24 graham crackers
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Line a 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 jelly roll pan with the graham crackers.  Mix sugar and butter well and spoon over the crackers. Sprinkle with nuts.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Cool and break into squares.

1 lb. bacon
4 medium cooking apples, cored, peeled and cubed
1 T. sugar

Cook bacon in large skillet. Drain bacon on paper towels. Set aside. Reserve 1/4 cup drippings in skillet. Put apples in reserved bacon droppings in skillet. Sprinkle with sugar. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until apples are tender. Uncover and cook another 15 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and apples have browned. Remove to warm platter and garnish with bacon. Serve at once. Serves 6 to 8

2 (21 oz. each) cans apple pie filling
1 cup raisins
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 cans refrigerated cinnamon rolls (6 to a can)

In a greased 9×13 baking dish, combine the pie filling, raisins, cinnamon. Separate cinnamon roll dough and space evenly on top of fruit (dough should just touch).

Bake at 400F 20-25 min. or until rolls are golden brown and baked through. (If rolls brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil during last 10 minutes of baking). Drizzle frosting from cinnamon roll packages over top. Serve warm.

Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) package caramels
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 (18.25-ounce) box German chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 (6- or 12-ounce) bag chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt caramels and 1/3 cup evaporated milk in heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring often. Keep warm.
In a large mixing bowl, blend cake mix, butter and 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Press half of the dough into a greased 9×13-inch pan. Bake 6 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips and spread caramel mixture over chips using a spatula. Spread remaining dough evenly over caramels. Bake 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool before cutting. Makes 3 dozen.

We want to teach our children how to say thank you for the gifts they receive for the holidays, birthdays or just a special occasion. How can they say thank you, enjoy it and without it being a fight or hassle for you?

Let us share some ideas we have used and please, share your suggestions as well – you are a most creative group!

Ways for Children to Say Thank You…

1. Draw a picture of the toy. Have the child draw a picture of the toy and let their imagination run with the idea. If they are too young, label the picture and any comments the child made while creating this unique thank you. Be sure this is immediately given in person or mailed – a thank you not given isn’t much good…

2. Have several people to thank for this one picture? Take a photo of the drawing (get as close as possible, fill the whole picture frame with the drawing and do not tilt the drawing – this will give you the best photo quality. If it is digital, you could email it, otherwise, print right away and send promptly. Read more

We wish you much love and a very, very Happy New Year!! This festive, elegant New Year card features a collage of 4-7 photos which may be left in color or converted to black & white as you wish. The black background makes the photos & accents pop, while the red accents & gold text are tied together with a snowflake accent line.