Mennonite Girls Can Cook is a collection of recipes which were posted daily for a period of ten years from 2008 to 2018. We have over 3,000 delicious recipes that we invite you to try. The recipes can be accessed in our recipe file by category or you can use the search engine.

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Thimble Cookies


These old fashioned cookies have been around for a long time and for many years they were part of my Christmas cookie repertoire. I'm not sure if everyone now would even know what a thimble is, let alone have one, but for me it brings back memories of my grandmother who seemed to have one to fit every finger. Growing up, any patching that needed doing in our household, was brought to her, and she was able to make things to be like new with her needle and thimble. Me, well I'm happy to just happy to remember her when I use her thimbles to bake cookies.

 Ingredients:
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 eggs, separated 
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • chopped nuts, about 2 cups, any kind you like
  1. Cream butter. Beat in egg yolks, (reserving whites for coating) sugar and salt.
  2.  Add combined dry ingredients. If you are doing this by hand, I find I need to add an extra (whole) egg to the mix if it seems rather crumbly.
  3.  Shape into ball. Divide into quarters. Roll each piece into log and cut into 12 pieces.
  4. Shape into small balls and dip into slightly beaten egg white, then into chopped nuts. 
  5. Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. 
  6. Press a hole into the center of each ball, using a thimble. Repeat when half baked. 
  7. Bake at 350° F for about 12 - 14 min. 
  8. When baked, repeat the thimble press. Fill with jam or jelly. We like raspberry or apricot jam.

from the kitchen of 13 comments:
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Cranberry Bliss Bars

Have I got a recipe for you! A few weeks back, I was visiting In a Garden...who was sharing her version of Starbuck's Cranberry Bliss bars.


Truth be told, I had never tried this Starbuck's holiday treat but they looked most delicious, so I just had to check them out for myself. We had friends coming over for coffee last night and I happened to have all the ingredients on hand...so here is my version. They are rather rich but most delightful!


Cranberry Bliss Bars

Cake:
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup diced dried cranberries
  • 6 oz. white chocolate, cut into chunks
Frosting:
  1. 4 oz. cream cheese, softened (half a brick)
  2. 3 cups icing sugar
  3. 4 teaspoons lemon juice
  4. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  5. 1/4 cup diced dried cranberries
Drizzled Icing:
  • 1/2 cup icing sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon milk
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable shortening
  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Make cake by beating butter and sugar together until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, ginger and salt and beat well. Gradually mix in flour until smooth.
  3. Dice cranberries. Add 3/4 cup cranberries and white chocolate chunks to batter; fold in.
  4. Pour batter into a well-greased 9" x 13" baking pan...spread evenly. Bake for 35 minutes or until cake is lightly browned on the edges. Allow to cool.
  5. Make frosting by combining cream cheese, icing sugar, lemon juice and vanilla in a medium bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Frost cooled cake, using spatula to spread evenly.
  6. Sprinkle 1/4 cup diced cranberries over freshly frosted cake
  7. Whisk together 1/2 cup icing sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and shortening. Drizzle icing over cranberries. I used a pastry bag with a fine tip.
  8. Allow cake to sit for several hours before slicing. 
  9. Slice the cake lengthwise through the middle; then cut across three times, making a total of eight rectangle slices. Slice each of these pieces in half diagonally.



Yield: 16 generous, yummy slices of cranberry bliss.

Enjoy!
from the kitchen of 16 comments:
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Peppermint Cookies

Last Christmas a group of us attended the Christmas Tour put on by one of our local churches. If you all remember, Lovella was very busy preparing her home for this event. As we travelled through one home, the hostess served these small button-like peppermint cookies. We tasted...we looked at each other thinking...Can we ask for this recipe? I dared and was not sorry. The hostess most delightfully shared her Peppermint recipe. Anyone can make these delicious cookies. And you don't need to run out to Funk's to purchase ammonia...it's hard to find, all you need is peppermint extract.


Ingredients
  • 1 cup whipping cream / heavy cream
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
  • 3 cups flour
  • shredded coconut
  1. Cream together the heavy cream, sugar, and egg. (do not whip the cream beforehand)
  2. Add baking powder, peppermint extract, and flour.
  3. Mix together into a soft dough, roll out and use small cookie cutters.
Icing Sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups icing sugar (powdered)
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 
  • pinch/drop of green food coloring
  1. Combine icing sugar, milk, and vanilla in a bowl.
  2. Stir in additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time until the icing is of a drizzling consistency and add a drop of green food coloring.
  3. Sprinkle shredded coconut on top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or till bottoms are barely brown.

Just another one of those simple recipes to spark up your Christmas repertoire.
from the kitchen of 40 comments:
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Christmas Menu Ideas

We have a special post for you today.
With all the Christmas gatherings, it would be a nice to offer you some menu ideas for this festive season. 
Everything from a cookie exchange with friends, fun in the snow with the kids to Christmas and New Year menu ideas. I hope you enjoy browsing through the recipes and getting some ideas to include in your own celebrations.
All the best wishes for this wonderful season to all our readers. It comes lovingly from our kitchens to yours.

Cookie Exchange


Anneliese's Angel Kisses



 
Judy's Rolo Cookies





Bev's Pfeffernuesse


Marg's Tee Gebaeck




Christmas Morning Brunch 

Christmas Dinner


How about trying a Glazed Ham instead of a turkey
Recipe from Anneliese


Charlotte's Meatballs

Anneliese's Yam Casserole

Betty's Gelatin Salad


Snow Party
While the kids are on Christmas vacation. Enjoy a day out playing in the snow. Come in out of the cold  and enjoy some hot chocolate to warm up is a good start. Enjoy these tasty recipes with your friends and family.


Anneliese's Surprise Spread

Betty's Wiener Rolls


Bev's Honig Kuchen

New Years Day Open House 


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