It's a New Year for Eating

Greetings everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Ah yes, the day after Christmas. It’s time to shake off that hang over (until next week), celebrate Boxing Day and Kwanzaa, delve deeper into the functions of your Christmas presents, and snap yourself out of that food coma.

With just five days away until the new year, here are some recipes to lift your spirits regardless if you’re alone in welcoming 2015 or with friends and family.

5. Kahlu-hoo

Chocolate milk is a classic childhood staple. As an adult, a glass of Yoo-hoo is good every now and then, but why not shake it up for New Years? Simply fill your glass with Kahlua and Yoo-hoo. The best thing about this beverage is you can regulate how much you want of both ingredients. If you’re a featherweight, you can have a little Kahlua and a lot of Yoo-hoo. Or if you want an even balance, you can go half and half.

4. Bacon Jalapeño Cornbread

Not too long ago, I was given Fleischmann’s Cornbread Mix because I love baking. I also love bacon. Put those two together and you have a match made in the kitchen. You start off by making the cornbread mix (instructions are found on the back of the box) and throw in chopped up bacon and chopped up jalapenos. Make sure the seeds are out of them and proceed to bake as the instructions inform.

If you feel like adding a little cheese (whichever one you prefer, in this recipe I usually use cheddar) to your cornbread, there are two methods you can use. The first method is to allow your cornbread finish baking and remove it from the open. While it’s still hot, spray cheese wiz all over the top. The second method is to add cheddar cheese (bagged or sliced (I usually use the bagged one)) to the top layer of your cornbread while it’s almost done baking. If you add cheese to this recipe, sour cream would be a great for spreading onto the finished cornbread or dipping.

3. Pesto Dip

Pesto is what bacon is to chocolate: amazing; just like this recipe. Mix together 1 cup of mayonnaise, 1 cup of sour cream, 7 ounces of pesto sauce, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ black salt in a bowl. Chill it until you’re ready to serve or eat it no sooner you’re done making it.

2. Cream Cheese Candy

I think this is by far the easiest candy recipe I’ve ever seen in my life. It could be made by children, procrastinators, adults, dragons, anyone.  All you need to do is mix 1 (3 ounce) package of cream cheese, 3 cups of confectioner’s sugar, and ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract in a bowl until smooth. If you have any confectioner’s sugar left over, proceed to knead it into the dough. Afterwards, take the dough and shape it into ½ inch balls. Place them onto baking sheets, flatten them with a fork, and allow them to set up for an hour and twenty minutes. Proceed to eat them up when they’re nice and firm. For storing them, use an airtight container and put them in the refrigerator.

1. Snow Punch

Winter is the magical season where half the world freezes and is sometimes enchanted by the white wonder that is snow. Snow is a curse and a blessing for driving, school, and shoveling.  So who would want to drink this wintry weather? You do, of course!

Simply take 6 chopped up bananas, 2 cups of half and half cream, 1 cup of lemon juice, and 1 cup of white sugar and blend until smooth. Proceed to pour this concoction into a punch bowl and slowly stir in two liters of lemon-lime flavored soda. Top it all off with a scoop of Dumbeldore’s password (aka lemon sherbet) and serve it up.

If there is anything you like to read about on this blog, feel free to comment or PM me. Feedback is always welcome and I am always open to writing about new topics and ideas. Happy Holidays and here is tonight’s question:

What do you enjoy baking for the holiday season?