Find Your People Episode 18

We continue our attempt to make Christmas less commercialized with our lists of our favorite food gifts.  Hear all the stories and get the recipes and tips on good food to give for any occasion, especially at the holidays.  As always, Mandee has great follows for Instagram and it is Katie’s turn to give her favorites.

Katie Food:

Gogy’s Cheese Muffins

2 sticks butter, melted

8 oz sour cream

2 c self rising flour, before sifting

2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese (packed), I use a big block

Grate cheese (yep you have to).  Add melted butter to sour cream and stir together.  Sift 

in flour and stir.  Add cheese and mix well.  Grease mini muffin tins.  Bake at 400 for 

15-20 minutes.  **I find ovens are finicky with these, so I only bake 2 tins at a time.  I 

also have to start with 15 min and then figure out how each oven cooks them.  My last 

oven took 17. This one takes 19.

Mrs. Bowdre Cookies

1 bag caramels

⅔ c evaporated milk, divided

½ c butter softened

6 oz pkg chocolate chips

1 box Butter Recipe Yellow

Combine caramels and ⅓ c evaporated milk in double boiler.  Melt all caramels, stirring 

constantly.  Combine cake mix, remaining ⅓ c evaporated milk and butter, mixing with 

electric mixer until dough holds together.  Press ¼ cake mixture into a greased 9x13 

Pyrex.  Bake at 350 for 16 min or until lightly browned.  Remove from oven and sprinkle

chocolate chips over crust.  Pour melted caramel mixture over chocolate chips, 

spreading evenly.  Drop remaining cake mixture over caramel mixture.  Return to oven 

and bake about 20 min more.  Do not let overbake.  Cool.  Chill before cutting into 

squares.

Russian Tea Mix

2 ½ c. Tang

.5 oz instant lemonade mix 

(I have a hard time finding this and the tea, so I use the lipton lemon iced tea)

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp ground cloves

1 c. instant tea (I use the lemon tea)

2 c sugar

Mix all ingredients thoroughly.  Place in airtight containers.  Use at least 2 heaping

teaspoons in a cup of boiling water. (I use more)  Also good with a splash of bourbon.

Cheezits

2 large boxes of Cheezits

½ cup oil

1 pkg ranch dressing mix

1 ½ tsp dill

1 ½ tsp garlic powder

Mix oil and spices.  Pour over Cheezits and mix to coat.  Put Cheezits on a cookie sheet 

and bake at 350 for 10 min.  Let cool.  Enjoy.

Vanilla – put vanilla beans in an airtight container and cover with vodka or bourbon.  Initially soak for 3 months.  Add more alcohol when it gets low for a continuous bottle of vanilla.

Local gift boxes - https://pearsonfarm.com/collections/gifts

Mandee Food:

Mulled Wine kits - 

Dried oranges: https://www.goodlifeeats.com/how-to-make-dried-orange-slices/

Kits: https://tasty-yummies.com/how-to-make-a-mulled-wine-kit/

Homemade Irish cream

https://smittenkitchen.com/2016/12/homemade-irish-cream/

Cookie Trays - 

Something chocolate, something fruity, whatever else you want 

NYT - “How to Make the Perfect Cookie Box” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/dining/holiday-cookie-box.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CU0.a7lw.Opf45SomWv-X&smid=url-share

Grossy Pelosi on Instagram

Rugelach - NYT recipe Cherry Rugelach with cardamom sugar. Smitten kitchen also has a recipe

Salted Caramel and Peanut butter shortbread - https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023717-salted-caramel-and-peanut-butter-shortbread?unlocked_article_code=1.CU0.lpFm.fj4oldUibvIk&smid=share-url

Mandee’s Cousin and southern maker, Lee!

Highland Gourmet Scones | "Best Scones This Side of the Atlantic" | Mail Order Scones Online

Katie Favorites:

Substack App

Poetic Outlaws

Letters of Note

Smitten Kitchen

Podcasts

Pod Save the King

Batch by The Bitter Southerner

Hard Knocks on HBO Max

Bo the Dog – Kirk Herbstreit’s Dog