The holidays are upon us with an abundance of the wonderful foods that accompany them. Malts, pies, cakes, mousses and similar delights will find their ways onto our plates. For those of us who love making our own sweet treats, I propose that you savor some of the following that are classic and which are some of my favorites.  I encourage you to try them, but beware all of the following desserts require some self control in order to keep the holiday pounds away from your waistline.

Sugar Cookies: These cookies are an easy way to make a sugary treat.  Basic, fun, and sweet, these cookies will prove to be a dessert that everyone is sure to love. For cookie connoisseurs, it is sacrilegious not to consume a warm sugar cookie during the holiday season.  Because sugar cookies are easy to make, they are a good choice when you want to produce a big batch of sweets. You can deliver these to your friends, bring them as gifts, or simply enjoy the goodness all to yourself.  These delicious pieces of crumbly goodness are sure to please anyone to whom you give them.

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 cup of butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups of white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Frosting, or other decorative toppings

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
3. In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Then add in egg and vanilla.
4. Combine both separate mixtures together and roll into little balls of dough approximating one inch.
5. Place balls onto lightly greased cookie sheets.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until ideal crispiness is achieved.
7. Let them cool, and enjoy! Top with raw sugar and frostings.

Apple Pie: This recipe may possibly earn you the new nickname, “Pie Master.” This apple pie is great for satiating those cravings resulting from sampling all the delicious pies offered during the holidays. Pie can be used as a wonderful gift for friends or a fantastic centerpiece. In giving up portions, give generously to your friends, but be sure to save some for yourself. This apple pie is both wholesome and beautiful.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 packets of granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 recipe for a 9 inch single crust pie
• 3 cups chopped granny smith apples

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 425º F.
2. Cook corn syrup, butter and flour until homogeneously mixed.
3. Add beaten eggs, vanilla and nutmeg into mixture. Stir well.
4. Put thinly sliced apples onto crust in a pretty pattern (spirals work very well).
5. Pour mixture over apples.
6. Bake pie for 15 minutes at 425 degrees; turn oven temperature to 350 degrees F and leave it in for another 30 minutes.
7. Let cool, and then enjoy. This pie is absolutely beautiful, so it is a great gift for family members.

Chocolate Mousse: This is a light treat that can be used to dress other desserts or it can stand on its own. Being especially rich, chocolate mousse is typically eaten in small amounts. For a wonderful contrast, it can be served with fresh berries or fruit.  Many enjoy eating this decadent treat garnished with white chocolate shavings as well.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon coffee-flavored liqueur (such as Kahlua)
• 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 tablespoons whipped cream, or berries, or shaved white chocolate

Procedure:

1. Melt chocolate chips with coffee-flavored liqueur; stir until smooth.
2. Stir a small amount of hot chocolate mixture into egg yolk.
3. Put chocolate and egg mixture back into pan.
4. Cook and stir for about two minutes or until smooth.
5. Remove chocolate and egg mixture from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
6. Cool while stirring.
7. Beat heavy cream in large bowl until it thickens.
8. Stir in sugar to cream; beat until soft peaks form.
9. Fold whipped cream mixture into cooled chocolate mixture.
10. Cover mixture and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
11. Garnish with delicious toppings and enjoy.

Homemade Granola: Healthy enough to eat as a meal, treat, or snack. This wonderfully crunchy granola can be served in any time of day and makes for a great gift. It is best served with a little milk or yogurt with some fresh fruit. This granola recipe works as well as a holiday treat or as an everyday breakfast. As with any granola recipe, this one can be personalized to fit specific tastes, so feel free to alternate in your favorite nuts or leave others out.

Ingredients:

• Oats
• Your choice of nuts (I chose walnut halves, pecan halves, almond slivers, almond slices  and cashew halves)
• A sweetener (I chose maple syrup)
• Seeds (I chose sesame seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds)
• Shredded coconut
• Walnut oil

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Mix all ingredients into large bowl. Quantities and types of nuts, seeds and coconut are optional. For every cup of oats, add approximately 0.15 cups of walnut oil. Drizzle maple syrup on top of mixture to your desired sweetness.
3. Bake until done: This granola can be warmed or baked until crispy.
4. Cool and enjoy.