Snacks For Santa

By Susan M. Thigpen © 1987

Issue: December, 1987

At Christmas time, children's thoughts turn to Santa Claus. Does he really know if they've been naughty or nice? Does he really know what they want him to bring? Will he find their house? Will he have any toys left after delivering toys to all the children in the world? To make sure Santa feels welcome in their home, most children set out a snack for Santa before they go to bed. This traditional snack varies from house to house. Some families leave out milk and cookies. Some families leave out a cup of coffee and fruit cake. Many times it is left beside one last note to Santa reminding him what the children in this particular house want.

When Santa comes to your house this year, you might like to leave him a snack of some of the following recipes. The recipe for Chocolate is the richest drink to be made and fit for a king. If you know a Santa who particularly loves chocolate, he will know just how special he is to you when you fix him this. The other recipes are a very good traditional plain pound cake, old fashion caramel pie and oatmeal bread. There are also some recipes to use if you have a sour dough starter. You can buy sour dough starter at a variety of stores or get a start from someone who keeps it going. It makes a nice present for someone who likes to bake and you could include the following sour dough recipes with the starter gift.

Remember that home baked goodies are always welcome presents at Christmas or any other time of the year.

Hot Chocolate

(Number Served: 1. You can multiply the number of ingredients by the number of servings you wish to make.)

This richer beverage is suited for parties and special occasions for which it may be topped with whipped cream or a marshmallow. The color is darker than that of cocoa.

Double Boiler
Measuring Cup
Measuring Spoon
Wooden Spoon
Rotary Beater

1/4 oz. square of chocolate
2 teaspoons sugar
1/3 cup water
2/3 cup of milk
Pinch of salt
2 drops of vanilla (optional)

1. Melt the chocolate in the top of the double boiler, add sugar, the water, then cook to a thick syrup (about 15 minutes).

2. Add the milk, cook an additional 10 minutes. Place over hot water for a half an hour, if time permits.

3. Then add the few grains of salt and the vanilla. Beat the beverage with a rotary beater just before serving.

4. Serve very hot.

Pound Cake

3 cups sugar
2 sticks of butter
1 cup Crisco
5 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon lemon (optional)
3 1/4 cup plain flour
1 cup sweet milk or (2/3 cup canned milk fill to cup with warm water.)

Bake one hour 20 minutes at 350°

Caramel Pie

2 egg yolks
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 heaping Tablespoons flour
1/2 cup rich milk

Mix above ingredients together and pour into a pie crust. Use egg white for meringue. Beat whites until stiff using 4 Tablespoons white sugar. Spread meringue on top of pie. Bake in slow oven until done.

Oatmeal Bread

(Makes 3 large or 6 small loaves.)

1 cup oatmeal
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup molasses
1 tablespoon instant coffee

Pour two cups boiling water over above ingredients in a glass bowl. Cool to warm temperature.

To 2 more cups of warm water - use 1/2 cup to dissolve 2 packages of dry yeast with pinch of sugar in this 1/2 cup. In remaining 1 1/2 cups of water beat 1 egg.

Add this to first mixture.

Add 4 cups of flour (whole wheat or all white flour) to liquid (original recipe calls for 7-9 cups flour). I find it takes 10 or 11 (sometimes more) sifted flour to make a dough easy to knead on board. Put back in warmed glass bowl to rise double. Punch down and shape in loaves to rise second time.

Bake at 350° about 45-50 minutes.

Sour Dough Goodies:

Sour Dough Starter

Feed every four days - using a wooden spoon.

Note: It is best not to use dough on the day you feed it. You can keep it in a covered plastic bowl in your refrigerator. It will rise even in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup milk
Stir dough, add sugar and stir in. Then add flour and milk and stir in.

Sour Dough Biscuits

1 cup dough
1/4 cup Oleo, melted
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Add melted Oleo first to dough. Next add dry ingredients, sifted. Dough will be sticky. Break off a piece of dough and drop onto a greased baking sheet (these can also be made in muffin tin). Cover with a towel and let stand 20 minutes or more before baking. Bake at 425° for 10-12 minutes. They should be lightly brown on top.

Cake

Add 1/2 cup of flour extra, 1/2 cup of sugar and one egg to biscuit recipe.

Bread

To make a loaf of bread, double the biscuit recipe. Put in greased loaf pan and let rise. Bake at 350° for about 55 minutes. Do not make your loaf too round, but rather on the long side.

Cinnamon Rolls

To the regular biscuit recipe, add 1 tablespoon Sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 2/3 cup raisins. Butter muffin tins well. Mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar a Tablespoon corn syrup together. Divide this mixture into muffin tins. Put muffin mixture on top of this. Bake for 12-15 minutes, and then turn out immediately.

Suggestions:

Add 2/3 cup raisins and 1 tablespoon sugar to biscuit recipe - or - 1 cup shredded cheese, - 1 cup blueberries.