Cheeseburger Macaroni

This is just a good, "taste like mom's" kinda meal. It warms your heart and soul and makes the family happy. It's a quick and easy meal. Try to find some time with your family during this busy holiday season to sit down and eat dinner together.

1 lb lean ground beef
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes (optional)
3 1/4 cups water
3/4 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
12 ounces macaroni
1 lb Velveeta reduced fat cheese product, cubed
chopped tomatoes, if preferred

Brown hamburger and onion, drain well. Whisk together water, ketchup, and mustard in a bowl. Pour over meat and bring to a boil. Add macaroni and turn heat to medium low. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until macaroni is cooked and almost all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in cubed Velveeta cheese until melted and distributed evenly. Top with tomatoes and serve.

Oreo Truffles

There are so many great candies to make this time of year but I always fall back to this one. I love these things. I'm sure this isn't the first time you've ever seen or made this recipe but maybe it will entice you to make more Christmas candy~

1 (16 ounce) package Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
1 (8 ounce) package Cream Cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate (or almond bark), melted

Crush cookies to fine crumbs in food processor (cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin); place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.

Place truffle ball in melted chocolate to coat; roll if necessary. Lift truffle from chocolate using 2 forks (this will allow excess chocolate to run off); place on wax paper lined baking sheet. Coat with topping of choice. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Note: white almond bark works just as well.

Bacon Wrapped Cocktail Wieners

This is my favorite (non-sweet) appetizer of the season. It could be very easy to eat the whole pan if you put will-power aside. There are never any left of these, ever. Give 'em a try and join the club. Tis the season to be fat and jolly!

1 pound bacon, cut into thirds.

1 package cocktail wieners

3/4 cup brown sugar, or to taste

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Refrigerate 2/3 of the bacon until ready to use. (it's easier to wrap weiners if bacon is cold.) Wrap each weiner with a piece of bacon and secure with toothpick. Place on large baking sheet (line with foil sprayed with cooking spray for a quick clean up). Sprinkle all over with brown sugar. Bake for 40 minutes or until sugar is bubbly. If bacon isn't crispy you can increase heat to 350 degrees towards the end or you could broil, just be very careful not to catch toothpicks on fire! To serve, keep warm in a crock pot. For extra flavor, place brown sugar in plastic bag and shake the bacon in it before coating then coat with a little more brown sugar before baking.