Christmas Goodie Bags

This year for my Book Club's Christmas gifts, I boxed each of the goodies and put them in a bag with a pretty Christmas ribbon.  The bags included the usual treats: peppermint iced brownies, peppermint bark, and cheese wafers.  This year I added the peppermint chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to focus on New Year's Eve..........I am thinking Pink Champagne Cookies.  There is a recipe that I have had for a few years and I think this is the year to make it!

Gift Bags

Boxed Peppermint Iced Brownies

Boxed Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Boxed Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Boxed Cheese Wafers

Boxed Peppermint Bark

Snowman Wreath

A fun snowman wreath for the front door!

There is not a lot to say about the wreath except that if you buy ribbon for a wreath, buy two rolls so you don't have to run back to the store mid-wreath! :)

Snowman Wreath

Snowman Wreath

Snowman Wreath

Close-up of snowmen

Overflowing the Cookie Jar

What would Christmastime be without baking tons of cookies???

I have made several and still have a bunch of cookies I want to make before Christmas.  Right now there are three kinds of cookies on our counter, so I need to make some that freeze well and/or give them away.  Or just eat cookies non-stop for the next few weeks. ;)

I made the Hershey's recipe for Peanut Butter Blossoms* and they are good.  I will try some other recipes as this one seemed a little dry at first.  I baked the last batch for a shorter time and that seemed to help.  They look right though!

Due to my apparent obsession with chocolate and peppermint, I was looking for a chocolate chip peppermint cookie to try out.  I decided if I couldn't find one, I would just make up my own and may go that route next time.  I ended up making Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies based on this recipe*.   It calls for peppermint junior mints which I did not use.  Instead, I used dark and milk chocolate chips.  The cookies were good, but I am still looking for a favorite recipe in this category.

I make corn pudding from a Taste of Home magazine and below it is a recipe for Chippy Peanut Butter Cookies that I always see, but had never made.  I after several years of looking at it, I finally made Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies based on this Taste of Home Recipe*.  I used plain chocolate chips rather than the peanut butter swirl chips it calls for.  These cookies are wonderful!!!!  I was super pleased with them and will definitely make these again!

Of course I had to make Sugar Cookies!  I made Christmas Trees for Little C's school party.  I used my favorite recipe that my mom and I have been using for years.  I decorated them by brushing warmed corn syrup on the baked cookie and then adding the sprinkles.   I had never tried this, but it gives much better coverage and richer color for the sugar than adding before baking.

I also made 2 different M&M cookies; but I think I will save those for another post.  I have 4 or 5 recipes that I have looked at and I may try them all to see which I like best.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

*click on highlighted/underlined areas for original recipe links.

Apple Pie

I don't really make pies; I am not a pie person, but last week I made 2.

Little C had never had apple pie and had been asking me how it was made.  Well, there was only one way to educate her on the All-American dessert.  We made it together, based on the Perfect Apple Pie recipe from the PA Grange Cookbook.  I didn't make my crusts - I bought them to save time, but I think I will go back to making my own because that's like using a cake mix - I don't like to do it!

The pie was very good and it made me want to make another apple pie.

I made a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, using the Libby's recipe.  It was good, but did not turn out as pretty as last year's.

Below is the recipe for the Apple Pie:

6-7 Tart Apples - I used 5 or 6 large Jonagold Apples
1 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
2 Tablespoons Milk
Dash Nutmeg
2 Tablespoons Butter

Pare and slice apples thin - I cut the slices in to 1/2 inch pieces.
Add the milk to the apples and toss to coat.
Combine sugar, cornstarch, and spices; mix with apples.
Put in a 9 inch pastry lined pie pan; dot with butter.
Add top crust and sprinkle with sugar (Oh dear! I forgot the extra sugar)
Bake at 400 for 50 minutes.

As the picture shows, I put mine on a foil lined baking pan to catch any overflows.

Several people have mentioned that they wanted to see what I did for Thanksgiving.  There was really nothing out of the ordinary.  I made homemade cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, corn pudding and the pumpkin pie.  Mr. SBQ made the turkey, stuffing/dressing, gravy and Brussels sprouts.  Our neighbors that joined us brought ham, and pecan pie bars.  It was a very good feast, but I didn't try out anything new this year.  I figured there was only so much food 7 people could eat; especially since 3 of them were little people. :)

I am working on my inspiration for Christmas.  I am still not sure what my new treats are going to be this year.  I have a few ideas, but am still searching.  Maybe I will make some pies! ;)

Apple Pie

Apple Pie Slice

Pumpkin Pie Slice

Halloween Part 3 - Trick-or-Treat

We had decided months ago that Little C would be a French Girl for Halloween this year.  It started when I told her that I had made myself a wig and dressed up as a Cabbage Patch Kid the last year I went trick-or-treating (mid 80's - yikes).  She didn't care what she was, she just wanted a wig for her costume.  I made the wig out of brown yarn in 4 sections which I bobby pinned to her real hair.  The beret was anchored to her head by her forehead and the bun of her real hair.  She wore a black striped shirt and slim black pants.  I made her trick-or-treat bag out of a plain tote bag.  On one side I ironed-on an Eiffel Tower and a French Poodle, and wrote French words all over.  On the other side, I made a Pink Bling Eiffel Tower.    She said Bonjour and Merci at each house! :)

Since we were walking around with Little C for trick-or-treating, I made a box for the candy and sat it at the front door.  Surprisingly there was some candy left - honest little trick-or-treaters!  I covered a box in black paper and orange polka dots.  The sign on the front has 2 eyes and says to please take one handful only.  I was happy because the box matched the candy - Tootsie Rolls and Sixletts.

The Jack-O-Lantern was the best I think I have ever done.  We designed it based on a stencil book, but I didn't use the stecil - I like to make my design and draw it on myself.   We had such warm weather that Jack didn't last very long, but he was good for Halloween.

I got to do lots of creating for this Halloween and it was fun!

Candy Box

Jack-o-Lantern

French Girl Costume 

French Girl Costume