Fun Friday- Final Holiday Edition

I hope that this post finds you all happy and recovering from the food induced coma of Thanksgiving! ;)  

But, what I really pray for is that you had time to reflect on all you have to be THANKFUL for and enjoyed time spent with those that mean the most to you!  I will fill you all in on our special Thanksgiving on Monday!

Until then...

Here is one last holiday favorite recipe that is fairly new to us.  It was printed in the Parent Life magazine about two years ago and was listed as a Cooking With Kids activity.  My kids love mints but most recipes are pretty involved, so we loved this simple to make treat.  You will notice ours are white... this is simply because we are trying to eliminate red dye, or any other color for that matter, from our 5 year olds' diet.  They really are pretty colored and one day I am going to stop being lazy and look into natural food colorings.  Ask me next Christmas if I got around to it!



Peppermint Creams

1 3/4 c. confectioners' sugar
4-6 tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
food coloring (optional)

Sift sugar into a large bowl and gradually add milk and peppermint, mixing with a wooden spoon.  The mixture should come together like a dough.  You may need to use your hands to mix in the end! To knead, work on a clean surface sprinkled with confectioners sugar, until smooth.  Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters.  Transfer carefully onto parchment paper and let dry overnight.


Makes 20-30.  (if you do not let your children eat the dough while working, that is!)

Enjoy!

Fun Friday- Holiday Edition

What would the holidays be without cookies?  Here are two of our favorite.  Would love to tell you where they came from, but I have used them for years...so probably out of a magazine from ages past.  Both are quite simple but still yummy!




Vanilla Thumbprints
makes 3 1/2 dozen

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup apricot or raspberry jam

1. Heat oven to 350
2. Combine butter and sugar in the bowl with an electric mixer. Cream using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, scraping the bowl as needed. Add the flour and mix just until incorporated (dough will be soft)
3. Roll 2 teaspoons of dough between your hands into a 1-inch ball. Repeat spacing 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. With a floured  thumb, make an indentation in the center of each ball of dough. (I use the end of a melon ball scooper!)  Fill each indentation with 1/2 raspberry or apricot jam
4. Bake at 350 about 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly golden brown around bottoms. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Peppermint Cookies
makes 3 dozen

3/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 crushed peppermint candy canes or mints. divided

1. Heat oven to 350
2. Beat shortening, brown sugar, sugar, milk, vanilla in large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into shortening mixture at low speed just until blended. Stir in 1/2 cup crushed candy. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet.
3. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately sprinkle each cookie with about 1/4 teaspoon crushed candy. Cool 2 minutes. Remove to rack to cool completely.


Enjoy!

Fun Friday- Holiday Edition

Happy Fun Friday friends!  So here's the second holiday treat for you.  If you missed the first one, just click here to catch up.  There's just something about trifles that just speak holiday to me, maybe it is the red berries.  Plus, they seem to feed a larger crowd.  Another warning- this is not the dessert to make of you are on a diet!  Just saying!

Enjoy!



Holiday Brownie Berry Bowl
1 cup boiling water
1 pkg (4-serving size) Raspberry JELL-O  (we used strawberry)
2 cups ice cubes
1 baked 9-inch square brownie layer, cooled, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups cold milk
2 pkg (4-serving size each) Vanilla Jello pudding
2 cups raspberries (we used strawberries)
1 cup thawed Cool Whip topping

Stir boiling water into dry gelatin in medium bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Add ice; stir until ice is completely melted and gelatin starts to thicken.
Place brownie pieces into 2-1/2-qt. serving bowl; cover with gelatin. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Pour milk into separate medium bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with whisk 2 min or until well blended. Spoon over ingredients in serving bowl; top with layers of raspberries (or strawberries) and whipped topping. Refrigerate 2 hours or until ready to serve.
Makes 15 serving, about 2/3 cup each.

Fun Friday- Holiday Edition

Edited- Now we have pictures!  Let me just start by saying there are NO pictures of this yummy treat at the moment.  Hurricane, company and hubby gone has put me a little behind.  BUT, I intend on making some today and add a picture or two later.  Be sure to come back and drool over this delightful treat!

Can you believe that there is ONE MONTH until December?  One month, friends!  Time to get busy planning for all of the yummy treats you can make, so this month I am going to share a few of my favorites to get you started.

This recipe comes from a dear friend we met in ND, Dawn, and has become one our family favorites for Christmas.  Be forwarned, it is addictive, is not good for you and did I mention, is addictive!  (in a good sort of way, of course)  It is also one of the easiest, and less expensive versions I have found.

Peppermint Bark

12 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips
12 oz. white chocolate chips
1 tsp. peppermint extract
crushed peppermint candy
Crushed pretzels (optional)

Melt chocolate chips in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, or on stove top being careful not to burn.  Spread on cookie sheet and let cool.  Melt white chocolate chips the same way and stir in peppermint extract.  Pour over top of chocolate.  Sprinkle with crushed candy and pretzels if desired.  Refrigerate until hard and break into pieces.

Enjoy!

This makes great gift for friends.  Feel free to make me some! ;)
See 'ya back later with some pictures!