Leftover Christmas candy canes were the inspiration for these soft, cheesecakey and Heavenly peppermint cookies that everybody in my family wants (read: expects) in their tin of Christmas goodies. They are pink, BTW, not because I’ve added food coloring, but because the candy cane maker did and I don’t want to use the white canes. … More j’s Peppermint Cream Jones, huge Star
The golden raisins in these cookies were DRUNK when added to the batter, having marinated in Jamaican Rum for a year (and it’s time to put some fresh raisins in the jar for next year.) It’s my understanding that the alcohol bakes out, but do know that this cookie has had a drinking habit. No … More j’s Rum Raisin Jones, another Star
My daughter asks for these every year as a selection in the Christmas cookie mix. She used to make them, too, as her contribution to the holiday baking. I don’t prefer to put them in the gift boxes because they are big. It’s impossible to make them small or all you get is a few … More Haystacks. Someone thinks they’re a star
We have these every year for Christmas and times when the extended families get together. Chopped dates, roasted walnuts, crushed graham crackers, marshmallows all held together with a can of sweetened condensed milk, then rolled in flaked coconut. They mellow for a few days. Then we’re off and away. I threw in some maraschino cherries … More Aunt Clara’s Date-Nut No Bakes, a Star
“Christmas with You” YouTube Link What is it about Christmas lights that make little children squeal with glee and grown-ups get their holiday groove on? I don’t put up a tree anymore, not even a fake tree, but lights? Plenty. They lift mood and help maintain it during the intense baking days. When these first … More Christmas with You
There was Thanksgiving frost on the stairs and driveway this morning at 8:30. I’m thankful that the threatened snow earlier in the week stayed in the mountains where the snow bunnies and water table may benefit. The first scent of the day was, naturally, coffee, but I’ve just saluted the frost with the aroma of … More Thanksgiving, Great Yearly, Made Great Again
Yesterday afternoon, about two and a half hours before dinner with my daughter, the oven on low at 250 degrees, a foil-wrapped package was put in it to slowly warm and meld the flavors of the filling within a partially-hollowed out round loaf of artisan sourdough. I took a shortcut, bought the bread. I’d wanted … More Clam Dip Baked in Boule
Last night, as dinner was on the stove and with an accompaniment in the oven, I mixed a batch of cookie dough for another experiment in fillings, in high hopes that the result would be the third offering of a peppermint-related cookie trio. There are already two unique and well-proven members of that trio, typically … More Peppermint Cream Snicks, Maybe
It’s time to begin preparations for holiday baking and first that means a look in the back of the fridge for remains from last year. There’s almost always going to be jams, jellies, fillings and other sugared foods that easily survive a year. I found a jar with almost one cup of last winter’s date … More Date-Topped Fruity Bran Muffins, Made Great Again
Ms Chef in Seattle 