Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (8 page)

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Ideal slow cooker size: 1-qt.

30 caramels, unwrapped

1-2 Tbsp. water

¼ cup, plus 2 Tbsp., creamy peanut butter

¼ cup finely crushed peanuts,
optional

sliced apples, unpeeled

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave caramels and water for 1 minute on High. Stir. Microwave 1 minute more, or until smooth.

2. Add peanut butter and mix well. Microwave 30 seconds on High, or until smooth.

3. Stir in peanuts if you wish.

4. Transfer to a 1-qt. slow-cooker. Turn to Warm while serving.

5. Serve with sliced apples.

Note:

Red and green apples look very festive for the holiday season.

Have a popcorn and cranberry stringing party.

Lena Sheaffer, Port Matilda, PA

Chunky Sweet Spiced Apple Butter

Jennifer Freed

Harrisonburg, VA

Makes 4 cups

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 2- to 3-qt.

4 cups (about 1¼ lbs.) peeled, chopped Granny Smith apples

¾ cup packed dark brown sugar

2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

half a stick (4 Tbsp.) butter,
divided

1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. ground cloves

1½ tsp. vanilla

1. Combine apples, sugar, vinegar, 2 Tbsp. butter, cinnamon, salt, and cloves in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours.

3. Stir in remaining 2 Tbsp. butter and vanilla.

4. Cool completely before serving, storing, or giving away.

Pumpkin Butter

Emily Fox

Bethel, PA

Makes approximately 6½ cups

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 11-12 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.

6 cups pumpkin purée

2¾ cups light brown sugar

2½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1. Mix pumpkin purée, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice together in slow cooker.

2. Cook
uncovered
on Low for 11-12 hours, depending on how thick you’d like the butter to be. Cool.

3. Serve on bread or rolls for seasonal eating.

Note:

Refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.

Tip from Tester:

You could replace 3 cups pumpkin purée with 3 cups applesauce for a different twist on pumpkin butter.

Pear Butter

Betty Moore

Plano, IL

Makes 2-3 pints

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 11-13 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

10 large pears (about 4 lbs.)

1 cup orange juice

2½ cups sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. ground allspice

1. Peel and quarter pears. Place in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 10-12 hours. Drain. Discard liquid.

3. Mash or purée pears. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well and return to slow cooker.

4. Cover. Cook on High 1 hour.

5. Place in hot sterile jars and process, following the instructions of your canning equipment. Allow to cool undisturbed for 24 hours.

Use Christmas cookie-baking time as an opportunity to teach your children about how to measure ingredients, break eggs, and pour milk. Share your special cooking secrets. For example, I keep two knives or narrow spatulas in hot water while frosting cookies. When one gets sticky, I’m prepared with a fresh hot knife.

Orpha Herr, Andover, NY

Breakfast and Brunch Dishes

Western Omelet Casserole

Mary Louise Martin
, Boyd, WI

Jan Mast
, Lancaster, PA

Makes 10 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

32-oz. bag frozen hash brown potatoes,
divided

1 lb. cooked ham, cubed,
divided

1 medium onion, diced,
divided

1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese,
divided

18 eggs

1½ cups milk

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1. Layer one-third each of frozen potatoes, ham, onion, and cheese in bottom of slow cooker. Repeat 2 times.

2. Beat together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Pour over mixture in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 4-6 hours.

Note:

This is a great breakfast, served along with orange juice and fresh fruit.

Eggs ’n’ Spinach

Shirley Unternahrer

Wayland, IA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 1½-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.