Weekend Company {Guest Blogger Bekki}

Whew...3 days people! We are down to the wire! Are you ready for Christmas? Are the cookies baked, presents wrapped? Are the kids bouncing off the walls yet? Monkey is so excited for the 2 week vacation from school and the holidays, he can barely contain himself. I can't say I blame him though! Today I'm happy to have a returning guest, and loyal friend to EMM, Bekki back in the kitchen with me. She is such a sweet gal, because she stepped up when I needed this holiday guest blogger, and then she agreed to do next week's too! So, be sure to come back then to see what other yummy thing she is sharing, but for now, here she is with not one, but two holiday treats!

I am married to my wonderful husband Josh, have a beautiful 12 year old step daughter Amy and 2 furbaby sweethearts Minnie and Shadow. I am a self taught baker/cook. I taught Wilton cake decorating for a while, worked in a grocery store bakery and have even spent time baking wedding/birthday cakes as a hobby on the side. My love for cooking has been since childhood. Spending time with my mother, aunts, and grandmothers. Aiding in their recipes or just being there for the conversation. Its always been a source of calm, peace, and ultimate fulfillment. The idea that you add your love to each recipe and share it with the people you care about is such an amazing blessing to me in more ways then I can ever put on paper. I have decided writing a cookbook was something I could do to share my love of food with family, friends, and whomever else comes my way. I hope your day is blessed with all your favorite things.

Here we are, ready and waiting for parties with our families, long time traditions and warm evenings by the fire with a Christmas Story. Here’s a spin on milk and cookies for Santa. How about something warm with a little kick to keep him going. These candy cane cookies mix the idea of a powdered donut, a candy cane and a cookie all in one! Who wouldn't love to share that? These cookies along with a little grown up hot chocolate, add the flavor of coffee but nothing that will have you or your little ones flying through the house all through the night. I hope you all have a joyous Christmas, blessed to God’s fullest. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Candy Cane Crispers  Adapted by A Family Christmas

1c. butter, room temperature

1 1/4c. confectioners' sugar plus additional for coating

1 1/2tsp. vanilla

1 1/3c. flour

1c. rolled oats

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 coarsley crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a baking sheet.

In a large bowl beat together butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla.

In another another bowl, stir together flour, rolled oats and salt; blend with butter mixture. Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls; roll in confectioners' sugar to coat. Place about 2 inches apart on prepare baking sheet. Flatten cookies with a fork, making a crisscross pattern with the fork tines. Sprinkle each with about 1/2tsp. crushed candy canes. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until edges are lighty browned. Cool on baking sheet for 2-3 minutes; transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen.

Photo from A Family Christmas Cookbook

Fiesta Mexican Hot Chocolate Adapted from A family Christmas

2 c. hot milk

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tbs. instant coffee granules

1/2 tsp Vanilla

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

 Place hot milk, chocolate chips, coffee granules, vanilla and cinnamon

in a blender. Cover; mix thoroughly until chocolate chips are incorporated.

Beat with mixer until light and frothy. Makes 2 cups. 

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Whew...3 days people! We are down to the wire! Are you ready for Christmas? Are the cookies baked, presents wrapped? Are the kids bouncing off the walls yet? Monkey is so excited for the 2 week vacation from school and the holidays, he can barely contain himself. I can't say I blame him though! Today I'm happy to have a returning guest, and loyal friend to EMM, Bekki back in the kitchen with me. She is such a sweet gal, because she stepped up when I needed this holiday guest blogger, and then she agreed to do next week's too! So, be sure to come back then to see what other yummy thing she is sharing, but for now, here she is with not one, but two holiday treats!

I am married to my wonderful husband Josh, have a beautiful 12 year old step daughter Amy and 2 furbaby sweethearts Minnie and Shadow. I am a self taught baker/cook. I taught Wilton cake decorating for a while, worked in a grocery store bakery and have even spent time baking wedding/birthday cakes as a hobby on the side. My love for cooking has been since childhood. Spending time with my mother, aunts, and grandmothers. Aiding in their recipes or just being there for the conversation. Its always been a source of calm, peace, and ultimate fulfillment. The idea that you add your love to each recipe and share it with the people you care about is such an amazing blessing to me in more ways then I can ever put on paper. I have decided writing a cookbook was something I could do to share my love of food with family, friends, and whomever else comes my way. I hope your day is blessed with all your favorite things.

Here we are, ready and waiting for parties with our families, long time traditions and warm evenings by the fire with a Christmas Story. Here’s a spin on milk and cookies for Santa. How about something warm with a little kick to keep him going. These candy cane cookies mix the idea of a powdered donut, a candy cane and a cookie all in one! Who wouldn't love to share that? These cookies along with a little grown up hot chocolate, add the flavor of coffee but nothing that will have you or your little ones flying through the house all through the night. I hope you all have a joyous Christmas, blessed to God’s fullest. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Candy Cane Crispers  Adapted by A Family Christmas

1c. butter, room temperature

1 1/4c. confectioners' sugar plus additional for coating

1 1/2tsp. vanilla

1 1/3c. flour

1c. rolled oats

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 coarsley crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a baking sheet.

In a large bowl beat together butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla.

In another another bowl, stir together flour, rolled oats and salt; blend with butter mixture. Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls; roll in confectioners' sugar to coat. Place about 2 inches apart on prepare baking sheet. Flatten cookies with a fork, making a crisscross pattern with the fork tines. Sprinkle each with about 1/2tsp. crushed candy canes. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until edges are lighty browned. Cool on baking sheet for 2-3 minutes; transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen.

Photo from A Family Christmas Cookbook

Fiesta Mexican Hot Chocolate Adapted from A family Christmas

2 c. hot milk

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tbs. instant coffee granules

1/2 tsp Vanilla

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

 Place hot milk, chocolate chips, coffee granules, vanilla and cinnamon

in a blender. Cover; mix thoroughly until chocolate chips are incorporated.

Beat with mixer until light and frothy. Makes 2 cups. 

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After School During The Holidays

It wasn't so long ago I was so blessed to be at home every day, all day with my little man. Okay, I guess it has been almost 4 years ago, but that time has gone by in the blink of an eye. See, until he started preschool 3 days a week, it was just me and him. And I am so thankful for that time I had, and especially during the holiday season. During a typical day, I was always trying to find fun activities for us to do, and things to keep him busy, stimulated, learning, and entertained, and at Christmas time, that usually put us in the kitchen. Either at the counter and oven making something yummy to surprise Daddy with after work, or at the dining room table making a fun, festive craft. I can still hear him asking "Mommy, what are we making today" morning after morning. Well, these days, his teacher (lucky guy) gets to spend the majority of his week with him, and with homework, Taekwondo and other obligations, I have to fit in our special time together in other ways. And I don't want to wait for Christmas Break, because this year, that doesn't happen until 3 days before Christmas, and between the holiday gatherings and a family wedding, we're going to be a little too busy to be in the kitchen, at least together. So I have to split the fun holiday treat making into 2 categories. Those that I know he wants to help with, and would be crushed if I did on my own, and those that while fun, he's really going to be more interested in eating than anything else. And that's why these first appeared at our house last Friday as an after school treat for my Monkey. Even thought I did them on my own, kids would be terrific at helping and would love getting their hands into that melted chocolate! It's always a fun time getting your kids into the kitchen with you, but that fun is only multiplied during the holiday season. Make the memories while you can, because take it from me, they grow up way too fast!

 Double Candy Cane Oreos
1 package Winter Oreos (the ones with the red center)
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
2 c. white chocolate chips
2 TBS vegetable shortening
Candy Canes, crushed

In a glass bowl combine chips and shortening. Microwave 1 minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds more. Stir until completely melted. Add peppermint extract. Stir well.  Dip cookies into chocolate. Place on cooling racks on a cookie sheet and place in fridge for about 10 minutes to set. To remove lift racks from sheet, and using your fingers on the underside of them, gently pop cookies off. They will stick a bit, so just be patient. Keep refrigerated.

Shared on The Country Cook Dec. 14, 2012
Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box Dec. 18, 2012

Cookies at Very Good Recipes
Pin It

It wasn't so long ago I was so blessed to be at home every day, all day with my little man. Okay, I guess it has been almost 4 years ago, but that time has gone by in the blink of an eye. See, until he started preschool 3 days a week, it was just me and him. And I am so thankful for that time I had, and especially during the holiday season. During a typical day, I was always trying to find fun activities for us to do, and things to keep him busy, stimulated, learning, and entertained, and at Christmas time, that usually put us in the kitchen. Either at the counter and oven making something yummy to surprise Daddy with after work, or at the dining room table making a fun, festive craft. I can still hear him asking "Mommy, what are we making today" morning after morning. Well, these days, his teacher (lucky guy) gets to spend the majority of his week with him, and with homework, Taekwondo and other obligations, I have to fit in our special time together in other ways. And I don't want to wait for Christmas Break, because this year, that doesn't happen until 3 days before Christmas, and between the holiday gatherings and a family wedding, we're going to be a little too busy to be in the kitchen, at least together. So I have to split the fun holiday treat making into 2 categories. Those that I know he wants to help with, and would be crushed if I did on my own, and those that while fun, he's really going to be more interested in eating than anything else. And that's why these first appeared at our house last Friday as an after school treat for my Monkey. Even thought I did them on my own, kids would be terrific at helping and would love getting their hands into that melted chocolate! It's always a fun time getting your kids into the kitchen with you, but that fun is only multiplied during the holiday season. Make the memories while you can, because take it from me, they grow up way too fast!

 Double Candy Cane Oreos
1 package Winter Oreos (the ones with the red center)
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
2 c. white chocolate chips
2 TBS vegetable shortening
Candy Canes, crushed

In a glass bowl combine chips and shortening. Microwave 1 minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds more. Stir until completely melted. Add peppermint extract. Stir well.  Dip cookies into chocolate. Place on cooling racks on a cookie sheet and place in fridge for about 10 minutes to set. To remove lift racks from sheet, and using your fingers on the underside of them, gently pop cookies off. They will stick a bit, so just be patient. Keep refrigerated.

Shared on The Country Cook Dec. 14, 2012
Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box Dec. 18, 2012

Cookies at Very Good Recipes
Pin It

reade more... Résuméabuiyad