In my late teens, my small nuclear family started a new family tradition. We would go to evening Christmas Candlelight Services at the small country church we attended. When we came home, we’d have a full out junk food feast before opening our gifts. We opened gifts one at a time. We had such fun seeing each other’s reaction to each gift, we didn’t want to miss anything. It was the one time of year that we took pictures.

I’ve already shared my recipes for the traditional holiday dinner in my hub Thanksgiving Southern Family Feast Recipes. My family has essentially the same meal on Christmas Day with my mom’s extended family. On Christmas Eve we ate lots of sweets and other “finger foods”. We might have pies, such as the sweet potato and pecan pies. Those recipes are in my Thanksgiving hub. We would also usually have fruitcake and possibly some other kind of cake. Mom would usually have a Hickory Farms sausage. The rest of the junk out was foods like the recipes I have collected into this hub.

Recipes in this hub:

Martha Washington Candy

Sausage and Cheese Balls

Two Flavor Fudge

Cheese Straws

Peanut Butter Balls

Cheese Roll

This candy is too good for words.  The safest way not to get obsessed with it is to not try it.  Dangerous stuff.  The chocolate dip forms an ever so thin cover. 

2 sticks butter

1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk

1 ½ tsp vanilla

2 boxes powdered sugar

1 quart pecans, chopped

8 oz box semi-sweet chocolate squares

1 sheet paraffin wax, such as Gulf wax

1- Cream together butter, condensed milk and vanilla.

2- Add gradually powdered sugar. 

3- Add pecans. 

4- Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. 

5- Refrigerate overnight. 

6- Next day, melt chocolate and paraffin in top of double boiler. 

7- Dip candy in chocolate to coat.

8- Place candy in single layers on wax paper to set. 

9- Store in refrigerator. 

1 lb loose sausage

1 10-oz pkg sharp cheese, grated

3 c Bisquick mix

¾ c water

1- Mix Bisquick and water. 

2- Add sausage and cheese, and combine. 

3- Make into 1” balls. 

4- Bake at 350 degrees until light brown. 

This is definitely one of my mom’s personal holiday favorites.

2 c light brown sugar, packed

1 c granulated sugar

½ c butter, softened

1 c evaporated milk

1 jar marshmallow cream

6 oz butterscotch morsels

6 oz semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 c walnuts, chopped

1 tsp vanilla

1- In top of double boiler, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and milk. 

2- Bring to boil and boil 15 minutes on moderate heat, stirring constantly. 

3- Remove from heat.  Stir in marshmallow cream. 

4- Stir in morsels until melted and mixture is smooth. 

5- Add in walnuts and vanilla. 

6- Pour into greased 9” square pan.  Let set.  Cut into 1” squares. 

Mom never made these, yet most years we had them.  Our neighbor or my Aunt Pat would usually make them for us.  This is my stepbrother’s family recipe. 

¼ lb butter

1 lb sharp cheese, grated

1 egg

1 T cold water

1 ¾ c sifted plain flour

1/2 tsp salt

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

½ tsp paprika

1- Cream grated cheese & butter with mixer. 

2- Add egg & water. 

3- Heat well. 

4- Sift together dry ingredients.  Add gradually, mixing well. 

5- Use star tip on cookie press to dispense on greased cookie sheet. 

6- Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. 

Makes 10-12 dozen. 

1 ¼ c graham cracker crumbs

½ c peanut butter

1 c coconut

½ chopped nuts

½ box powdered sugar

½ stick butter, melted

6 oz chocolate chips

½ tsp Crisco

1- Mix crumbs, peanut butter, coconut, nuts, sugar and butter. 

2- Form into 1” balls. 

3- Melt chocolate and Crisco. 

4- Dip balls in chocolate with toothpick.  Dry on waxed paper. 

Makes about 50. 

This is another something we always seemed to have, but I don’t recall Mom making.  We probably got ours from Hickory Farms, or friend or aunt. 

1 lb sharp cheese, grated

8 oz cream cheese

¼ tsp garlic salt or 1 clove garlic

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp hot sauce

2 T mayonnaise

1 tsp prepared mustard

1 cup chopped nuts

2 T Paprika

1 T Chili powder

1 T Curry powder

1- Combine cheese and cream cheese. 

2- Add garlic, salt, hot sauce, mayo and mustard. 

3- Shape into roll, loaf or ball. 

4- Roll in paprika and chili powder. 

5- Roll in paprika and curry powder. 

6- Roll in chopped nuts.