Karen's Refrigerator Cake

Refrigerator Cake
Recipe and picture courtesy of Karen Dirgins-Graves

aka the easiest cake to make in the history of cake making:
What you need--1 package of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers1 bowl of whipped cream (you can use Cool Whip, but it doesn't turn out as good)

Directions:
Sandwich the cookies with the whipped cream to make a cookie log, then ice the whole thing with whipped cream. Refrigerate overnight for the cookies get a chance to soft.

Whipped Cream: 1 pint heavy whipping cream, 2 tbsp. confectioners sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla. Beat with a electric mixer until soft peaks form.

Karen's Tadals or Anise Drop Cookies

Picture and Recipe courtesy of Karen Dirgins-Graves

Cookies:

6 eggs
3/4 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. anise flavoring
2 tbsp. baking powder
4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Icing:

3 cups confectioner's sugar
1/2 hot milk

pinch of anise flavoring

Cream together eggs, butter, and sugar. Add anise.
Mix dry ingredients together. Add to creamed mixture.

Drop by teaspoonful onto a nonstick cookie sheet.

Bake at 350, 8-15 minutes. Allow to cool before icing and add sprinkles.

Valerie's Shephard's Pie

Recipe courtesy of: Valerie Alava Ross

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
Couple cloves crushed garlic
3/4 cup chopped carrots
Small can corn
1 Can beef gravy
Mash potatoes
Shredded cheese
Browned ground beef in garlic.

Directions:

Drain meat. Sauté onion and carrots in meat till soft. Add corn and gravy and mix well. Transfer to greased baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes and shredded cheese.

Bake @ 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or till bubbly.

Swedish Glog (mulled wine)

Ingredients:

2 cups water
12 cardamom seeds
2 whole cloves
1/2 orange, zested
1 cup white sugar
1 cup raisins
1 cup blanched almonds
4 cups Muscatel wine, or orange Muscat
4 cups port wine (or Burgundy)
2 cups brandy

Directions:

Bring water to a boil with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest; stir in sugar until dissolved. Remove from heat, and allow to steep overnight.
Place the raisins and almonds into a large saucepan. Strain the sugar water into the raisins, then pour in Muscatel, port, and brandy. Place over medium-high heat, and cook until hot but not simmering.
Serve warm in a mug with some fruit and almonds in each cup.