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Smithville resident offers baking stories, advice and recipes

Each one of Jenny Holmes’ favorite Christmas recipes has a story.

“My family absolutely loves this one,” Holmes said as she pulled a German chocolate pie recipe out of one of her many binders packed with recipes.

In her Smithville kitchen, she joked that she discovered the recipe “about 100 years ago” on the back of a German chocolate package.

On to the recipe she calls dessert jo’s — nutty bars topped with cream cheese, cool whip and pudding layers.

“My husband likes it when I make those when people are around during the holidays because when it’s just us, there’s too much of it, which means a lot of temptation,” she said, laughing.

Holmes, who used to cook for the Smithville R-II School District, Spelman Hospital and local assisted care facilities, now cooks for her family and First Baptist Church congregation.

At 69, she estimates she easily has 500 recipes at home. Desserts are her favorite.

And there’s something special about baking at Christmastime, she said. To ensure cooking doesn’t bring stress to what’s often the most celebrated holiday, she offers some tips.

Don’t try anything new. Or complicated.

“Stick to your favorites,” Holmes said. “Don’t stress yourself out. This time is all about getting your family together. If you’re so tired from cooking that you can’t enjoy your family, Christmas isn’t going to be fun for anybody.”

This Christmas, the Holmes house will be the family gathering spot. Holmes, her husband and their two daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family will get together to exchange gifts, sing Christmas songs, read Christmas stories and, of course, eat Holmes’ cooking.

Her extensive menu is set: ham, scalloped potatoes, baked beans, seven layer salad, German chocolate pie, dessert jo’s, rice crispy peanut butter candies and hello dollies.

from the kitchen of JENNY HOLMES

Smithville resident Jenny Holmes enjoys baking these following recipes and more during the holidays.

DESSERT JO’S

- 1 stick butter

- 1 cup flour

- 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix the butter, flour and nuts in a small bowl.

Put dough in 9-by-13-inch greased pan Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.

Beat the following until fluffy:

- 8 ounces cream cheese

- 1 cup whipped cream

- 1 cup powder sugar

Spread the mixture on the cooled crust.

Beat the following together:

- 2 packages instant pudding

- 3 cups milk

Spread the mixture on first layer, top with rest of whipped cream. Chill overnight for best flavor.

BUSY DAY COOKIES

- 2 pounds almond bark

- 1 cup peanut butter

- 1 small package marshmallows

- 2 cups peanuts, dry roasted

- 5 cups crispy rice cereal (find some in Christmas colors if possible)

Use glass bowl to melt almond bark in microwave.

When melted, stir in peanut butter, followed by the rest of the ingredients.

Drop by teaspoonfuls on foil. Let cool, and they will set.

PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIES

- 1 cup shortening

- 1 cup peanut butter

- 3 cups sugar

- 9 eggs

- 1 tablespoon vanilla

- 2 cups flour

- 1 teaspoon baking powder

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the ingredients together. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Smithville Editor Nancy Hull Rigdon can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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