One of my favorite nephews has recently begun a new job in Hawaii and will be moving his family there from Washington in the next week. His favorite of the the Christmas goodies is the Chewy Chocolate Mint, so I made a batch of the drop version just for him on Thursday so they’d be … More Snicks with Kisses
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
This chewy cookie — which thinks it’s a candy — is the second of the Molasses Trio. They began life with raisins, which I love with molasses, but Mother changed my recipe, put dates in them because she’s not a raisin fan. For wider distribution, no fruit. Always with a lime glaze or, as above, … More Molasses Chews with Lime Glaze, a Star
My “Chews” are a blend of cookie and candy. Some people can’t tell the difference, especially with these. I make them in two forms: the quick, as above, in bar form. The version which takes a little more time is drop cookies. Both are frosted with the seasonal Hershey’s Mint Truffle Kisses. The bars, with … More Chocolate Mint Chews, another 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
You’ve seen them in the main photo. Well, here’s the proof that it was not a one-off. See that zested lime? Can we say “Icing”? My Limey Jones are a very soft, cheesecakey cookie that burst with lime. They’re one of the earliest successes of my Joneses. When you are Jonesing for lime, not just … More The Limeys. Hey, where’s their 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
My mother gave me the 2007 Taste of Home Annual Recipes Book not long ago and I decided to give these a try. A layer of crushed Oreo cookies mixed with some butter, baked 10 minutes and cooled is topped with melted caramels and masses of pecans (which I roasted) and then a glossy fudge. They’re very … More Caramel Pecan Candy, 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
It may be a good thing that today I sent a big handful of the wrapped Molasses Caramels to my mother and a few to my downstairs neighbors. Why? All the rest of the wrapped caramels are going to be unwrapped and repurposed. The caramels are indeed intensely flavored, which means that their appeal is … More Ginger Snicks with Molasses Caramel Filling, Star of The Day
Ms Chef in Seattle 