FAVORITE COOKIES

My favorite cookie list for the holidays...just click on the title of the cookie recipe you like to link to the recipe. Merry Christmas and Happy Baking!

CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES


SNICKERDOODLES

MOLASSES SPICE COOKIES WITH DARK RUM GLAZE

JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES

CHOCOLATE CHUNK OATMEAL COOKIES WITH PECANS AND DRIED CHERRIES

STRAWBERRY AND ROSEMARY SCONES


LEMON, COCONUT & WHITE CHOCOLATE COOKIES


DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHERRY ESPRESSO COOKIES


PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES


THICK AND CHEWY TRIPLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES


THE BEST THICK AND CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES


HOMEMADE SOFT OREOS

BLUEBERRY BOY BAIT

I am obsessed with blueberries...can't get enough. Fresh or frozen I will take them anyway I can get them! I especially love to bake with them. This is one of my favorite coffee cakes; loaded with blueberries and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
Mr. Kimball, from ATK writes, "This is my all-time favorite recipe name. It comes from Renny Powell, a teenager from Chicago, who submitted this recipe in 1954 to the Pillsbury $100,000 Recipe & Baking Contest (now known as the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest) and won second prize in the junior division. This is a very light one-layer cake with blueberries and a simple crumble topping. Ms. Powell evidently found it useful in attracting members of the opposite sex and, based on my testing, I would have to agree that it's pretty good bait."

Blueberry Boy Bait
The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2008

Cake:
16 T unsalted butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1 t salt
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cups whole milk
3/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen, tossed with 1 t flour

Topping:
3/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 t ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.
Whisk flour, powder, and salt in medium bowl.
With a mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 min., scraping the sides when needed.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated.
Reduce speed to medium and beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture until incorporated; beat in 1/2 of the milk.
Beat in 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture, then the remaining milk, finally the rest of the flour.
Gently fold blueberries into the batter.
Pour the batter into the pan and smooth with a spatula.
For the topping, scatter the berries over the top of the batter.
Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and sprinkle over the batter.
Bake about 45 min.
Cool the cake in the pan for 20 minutes.
Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.

PRINTABLE RECIPE

POPCORN BALLS

Normally, I wouldn't post a recipe like this but I have had two friends recently talk about popcorn balls...which is a throwback for me. My mom use to make them when I was little...we would add different colors of food coloring into the marshmallow mixture and add different candies...like M&M's, Nibs and sprinkles (not the healthiest treat, I know but fun for the kids). Also instead of balls we would use a bundt cake pan to make a popcorn cake.

POPCORN BALLS
10 balls

4 Tablespoons butter
1/4 tsp salt
1 bag (10 ounce)  miniature marshmallows
12-14 cups popped popcorn
M&Ms (optional)

Note: Add more popcorn if you don't want them to be so sticky.

Melt the butter in the microwave. Add salt and 1 bag (10 ounces) mini marshmallows, microwave until melted (about 90 seconds), stirring every 30 seconds. In a large bowl, combine popped popcorn (from about 2/3 cup kernels), be careful not to mix in any un-popped kernels.

Pour melted marshmallows over popcorn mixture, and fold to combine. You will need to work quickly since the sugar in the marshmallows hardens as it cools. Rub a little butter into your hands to prevent sticking, and gently form 12 balls, each about 2 1/2 inches across; place on waxed paper. Let set until cool and firm, about 10 minutes. If you are using the bundt pan make sure you grease it well before putting the popcorn in so it doesn't stick.

We are still busy with our little Elf, Elfie this year. Here is what he has been up to this year...

Under the tree...

Found him in the car blasting Mele Kalikimaka...

Obstacle course down the hallway...



TP'ed the Christmas tree....

Wrapped the toilets with Christmas wrapping paper...

Finally caught him...

Praising baby Jesus...



Painted our nails red while we were sleeping...

Caught watching Christmas movies and eating popcorn with Buddy...

Suggesting it may be time to practice...

 Pig Popper war...

Drew mustaches on us while we were sleeping...

Decorated the dollhouse...

 Set up a domino course...

Stuck in the vacuum...

 Put our shoes all over by the front door...

 Pirates...

 King of the Mountain....

 Snow fort by the front door...

 Playing tooth fairy...

 HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

WATERMELON "CAKE"- CLEAN EATING

 

I was invited to my new friends' colony for a goose dinner. I have never had goose, so was excited to try it and especially excited to learn all about how their colony is so self sufficient. We started out the meal with a glass of strawberry wine, a short prayer in English (for our sake) followed by the German prayer. The soup was a goose stock with small pasta, followed by a cucumber salad, sauerkraut, new potatoes, fresh buns and of course the goose, which was really delicious. For dessert, "blizzards", homemade ice cream with crushed peanuts and chocolate. While we were finishing dessert and coffee my daughter went to go play outside with the other children. With an obvious language barrier it was fascinating to see how they were able to quickly communicate; a game of tag was easily understood and they were off. Now you need to realize that earlier in the day my daughter came running out of her room wearing shorts, sparkles, glitter, spaghetti straps...not exactly conservative, so I made her go back into her room and change into jeans, cowgirl boots, and a t-shirt. The entire morning she was begging for me to cut off her jeans into shorts, which I refused. On my second cup of coffee I peeked outside and saw a group of kids running crazy...Hutterite boys in black pants and buttoned up shirts and suspenders, girls in long floor length dresses with white blouses underneath and then I saw my daughter...who was still wearing her cowgirl boots, thank goodness, but had managed to yank her jeans up as high as she could into short shorts and tied her shirt way up, it was pretty cute.
Next we went on a tour...the school, church, kitchen, dining hall, food storing, canning, butchering room and laundry. She showed me how they use the lard to make soap. The best part was going into the basement of the kitchen and seeing all the canning. It was so beautiful...they opened the door and there on the shelves were 100's of masons jars filled with every color of the rainbow.
They loaded me up with new things to try like pickled watermelon and pickled vine peaches, strawberry wine and even two goose down filled pillows. I have never seen a plucker before and honestly would be ok if I never do again! They also sent me home with watermelons so we decided to make it into something fun...a cake!

 

 

Watermelon "Cake"- Clean Eating

Adapted from Martha Stewart

 

The watermelon...

Slice a section out of the middle of the melon...



 Slice into pieces...



Use a melon baller on the end sections of the watermelon...

  Add to the top of the "cake"

Time to get messy...

 We probably could have made two "cakes" with this watermelon....

  A perfect piece...

 

Buddy loves watermelon!

CAULIFLOWER STEAKS WITH CAULIFLOWER PUREE- CLEAN EATING

This is as close to eating a steak as I get! ;)

Cauliflower Steaks with Cauliflower Puree- CLEAN EATING

Adapted from Bon Appetit

1 1 1/2-pound head of cauliflower

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk - or regular organic milk

2 tablespoons olive plus additional for brushing

Preheat oven to 250°F. Using sharp heavy knife and starting at top center of cauliflower head, cut two 1-inch-thick slices of cauliflower, cutting through stem end. Set cauliflower steaks aside.

Cut enough florets from remaining cauliflower head to measure 3 cups. Combine florets, 1 1/2 cups water, and milk in medium saucepan, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring to boil and cook until cauliflower florets are very tender, about 10 minutes. Strain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Spread florets on large rimmed baking sheet, and bake 10 minutes until slightly dry. Transfer florets to blender. Add reserved 1 cup cooking liquid and puree until smooth. Return puree to same saucepan and increase oven temperature to 350°F.

Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Brush cauliflower steaks with additional oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add cauliflower steaks to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer skillet to oven and bake cauliflower steaks until tender, about 10 minutes.

Rewarm cauliflower puree over medium heat. Divide puree between 2 plates; top each with cauliflower steak.

I was sitting outside and enjoying a summer evening when a beautiful buck and doe appeared. I often see does and fawns but rarely a buck and especially with so many points.

Printable Recipe