Christmas Recipes: Apples, Sweet Potatoes And A Quick Breakfast Brunch
December 24, 2011
Today’s Christmas recipes feature an Apple Caramel Pudding and a Sweet Tater Cheesecake. We also have a Farmer’s Omelet Casserole that’s easy to cook and would provide a hearty Christmas morning breakfast or brunch for everyone.
To submit your recipes to share with our readers, email them to news@northescambia.com.
Farmer’s Omelet Casserole
by Terri Brown
- 3 cups frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
- 1 cup chopped green pepper, divided
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 18 large eggs, beaten
- 2 1/3 cups chopped cooked ham
- 1 1/4 cups chopped tomato, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (coarse grind is best)
- 1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Cook potato, 3/4 cup green pepper and onion in oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly, 8 min. or until tender. Cool potatoes if preparing the night before. Combine potato mixture, eggs, ham, 1 cup tomato, salt and black pepper in a large bowl; stir well. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Bake, uncovered at 325 for 40 minutes or until golden. Top with remaining 1/4 cup green pepper and 1/4 cup tomato. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake 5 more minutes until cheese melts.
Apple Caramel Pudding
by Janet Smith
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups chopped peeled apples
Combine first five ingredients; then add apples and milk. Blend thoroughly and pour into 8″ square pan.
Combine:
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup boiling water
Mix sugar, boiling water and butter and pour over the batter already in pan. Bake
at 375 degree oven for 45 minutes. Seeve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Very simple but rich dessert. Serves 4 to 6
Sweet Tater Cheesecake
- 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 cup whipping cream (cool whip will work if no cream handy)
- 1 1/2 cups sweet potatoes, mashed (NOT CANNED)
Graham Cracker-Pecan Crust
- 2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
- Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 425°.
Crust:
Combine crust ingredients thoroughly; press into a 10-inch springform pan.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, and eggs until smooth; beat in flour, cinnamon, and ginger. Beat cream and well-mashed sweet potatoes in on medium speed of a hand held mixer just until well-combined. Pour the batter into the prepared crust. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes; lower heat to 275° and bake 1 hour longer. Turn heat off and leave in the oven to cool for several hours, or cool on a wire rack. Serve with sweetened whipped cream or caramel sauce.
Photos: Century’s Old Fashioned Christmas Light Display
December 24, 2011
Thousands of cars pass the Century Roadside park each evening, very few stopping to enjoy the old-fashioned Christmas lights.
The lights, which became Century’s after the City of Pensacola upgraded some number of years ago, include a large North Pole house, “The Jolly Trolley”, and Santa with his sleigh and reindeer.
Today, we take you inside the park at North Century Boulevard (Hwy 29) and Hecker Road for an up close and personal look at the lights.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: No. 1 North Pole Place, part of the Town of Century’s Christmas lights display. Pictured inset: A clown fires and “animated” cannon. Pictured below: The Jolly Trolley. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Video: Animated Christmas Lights In Bogia
December 23, 2011
A Bogia family has a Christmas light display that is animated to music.
The display is located at 200 Cotton Creek Road, just west of Highway 29 between Bogia Road and Highway 164. The display is open to the public from dark until 9:00 nightly.
NorthEscambia.com photo/video.
(If you do not see the video above, it is because your home or work firewall is blocking external videos.)
Photos: Bluff Springs Double Rainbow
December 23, 2011
Thursday’s rain and storms gave way to rainbows in some parts of North Escambia. Philip Bell photographed this double rainbow about 4:45 Thursday afternoon in Bluff Springs.
Photos by Phillip Bell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo: Bells Will Be Ringing
December 22, 2011
The bells were ringing with the spirit of Christmas Wednesday night as a newly formed hand bell team at the First Baptist Church of Bratt performed for the church’s annual Christmas dinner.
The “Belles of Bratt” were led by Dianna Hawsey in songs such as Angels We have Heard on High, Silent Night, Carol of the Bells and Gentle Mary Laid Her Child.
Team members are Susan Amerson, Kasey Baggett, Karen Brown, Laura Chavers, Brenda Dunsford, Wille Jean Edwards, Patricia Gregory, Gayle Hanks, Debbie Hester, Star Pugh, and Kim Sanders.
Submitted photos by Marcella Wilson for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Christmas Gift Idea: Jay Historical Society Cookbook
December 22, 2011
The Jay Historical Society is offering a unique last minute Christmas gift – the group’s cookbook with a side of history entitled “Tastes and Tales of the Great Pine Level”.
The 200-page book is available now for a $20 donation to the historical society at Jay Pharmacy, Duramed, The Iron Gate, Town of Jay, Kountry Kuts, and Uptown Salon. For more information, call (850) 675-0406, 675-3772 or 675-6480.
20,000 Kids Around The World To Receive Christmas Gifts From Escambia Area
December 21, 2011
Over 20,000 children around the world will receive a small box of hope this Christmas, thanks to dozens of Escambia area churches.
The churches and individuals donated a total of 20,057 simple, gift-filled shoe boxes as part of the 17th year of Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. The First Baptist Church of Bratt served as an official “relay center” for North Escambia while also accepting boxes from Escambia County, Ala.
The Christmas boxes collected at FBC Bratt will be delivered to children in Panama, Ukraine, Macedonia, Bahamas, Uganda, Lebanon, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Seychelles, Togo, Benin, Belize, Ecuador and Madagascar.
“It is so exciting,” student Pastor Tim Hawsey, who coordinated the program at First Baptist Bratt, said. “Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational non-profit organization that has mission’s opportunities all over the world. This is about being a blessing and bringing God’s love and hope to children in poverty around the world that would not receive it otherwise.”
While the collection effort was a success this year, Hawsey hopes to see an increase next year.
“Maybe next year we can double our intake because even with the millions of boxes turned in nationwide, there will still be many children that will not get a box because of the vast number of needy children in the world,” he said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Country Christmas: Hay Bales Used To Create Santa, Snowman
December 20, 2011
North Escambia residents have turned to round hay bales to create a couple of interesting Christmas displays.
At the Miller home near Walnut Hill, hay bales have been used to create Frosty the Snowman — complete with a corncob pipe. The display is located in the 3000 block of Highway 97, just north of Hendricks Lane.
And at the Century Branch Library, a hay bale Santa uses plenty of locally grown cotton to create the beard for a huge Santa Claus.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
A Christmas Gift: Teen With Leukemia Uses Her One Wish To Help Others
December 19, 2011
Leukemia patient Sarah Kelly, an Escambia County teen, was recently granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Rather than choose most anything she wanted as a wish for herself, she decided to go on a shopping spree and purchase items needed for the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola.
Sarah said she understands what children and families like her own go through first hand, and she was hoping to bring some happiness to those in need this Christmas season.
Sunday, Sarah began her day at her favorite restaurant — Carrabba’s Italian Grill. She then made her way to the Wal-Mart on Creighton Boulevard who provided a $100 gift card to help out with her purchases. She also visited the Lowe’s on Airport Boulevard where she received additional discounts and her very own check-out lane.
Santa Trades Sleigh For Fire Truck To Visit McDavid Area Children
December 18, 2011
Santa Claus traded in his sleigh Saturday for a big red fire truck as he visited boys and girls across the McDavid Fire Department district. The Jolly Old Elf stopped at children’s homes, visiting with children and listening carefully to those last minute Christmas wishes.
The McDavid Volunteer Fire Department has provided the Santa escorts for about 20 years.
Pictured above and below: Santa Claus visited with children around McDavid Saturday thanks to the McDavid Fire Department. NorthEscambia.com and submitted photos by Mandi Kinley, click to enlarge.
