Thanksgiving Blessing Mix

A few years ago a good friend gave me the cutest Blessing Mix just before Thanksgiving. Each year since, we have been giving these blessings to our family and friends. We do it as a FHE and let the kids fill the cellophane bags as we talk about each item…


Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nation's abundance.
Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.
Candy corn: Sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day.
Nuts or seeds: Promise of a a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.
Dried fruits: Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.
M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.
Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

We type up the description above on a cute tag, closing with…

At this time of year as we count our blessings,
we would like you to know that WE COUNT YOU!
Thank you for blessing our lives.

I found a great website here that has a tag ready to be printed. So cute!

St. Pat's Potato Candy

Yes, there really is potato in this classic Irish treat, though you'd never know by tasting. Rolled in coconut, these mini spud-shaped sweets make a perfect St. Patrick's Day dessert.

Ingredients
1 large potato
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 to 5 cups confectioners' sugar
5 cups sweetened coconut flakes (can use food coloring to make it green)

Instructions
Peel the potato and boil it in water until soft. In a mixing bowl, mash the cooked potato with the salt and butter. Then -- this is key -- let it cool completely, or else it will melt the sugar when you add it.

Mix in the vanilla extract and 4 cups of sugar. At this point, the mixture should be stiff. If it isn't, add more sugar.

Sprinkle half of the coconut onto a waxed-paper-covered surface and turn the potato mixture onto it. Roll the batter until all of the coconut has been mixed in, then shape teaspoonfuls into small balls.

Roll the balls individually in the remaining coconut. Chill the finished candies until you're ready to serve them. Makes about 4 dozen.

(Thanks FamilyFun)

GREEN Green Salad

Absolutely everything on this salad is GREEN!

Ingredients
Lettuce
Spinach
Cucumbers
Peppers
Snow peas
Avocados
Sprouts
Ranch Dressing
Green Food Coloring

Instructions
The fun of making this salad begins at the grocery store selecting the fixings. Anything green, such as lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, snow peas, avocados and sprouts, is fit for the mix. Add a few drops of green food coloring to Ranch dressing and serve.

Pesto Pasta

What could be better for a St. Patrick's Day dinner than green pasta?

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups tightly packed, washed and dried basil leaves
1/2 cup walnuts
2 chopped garlic cloves
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 lb. spinach linguine or fettuccine

Instructions
Chop basil leaves in a food processor or blender. Add walnuts and garlic. Process until finely ground. With the machine running, slowly add oil. Next, pour in grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Mix and then set aside.

Cook linguine or fettuccine according to package instructions. Drain and toss with the pesto in a serving bowl. Top with more Parmesan cheese. Serves 4 to 6

Pumpkin Muffins

1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar
1/4 cup melted Butter or Margarine
2 Eggs
2 cups All-Purpose Flour (or 1 cup all-purpose and 1 cup whole-wheat flour)
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl or bowl of an electric mixer, mix or blend the Pumpkin, brown sugar, melted butter and eggs.

In a separate bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir or blend only until combined. Spoon the batter into a 12-cup muffin tin lined with paper liners. Bake the muffins for 20 minutes. Makes 10 to 12, depending on their size.

PUMPKIN-CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS: Stir 1/2 cup chocolate chips into the batter before scooping it into the muffin tin.

PUMPKIN-RAISIN MUFFINS: Stir 1/2 cup raisins into the batter before scooping it into the muffin tin.

PUMPKIN-SPICE MUFFINS: Sift 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg with the flour.

Pumpkin Seed Brittle

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for baking sheet
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds, rinsed well, dried, and toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 11-by-17- inch rimmed baking sheet; set aside.

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar and honey. Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until mixture is medium amber and a candy thermometer registers 280 degrees. about 6 minutes. Stir in pumpkin seeds. Cook until mixture reaches 300 degrees. about 2 minutes. Pour onto prepared baking sheet. Let cool completely. Break into pieces.

Pumpkin Chili

A great dish to serve on Halloween!

Ingredients:
2 T vegetable oil
½ c chopped onion
1 c chopped red bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lb ground meat
2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can (8 oz) diced green chiles
½ c frozen corn
1 T chili powder
1 t cumin
Salt and pepper

Heat oil in large stock pot over med-high heat.
Add onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently 5-7 mins.
Add meat, cook until browned, drain.
Add tomatoes with juice and all other ingredients.
Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low.
Cover. Cook-stirring occasionally- for 30 mins.

Great with tortilla chips and grated cheese.

Toffee Apple Dip

We found our new favorite treat! This toffee dip is the best! It is super easy to make and a little goes a long way. Thank you so much Emily. YUM!

1 (8oz) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 (8oz) bag Heath toffee bits

Mix all ingredients together and serve with sliced apples or refrigerate till ready to serve. Makes about 3 cups.