Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Christmas Cookie Recipes "The Chocolates"

This week I am going to do a round up of my favorite cookie recipes. With school going on break in a week it is a tradition in our house to put on our aprons, warm up the oven and bake the day away. Nothing says Christmas is right around the corner more than the wonderful smells of fresh baked cookies! Then when unexpected company drops in how easy is it to offer a treat with a cup of milk, coffee or tea~

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies * corrected / adjusted version as posted on bakersroyal.com

Yields 3 dozen cookies
  • 1 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons spooned and leveled bleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 2 3/4 cups sugar, divide
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ tablespoons of peppermint extract
  • 1 cup sugar
Instructions:
  1. In a medium bowl, beat together well the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. Melt the chocolate in the microwave on 50 percent power for 1 minute, stir, and microwave for 15 seconds more and stir; set aside.
  2. In a mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together 2 1/2 cups of the sugar, the oil, butter and corn syrup to blend. Beat in the eggs, egg yolk, vanilla and peppermint extract. Then on low, beat in the melted chocolate. Add the flour mixture and beat in on low speed. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
  3. Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Line bakesheet with parchment. Take out about one-quarter of the dough at a time to shape. Roll the dough into 2 inch balls. Pour the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar into one bowl and the confectioners’ sugar in another bowl. Roll each cookie dough ball lightly in granulated sugar first, then very heavily in confectioners’ sugar. (By rolling in plain sugar first, the confectioners’ sugar does not soak in so much and stays on the surface better).
  4. Arrange cookies 2 inches apart on the foil. For crisp cookies, bake 12 to 14 minutes. For a chewier cookie, bake 10-12 minutes. Bake one sheet at a time.
Adapted from Shirley Corriher

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies~This is a melt in your mouth almost brownie like cookie sure to please any chocolate lover!
Yields 40
Ingredients

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350º F.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chunks. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set but still soft. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.


Original Chocolate Chip Cookie 
Yields 60 
Ingredients


  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
  • 1 cup chopped nuts
Directions
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.

SLICE AND BAKE COOKIE VARIATION:
PREPARE
dough as above. Divide in half; wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Shape each half into 15-inch log; wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.* Preheat oven to 375° F. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

* May be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 8 weeks.

FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (5,200 feet): Increase flour to 2 1/2 cups. Add 2 teaspoons water with flour and reduce both granulated sugar and brown sugar to 2/3 cup each. Bake drop cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and pan cookie for 17 to 19 minutes.


 Don't forget to drop by again this week for more favorites! What is your favorite cookie recipe? Will you be baking for the holidays?

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas Link Round Up "Gift Tags & Tutorials"

I am sure this is finding you rushing around & getting ready for the holidays! I can't believe Christmas is in twelve days!! That final countdown has arrived today I did a small round up of gift tags you can print yourself & tutorial for gift toppers or ornaments. I hope this helps you with some of your last minute details! I would love to know if you are ready or not? Are you planning on baking cookies this year? I sure am! & I will share a couple of my favorite recipes next week!

So here is Santa with the goodies list~
Print ready gift tags & felt tutorial~ 

Gift Tags via Going Home To Roost

Gift Tags via Creature Comforts designed by Camilla Engman  (kids would love these)

Felt Ginger Cookie Ornaments via Creature Comforts (great for package toppers too!) 

Faux Sugar Cookie Ornaments via Creature Comforts

Gift Tags designed by Georgianna Lane  (  This Link Expires12/31! but, these are my favorite & from one of my favorite blogs to visit! )

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Easy Sewing , Fortune Cookie Ornaments & Sewing Inspiration

Hello Friends, I honestly can say I am getting slowly & surely back into the swing of sewing. Yes, they may be little projects but I am loving them none the less. Sometimes there is nothing better than quick & easy! These perfect ornaments I came across while surfing the web. Here is a link to a free tutorial for some fortune cookie ornaments! Now I put a little twist and added some handwritten fortunes inside the cookies!  Here are some examples of some of the ones I am working on above~

Now for my next projects I am so inspired by Alicia Paulson & am over the moon for some of her projects that I have seen. Honestly I am putting this on my Christmas List! Even if I didn't have a little girl there is plenty of projects and tips for making memories~ Check out her book Stitched In Time  
There is even a preview where you can flip through and see some of her sewing tips & designs.
This is sure to please beginner as well as seasoned sewers!
What is topping your wish list these days? I would love to know~

Monday, November 8, 2010

I Heart Snowmen





Remember I was telling you that I decided to create something from Styrofoam for a challenge on DYITheDish. I even had posted what the beginnings looked like on my table and some inspiration I found. Oh and the late afternoon when we (Sammie helping me) were trying to catch the last bright sunlight to take these photos to capture the entry for the contest. Wind was blowing, they were toppling, leaves and shadows to deal with but finally some decent pictures! & my entry was submitted! Well here are the snowmen all ready for the Christmas holidays! I hope you like how they turned out as much as I did! I think I am inspired to make them a little snow display where I'll set them for the holidays. maybe even a cape or hat will be added. Well, I have a secret to share with you later, so I hope you come back soon to see what it is! Can you guess? I promise to share soon! Have you started any holiday projects yet?
Cath Kidston