Betty's Tips Nov/Dec 2015

Dear Readers,

It's that time again--the most wonderful time of the year. As the beauty of the fall leaves fades, the days get shorter, and Jack Frost nips at our noses, we can hardly escape the holiday feeling in the air.

So, of course, it is time to make lists, send cards, and find the perfect gifts for those we love. And what better gift can there be than a gift of food you've created yourself? For what writer can possibly complete the Great American Novel on an empty stomach?

But my skills are more attuned to the growing of food rather than to cooking, so I look for easy recipes. Here are some of my favorites:

Whether it's for a holiday party or a family get together, it's always nice to have easy hors d'oeuvres available to eat while folks chat and or watch the game. One I really like is SAVORY GLAZED MEATBALLS. With only twenty minutes of prep time and twenty minutes to cook, you can have them ready by halftime. For a meatless option, I like QUICK AND EASY STUFFED PEPPERS--especially if I can use peppers from my garden.

Do you need a hearty meal to feed visiting friends or family? (Or are you just looking for something super easy that will give you delicious leftovers?) This POT ROAST cooked in foil will not only fill that need, it makes clean-up easier, too. I like to serve it with this easy RUTABAGA PUREE. The flavors blend extremely well.

Nothing says autumn like apple pie, but nothing says IMPOSSIBLE like making a flaky pie crust. So, imagine my delight when I happened upon this recipe for easy APPLE PIE BITES--all the flavor of apple pie without all the fuss. You can even add VANILLA ICE CREAM if you dare--with or without an ice cream freezer!

Are you going to a holiday party and need to bring something sweet to share, but have very little time to bake? One delicious solution is OREO COOKIE BALLS. With only thirty minutes of preparation, you'll have a treat you're proud to share. But if you don't have thirty minutes, how about three? That's all it takes to makeROLO PRETZEL DELIGHTS. Three ingredients and three minutes is all it takes to make this sweet, salty, nutty wonder. Your friends will all want the recipe.

Do you want to get the kids involved? They will love making CLEMENTINE PUMPKINS. With only two ingredients, they will create a cute and delicious holiday decoration in no time, and they can say they made them themselves. Or, if you're a little more adventurous, you can help them make NO-BAKE OATMEAL COOKIES Yummy!

I guess one reason I'm so interested in food is that I've just been reading the Bethlehem Writers Group's latest anthology, A READABLE FEAST: SWEET, FUNNY, AND STRANGE TALES FOR EVERY TASTE. I've never seen so many different stories about food. They really mean it when they say their stories are sweet, funny, and strange. (I'll leave it up to you to decide which ones are which.)

So, until next time, happy holidays--and happy eating--to all.

Betty Wryte-Goode