Christmas Cookies Review

2011 CHRISTMAS COOKIES REVIEW

Here are a few of the cookies I made last year. I did a "25 Days of Christmas Sweets"...so every day. For 25 days. I'm not going to do that again...it was a LOT of work.

But here, enjoy them again this year!

  

  

  

Superbowl Treats

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

Treat yourself with little football brownies!

Very simple to make! I just used "boxed" brownie mix and follow directions baking them in 9x13" pan, lined with parchment paper. When they are done, let them cool for a few minutes in the pan, then lift the brownies up holding onto the paper and place them on wire rack to fully cool. When they are, invert them onto a clean surface and peel away the paper. I used a football shaped cookie cutter and cut out the shapes. I put a thin layer of chocolate icing (since brownies are...well....brown....you can skip this step if you prefer) and then piped the threads with white icing. Put into cupcake holders and serve! Simple as that!

Did you make any special treats for the superbowl?

#5 White Chocolate and Cherry Brownies

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND CHERRY BROWNIES

1 cup butter
4 oz white chocolate, chopped
4 eggs
1-1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups flour
1-1/2 cups snipped dried cherries
1 cup sliced almonds, chopped
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
6 oz white chocolate, chopped

• Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 disposable foil baking pan.
• In a large saucepan, heat and stir butter and 4 oz white chocolate over low hear until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Stir in eggs, one at a time; stir in sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat with wooden spoon just until smooth. Add flour, 1 cup of cherries, almonds, baking powder and alt; stir until combined. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the 6oz chopped white chocolate and the remaining dried cherries. 
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and just set in the center. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. 

The recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest magazine Dec 2011 edition

Happy Halloween Treats

I made these for my little ghouls and goblins!

I use leftover mini brownies (from my Ferrero Rocher treats), icing, sprinkles and ghost peeps.

In the process, I found that my box grater is PERFECT to hold the push-pops while making them!

Hope everyone has a fun and SPOOKTACULAR Halloween!

Click HERE of the image to see the other things I made for the kids' classes!

"Heaven in a Single Bite"

I saw these all over (on Pinterest, of course)....

  

 ...from Oh! Cupcakes and Cooking with Chopin

And I just HAD to give these bad boys a try...

...and I named them more "appropriately" as well

Did I mention you don't need to be a novice to make these?? Really, all from a box....

HEAVEN IN A SINGLE BITE

1 box brownie mix (with ingredients called for)
1 tub cream cheese icing
12 pack of Ferrero Rocher chocolates (each one cut in half)
chopped almonds

Make brownie batter and pour into a mini muffin tin. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. IMMEDIATELY press 1/2 piece of chocolate into the brownie and let cool for 10 minutes. [yields about 24-32 miniature brownies--so get more chocolates, or use the extras in a different recipe]

Carefully remove brownies from the muffin tin, and let cool on wire rack.

When brownies are completely cool, top with s dollop of icing and sprinkle with chopped almonds.

THERE. Heaven on a stick. Now don't eat every.single.one. That defeats the purpose of making them for a lunch group ...

What was I saying? Oh yes...also prepare to spend the night on the tredmil.

So don't let me keep popping your bubble...go ENJOY!

.....oooo look at the inside!

I used a whole chocolate on this one...
but to make them go farther, cut in half!