Homemade Reese's

1 pkg graham crackers (approx. 12 full crackers)
1 c creamy peanut butter
1 c butter, melted
3 1/2 c powdered sugar
1 pkg milk chocolate chips
1 tsp canola oil

Crush crackers into a very fine powder. (Using a food chopper or blender is all but required to get the right consistency.)

Stir in melted butter and peanut butter.

Add in powdered sugar.

Still until mixed well. Press into bottom of an 9"x13" pan.

Melt chocolate chips in double boiler or microwave. Add a tsp of oil to the chocolate, so that it will be a bit softer when it hardens.

Refrigerate until cool. Remove from fridge about half an hour before cutting, to allow chocolate on top to soften a bit. If cut too soon, chocolate will crack!

Comments from the cook: I added a bit of oil to the chocolate this year (in hopes of avoiding the cracking), and it helped a lot! However, it does make the finished product a little bit melty when you pick it up. But, these are to-die-for. Little kids love them, and a whole pan is a LOT.

My mom and I used to roll these into balls and dip them in chocolate, but eventually started putting them in a pan. Much easier, and a lot less mess. Yum!

A Sleight family Christmas tradition, adapted over time

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c peanut butter (creamy)
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
white sugar (for rolling cookies in)

Cream butter, PB, sugars, egg, and vanilla.

Add dry ingredients.

Form into 1" balls, roll in white sugar, and place in greased miniature muffin tins.

Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes.

Remove from oven and quickly press a Hershey Kiss into the center of each cookie.

Cool and carefully remove from pans.

Makes about 3 dozen.

Comments from the cook: These cookies are a tradition for Brian's family, and he can't say no to them! Most of the text above is taken from the Cooks.com recipe, and the original recipe calls for a mini Reese's PB cup in the center of each. They are excellent that way...and super rich!

These cookies are a holiday favorite of ours, and we hope you like them too...

A Mathias family Christmas tradition, with a little help from the internet

Coconut Cream Pie

1 large box vanilla pudding
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 bag flaked sweetened coconut
2 8oz containers Cool Whip
1 TBSP butter
pie crust


Add butter to medium saucepan. Add flaked coconut and brown over medium heat. Stir as you go, to allow for even cooking.

Allow coconut to cool on a plate (covered with a paper towel). Should take half an hour or so.

Prepare vanilla pudding according to pie filling directions. Cool in fridge for 5 minutes.

Stir in flaked coconut (saving 1/2 cup out for topping) and one small container of Cool Whip.

Pour mixture into pie crust (my favorite homemade one can be found here, or bake a pre-made one according to the directions) and top with other container of Cool Whip and leftover 1/2 cup of coconut.

Best when prepared the night before...or after at least a few hours of refrigeration.

Comments from the cook: My FAVORITE. Not lying. Not exaggerating. My ALL TIME FAVORITE PIE. Even better when made in my mom's homemade crust. But, from what I've learned, most people aren't interested in making crust from scratch. So, just go ahead and settle with the store-bought kind. Granted, you won't know the full extent of the delicacy, but you'll get close enough to know what I've been ranting and raving about. MY FAVORITE.
Originally shared by my mom, a fellow ultimate-lover-of-all-things-pie.