12 Days of Christmas - Day 8

So, for the eighth day of Christmas I decided to make TX millionaires. Which was sort of funny seeing I was sporting one of my most interesting necklaces which I like to call my Goldschlager "bling."

Check it out in baking action. These desserts are also known as turtles, however, TX Millionaires sound so distinguished and make this next picture make sense.

Texas Millionaires (from my Mom’s Best Recipes Cookbook)
1 14-oz caramels
2 T milk

Mix together in double boiler. Add 2 C chopped pecans. Drop by teaspoonful onto greased platter. Chill.

1 giant Hershey milk chocolate
1/8+ block paraffin
(This can be substituted with chocolate bark or chocolate candy coating.)

Melt in double boiler.

Dip candy in chocolate mixture and chill.

Bake well and prosper.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 7

It's New Year's Eve, people! Can't type much....gotta go bring in the New Year with a smile and laughter. :)

Here's another of my family's favorites for Christmas.

Swedish Cookies
1 C butter
½ C powdered sugar
1¾ C flour
½ C chopped pecans (or a little more)
1 t vanilla
Cream butter well; add remaining ingredients. Roll into balls about 1" in diameter. Bake at 350°
for 15 min. While still a little warm, roll in powdered sugar.
(made by guest baker: my mom)

Bake well and prosper!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6

Ah. What would I do without my mother? Once again she was guest baker for today and took pictures while she worked (it's close to whistling while you work.) But I forgot to grab those pictures off her camera before I left TX. She was awesome enough to send them to me in time to post this for Day 6. :) And it is pretty awesome that she knows how to use technology!

She made Peanut Butter Crinkles. AND she took a picture of her mess (once again contained, but still a mess.)

She also took a picture of the cookies pre-oven and pre-chocolate.

Now, some of you guys might know this recipe as the one with Hershey kisses in the middle of the cookie. But my mom was creative. She used these cute Ghiradelli semi sweet baking chocolates that I shall rename buttons.

They turned out great!

Peanut Butter Crinkles
1 C butter or margarine, softened
1 C peanut butter
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2½ C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
sugar
nuts, M&Ms, chocolate chips, chocolate kisses

With mixer at medium speed, beat first six ingredients until fluffy. At low speed, beat in next four ingredients. Shape into 1" balls, roll in sugar. Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until browned. Immediately press nuts or candies into cookies. Cool. Store in airtight container. Makes 6 dozen.

Bake well and prosper!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5

I have to admit that ever since I was a little girl, this was my favorite day out of all 12 days. I mean, five GOLDEN rings?!! Awesome! Not to mention that when singing, this day got to be all fermata-ed (yes, I think I just made up another word - to hold out as long as one wants.)

So, in honor of my favorite day, here's one of my family's favorites. My mom always makes these cookies (and my dad even helps too! Well, someone has to know how to use this contraption and have the muscle to push the dough through it! And let me tell ya....it sure ain't me with my noodle arms.)

Voila! A cookie press!

****This just in: There are electric ones of these things?!!!! What?! No muscle needed anymore?! What IS the world coming to?

Spritzkuchen
1 C butter
¾ C sugar
1 egg
½ t almond flavoring
2½ C flour

Mix in order given. Forming on ungreased cold cookie sheets, press dough through cookie press
in fancy shapes, strips, or circles. Decorate with colored sugar. Bake at 350° until edges are just lightly browned (8 minutes+). (made by guest baker: my mom)

Bake well and prosper!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 4

So, in the past several years, whenever I went home to TX for Christmas, I made holiday bars for one of my best friends and her family. Last year I didn't get to make them seeing my friend's son was in the hospital and the normal visiting didn't happen. :( But I made up for it this year by giving them some supernatural brownies too. :) (See: Ahhhh.....the Sweet Taste of Victory)

As I was making these bars I started admiring my fingernails. The red made everything I was doing better. Like chopping the pecans.

Smushing the graham crackers (who needs a rolling pin? I don't!)

Or pouring the sweetened condensed milk.

Aren't these pictures more festive with that splash of color?!!! Ok...whatever. It's been a long time since I got a mani-pedi. I was super excited. Leave me be in my enjoyment. (And make these bars to get into the holiday mood too and bring some enjoyment to yourself and those around you. *No painting of nails required.)

Holiday Bars (Please note: the pictures are of a half recipe. This is the full recipe.)

1/2 C margarine

1 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 6-oz pkg chocolate chips

1 1/2 C shredded coconut

1 C chopped nuts (Erika's Extra: I always use pecans)

In 13 by 9 inch pan, melt margarine. Remove from heat. Sprinkle crumbs over margarine. Pour milk evenly over crumbs. Top with chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts; press down gently. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and cut into 3 by 1 1/2 inch squares.

Erika's Extra: On one half, sprinkle the nuts and keep the other half nutless (for those who don't like nuts.)(Is nutless a word? Oh my....)

Bake well and prosper!