Rolled Sugar Cookies

 Adapted from allrecipes.com

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

3 cups white sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. 

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely & ice with sugar cookie icing.

Sugar Cookie Icing

adapted from allrecipes.com

1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons milk

2 teaspoons light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

assorted food coloring

In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.

Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.

This icing is beautiful & a perfect pair with the rolled sugar cookies!

Christmas Dinner 2010

My parents (and a huge surprise...my sister) came from California to visit last week.  We decided to celebrate Christmas early, complete with a big meal together.  While I greatly prefer more of a Thanksgiving meal to anything else, I decided to try something different and try out a bunch of new recipes.  Here is what we enjoyed for our Christmas time together!

Cinnamon Rolls
I will post my version of this recipe soon.  I put them in the fridge overnight and missed the second rise on them so they didn't turn out quite right.  Also, since they were cold, they didn't cook correctly.  However, we still devoured them and I will be making them again as a special treat for Christmas day :)

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Brisket

covered with liquid smoke, wrapped in foil and cooked in a roaster on 225 for 10 hours

Watergate Salad

Crockpot Broccoli Casserole

Sour Cream Potato Casserole
Tangy Cole Slaw

Peppermint Chocolate Pie

Peppermint Chocolate Pie

From I heart naptime

1 chocolate pie crust
6 candy canes
2 cups cold milk
2 boxes (4 oz) instant pudding (1 chocolate and 1 vanilla)
1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed
crushed candy canes, mini candy canes, peppermint balls

Crush candy canes into small pieces and set aside. 

Pour 2 cups of milk into a bowl or measuring cup. Whisk in pudding about 2 minutes, mixture will be thick. Gently fold in 1/2 tub of Cool Whip and crushed candy canes, mix completely. Spoon into crust.

Place in fridge to set for at least 4 hours. Before serving, top with remaining Cool Whip & garnish with candy canes or peppermint balls.

Watergate Salad

adapted from allrecipes.com

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix

1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Drain pineapple reserving juice.  In a large bowl, mix together pudding mix, pineapple chunks, 1/4 cup pineapple juice, marshmallows, and nuts. Fold in whipped topping. Chill.

Holiday Pretzel Treats

From Family Fun

Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug
M&M's candy

Heat the oven to 170F. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug.

Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.

Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. If desired, place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.

Reindeer Cookies

From Let's Explore

Cookie dough:  store bought or homemade, any flavor
Pretzel twists
Chocolate chips
Red M&Ms


Start with a round cookie shape and pinch the middle gently to create the face shape.  Add eyes, antlers, and Rudolph’s shining red nose.  Bake according to your recipe’s directions.

Cranberry Orange Bread

 From Joy of Baking

1/2 cup (50 grams) pecans or walnuts, optional

1 cup (120 grams) fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped

1 large egg, well beaten

3/4 cup (180 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour

1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon orange zest (outer skin of orange - about 1 1/2 oranges)

4 tablespoons (57 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Grease (or spray with a nonstick vegetable spray) a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan. 

If desired, toast the pecans or walnuts for about 8 - 10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely.


In a small bowl, combine the beaten egg with the orange juice and vanilla extract. 

In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend it into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir in the chopped cranberry and nuts. 

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 50 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Then remove the bread from the pan and let cool completely before slicing. This bread can be frozen.
 
Makes one - 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf.

Old-Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies

From Nestle Toll House

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze (recipe follows)

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.

FOR GLAZE:
COMBINE 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.

Cranberry Bars

From allrecipes.com

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips or white vanilla chips
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup pecan halves

Combine cracker crumbs and butter; press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; mix well. Gently spread over crust. Bake at 350 degrees F for 22 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

The graham cracker layer will be very thin and that's good :) Also, we're not huge coconut fans, so I just left it out.

Magic Mint Chocolate Bark

from Nestle Toll House

1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels
1/3 cup coarsely chopped oven roasted or toasted almonds

PREHEAT oven to 325° F. Line small baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.

POUR morsels onto prepared baking sheet. Arrange morsels so they are touching each other in a single layer (roughly an 11 x 9-inch rectangle).

BAKE for 1 to 3 minutes or until morsels are shiny. Remove from oven to wire rack. With tip of butter knife or wooden pick, immediately swirl morsels to create a swirled pattern.

SPRINKLE with nuts. Hold baking sheet 3 inches above counter and drop to settle nuts into melted morsels. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

VARIATION: Substitute broken pretzel pieces or another nut of choice for the almonds.

White Peppermint Snowballs

from Sandra Lee via foodnetwork.com

1 package (18-ounce) refrigerated sugar cookie dough, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies, plus more for garnishing
1 cup powdered sugar, divided

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut the cookie dough into 8 pieces. In bowl of electric mixer, on medium speed thoroughly combine the dough pieces, peppermint extract, 1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies, and 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar.

Roll the dough into 1-inch diameter balls. Arrange, 2 inches apart, on parchment lined cookie sheets and bake until set, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on cooling racks.

Add 1/2 cup of the remaining powdered sugar to a small bowl. While the cookies are still warm, roll them in the sugar. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies and serve.

As the cookies cool, they will flatten slightly.

I actually used the Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Cookie Mix (prepared as directed) instead of refrigerated dough and they were awesome!

Frozen Grape Mold

From Dorothy Richards

1/4 cup mayo
4 oz cream cheese
1 small can chunk pineapples, strained & juice reserved
2 cups mini marshmallows
2 cups red & green seedless grapes
1/2 pint whipping cream

Whip together mayo, cream cheese and 3 tablespoons pineapple juice. Slowly fold pineapples, marshmallows and grapes into cream cheese mixture with a spoon. In a separate bowl, whip cream until stiff and fold into the grape mixture. Use mayo as a grease in a round pan and freeze. Remove from freezer and allow to thaw part way before serving. Serve cold.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

From: Cupcakes! From the Cake Mix Doctor

24 gold or silver foil liners for cupcake pans (2 1/2 inch size)

1 package (18.25 oz) German chocolate cake mix with pudding
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 bottle (1 oz) red food coloring
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cream cheese frosting
Red sugar sprinkles
Meringue Ribbons, Bows & More (if desired)

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line 24 cupcake cups with foil liners and set aside.

Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix until well combined (making sure to stop and scrape the sides as you go). Spoon or scoop 1/3 cup batter into each lined cupcake cup, filling them three quarters of the way full.

Place pan in oven and bake until cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed with your finger (about 16 to 20 minutes). Set pans on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes, then carefully remove the cupcakes from the pan and place cupcakes on a wire rack to cool at least 15 minutes before frosting.

Prepare frosting. Place a heaping tablespoon of frosting on each cupcake and swirl to spread it out. Place sprinkles on a plate or in a shallow bowl. Roll each cupcake in sprinkles until fully covered.

If you are making these for a special occasion, add some meringue shapes to the top for a stunning presentation.

I made these for a friend's bridal shower and they were to die for! I added some meringue hearts and some bows and they were as adorable as they were tasty.