OK friends, I heard you loud and clear, I am supposed to post recipes when I post pictures of food. So I’m posting all the recipes I used for NYE 2012 (click the link for pictures).

Butter Cookies with Eggnog Icing
I really don’t like eggnog, but I love things flavored with eggnog! Eggnog Ice Cream was my favorite last year and this year I tried these little cookies. I had to add a little more sugar to the icing to thicken it a bit, otherwise I just the instructions.

Cheddar Cheese Bites
This is a recipe that’s been in my family for a while. My grandmother uses this recipe as “cheese straws” and they are really good. My mom turned them into “cheese stars”, which are basically bite size cheese straws. I decided to go for cheese crackers and forget the piping part…my way is MUCH easier.

3/4 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 stick butter
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 t salt
1/4 t cayenne pepper

Cream the cheese (yes, like creaming butter.  Be patient!) in a mixer.  In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt and pepper.  Add the butter to the cheese and continue mixing until thoroughly incorporated.  Add the flour mixture slowly and mix until smooth.

Form the dough into a block about 1 inch tall, you don’t need to be super precise.  Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (minimum 60ish minutes).  Once firm, remove from fridge and slice into 1 inch squares (~ 1/4 inch thick).

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Don’t let them brown too far.

NOTES:
Shredded Cheese: Don’t use store bought shredded cheese, they put cornstarch on it to keep it from sticking so it doesn’t cream properly. Buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself (or make your husband shred it!)

Cayenne Pepper: Use more or little depending on your tolerance for heat.

Spiced Pecans
These are totally addictive!!  The recipe calls for all sorts of kinds of nuts but I use the pecans from my great-grandmother’s pecan trees in Dothan Alabama.  Thanks Papa Don & Gigi for sending them every year!

I love these on their own and they also make fantastic salad toppings.  Spinach, these pecans, blue cheese crumbles, and dried cranberries.  Best salad ever!

Stuffed Dates
These are easy.  Buy dates from the store, pit them if they aren’t already pitted and stuff them with goat cheese and herbs.   If you don’t have any herbs on hand you can use dried herbs.  You can also sub Gorgonzola or blue cheese instead of goat cheese.

Prosciutto Bean Spread
I mixed the prosciutto and onions into the spread so it was easier to assemble at a party.

Enjoy!
K