Tuna Pasta Salad

This salad is a recipe from my grandma Mimi.  She used to make this every Christmas and served it in the exact same bowl every year.  The same bowl I serve it in now. I like it most of all because it reminds me of her, but also because it is so tasty and a change of pace from all the heavy holiday foods.  It is also great for several days after when you have had it up to your ears in sweets!  Mimi was very special to me and I'm glad that every year at Christmas this recipe (and bowl!) reminds me of her.

Tuna Pasta Salad
From: Mimi


Ingredients:
1 large can tuna (drained)
3 - 4 celery stalks (diced)
1/2 onion (diced)
1/2 green pepper (diced)
radishes for color (optional - I didn''t use them)
6-8 hard boiled eggs (chopped)
1 box small shells (boiled and drained)
1 small can baby peas
Mayo (to taste and consistency)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Mix together all ingredients adding the boiled eggs and peas last.

2. Refrigerate for several hours. Sprinkle paprika on the top if desired and serve!

Avocado Special Delivery

I received a very special delivery from my Brother 3 days before Christmas.  He got a big box of avocados straight from the grower and sent me about 10 of them!  What an excellent Christmas surprise.  I love avocados but we usually don't see any good ones around here during the cold winter. The first one was ripe enough to eat on Christmas and you better believe this week will be jammed packed full of avocados for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Thanks David! What a great and generous surprise!

Also - here is a picture of Buckley digging into her Christmas stocking yesterday!

Peanut Butter Bars

 One of my favorite Christmas treats my mom used to make was Peanut Butter Bars.  I love peanut butter and chocolate and this is like an entire pan of Reese's Peanut Butter cups, so of course I would love these. This was one of the recipes I included in my 5th grade recipe book that I mentioned in the last post. 

 The picture I drew to go with the recipe was very high quality (I also love the greasy PB finger smudges - you can tell this recipe is well loved even if the picture stinks!).

 I think it is supposed to be me with an apron on and 2 people grabbing for the last peanut butter bar.  Although it looks a lot like they are reaching for the knife and what looks like a scissors (I think it is supposed to be a spatula).  I guess we can all see why I didn't become a world famous artist!

Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup melted butter

2 cups peanut butter

1 lb powdered sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 Tbsp butter

Directions:

1.  Spray a cookie sheet with PAM. Mix together 1/2 cup melted butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and brown sugar together and spread on cookie sheet.

2. Refrigerate 15 - 30 min.  

3.  Melt chocolate chips and 2 Tbsp butter together and spread on top. Enjoy!

Frosted Mint Bars

When I was in 5th Grade, our class all brought in our favorite recipes and made a cookbook for a fundraiser.  Ths is one of the recipes I always liked from the book.  I think they are perfect for this time of year with the green frosting and mint flavor.

When my mom gave me this book a while back it was fun looking though all the recipes, but was most entertaining was the pictures we all drew with them.   I'll post a picture from one of my recipes next time... it is a real winner.

Frosted Mint Bars
From: Ricky Fairbarin - 5th grade recipe book

Ingredients:
Bars:
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tsp Vanilla
2 eggs
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Frosting:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter softened
1/8 cup milk
1/4 tsp peppermint
green food coloring
1 square unsweetened chocolate

Directions:
1. Mix sugar and butter, vanilla, & eggs.  Add other Bar ingredients.   Stir until creamy.

2. Pour into greased 8x8 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Let cool. 

3. Frosting: Mix Powdered sugar with butter.  Then add milk and peppermint and mix.  Add 3 drops of green food coloring.  Spread over brownies (once they are cool).  Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

4. Melt square of unsweetened chocolate and then drizzle over Bars.

No-Bake cookies

 
I got this recipe from my friend Madison at work.  They are tasty, and easy and I like the oatmeal in them!

No-Bake Cookies 
From: Sara Major

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
4 Tbsp cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 cups oatmeal
waxed paper

Directions:
1. In a heavy sauce pan bring to a boil the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk.

2. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter and vanilla.  Once that is mixed, add oatmeal.

3.  On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened.