Weather update, our Christmas goodies list and a few recipes from the list!

Okay last night it wasn't as cold, 2F at 6am, there was cloud cover. Although the moon still lit up the night, so much so that it looked like twilight at 1am, when I was up stoking the stove. Mike took the 3:30/ 4am stoking. The cloud cover has moved off and we have crisp blue skies and sunshine. It's currently 6F with a windchill of most likely below 0. The animals were all snug in their beds last night and eagerly waiting for their breakfast at 6am. Cortney is keeping the chicken shut in, so their coop stays warm, besides they really don't want to venture out into the snow. The turkeys, well.... they have shelter but would rather stand out in the cold, shivering, standing on one foot. Honestly I don't feel very sorry for them, because it's of their own choosing. Here is our Christmas goody list, which we will begin working on getting two made each day. Especially since we have a few packages, of goodies, to mail by next week. Best Ever Caramels Chocolate Carmel Thumbprints( this is a new one we'll try) Choc. Peanut Clusters( easy) Seven Layer Cookies Peanut Brittle ( easy) Peppermint Fudge( easy) Ribbon Fancy Fudge Gingerbread Cookies Christmas Time Sugar cookies ( made with cream cheese) Applesauce Fruitcake ( not a traditional fruitcake at all) Russian Tea Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Peanut butter Snowballs( easy) Now we did inventory of ingredients and this is all we will need to buy, the rest we already have on hand( well stocked pantry in action) ; 6pkgs. of cream cheese peppermint candies/ candy canes peanut butter chips dry roasted peanuts 2 pints of heavy whipping cream( since we're dry until April *sigh*) possibly a few bags of semi sweet choc. chips( we still need to dig into the freezer and check on that) Now I don't think that's a bad list, considering the amount of goodies that will be made*wink* I will share any recipe, you might be interested in, but for now I'll post a few of our absolute favorites! Disclaimer: These are NOT low sugar recipes *wink* We do substitute Raw Cane Sugar for white sugar and add a Tbsp. or so of molasses to the cane sugar as a substitute for brown sugar. Christmas only comes once a year, just remember to take fewer goodies on your plate *wink* Peppermint Fudge 1-1/2 tsp. butter, softened( no substitutes) 2oz. cream cheese, softened 2c. powdered sugar 3 Tbsp. baking cocoa 1/2 tsp milk 1/2 tsp vanilla extract( no substitutes) 1/4c. chopped nuts( your choice) Peppermint layer: 2oz. cream cheese, softened 2c. powdered sugar 1/2 tsp milk 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract 1/4c. crushed peppermint candy Line the bottom and sides of an 8x4x2" pan with foil . Grease the foil with 1-1/2 tsp butter; set aside. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, gradually add sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla. Stir in nuts. Spread into prepared pan and chill for 1 hour For the peppermint layer, beat cream cheese, in small mixing bowl. gradually beat in sugar, milk and extract. Stir in peppermint candy. Spread evenly over choc. layer and chill for 1 hour. Using foil lift fudge from pan and gently peel off the foil. Cut into small squares( it's rich, to say the least) Yield: 1-1/2 lbs Ribbon Fancy Fudge 3c. sugar 3/4c. butter 2/3c.( 5-1/3 oz can) evaporated milk 6 oz. semi sweet choc. chips 7 oz. jar of marshmallow creme 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 c. creamy peanut butter Combine 1-1/2 c. sugar, 6 tbsp butter and 1/3c. milk in a saucepan. Bring to a full boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling for 4 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in choc. chips until melted. Add 1c. marshmallow creme( 1/2 a jar), 1/2 tsp vanilla and beat until well blended. Pour into a well greased 13x9" pan. Chill While chilling repeat the recipe with the remaining ingredients, substituting in peanut butter for choc. chips. Spread over choc. layer and chill. This is a very rich fudge, so cut the squares small. Makes 3lbs. Christmas Time Cookie Dough( extra rich sugar cookie) 2 pkgs. 8oz. cream cheese, softened 1c. butter( no substitutes), softened 1-1/3c. sugar 2tsp. vanilla 4c. flour( we sub. in 2c. whole wheat and 1-1/2 c. unbleached) 1/2tsp. salt Blend cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla at med. speed, until well blended Add flour and salt, mix well. Divide dough into 3 equal balls, wrap in wax paper and chill for 1-2 hours. Preheat oven to 375F Roll out dough to desired thickness, cut with cookie cutters. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges of cookies are golden brown. Makes 1-1/2 dozen( depending on size of cookie cutters) Glaze: 1-1/2c. powdered sugar 1Tbsp. butter, softened 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, (no substitutes) 1/8 tsp. salt 2-1/2 Tbsp. milk or sour cream 2-3 oz. cream cheese, softened Mix ingredients until smooth. This icing is semi hard, when dry. Applesauce Fruitcake 3c. unsweetened applesauce 1/2 lb(1c.) butter 2c. sugar 2 eggs 1tsp. ground cinnamon 1tsp ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ground allspice 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1 tsp baking powder 2tsp. baking soda 4c. flour ( if you sub. in whole wheat, decrease the unbleached by 1/2c.) 1tsp. salt 1lb. chopped walnuts 1-8oz. jar of maraschino cherries( drained, saving the juice) Slice cherries in half and add 1/2c. flour to thoroughly coat them. Melt butter in hot applesauce, stirring to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and add sugar and eggs, mixing in well. Sift dry ingredients together and add gradually to hot applesauce mixture, mix thoroughly. Add nuts and floured cherries, stir well. Now add into batter mix the save cherry juice and blend well. Fill bread pans 1'2 full and bake at 350F for 1 hour, or until golden brown on top and toothpick comes out clean. That's all I can handle typing at this moment, the rest will be by request*wink* Blessing to each of you and may your day be filled with productivity and JOY!