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Diggin' It!   
ISSUE #4                                                                      DECEMBER 2008
Blinking holiday lights
In This Issue
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
BENNETT HOLIDAY RECIPES
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Life's blows cannot break a person whose spirit is warmed at the fire of enthusiasm.
 
holiday fireplace 
 
Employee Anniversaries
NOVEMBER
Serafin Ramos 4 years
Renato Ramos 4 years
 
DECEMBER
Jim Hunter 2 years
 
JANUARY
Mario Gallardo 5 years
 
 
HOLIDAY CLOSING
Bennett Contracting will be closed over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Our office will be closed for business starting on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 and will re-open on Monday, January 5, 2009. If you need to reach us over the holiday period or if you have an emergency, please call us at (941) 756-8200.
 
Greetings!

In celebration of the holidays we'd like to share some of our favorite recipes for you to enjoy. Have a safe and happy holiday season with your family and friends and warmest wishes for a prosperous New Year 2009!

The Bennett Team's Favorite Holiday Recipes
 
If you enjoy cooking and baking during the holidays we invite you to try these delicious favorites of ours. Two desserts and two appetizers to choose from for your next holiday gathering! Enjoy!
 
Connie's Dump (Truck) Cake Dump truck b/w
Difficulty Level: Easy
 
Pam Cooking Spray
Cherry Pie Filling - 1 large can
Pineapple Tidbits - 1 large or two small cans
Chopped Walnuts - 1 cup
White or yellow cake mix - 1 box
Butter - 1 stick
 
Spray a large, rectangle cake pan with Pam Cooking Spray. Dump in the cherry filling and pineapple. Mix together. Sprinkle mixture with walnuts. Cover mixture with cake mix. Cut butter into 1/4" squares and place randomly on top of cake mix. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, do not cover. Refrigerate after cooling and serve cold.
 
White C&D Debris (AKA White Trash!)
Difficulty Level: Easy
 
Cheerios - 4 cups
Crispix - 4 cups
Pretzel sticks - 4 cups
Pecans - 2 cups
Peanuts - 2 cups
Nestle's white chocolate - 2 lbs. (or six boxes) 
Crisco oil - 1 tbsp
Red/Green sugar sprinkles
 
Melt Crisco and white chocolate together in double boiler or microwave, being careful not to heat too quickly. Spread all dry goods together on wax paper. Pour melted white chocolate over dry goods. Add sprinkles and mix thoroughly.
 
Nanny's Famous Swedish Meatballs
Difficulty Level: Medium (This is my Great-grandmother's recipe; it takes awhile to roll the meatballs, but the results are delicious!)
 
Meatball Ingredients
White bread - 3 slices (crust off, hardened by drying)
Milk - 1/4 cup
Ground beef - 1 1/2 lbs.
Yellow Onion - 1/4 cup, finely chopped
Garlic - 1 clove, finely minced
Egg - 1
Ketchup - 3 tblsp
Dry Onion soup Mix - 1 packet
Accent - to taste
Salt and Pepper - to taste 
Butter
 
Gravy Ingredients
Water - small amount
Flour - small amount
Beef Bullion Cubes - 2 ea.
 
Break up bread in small pieces and soak in the milk. Combine bread mixture, ground beef, onion, garlic, egg, ketchup, soup mix in stand mixer. Add Accent and salt and pepper while mixing.
 
Form 1" balls and brown in hot skillet with melted butter. Shake skillet repeatedly to evenly cook meatballs. Remove to casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
 
For the gravy, add water and flour to pan drippings from cooking the meatballs. Simmer for 15 minutes.
 
Pour gravy over meatballs and continue cooking in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
 
Tangy Buffalo Ranch Chicken Dip 
Difficulty Level: Easy
 
Rotisserie Chicken (deboned and cut into small chunks)
Frank's Buffalo Red Hot Sauce - 1 bottle
Celery - 3 stalks, diced
Cream Cheese - two 8 oz. containers
Monterery Jack Cheese - 1 cup shredded
Hidden Valley Ranch dressing - 1 cup
 
Preheat oven to 350 degree. Add chicken, hot sauce and celery to pot and cook on medium heat. Once warm, add cream cheese and let it melt slowly into mixture. Add ranch dressing once cream cheese is combined.  Place mixture into 9 x 13 glass pan. Add cheese to top and bake for 15 minutes.
 
Serve warm with cornbread crackers!
Christmas Tree
 
Best wishes from Bennett Contracting!
 
Jason, Alisa, Jim, Connie and everyone in the field!