Cardamom is the secret in these gingerbread cookies

Title: Piparkakut (Finnish Christmas Gingerbread Cookies)

Description:
My Mother says, "The aroma of these cookies baking takes me back to my childhood in Finland." We make various large to small sizes of these in heart shape and hang them in the kitchen window during Christmas. Heart is the symbol of Christmas in Finland. We also had plenty of other shapes to eat as well.

Ingredients:
3/4 c margarine or butter
3/4 c sugar
1 egg
2 T dark Karo syrup
1 t cinnamon
1 t cloves
1 t ground cardamom
1/2 t baking soda
2 1/2 c flour

Directions:
Cream margarine and sugar. Add egg, spices and syrup. Then add flour and soda sifted together. Form into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill the dough overnight in the refrigerator. Roll out on floured surface very thin and cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake on a very lightly greased cookie sheet about 5 min at 375 degrees. Do not overbake! Store in an airtight tin and they will keep "forever".

Wendy's Chili Recipe

My husband found this recipe and made this for us.  It does taste so much like Wendy's chili!  Give it a try!

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Ingredients:

2 pounds Ground beef
1 can (29 ounce size) tomato sauce
1 can (29 ounce size) kidney beans w/liquid
1 can (29 ounce size) pinto beans w/liquid
1 medium Onion, diced
2 Green chili, diced
1 Rib celery, diced
3 medium Tomatoes, chopped
2 teaspoons Cumin powder
3 tablespoons Chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
2 teaspoons Salt
2 cups Water

 

Directions:

Brown the beef and drain the fat off. Crumble the cooked beef into pea size pieces. In a large pot, combine the beef plus the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer over low heat. Cook stirring every 15 minutes for 2-3 hours.

This recipe from CDKitchen for Wendy's Chili serves/makes 8

Green Smoothies

Health Tip of the Day

"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Green smoothies are both nutritious and
delicious.  For an easy snack or meal:
combine 2 medium mangoes, 2 bananas and
1½ cups spinach and blend well. Add pure
water if smoothie is too thick.
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Copyright. Hilton Johnson Productions, Inc.
www.healthcoachtraining.com
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Quick Fix Raspberry Chicken

Our recipe party theme with quick fix.  I pulled out one of my Mother's quick fix recipe cook books and found this easy chicken recipe.  The instructions 

Raspberry Chicken

To broil 5-6 inches from the flame, place chicken directly in broiler pan without the rack --

1 2.5-3 lb. cut up broiler fryer chicken OR your favorite pieces of chicken (I used chicken tenders)
vegetable oil
1 10 oz. package frozen red raspberries (*quick-thaw pouch)
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Preheat broiler.  Brush chicken with oil.  Season with some salt and pepper.  Place chicken, skin side down or remove skin, on broiler rack.  Broil 5-6 inches from heat 20 minutes or until browned; turn.  Broil 10 minutes more.  Meanwhile, thaw raspberries; drain, reserving syrup. (*I couldn't find a package with juice so I used some raspberry jam and water as the syrup).   In saucepan blend syrup into cornstarch; stir in cinnamon.  Cook and stir until bubbly.  Stir in butter and lemon juice.  Gently stir in berries and nuts.  Serve with chicken.  Makes 4 servings.  

Carrot and Rice Casserole

Tonight is Recipe Party!  I've missed the last two months and I'm determined to go this time.

Our theme is Holiday Favorites.   Of course it wouldn't be Christmas without pulla, but I've already made that for them.  And we always have rice porridge and I've already done that for them.  So, when I asked my Mother what her holiday favorite is she named this casserole.  Of course there are other casseroles and many sweets too that are traditional and favorites.  I can hardly wait to make the Joulu Torttuja (prune tarts), but since I only make those once a year, so I'm not doing them yet!  Many of you listed your favorites on my Facebook page too.  I appreciate that.  I hear I need to try and make divinity for example and other candies. 

While my family gets frozen lasagna, I'm making this carrot and rice casserole for the ladies tonight.  Well, I hope I get it done in time!  I'm way behind schedule because I'm on the computer selling Scentsy as a fundraiser for our boys's gymnastics during the holidays!  

Title: Porkkana Laatikko (Carrot and Rice Casserole)

Description:

This is the traditional Finnish Carrot and Rice Casserole served at Christmastime in Finland.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. carrots, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup uncooked rice

1 cup half and half

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons brown sugar

salt to taste

2-3 Tbs. chopped almonds

Directions:

Boil carrots in salted water until done. Drain and save the water. Remove carrots from pan and add enough water, if necessary, to make 1 1/2 cups pour rest of of liquid back into the pan and let it come to a boil. Stir in uncooked rice. Cover and steam on low for 20 minutes. Meanwhile mash cooked carrots. Add half and half, beaten egg, and brown sugar, mixing well. When rice is done, stir into carrot mixture, adding salt to taste.  Pour into a well greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.

A great compliment for meat dishes, especially ham. Freezes well.

Number Of Servings: Serves 6-8.

Preparation Time: Boil carrots for 20 minutes. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.