Holiday Food Recipes that Make Excellent Gifts for Thanksgiving and Christmas

Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays are the best time of the year to visit and reunite with friends and family who you may not get to see except during this time. Many people may think what can I give as a gift to someone I have not seen for awhile. Try giving a gift of love such as holiday recipes. Everyone loves to eat during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, these recipes are made for our family dinners. For Christmas and Thanksgiving, you can make, box and wrap for gifts.

Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients:

Twelve small potatoes
Three medium golden beets
Two tablespoons olive oil
Two teaspoons olive oil
Half-teaspoon salt and pepper
One-teaspoon rosemary
Eight carrots
Eight asparagus

Directions:

Preheat oven to four hundred fifty degrees. Line two baking sheets with non-stick foil. Place potatoes on one side and beets on the other half. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for fifteen minutes then remove. Sprinkle rosemary over potatoes and beets. Bake for fifteen minutes longer.

Place carrots on the other baking sheet and sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast five minutes and remove. Move carrots to one side of the baking sheet and add asparagus. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast ten minutes and remove.

Arrange vegetables on a serving tray and sprinkle your choice of garnish over them.

Christmas Fudge

Ingredients for fudge:

Four ounces of unsweetened chocolate
Four packages cream cheese
Half-teaspoon vanilla
Eighth of a teaspoon salt
One-pound confectioner's sugar

Directions for fudge:

Line foil on an eight-inch square pan, allow the foil to hang over the edges. Using a double boiler set over and simmer do not boil. Heat chocolate and stir frequently. When melted, remove from heat and let cool just a bit.

In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese until smooth, add vanilla and salt, gradually adding confectioner's sugar. Next, add chocolate, beat until blended well. Spread into prepared pan and smooth top. Chill for one hour.

Lift up the overlapped foil and remove fudge onto a cutting board, peel off the foil. Cut your fudge into squares and store in the refrigerator until you are ready for them.

Christmas Bear Cookies

Ingredients for cookies:

Two and three fourths cup all-purpose flour
One-teaspoon cinnamon
Fourth teaspoon baking soda
Fourth teaspoon salt
Half-cup brown sugar
Two tablespoons brown sugar
One stick butter
Three fourth cup molasses

Ingredients for filling:

Three fourth cup apple butter

Ingredients for decorations:

Eight ounces semi sweet chocolate
Twenty-four red candy coated chocolates

Directions for cookies:

Combine cinnamon, baking soda, salt and flour in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl beat on low speed, sugar and butter until light and fluffy then add molasses. Gradually add flour until a soft dough forms. Divide dough in half and refrigerate for one hour or overnight if desired.

Preheat oven to three hundred fifty degrees. Lightly grease two baking sheets. On floured surface roll out each dough, half until it is one eighth inch thick. Cut out twenty-four bear heads and place twelve bear heads onto baking sheet.

Next, place one-tablespoon apple butter in the center of each cookie, brush edges with water. Place other twelve cookie bear heads on top of filled cookies. Use a fork to seal the edges of the cookies. Bake until golden brown, usually eight to twelve minutes. Remove to wire rack for cooling.

Finally, fill pastry bag with melted chocolate and make eyes and a short line. Add a dab of chocolate for the red candy to attach to for the nose at the top of the line drawn.