The winter months are here and that means baking and cooking… a lot. To get to know some of our favorite teachers a little bit better, we asked them for their favorite holiday recipes.

Mrs. Mesman-Davis, better known as MD’s favorite recipe is Russian Tea Cakes.

Russian Tea Cakes

Ingredients

1 cup-butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2  1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cups finely chopped nuts

1/4 teaspoon salt

more powdered sugar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F
2. Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts, and salt until dough holds together.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
5. Roll warm cookies in excess powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

(Total time will vary; cook or bake time is per batch)

Mr. Mossburg’s family makes a Smoked Salmon Dip this time of year.

Smoked Salmon Dip

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature

2 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon minced fresh dill

1 teaspoon prepared horseradish

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 pound (4 ounces) smoked salmon, minced