This holiday season, we’re most grateful for all of our wonderful readers. While we wish we could have you all over to the office to celebrate the upcoming holidays, parking would probably be a bit tight. So instead, here are a few tried-and-true favorites that grace our holiday tables every year.

VIDEO!  Easy instructions for decorating cupcakes with your kid.

 

Ginger Orange Mashed Sweet Potatoes

By Kimberly Mayer, HVP Media Advisor

2 pounds sweet potatoes

1/2 cup butter

3 tbsp orange juice

1 tbsp honey

2 tsp freshly grated ginger

1 tsp orange zest

Salt and pepper to taste

Wash the potatoes, then prick them all over with a fork, wrap them in paper towels, and microwave on high for 30 minutes or until they begin to ooze syrup. Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh with a spoon into a large bowl. Add the butter, honey, juice, zest, ginger, salt and pepper, and mix with a potato masher or a hand mixer until smooth. Cover to keep warm until ready to serve.

 

Cut back the sugar with these cooking tips!

 

Cheesy Hash Brown Potato Casserole

By Pam Soscia

2 lb. bag frozen hash browns

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup melted butter

10 oz. bag cheddar cheese

16 oz container sour cream

2 cups crushed corn flakes

1/4 cup melted butter

Mix hash browns, soup, onion, ½ cup melted butter, cheddar cheese and corn flakes together.

Place in a 13 x 9 casserole pan, then top with the corn flakes and remaining ¼ cup of melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes

 

Mom’s Artichoke Dip

By Pam Soscia

 

1 jar of artichokes, drained and chopped

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 cup of parmesan cheese

1 cup of shredded mozzarella

Mix above ingredients and sprinkle top with bread crumbs. Heat in 350 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes until it begins to bubble. Serve with crackers or baguettes.

 

 Grandma’s Holiday Cookies

By Pam Soscia, Advertising Assistant

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup oleo (margarine)

1 tsp soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla

3 1/2 cups flour

Combine the sugar and margarine. Mix the soda and buttermilk together and add this to the sugar/margarine mixture. Mix all the remaining ingredients together and gradually add that to buttermilk mixture.

Refrigerate dough up to 4 hours or overnight. Roll out and use your favorite cookie cutters.

Bake at 400 degrees for 4-6 minutes. Cool on a rack, then frost and decorate as desired. Here’s the frosting my grandmother always used:

 

Buttercream Frosting

1 lb. confectioner's sugar 10-X

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 Tablespoons milk

In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter, vanilla and milk together until smooth. If needed, add a little more milk to get frosting to a spreading consistency.