Scrappin'ings

12 Days of Christmas Goodies ~ Day Three

So, it's day three of my Christmas goodies postings.  I actually missed yesterday, but it doesn't seem like my great idea is generating much traffic to this blog, so no one probably noticed anyway.  Today is a recipe that was my grandma's... a favorite of my uncle Bill.  I hope you enjoy them, too!

SOFT GINGERSNAP COOKIES

1 c. packed brown sugar

3/4 c. softened butter

1/4 c. molasses

1 egg

2 1/4 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

Lightly grease - do not oil - cookie sheets.  In large bowl, combine first 4 ingredients.  Blend well.  Add remaining ingredients.  Chill dough at least 1 hour.  Heat oven to 375°.  Shape dough into 1" balls.  Roll in sugar.  Place 2" apart on cookie sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes until edges set.  Cool 1-2 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.

12 Days of Christmas Goodies ~ Day Two

This is a super easy recipe that always elicits rave reviews.

DIPPED PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Yields about 5 dozen

1 c. peanut butter

1 - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. baking mix (Bisquick or similar)

3/4 - 1 lb. milk chocolate confectionery coating (almond bark)

1 Tbl. shortening

In a mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, milk, egg, and vanilla; beat until smooth.  Stir in baking mix and mix until combined.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Shape into 1" balls and place 1" apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass.  Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire racks.  In a small saucepan over low heat, melt confectionery coating and shortening.  Dip each cookie halfway into chocolate; shake off excess.  Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets to harden.  Yum!

12 Days of Christmas Goodies

I made a small goal for myself to do my own "12 Days of Christmas" by posting Christmas recipes for yummy goodies that are "tried and true".  Well, the weekend got away from me and I didn't get started on the 1st as I planned.  Better late than never though, right?  So... even though it seems strange to start a "12 Days" on the 3rd, I'm going to go through with it so I can post recipes that my family enjoys.  My Mom began a great tradition of baking with me when I was very young.  It is a tradition that I am enjoying continuing with my own two children.  It's something small, but I think it is kind of neat that the kids and I are still using the KitchenAid mixer that my mom received in (I think I have the year right) 1973 when I was 5 years old.  It still works like a champ!

I hope to post a recipe a day for the next twelve days.  I hope you and your family enjoy the recipes.  I'd love to hear feedback if you do happen to try any of the recipes.  Enjoy!  Merry Christmas to you and your family!

The first recipe is one that I first made last year for our Girl Scout troop Christmas party.  It was easy and delicious and the girls all loved the combination of cherries and coconut.  As my family would say, this recipe is a "definite do-over".

CHERRY-COCONUT BARS

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. butter

3 Tbl. powdered sugar

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 c. granulated sugar

1/4 c. all-purpose flour (in addition to the original 1 cup)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 c. chopped nuts (I used walnuts)

1/2 c. coconut

1/2 c. quartered maraschino cherries

Preheat oven to 350°.  With hands, mix 1 cup flour, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth.  Spread thin with fingers in ungreased square pan, 8x8x2".  Bake about 25 minutes.

Stir the rest of the ingredients into the eggs.  Spread over the top of baked pastry (no need to cool).  Bake about 25 minutes longer.  Cool.  Cut into 18 bars.

Craft Project (and a few links)

This is the 2nd day in a row dh has worked a 16 hour day.  The kids and I haven't seen him since Monday morning.  He just called and said he took overtime for tomorrow, too.  I'm thankful the opportunity is there to bring in a little more money this time of year, but it is so hard on the family.

We ended up having a very non-traditional school day.  We started out fine, but ended up getting very side-tracked when errand running.  We went to the little local craft store and bought the things to make pipe cleaner penguins.  They turned out SO adorable!  Our dd has a new penguin obsession, so we really enjoyed making them.  As we were checking out, there was a little penguin decoration on the clearance table.  The clerk overheard my dd oohing and aahing over it and told her she could have it!  Then she told my son he could choose something to take home, too, so he picked a little mouse dressed up like Santa.  I thought it was a very sweet gesture on her part.  The project is from Family Fun.  http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11589  My 10-year old dd did great on her own, my 7-year old ds needed a little help, but his turned out very cute, too.

I saw this link on another blog and checked it out.  What a fun way to make paper snowflakes!  These are online and are a fun thing to do.  http://www.popularfront.com/snowdays/index.html?id=1516626

The last link I wanted to share was for an online cookie decorating site where you can e-mail your virtual cookie to a friend.  The best part?  For each cookie "sent", the Betty Crocker company will donate $0.10 to Toys for Tots.  Check it out www.bettycrockercookies.com

Enjoy!

Christmas Movies

We've officially started watching our Christmas movies.  Last night we watched The Santa Clause with Tim Allen.  I enjoy this time of year.  Snuggling on the couch in our jammies, nibbling on popcorn, and watching Christmas shows.  What are some of your favorite movies that you watch every year?  Here are my favorites:

1.  White Christmas with Bing Crosby

2.  Miracle on 34th Street (I prefer the 1947 version)

3.  It's A Wonderful Life

4.  The Polar Express

5.  A Charlie Brown Christmas

Today definitely feels like a movie day.  It's only 3:00 PM, but it is kind of dark out and is only about 38°.  If I still lived in Alaska, I'd probably say it felt like snow.  Not likely where I'm at now, though.  I think it is time to gather the kids, make some hot cocoa and/or hot cider, a big bowl of popcorn, and watch something with a Christmas theme.  I hope everyone else has a great afternoon!

:) Kit