one of our family’s traditional New Year’s Eve drinks

Bring to a boil in saucepan:
6 c. water
2 c. sugar

Boil 3 minutes.  Cool completely.  Then add:

46 oz. can pineapple juice
12 oz. can frozen lemonade
6 oz. can frozen orange juice
(or juice & pulp from 4 lemons & 5 oranges)

Mash & add to above:
5 bananas

Freeze mixture for at least 24 hours before serving.  Thaw until you can scoop it out into cups.  Thin with 7-up until slushy in  consistency.  (Takes approximately four 28 oz. bottles 7-up per recipe.)

I adore ginger and molasses cookies.  In most every form I’ve ever tasted.  But a few weeks ago, Merritt found a recipe for Giant Ginger Cookies in our Better Homes and Gardens cook book that is my new favorite.  (Yes, my hubby not only made me cookies, but my favorite kind!)  We made a few additions–cane sugar and crystallized ginger–for chewy ginger cookies even my hubby likes.  But my sister’s recipe for dipped gingersnaps is yummers, too–so be sure to try both and make the house really smell like Christmas!

Giant Ginger Cookies
4 1/2 c. flour
2-4 t. ground ginger
2 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt
1 1/2 c. shortening
2 c. sugar
1/4 c. crystallized ginger, chopped
2 eggs
1/2 c. molasses

Shape into two inch balls using a 1/4 cup measure or scoop.  Roll balls in raw cane “turbinado” sugar.  Place 2 ½ inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 11 to 13 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.  Don’t overbake.  Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes.  Cool on rack.

My mother-in-law has the most fabulous recipe for scalloped potatoes. It is rich and delicious yet the most simple of recipes to make!

1. Line greased pan with peeled, sliced raw potatoes (we slice them using the attachment to our Kitchen Aid to get nice thin slices).
2. Sprinkle salt and pepper over every few layers.
3. Pour whipping cream and milk over the potatoes.
4. Bake uncovered until it starts to brown, then cover with foil until all the potatoes are fork tender (several hours total cooking time).