Overwhelmed with Joy is hosting this wonderful Holiday Recipe Carnival.

I am so EXCITED. I love the holidays, I love recipes, and I love to EAT.

This carnival is perfect for me.

I kept going back and forth on what recipe to share and then finally decided on my families favorite holiday cookie. If you like pumpkin you will LOVE these. They are light and fluffy and oh so YUMMY. My sister Stacey gave me this recipe a few years ago and they quickly became a family favorite.

Soft Pumpkin Cookies:

1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup solid pack pumpkin
2 1/2 cups flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter, egg, and sugar together. Add vanilla and beat until fluffy. Sift flour, soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together. Add flour mixture and pumpkin alternately to butter and sugar mixture. Drop by rounded Tablespoon fulls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on your oven. Makes 3 dozen.

I always double this recipe. The neighbors looks forward to receiving these in their gift baskets each Christmas.


The second recipe is a simple one that my kids and hubby love. I usually make them for family holidays. Many of you may already make these but I had to include them. So EASY, and SO totally delicious.

Lil Smokies in the Crock Pot:

1 lb. bacon
1 pkg. lil smokies (if you buy the big package from Costco or Sams you can double the recipe)
1 box brown sugar

Cut bacon into thirds. Wrap one cut piece of bacon around 1 Lil smookie sausage and place toothpick through to hold. Place Lil smokie on baking sheet. Continue doing this until all sausages are wrapped in bacon. Cover the top of the smokies with brown sugar. I just do this by site but I would guess I use about half the box of brown sugar.

Cook smokies in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Take smookies out of oven. Turn over. Sprinkle other side with remaining brown sugar (just enough to cover them) and put back in oven for 30 minutes.

When the smokies are done place in a crock pot on low. Be sure to put all the caramelized yummy goo in their too. They will keep well in the crock pot for several hours.

These are always a huge hit at any party we have. Thanks Kathy for the recipe.

Remember, if you want to check out other family favorites, click on over to Overwhelmed for all the fun.

Labels: recipes