Christmas In July!

Last Christmas I was in such a mood to bake! And not just bake my regular cookies, chocolate and fudge recipes, but to bake something new.

Yes, I'm ready to spend the day baking!!

My sister is the manager at a local gas station and as the manager likes to do something special for her staff. I knew she'd already planned her gifts, but I wanted to make something for the day she was going to give out the gifts...sort of have a mini Christmas party!

As I was in the mood to make some interesting cupcakes...that's what she was going to bring to this mini party.

It was so fun and easy I plan on doing something similar in the future for birthday parties and other activities! Here's what I came up with!

These were the ones she took to work to share with her employees.

Merry Christmas in July! Is it time to listen to Christmas music? Ooops....too late....I was listening to Christmas music in April- It's just too good to limit to one month!

Cookie day!

At last the day has arrived! It's time to get oodles and oodles of delicious cookie making going! What I have planned is my cut out cookies-with loads of butter-cream frosting and sparkly sprinkles, the ultimate chocolate chip cookies, white velvet cookies-also with frosting and sprinkles, rice krispsy treats and apple bread.

I did get a a head start yesterday by making Cookies & Cream Fudge-which is: Out. Of. This. World. DELICIOUS!!!! Imagine Oreo cookies with just the right amount of cookie and dream....I mean cream.

It's very simple to make and a wonderful treat of you-and if you decide to let share-your family and friends to enjoy!

Cookies and Cream Fudge

• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine
• 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) Evaporated Milk
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) White morsels
• 1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme
• 1/2 cup finely crushed cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 1 cup crumbled cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies

Directions

LINE 9-inch-square baking pan with foil.

COMBINE sugar, butter and evaporated milk in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

STIR in morsels, marshmallow crème, finely crushed cookies and vanilla extract. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle crumbled cookies on top. Gently swirl cookies into fudge using a knife without touching bottom of pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 48 pieces. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. 

 Tip:

The 9 inch pan makes a super think fudge so this year I not only doubled the recipe, but I poured the fudge into 2- 15 inch cookies sheets. This made the perfect thickness and allowed for cutting the perfect sized piece. Trust me...this is one rich fudge-you'll want it to me a tad thinner than it would be by putting it in a smaller pan.

Happy baking!

Ultimate Cookie

One more day and then I will be in the midst of a baking frenzy! While I am looking forward to it I know it will be an exhausting day! But I already have my night planned for the perfect chill...a night at the movies with friends, popcorn and the new Hobbit film!

Here is one of the cookie recipes I will be making tomorrow. I love this recipe! You can make HUGE cookies and they turn out perfect! There have been days where I make a batch and get 24 large cookies. I eat like, 2 or 3. My brother comes home between 4-6 from work and all but a few are gone by the time I go to bed at 9:30/10:00 pm.

Now whenever I tell anyone that these are THE ultimate chocolate chip cookies...they roll their eyes. But they always end up asking for the recipe and agreeing with me! Try them and you may find your new favorite chocolate chip cookie!

THE ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE
Makes 2 dozen large cookies

1 cup butter, melted (no substitutes)
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2-3 cups chocolate chips*

Stir melted butter and sugars; mix well. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, soda and salt and stir into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Using an ice cream scoop, drop dough onto ungreased baking sheet, two inches apart. 

Bake in 325* oven for 12-13 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Let rest on cookie sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

Tips:

~*you can use any kind of chocolate-I've used chunks and I know of

 some people who've used cut up chocolate bars. 

 ~Mix by hand, do NOT use a mixer
~Only use a plastic or metal bowl, do NOT use glass
~MUST use real sugar and white flour! :-)

~It may look like the cookie isn't done when it comes out of the oven, but as long as you don't have it too thick it will be fine...be sure to let it sit for 5 minutes!

Enjoy!!!! And please be sure to share the cookies...your waistline will thank you! ;)

Holiday Fun!

Every year we all have traditions around the holidays that make it special for our family. For my family, there are movies, shopping, wrapping gifts, Christmas music and all sorts of homemade goodies!

I've already begun watching Christmas movies-including my favorite White Christmas-which generally is viewed at least four times from Thanksgiving to Christmas. I've got all my shopping done and will soon begin wrapping everything-which to me is even more fun than shopping!

The final piece of the holiday fun, before the actual holidays, is baking loads and loads of cookies! I've actually had to hold myself back from starting as I've set aside this Thursday as the day to do that project. And boy is it a project!

I've got at least 4-5 different goodies I'm planning on  making and then I have some friends coming over to assist in making some of their own recipes as well. Overall, I should have plenty to share with friends and family.

Here is our absolute favorite cut-out cookies recipe. One of the reasons I love it so much is that you don't have to refrigerate it. Yay! We've used it in our family since I was a little girl and trust me...it is the best! 

Cut-out Cookies

1 Cup Butter

1 Cup Sugar

1 Egg

3 Tbsp. Milk

1 Tsp Vanilla

3 Cups Flour

1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Salt

Preheat over to 400*.

In mixing bowl cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg, milk, vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt until well mixed. Roll out dough and cut. Bake 5-8 minutes.

 It also taste delicious with this frosting!

Vanilla Butter Frosting

3 Cups Confectioner Sugar

1/3 Cup Butter (5 1/3 Tbsp)

1 1/2 Tsp Vanilla

About 2 Tbsp Milk

 Blend butter and sugar. Stir in vanilla and milk until frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency.

Use food coloring if desired.

Enjoy! :)