something too.

Baked Brie with Roasted Garlic

Found this terrific looking and sounding recipe while searching the internet for some elegant-looking, simple dishes to make for a Sunday afternoon/evening party we are hosting just after Christmas for some of our congregation who have just moved here and are needing some extra comforts of home this holiday season.

Baked Brie with Roasted Garlic

The church has all ready ensured that there are houses set up to host them this Christmas; I believe there will be a Progressive Dinner happening, ending off with some skating somewhere.

Cabbage Roll Casserole

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 Tbsp cooking oil
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
3 to 5 Tbsp long grain rice
2 large cans tomatoes
3 cups shredded cabbage

In a large frying pan, cook ground beef in oil for 5 minutes. Add onion, salt, pepper and rice. Mix well while gently sauteing. Add tomatoes. Put cabbage in a greased casserole dish and pour meat mixture over cabbage. Do not stir. Bake, covered, for 1 1/2 hours at 325 degrees F. This freezes and reheats well.

Eatmore Bars

1 cup corn syrup
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup Rice Krispies
1 3/4 cups peanuts, crushed

Bring syrup, peanut butter and chips to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then add the remaining ingredients. Put in a slightly greased cookie sheet. Cool, then cut into squares.

Hot Cranberry Apple Punch

4 1/2 cups cranberry juice
1/4 c + 1 tsp brown sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
6 cups apple juice
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp whole cloves

Pour juices into slow cooker. Mix in salt and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Tie cinnamon sticks and cloves in cheese clothes and drop into liquid. Cover and simmer on High 2 hours. Remove spice bag and keep warm on Low heat.

Honey Garlic Sauce for Meatballs

1 cup beef stock
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tsp liquid honey
1 tbsp cornstarch
dash hot pepper sauce
1 green onion, chopped

In a large skillet, whisk together beef stock, garlic, honey cornstarch and hot pepper sauce; cook, whisking over medium heat until thickened.  Pour over hot cooked meatballs.  Sprinkle with onions.

To FREEZE: Allow the sauce and meatballs to cool (separately).  Store meatballs in a large freezer bag and sauce in a medium freezer bag (place inside bag with meatballs) and freeze together.  Reheat.

Grilled Apple and Peanut Butter Sandwiches

1/2 gala apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/4 tsp white sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 c creamy peanut butter
8 slices whole wheat bread
butter or margarine

Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl. Spread 1 Tbsp peanut butter on one side of each slice of bread. Arrange apple slices on 4 slices of bread. Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture evenly over the apples. Top with the remaining slices of bread, peanut butter face down. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry sandwiches until well browned, about 1 to 2 minutes each side.