homemade christmas

WOW tomorrow is Christmas Eve!!  We celebrate tomorrow at my inlaws house and have a big ol party!!  We exchange gifts and this year like all the others LOL I have a little surprise for my sweet sister in law!! ROFL!!   One year she wrapped up a huge box, yes she probably needed 2 rolls of wrapping for this box and inside was all papers rolled up and a pkg of toilet paper.   We all laughed as he unwrapped box after box and dug thru all the wadded up papers.  SOOOOOOOOOO we have gotten her each xmas with various gags.  This year being no exception!!!  I wont go into all the details right now as she may read this before tomorrow but it will be fun for her!! 
So I made most of my xmas gifts and this was an order for a dear friends father.  Make the rest of your life the best of your life is the quote on it and I just love it!! so made him one also for his house!!

I made this super soft chocolate thumbprints and filled them after baking with some homemade chocolate ganache then top with a bit of holiday "bling" the xmas sprinkles.

I tried a new recipe from my newest better homes and gardens cookie holiday book and they were a bit hit with hubby!! He ate almost all of the first batch of them so I had to triple the next batch.   Love the cane shape, the only alteration I made to thier recipe was to eliminate the peppermint exratc (we dont do minty things here ) and used pure vanilla extract instead. and added some red sanding sugar before baking for "bling"

You mix in a few drops of red food color and very lightly incorproate into your dough so you get a marble effect. 

With a filled pastry bag fitted with a large large (number 21 tip worked good) pipe out the dough unchilled into canes. 

With that same recipe I made some round rosettes topped wtih sanding sugar and holiday nonparielles. 

AND here are my boys with SANTA!! to wish yall a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!~    LOL my favo pic of them with Santa.  The only one that they are all looking straight ahead and Buster is smiling of cource!! he LOVES his picture to be taken!!  Barney the baby isnt quite sure why his mommy is across the room and not holding him!! and Bubba was trying to stretch to see daddy who was around the doorway watching~  Oh they are my sunshine on a cloudy day kids!!!

I do hope yall have a blessed holiday~!~  And please dont forget to remember all the fine young men and women who are sacrifising their holiday at home with famly to ensure our safety and our country overseas in the military and also please try to give a little something to your local shelters.  I wish so I could tale all the unwanted strays home and give them a happy happy life they so deserve!!!  One day when I get that pot of gold at the end of a rainbow I am opening a shelter rescue here at home for animals!! promise that!!

 Dogs and Cats count on us to take good care of them and God entrusts us with their lives!!  and they really give alot of unconditional love in return for nothing!!

Candy cane spritz cookies

3/4 cup softened butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

red food coloring

(white chocolate and crushed peppermint candies)

preheat oven to 375 degrees, in lg mixing bowl cream butter for 30 seconds, mix in sugar and  baking powder.  Beat until well combined.  Beat in egg and extract.  Mix in flour.

Divide dough in 1/2 add 3 drops of red food coloring to dough mixing only enough to marble the dough.  Fill a fitted pastry bag with dough (I used the large #21 star tip) pipe out candy canes or just straight lines if you prefer onto  cookie sheet.   Bake for 8-9 minutes until golden on edges.

Dip each end into melted white chocolate and sprinkle with candy cane pieces.  (I didnt do this on mine

Makes about 60 cookies. 

Have a great night!~ Talk more this weekend!!

HUGS

Darlene and "the boys"

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

recipe to share

Ok here is the mocha wands recipe!!
I found it in the newest better homes and gardens cookie book.
1 cup butter softened
3/4 cup sugar
4 tsp instant espresso powder  ( I used 5)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/3 cups flour
also you need 8 oz chocholate chips for melting
1 1/2 cups finely chopped nuts ( I used toasted hazelnuts)

Preheat oven to 375.  In mixing bowl beat butter on med to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder.  Beat until well combined.  Beat in egg and vanilla, scrape bowl as needed.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can and stir in any left.
Place unchilled dough into pastry bag or cookie press fitted with a star tip.  (I used a med size tip as I didnt have a large star at home) onto ungreased cookie sheets about 1 in apart. Strips are approx 3 plus inches long.  Bake 10-12 min or until golden brown.  ( I did leave mine in a bit longer to be nice strong crisp cookie)  Cool completely.
Dip ends in melted chocholate and quickly either roll in nuts or sprinkle them on.  Place on sheets of wax paper to set.  Store inbetweeen layers of wax paper in air tight container.  can freeze these in ziploc bags too for up to 3 months.
makes approx 72 cookie wands.
EASY PEASY AND SUPER GOOD!!


We had the last of our holiday art/craft sales last night, I am glad they are over but will miss them.   Now I just have to finish up all the cookie makin and do up the trays to deliver them next week.  I am gettin ready to go to BRONSON HOSPITAL for winter market this am and then I actually have a 3 week break! YEAH!! YIPPEE YEE HAW!! LOL,  With the exception of orders that will be a nice little break.      I will post some pics this weekend from the sale and also from a fully loaded decorated house my friend showed me last night nearby!! This is just gorgeous!!  I am hoping the pics turned out as I was low on battery power in my dig cam if not  plan on taking hubby over there to see them this weekend so I can take more!!  They have absolutley every inflatable holiday figure and displayed so nicely.  The lights and the movements and the colors and oh it is just spectacular!! They get my vote for the nicest holiday display!! I may have to take them some cookies for being the best  winter wonderland display I have seen!! 
So I am off to get ready for market.  Hope yall have a great day and wonderful weekend!!
HUGS
Darlene

~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Cookie Recipe

These are such good cookies I just have to post this recipe~~

Lemon Cream Filled Cranberry Pecan Sandwich Cookies!!! whew what a mouth full!! Can U say that ten times fast??LOL
Cranberry Lemon Sandwich Cookies
2 cups butter
2 cups shortening
2 cups sugar
2 cup powdered sugar
4 eggs
4 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cream of tartar
3 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups chopped dried cranberries

1 1/2 cups chopped pecan pieces

filling: 3/4 cup soft butter, 5 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup 1/2 and 1/2 cream, 2 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest, 1/2 tsp lemon extract

cream butter and shortening with sugars, until light and fluffy. add eggs one at a time, beat well after each egg. Beat in van. Combine dry ingredients and mix well, gradually add to butter mix, mix well. Stir in cranberries. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle.
Roll into 1 in balls (i used a small cookie scoop and used a shot glass bottom dipped in sugar to smoosh down a bit) place 2 in apart on baking sheets, use parchment paper or grease on sheets. Bake 350 for 12-14 min or until edges are lightly browned. In small bowl comine filling ingredients beat until smooth. Spread a dollop onto bottoms of cookies, top with remaining cookies.

This was my favo thing I painted for the show this past weekend!! Which by the way was EXCELLENT!! we had such a great turnout!! and actually did about 1/3 more than last year!!

We were setting up friday and had quite a few customers wander thru we opened from 3pm to 7pm I sold quite a bit of painted things and all my almond toffee and pecan brittle.

The snowmean are painted on a cabinet door I bought and it was the first sale!! Now I am goin to have to paint this week for my show sat and then one more next weekend! YEAH!! plus we are suppossed to get *S*N*O*W* this weeek!!! YEEHAW!!!

Have a super duper monday yall!!

HUGS

Darlene

I painted these snowmen on a big ol block and made them into a cute little lamp. Love those snowmen!! LOL

ENJOY~~LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY~~and SIMPLY~~

Wreath Cookie recipe

These are still one of my alltime fav cookies!! Simple and quick and yummmy!!!!!
ENJOY!!

Preparation Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 16
Ingredients
1/3
cup margarine or butter
1
package (10 oz. about 40) regular marshmallows

- or -
4
cups miniature marshmallows
1
teaspoon green food coloring
6 cups
Kellogg's Corn Flakes®

- or -
6 cups
Ready-To-Eat Cereal Kellogg's Frosted Flakes®
Red cinnamon candies
Prepared vanilla frosting
Directions 1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in food coloring.2. Add KELLOGG'S CORN FLAKES cereal. Stir until well coated3. Portion warm cereal mixture evenly by using a 1/4 cup dry measure coated with cooking spray. Using sprayed fingers, quickly shape into individual wreaths. Dot with cinnamon candies, using prepared frosting to hold candies in place. Store in single layer in airtight container. Note Use fresh marshmallows for best results. Children should be supervised. Green paste food coloring makes the best color for wreathsMICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: Microwave margarine and marshmallows at HIGH 2 minutes in microwave-safe bowl. Stir to combine. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute longer. Stir until smooth, then add food coloring. Follow steps 2 and 3 above.TO MAKE ONE LARGE WREATH: Press warm cereal mixture in 5 1/2-cup ring mold coated with cooking spray or shape in ring on serving plate. Remove from mold and dot with red candies

Free Counter

Butter Cookie recipe

Ok not alot going on today I didnt have to work so had to run a bunch of errands and went to my favoritist store HOBBY LOBBY to find a new mag that came out in nov. NO LUCK!! I was so mad they didnt have it and not sure when they are goin to get it even. I searched thru ebay and didnt find one either. IT is the new Jo Packham mag Where Women Create the premier issue was nov and i so badly want one!! If anyone has one or know someone who sells them or where I can get it please PLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEE let me know!! THANKS!!!
Hope everyone is recovered from thier big turkey day dinner i swear we dont eat the following days very much at all!! LOL But is sure is yummy stuff!! Just such a great deal of work goes into preparing and serving and then 5 min later it is over!!
Well with the holidays well under way and Christmas just round the bend here is a recipe for super wonderful yummiest ever butter cookies that i have been making for a long long time!! You can make so many versions of this it is great! Here are some ways i change it up a bit and make a triple batch.
So kind of like the good ol thumbprint cookies i take a small scoop then a shot glass bottom dipped in powdered sugar (shot glass comes in handy for just this purpose no other of cource)ROFL! push middle in to make a little well: now here is the fun part fill that with the following:
toffee bits, mini choc chips, reeces peanut butter pieces, jam/jelly, nut meal, chopped nuts, crushed peppermint candies, chopped cinnamon buttons, red hot candies and then drizzle melted milk or white choc chips. What is really really cute and so fun for xmas is to melt down the red and green choc discs from wilton and drizzle that on top for a festive look.
Here is the recipe:
BEST EVER BUTTER COOKIES
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
combine all ingredients EXCEPT flour, in lg bowl, beat at med speed until creamy. Stir in flour by hand until well moistened. Scoop dough onto ungreased cookie sheets bake 15 min at 350 degrees or until edges are just lightly brown.

For a quick glaze take 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 3-4 tblsp milk mix well place in ziplock baggie snip just the end tip of one corner off and drizzled ontop of cooled cookies. makes 40 small cookie scoop size cookies.
ENJOY!!!
Ok well gotta go finish paintin a couple more signs for this weekend and finish up a couple more of my holiday memory books will post pics when i am done with it all!!

***PS one more little bit please try this holiday season to donate just one bag of dog/cat food or kitty liter or treats to your local humane society they desperately need the help and look at those faces of all the fur babies staying in cages needing a home.****THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!!! The animals thank you too!!!

Free Counter