Christmas Cookies Day 4

Since I just got to Baltimore and have a packed schedule this evening (seeing the current Narnia Movie - Have you seen it? What did you think?), I thought I would share the final Christmas Cookie I baked this Holiday Season. Don't worry, I did not make these while I was sick... These cookies have actually been gone a while.

The last Christmas Cookie Post and another recipe from Taste of Home. You can find the recipe for the Buttery Spritz Cookies here.

These cookies remind me of my grandparents. I am not exactly sure why... maybe because we had them at their house on Christmas morning? These cookies bring back foggy childhood memories. Fact or Fiction, I associate these cookies with my late grandfather PopPop.

Are there certain cookies that remind you of someone special?

I do not have a cookie press, so I rolled out the dough and used cookie cutters. It worked pretty well. I would suggest if you use the cookie cutter method that you roll out the dough pretty think.

Regardless they were pretty tasty!!

Have you made cookies using a cookie press? How did they turn out?

Christmas Cookies Day 3

Yesterday, I mentioned that I would be in NYC today (and enjoying every second of it!!!). Tonight, I thought I would give you another Christmas Cookie Recipe and I promise to be back tomorrow (or maybe Saturday) with a full update.

As I mentioned in previous Christmas Cookie Posts, this series of recipes comes from Taste of Home.

You can find this recipe for Vanilla Butter Rollouts here. I promise, just as the recipe promises, that "Even cooks who normally shy away from rolled cookies can make these with confidence."

Start by combining the wet and dry ingredients separately.

Combine and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll out and cut using cookie-cutters!

Bake!
Ice!
Yes it is that easy!!!!

Enjoy!!!

What is your favorite cut-out Christmas Cookie?

Christmas Cookies Day 2

It was freezing in DC this morning!!! So instead of a easy 20 minute run, I jumped on the stationary bike for about 30 minutes. Okay, it was supposed to be 20, but I got a little wrapped up in my current book, American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield. Tomorrow is a day of REST and I am hoping for an easy twenty on Friday before the race Sunday. It is supposed to rain Sunday, so please do a "Rain, Rain, go away, come again another day" dance for me!

I am glad I signed up for two races this month. Otherwise, I think I would be a million pounds due to all the cookies!!! It is sad (but also a nice reflection of my baking skills) that the Peanut Butter Treats are gone!!! Thankfully, I put a few aside for my boss and the girls.

My second cookie recipe of the Christmas Cookie Series are Chocolate Chunk Shortbread.

I was very excited when I saw this recipe with the other Taste of Home Christmas Cookies. Mostly because I already knew this recipe!!! When I went to school in Boston I learned that to make shortbread you only need four things:

3 parts butter

2 parts confectioners sugar

2 parts cornstarch

4 parts flour

So, you can imagine how thrilled I was that my traditional recipe was also someone else's!!!

For the recipe on Taste of Home, click here, but don't forget to enjoy my pictures below!

Instead of placing the cookies as little balls on the cookie sheet, I had Jay press them down with the flat bottom of a glass.

These are by far my favorite Christmas Cookie! Though, the Peanut Butter Treats come in a close second!

Now, what to do with all the cookies?!?! And, we still have at least 2 more days!!!!

What is your favorite Christmas Cookie? and Will you do a "Rain, Rain, go away, come again another day" dance for me?

Christmas Cookies Day 1

The Mixing Bowl...


And a kitchen table covered in baking supplies.... This can ONLY mean ONE thing!!!


It's Baking Season!!!!! This month, I am going to have a few posts dedicated to Christmas Cookies!!!



First Up: Peanut Butter Treats


These are soooo easy and only have four ingredients!!

Can you tell Jay helped me?
Yeah, they are that simple!!! And really delicious. Make sure you have one about 15 minutes after they come out of the oven when the Hershey Kisses are still soft.

Besides baking, Jay and I managed to run 6.4 miles this morning in 54 minutes. That is about a 8:30 pace. I was very happy with this time!!! We are running the Jingle All the Way 10K next weekend and I needed this run to give me the confidence I need on race day! I am also hoping to get back on track with Yoga this week, so I should be more than prepared for the race!


Are you doing any Holiday baking? And are you running any seasonal races?

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Try to say that five times fast!

I really wanted a pumpkin treat, so I preheated the oven to 375 degrees and covered the counter with the following ingredients.

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup peanut flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) butter, melted
1 cup granulated [white] sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon dark rum
2 eggs
1 cup (1/2 a 12-ounce package) NESTLE TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Morsels
2 cups easy pumpkin pie mix
1 cup quick oats

Then, I turned over the Nestle Toll House Mini Morsel bag, and got to work.

ONE: Combine flour, peanut flour, baking power and salt in a small bowl.

TWO: Mix butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and rum in larger mixer bowl.

THREE: Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add easy pumpkin pie mix.

FOUR: Gradually mix in flour mixture. Stir in morsels.

FIVE: Drop by rounded tablespoon onto un-greased baking sheets.

SIX: Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.

SEVEN: Realize your cookies are too liquid and add 1 cup of quick oats.

SEVEN and a HALF: Continue to drop tablespoon size helpings on to un-greased cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes.

EIGHT: Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to cloth kitchen towels to cool completely.

Oatmeal-less cookies

What is your favorite thing to add to the Classic Nestle Toll House Cookie Recipe?

What a great way to end a fantastic weekend!