Christmas Cookies

I did a lot of tree trimming today!

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This And That

1. Yep, still raining!  But there are up sides to this.  We haven't had to water some new grass with the sprinkler too many times, I haven't had to weed the gardens, and when you want to sleep late on Saturday, mid morning still feels dark as night! ha.
2. Can't get enough raspberries lately.  I bought two pints last week and didn't share with any of the men!
3. Making deviled eggs.  Yum.
4. Changing of the guards at dusk?  Or were we under some kind of threat that required two night time guards on surveillance duty? ha.
5. Samantha enjoying a rare dry afternoon and soaking up the warmth on the stone patio.
6. Blueberry smoothies.
7. If the sky isn't blue, at least the lobelia are!
8. This little girl was around every corner today!  She's been extra chatty, too.  Four weeks here already!  Still improving every day. She's been slipping into our bed at night and nuzzling into my hair.
9. Brown sugar cookies.  Recipe here.  Yum.

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Good Girl

Today started out a little crazy!

The Mister left way before I had to get up, and I overslept.

I didn't even hear the coffee pot right by my head brew or

beep loudly 5 times when it was done!

I had 20 minutes to get the boys ready for the bus

without coffee...not even my half decaf cup!

In that time I also had to stop a nose bleed and unclog a toilet.

 But we made it with 3 minutes to spare to watch out the window!
After the boys had gone, I found Alex's one important prescription
pill on the floor.  He had dropped it while taking his pills!
 I said a quick prayer that he would have a good day 
and no anger issues without it.

So I spent the morning baking cookies!

Cookies always make everything better, especially

homemade ones with real butter, vanilla bean paste

and Ghirardelli chocolate chips.

Everything felt better after a cookie (or three) and more coffee.

 I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my cookies had 

less calories than I was expecting!  And since I called

 them 'lunch' my Fitbit says I was still a good girl today! ha.

Recipe here.

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I'd love for you to join in my Random Act of Kindness Adventure!

Do a kind act this week, post it on your blog this Friday

and link up here on that day!

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Let It Snow!

I tried to will the snow clouds to come with my baking,

and even though it was cold enough (20's F),

there was brilliant blue sky and blinding sunshine! 

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This And That

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Fallish Things

1. Colorful leaves.
2. Slippers.
3. Ginger Cookies.
4. Cookie Jars in peach and purple.
5. Golden patches.
6. Low afternoon sunshine.
7. Brilliant berries.
8. Mustache cups.

I don't really know what mustache cups have to do with fall,

but I suppose if you were to drink hot chocolate with a big dollop

of whipped cream on top, the mustache lip would prevent getting 

your face all messy. lol....  Cups are in my shop, if you're interested.

When I was a little girl my great, great grandfather's mustache cup

was kept safe in an old cabinet with glass doors in the dining room

of my grandparents house.  I always asked my uncles to lift me up

so I could see Palestine Hanna's portrait...with the serious face 
(as was accustom in those days for photographs) with the huge
 bushy white mustache and the fancy china cup sitting beside it.

Cookie recipe here if you are interested.

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This and That

1. The last few sweets to nibble on.  Some went in the freezer for a cook's lazy day dessert. :)
2. The last few days of a glowing tree. I loved the smaller tree in the urn this year.  Nice and skinny... we didn't have to move furniture, the room didn't feel crowded....and it was still plenty festive.  It isn't flocked with snow, like I was first looking for, but it's covered in shimmery 'ice', which I like just as much....maybe more!
3. The last few checks inside the stockings.  Yes, Spencer still checks daily!  I was especially happy to hang 7 instead of 6 this year, and fill it will girlie stuff! ha.
4. Baked French Toast made with King's Hawaiian Rolls, stuffed with cream cheese and blackberries.  Yum.
5. Remember my Springerle rolling pin from the auctions?  It made great shortbread cookies!
6. My shy little Domino has really come around in the last few weeks, even laying on my desk while I sit and putter on my laptop. It's only been 3 years!  Some feral cats are just hard to domesticate!  And he's incredibly shy. :)
7. And, of course, the bird watching never gets old!  Can you see his eye?  I think he's still looking at me! ha.

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Snowy Owl Shortbread Cookies

OK.  These are so stinkin' cute, I can't stop smiling at them! ha.

Have you noticed how popular owls are right now?

I pinned a cute photo of owl cookies in the fall and 

didn't find the time to bake them.    

So for Christmas, I thought

snowy owls would be even better!  

Any shortbread recipe will do.

Roll out 1/2" thick.

3" and 1" round cookie cutters.

Decorate with M&Ms and whole almonds.

Bake 350 for 20-25 minutes until just golden on edges.

Dust with powdered sugar while still warm.

Clean off beak and eyes with a tiny damp pastry brush.

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Ginger Cookie and Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream Sandwich

So two days ago I showed you my yummy chewy ginger cookies. 

 Then yesterday I was talking about ice cream season being

over.  But a light bulb went on that pumpkin ice cream would 

be really good with those cookies!  I picked up some pumpkin

cheesecake ice cream at the grocery today!  I didn't even put the

groceries away before making this.  ha.  It was 2pm and I 

called it lunch.  And yeah, it was wonderful!

I think we have a new fall tradition!

If you want the cookie recipe, click here.

The ice cream is Kroger's Private Selection

New York Style Pumpkin Cheesecake.

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Chewy Ginger Cookies

Checked off my Fun Fall To Do List!

Yum.   Dough should be stiff.

Transferware plate from the auction trash.

Perfect for these cookies, don't you think?

I post this recipe every fall!

It's my favorite!

Fresh photo, though. ha.

Chewy Ginger Cookies

1 c oil

2 c sugar

1/2 c molasses

2 eggs

1 t salt

1 t cloves

1 t ginger

2 t cinnamon

4 t baking soda

4 1/2  c flour

Have mixer running and add ingredients in the order given.

Shape into balls, roll in sugar and bake 350 for 8-12 minutes,

depending on the size. (I use an ice cream scoop and sprinkle sugar

on the tops instead of rolling in balls~ so much faster!)

They should be dark and crackly.

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Easter Cookies In A Jar

I've always thought these cookies in a jar recipes were

so cute, but I've never made them!

I wanted to send a hostess gift with Taylor

when he visits the future in-laws for Easter,

so here's what I put together.

Layering the ingredients makes it look pretty,

and craft scissors, velvet ribbon and

double sided tape help finish the look.

Easter Crunch Cookies

1/4 c white sugar

3/4 c brown sugar

1 1/2 c flour

3/4 t baking soda

1/4 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1/2 c oats

1 c Cadbury chocolate eggs

1/2 c Rice Krispies

Layer in order given.

Tag should instruct baker to add 1 stick soft butter,

1 egg and 1 t vanilla.

Bake 350 for 10-12 minutes.

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Betsy's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I only have a couple of recipes that are my very own

and this is one of them!  A few years back I went on a

mission to make a chocolate chip cookie that was

chewy inside but a little crispy on the outside.

 I like them big and thick, not thin and flat.

Here's what I came up with.  They are rich and yummy!

All 'real' ingredients...nothing artificial.

 Sit down and let me serve you one!  

Would you like coffee or tea with that?

Or maybe a glass of milk?  :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c butter, softened

1 1/2 c brown sugar

1 egg

1 t vanilla extract

2 t cream of tarter

1 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

2 1/2 c flour

2 c chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients and mix in well.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop golf-ball sized balls of dough onto parchment lined

cookie sheets. I use an ice cream scoop.

Press lightly to flatten a bit.

Bake 10-14 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cookies should be brown and crackly on top.

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Cut Out Snowflake Cookies

The best part about making cut out cookies is

usually the decorating part!

I like making them extra big and thick!

Blue was a nice icy color for a snowflake!

And little pearl candies finished the look!

But this time, the most fun was catching Alex

stealing the cookies! ha.

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Chocolate Crinkles

One of our favorite cookies!  Dark chocolate looks so pretty contrasted with snowy white powdered sugar!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

2 c sugar

4 eggs

1/2 c vegetable oil

4 T butter, melted

2 t vanilla

1 c cocoa

2 c flour

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

In mixer, combine sugar and eggs. Add remaining wet

ingredients. Mix well. Sift dry ingredients and add, mixing well.

Dough will be wet and sticky. Chill several hours or overnight.

Roll balls of dough in 1 c powdered sugar.

Bake at 350 on parchment lined baking sheets for 8-12 minutes.

Cookies will flatten, get crackly and cracks will look dry.

Yum.

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