christmas Archives ⋆ Big Wanda Knows

January 22, 2018January 25, 2018BLOG, CROCHET

Snowflakes To Crochet

Snowfakes are so unique and delicate. Crochet snowflakes are so easy and fun to make. Crochet a few of these for your tree or for a friend. Attach one to a present.

Materials:
Yarn: 225 meters,100% cotton)
Crochet Hook: 1,5 mm
Stitches Used: ch-chain, st-stitch, sl st-slip stitch, sc-single crochet, dc-double crochet, tc-triple crochet, picot, dc2tog-double crochet two together.

Crochet Snowflake 1
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: ch-1, 6 sc in the circle, join with sl st to first sc.
Round 2: ch-1, sc in same space, * ch-5, sc in next st, repeat from * around, end with ch-1, tc in last sc – 6 ch-5 spaces.
Round 3: ch-3, dc in the space, ch-7, sl st in the 6th ch from the hook, ch-1, dc2tog in same space, * ch-5, dc2tog in next ch-5 space, ch-7, sl st in the 6th ch from the hook, ch-1, dc2tog in same space, repeat from * 4 times, end with ch-2, join with dc to top of ch-3.
Round 4: * sc in ch-5 space, ch-3, (dc3tog, ch-3, dc3tog, picot (ch-3), ch-3, dc3tog) in ch-6 space, ch-3, repeat from to the end of the round.

Crochet Snowflake 2
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: ch-3, dc in the circle, * ch-3, dc2tog, repeat from * 4 times,join with sl st to top of ch 3 – 6 dc2tog
Round 2: ch-1, sc in same space, * ch-5, sc in top of dc2tog, ch-4, skip ch-3, sc in top of dc2tog, repeat from * to the end of round, join with sl st to first sc.
Round 3: 3 sl sts in ch-5 space, ch-3 (counts as dc), dc in ch-5 space, *ch-2, sc in ch-4 space, ch-2, 2 dc in ch-5 space, ch-3, 2 dc in same space, repeat from * to the end of the round, end with 2 dc to ch-5 space, ch-1, join with dc to top of ch-3.
Round 4: sc in the space, picot (ch-5), sc in same space, picot (ch-3), * ch-2, skip 1 dc, sc in the 2nd dc, picot (ch-3), ch-2, sl st in sc, ch-2, sc in the first dc, picot (ch-3), ch-2, skip 1 dc, sc in ch-3 space, picot (ch-3), sc in same space, picot (ch-5), sc in same space, picot (ch-3), repeat from * around.

December 23, 2017December 23, 2017BLOG, COOKS

Mini Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Cheddar

Grilled cheese baguette appetizers with bacon are yummy in your tummy. These are absolutely delicous and so easy to make for any party. You can experiment with different types of cheeses and spices. This recipe is for a basic version. I sometimes add thinly sliced pears to the sandwich. If you like spicy add a few drops of hot sauce to the butter.

Ingredients

Package of any bacon cooked and chopped up. Set aside.

French Bread Baguette cut 1 inch thick

1 cup softened butter. Mix in 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to butter.

Package of Swiss and Cheddar Cheese.

Heat pan to medium
Butter both sides of bread
Add cheese and bacon. Cook both sides to a nice golden brown.
Serve warm

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December 16, 2017December 21, 2017BLOG, COOKS

Christmas Toffee

Toffee candy is so easy to make. The holidays are an awesome time to start baking and making sweet treats for your family and friends. Make a big batch, then place the pieces inside a parchment lined container. Add a festive colored bow and you have a delicious gift for lots of folks.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter or margarine

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Steps

Heat sugar, butter and water to boiling in heavy 2-quart saucepan, stirring constantly; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 13 minutes, stirring constantly, to 300°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water separates into hard, brittle threads. Watch carefully so mixture does not burn.

Immediately pour toffee onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Spread mixture to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand about 1 minute or until chips are completely softened. Spread softened chocolate evenly over toffee. Sprinkle with pecans.

Let stand at room temperature about 1 hour, or refrigerate if desired, until firm. Break into bite-size pieces. Store in airtight container.

November 25, 2017December 13, 2017BLOG, COOKS

Gingerbread House

Ingredients

Gingerbread Dough

1 cup sugar

1 cup shortening

1 cup molasses

1 egg

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

lots of assorted candies,mints, taffy, pretzels etc

Icing

2 cans of vanilla frosting

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Line jelly roll pan, 15 1/2×10 1/2×1 inch, with heavy-duty foil, leaving 1 inch of foil overhanging at each end of pan. In large bowl, mix sugar, shortening, molasses and egg with spoon. Stir in all remaining Gingerbread Dough ingredients. Divide dough in half. Press half of dough in pan.
Bake gingerbread about 15 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched in center. Cool 5 minutes; carefully lift foil and gingerbread from pan.
Cut gingerbread lengthwise in half, then crosswise 2 times to make 6 rectangles. Cut angles from 2 corners of each rectangle to form roof of house. (The corners make good nibbles.) Cool completely, about 1 hour. Repeat with remaining dough. Decorate houses with frosting and candies.

November 25, 2017December 13, 2017BLOG, COOKS

Dough Ornament Recipe

Christmas dough ornaments are so easy to make. Make a lots for your tree. These also make awesome gifts for your friends and family.

Ingredients

4 cups All Purpose Flour, 1 cup salt, 1 1/2 cups water

Directions

Preheat oven to 325
Mix flour and salt well. Gradually add water, stirring with a large spoon. Finish mixing with hands. Knead until soft and pliable.
Roll out on floured surface about 1/8 inch thick. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheets. With a toothpick make a hole in the top of the ornament. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Decorate with paint and varnish to preserve.
Take some pretty ribbon and string through the hole at the top of the ornament.

November 24, 2017December 13, 2017COOKS

Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes

1 stick of softened butte

one block of softened cream cheese

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 Teaspoon pepper

Optional fresh or dried chives

Directions

Wash, peel, and cut potatoes into chunks
Put in large pot, cover with enough water and boil for about 20 minutes. You want potatoes fork tender.
Drain and put potatoes in the bowl for your stand mixer. If you do not have a stand mixer you — prepare mashed potatoes in 2 batches using your hand mixer.
Start mixing. Mix about 2 minutes
Add softened butter and mix in
Add softened cream cheese. Mix for about 1 minute
Slowly add heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup at a time. Mix until smooth.
Taste. You might need to add extra kosher salt and pepper.
Remove from mixer and put on trays to cool.
These mashed potatoes are great for freezing.
Divide the mashed potatoes for 3 freezer proof containers
To reheat. Defrost in microwave and add extra whipping cream.