"Cooking with Betty"
Special Christmas goodies
Betty Jacobs

During the holidays, I like to share homemade recipes for special sweets that are wonderful for giving and sharing with friends and loved ones.

This month's recipes include Cheese Cookie Squares, Date Skillet Cookies, Pecan Raisin Muffins and Pralines.

Enjoy and happy holidays!

Cheese Cookie Squares 1 box yellow cake mix 1 stick margarine, softened 1 egg 1 box powdered sugar (reserve 1/4 cup for topping) 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 2 more eggs

Mix together cake mix, margarine and 1 egg. Pat with clean hands into 9x13-inch greased and floured pan. Mix together powdered sugar, cream cheese and 2 eggs. Beat for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth. Pour over cake mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. It will look soft while hot. Dust with powdered sugar. Cool 30 minutes and cut into squares.

Hint: I keep leftovers in refrigerator.

Date Skillet Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped dates
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup nuts, chopped
3 cups Rice Krispies
Angel flake coconut

Put sugar, dates, egg and butter in skillet and cook over low heat until sugar and dates are melted. Add vanilla, nuts and Rice Krispies. Form into balls about the size of English walnuts and roll into coconut. (Do not make balls too firm).

Makes about 50 cookies.

Pecan-Raisin Muffins

1 3/4 cups flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/3 cup margarine 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/3 cup raisins (light or dark) 1 egg, beaten 3/4 teaspoon milk

Mix flour, sugar and baking powder. Add margarine, mix until coarse. Mix in pecans and raisins. Beat together egg and milk. Add to mixture slowly. Fill 12 greased muffin cups or use paper cups about 3/4 full.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

For breakfast, you can add 1/2 cup grated cheese and 1/3 cup crumbled cooked crisp bacon to mixture.

Makes 12 regular muffins.

Pralines

1 box light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
Dash salt
1/2 can evaporated milk plus 1/3 cup
25 light caramels (like Brach's)
2 cups pecans (broken pieces)

Mix sugars, milk and salt in large saucepan. Cook to a soft ball stage (in cold water). Remove from heat and add caramels. Beat by hand until smooth. Add pecans and drop by spoonfuls on to waxed paper.

Delicious!