I thought I’d share a couple of favorite recipes from this holiday season.

I turned my mother on to the Pioneer Woman Cooks blog, which is, in a word, fabulous, and I don’t even really enjoy cooking. She made Ree’s bread pudding with whiskey sauce Christmas weekend and we were all practically licking our plates. OK, so we did lick our plates. This stuff is so good it’s not funny and I’m not even a fan of bread pudding. I am now a convert. I have seen the light! Ree used good ole Tennessee Jack Daniels. Everything goes better with Jack.

I made this artichoke feta dip Christmas day and my family devoured it. The pimientos make it nice and festive, too. I clipped the recipe years ago from the Sunday newspaper coupons.

Artichoke Feta Dip

1 14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained, chopped

1 8 oz. pkg. Feta cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1 cup regular or light mayo (I use light)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 2 oz. jar diced pimientos, drained

Mix all ingredients

Spoon into 9-inch pie plate or 3-cup shallow baking dish

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until slightly browned.

Serve with assorted crackers, veggies, or pita triangles.

Makes 2 cups.

I also made this chocolate pie Christmas Day because I had to redeem myself for totally screwing it up last Saturday. I doubled the ingredients and forgot to double one key ingredient and the pie was liquid. One of my co-workers at my last job brought it to a holiday potluck and I had to have the recipe. I think those end up being the “keepers” from year to year.

Chocolate Silk Pie

1 1/2 cups sugar (my mother suggested I cut back on the sugar…I’ll let you be the judge)

3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

3 eggs, beaten

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted (I use fully leaded buttah)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 deep dish pie crust, frozen

Combine sugar and cocoa powder. Whisk in remaining ingredients. Pour chocolate mixture into frozen pie crust. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven on preheated baking sheet for 30 to 35 minutes or until center puffs. Cool completely. Garnish with whipped topping, if desired.

My sister-in-law made Southern Living cheese grits last weekend and they were awesome.

Hubby and I are going to have a nice New Year’s Eve dinner date and I’m really looking forward to it. What about you? Any big plans?

See you in 2008!