Christmas Ornaments...3 ways

I bought a bunch of clear glass ball ornaments this year (on sale) knowing there was something crafty I could do with them.  I wanted to personalize each of them and put attach them to a bag of cookies or a gift.  I did a lot of playing around and found 3 "designs" I will make again.  I personalized each of them using my Sizzlix to cut small vinyl letters.

1.  Ornaments filled with ribbon

2.  Ornaments filled with curling ribbon *My favorite*

4.  Ornaments filled with red & green ball garland (2$ at Target)

**I apologize about the quality of the pictures, I need to work on my photog skills!

Chocolate Pretzel Bites

This recipe is one of the easiest to make and most loved holiday creations.  The combinations are endless and they'll be gone before you know it.  You can use any kind of Hershey Kiss or M&M to create different combinations.

Ingredients: 
1 bag of Hershey kisses (milk chocolate)
1 bag of mint M&M's
1 bag of mini round pretzels

Directions: 
*Preheat oven to 200
*Lay pretzels on cookie sheet (ungreased)
*Place Hershey kiss on top of each pretzel
*Bake for about 5 minutes or until kisses are soft but before they start melting (they'll have a shiny look)
*Top immediately with the M&M's.
*Place in the refrigerator for a few minutes to harden.

ENJOY!

Winter Wonderland Cookies

 
Welcome to my first ever recipe creation!  After many trials without luck, I believe I've finally created a scrumptious cookie recipe, just in time for the holidays.  If you try these, please let me know what you think!

Ingredients:
3/4 cup brown sugar (I used dark)
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup shortening 
2 lg. eggs
1 tsp vanilla 
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats 
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries



Directions: 
1. Mix shortening and sugars together.
2. Add eggs- one at a time, then add the vanilla.  
3. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt.  
4. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture a little at a time.  Mix until blended. 
5. Stir in oats.  Then, stir in white chocolate chips and cranberries.  
6. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.  
7. Roll 1 -1 1/2 inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  (Dough can be crumbly, make sure to pack into a ball, using a cookie scoop will help)
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until edges are brown.  

Yields: 48 cookies

Enjoy!

Holiday Surprise Sugar Cookies

This semi-homemade recipe is sure to please!  I am not a fan of cookie cutter cookies because of the amount of time they take, but this recipe was worth it.  Of course, my cookies didn't come out as pretty as the ones on the Betty Crocker website, but they sure were tasty! Enjoy!
Ingredients: 

1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/3	cup butter or margarine, softened
1	egg
2	tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
	Red and green food colors
16	thin rectangular crème de menthe candies, cut into thirds
	Assorted Betty Crocker® colored sprinkles, sugars, decors and decorating gels

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg and flour until dough forms. Divide dough into thirds. Tint one-third red and one-third green with food colors; leave one-third plain. Keep dough covered tightly until ready to use.
2. On floured surface, roll each third of dough until 1/8 inch thick. For round cookies, cut with 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter; for square cookies, cut into 1 1/2-inch squares using sharp knife. (Dip cutter or knife in flour for easier cutting.)
3. On ungreased cookie sheet, place half the cookies 1 inch apart. Place 1 candy piece on center of each cookie; top with another cookie. Gently press edges together to seal, using tines of fork. To decorate before baking, sprinkle cookies with colored sprinkles, sugars or decors as desired.
4. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Decorate with gels as desired.

Nutella Peanut Butter Cookies

This year I feel like I've looked high and low for simple and easy Christmas cookie recipes.  I came across this one while blog hopping and thought it looked easy enough, plus I had the ingredients already.  Overall, I would give these cookies a 6.  I wasn't head over heels in love, but they were good.  Mine came out a little flat, and next time I may drizzle some chocolate or Nutella over the top.  Enjoy!

Soft Nutella Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening 
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup Nutella
1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
3 tbsp milk
1 tbsp vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda


Directions: 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place sheets of foil on countertop for cooling cookies.

Combine shortening, Nutella, peanut butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add egg. Beat just until blended.

Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls (using a cookie scoop works great) 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly in crisscross pattern with tines of fork.

Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until set and just beginning to brown. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely.

M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies

M&M'S® CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 c. shortening 1 c. brown sugar 1/2 c. sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla 2 1/4 c. flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 1/2 c. plain M&M'S® 1/4 c. chocolate chips Combine shortening, sugars and vanilla. Sift flour, soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Stir in M&M'S® and chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoon on cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Use silver cookie pan. **Recipe from Cooks.com

Million Dollar Caramel Cookies

My Mister absolutely loved these cookies.  He said they were his favorite thus far...and I've been baking every day.  These will definitely become an annual Christmas cookie in the Herring house! Happy Baking!


Million Dollar Caramel Cookies

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar, plus 1 Tbs
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 1⁄2 cups flour, plus 1⁄4 cup
• 3⁄4 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 Heath candy bars
• 1 bag Rolo chewy caramels

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a medium bowl, beat butter and sugars until fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla and beat well.

2. In a separate bowl, mix 2 1⁄2 cups flour, cocoa, and baking soda. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture a little bit at a time and blend well. If the dough feels too sticky, sprinkle in a little extra flour. Cover and chill dough in fridge for about 30 minutes.

3. Chop Heath bars into small pieces. Place in a small bowl and toss with 1 Tbs sugar.

4. Once dough has chilled, wrap a piece around each caramel, forming a 1-inch ball and covering the candy completely. Dip top of the dough ball into the candy topping and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.

5. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes. Cookies will look quite soft, but do not overbake. Cool in pan slightly, then move to a rack or the counter to finish cooling. Store in a covered container.

Mint Chocolate Crinkles

This recipe was found in the new Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookie magazine.  Enjoy!

Mint-Chocolate Crinkles

Ingredients:
2 cups creme de menthe baking pieces (I used mint and dark chocolate chips)
3 tbs shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tbs. water
2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup powered sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of the creme de menthe pieces and the shortening.
Cook and stir over low heat until melted.  Cool for 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.  Stir in brown sugar, egg, corn syrup, the water and vanilla.
3.  In a medium bowl, combine the flour, powered sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.  Stir flour mixture into the egg mixture.  Stir in the remaining cup of of creme de menthe pieces.  Drop dough by rounded teaspoon 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet.

4.  Bake in preheated oven about 8 minutes or until
cookies are set and tops are dry. Cook on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.  Makes about 42 cookies.

Snickerdoodles

You have got to try these cookies! These cookies are one of the best I've ever made.  Mine came out a little hard, but that's they way I prefer them.  Simply delicious! I found the recipe during a blog challenge here.


Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:

1 1/2	cups sugar
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2	cup shortening
2	eggs
2 3/4	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose or unbleached flour
2	teaspoons cream of tartar
1	teaspoon baking soda
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/4	cup sugar
2	teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400ºF.

2. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.

3. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack

Candy Cane Blossoms

Candy Cane Blossoms

Ingredients
* Hershey's Kisses
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1/4 tsp. baking soda
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* 2 Tbls. milk
* red or green sugar crystals

Directions
* Heat over to 350 degrees.
* Remove wrappers from candies (get a little helper for this). =o)
* Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended.
* Stir together flour, baking soda, salt and add alternately with milk to the butter and sugar mixture.
* Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
* Roll in red or green sugar crystals.* Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until edges are slightly browned.* Remove from oven and let cool about 2 minutes.* Press a candy piece into the center of each cookie and allow to cool completely. (Kisses will harden back up after 
they have cooled off.)

Ornament Wreath

I'm sure you've seen these in every store that carries holiday decor.  I noticed that a lot of crafters were making these and they were coming out so cute.  So, I decided to try one myself. I did some blog stalking and the most popular tutorial seemed to be this one.   I bought all of my ornaments from Target (2 for $5).  I'm sure I could have found them at dollar tree, but I was already at Target.  I used a wire hanger from a shirt hubs had dry cleaned.  And, it's really as simple as it looks.  Hot glue the tops on the ornaments and string them on the wire.  I alternated between large and small ornaments.  I ended up using two tubs of small ornaments and 4 cylinders of large ornaments.  I finished it off with a hand made bow.  Happy Crafting!

Ho Ho Ho-Santa Hats

A mom of one of my former students sent a this link.  She said she thought of me when she saw it and she hit the nail right on the head.  This is my kind of crafty creation!  I went out and bought all the supplies and two days later....I got to work.  Now, this wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.  And...mine definitely didn't come out as perfect as Thrifty Chic's.  Nonetheless, it was a fun craft and it looks pretty darn cute on top of our bar".

 

I have enough left over materials, so it looks like someone is going to get this as a gift.  Any guesses on who?  

 *Notice how all of the pictures are from a certain angle?  Yes?  Well, there is a very good reason for that.  I'd recommend lining up the diamonds before gluing!  

Happy Crafting!

Chocolate Ganache Cake

I came across this recipe on one of my favorite recipe blogs Keeping Up with the Jonses . I made it for dessert on Thanksgiving. It went perfectly with our pumpkin pie and ice cream cake. I made the cake at my parents house, since mom didn't have round pans I used a bundt pan. It still worked very well. I'm a huge chocolate lover and I couldn't only get through a small slice of this cake. Chocolate overload! Next time, I would use half of the Heath bar crumbs in the middle layer of icing. Overall, a delicious dessert! Enjoy.

Chocolate Ganache Cake

Ingredients:
1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist chocolate fudge cake mix
water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on box
1 container Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting
1/3 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 bars (1/4 oz each) Heath bar, roughly chopped (*or if you store sells it, a half of a bag of Heath Bar crumbles)

Instructions:

Bake and cool cake according to box directions (make 2 layers, in 8 or 9 inch pans)

Place one layer, rounded side down on serving platter. Spread with about 1/3 cup frosting. Top with second layer, rounded side up. Frost top and side of cake with remaining frosting.

In 1 qt saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium-high heat until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Let this cool until it thickens. You'll know this is ready when it mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon (and isn't runny). Pour over top of cake and let it run down sides. Top with Heath Bar.


Refrigerate about 1 hour until chocolate is set before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Sweet Potato Casserole

This is the second new recipe I tried this year. I found the recipe on my friend Amy's blog. Definitely lots of butter in this recipe, but hands down the best sweet potato casserole I've made! Enjoy!

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Serves 10-12

Ingredients:
3 cups mashed sweet potato (about 6-7 potatoes)
½ cup sugar
½ cup milk
1 and a ½ Tbsp. Vanilla
2 eggs beaten
½ cup butter
Cinnamon to taste

Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup butter
½ cup flour
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (I use pecans - it tastes better to me)

Mix all ingredients together; except topping and pour into a casserole dish sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle with Cinnamon. **Can be prepared the day before up to this point**

Cover and store in fridge over night.

Topping:
**Made the day you are serving the dish**
Mix all ingredients together and cover entire top of potatoes.

**Bring to room temp. if made the day before.**
Bake casserole @ 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Corn Casserole

This is the first of two new recipes I made for Thanksgiving this year. I tried corn casserole for the first time at my work feast. It was scrumptious, so I set out to find a recipe. I came across this one at a blog I follow: Love From Texas. I followed all of the directions exactly. I was a little concerned with the amount of butter in the recipe, but it's a holiday-so calories don't count! After 20 minutes in the oven, I thought this recipe was going to be a flop. But, all it needed was an extra 5-10 minutes in the oven. This is my new favorite Thanksgiving side. Next time I make it, I'll try it will a little less butter. I'm sure it will be just as good. Enjoy!
Click here for the recipe.


*I wish I had better pictures for this recipe, but we dove right in as soon as it came out of the oven!

Cinnamon Donut Muffins

This recipe came from a blog I enjoy-Just Another Day in our Midwest Paradise. These are very tasty. I used apricot and raspberry preserves. The apricot was nice and sweet and the raspberry was a bit tart. These will definitely be shared with our neighbors. Great recipe!

Cinnamon Donut Muffins (Makes 24)
Ingredients:
3 1/2 C Flour
3 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 1/4 Cup White Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Eggs
1 1/2 Cup Milk
2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil


24 Teaspoons of Jam, preserves, etc. of your choice.

2 Tablespoons of Butter
1/3 cup sugar, 2 T cinnamon


Directions:
1) Pre-heat oven to 350.
2) Spray 2 muffin tins liberally with non-stick spray. Don't use liners, it pulls the muffin away from the filling and makes a gigantic mess.
3) Mix all dry ingredients together (minus the sugar, that goes with the wet stuff). Sift or aerate with a fork.
4) Lightly beat the eggs in another bowl. Add milk, oil, sugar, and vanilla.
5) Mix the wet ingredients into the flour mix.
6) Gently spoon the ingredients into muffin tins until each is about 1/3 full. There will be batter left.
7) Using a teaspoon, spoon jam/preserves of your choice into the center of the batter in each tin. Try to keep it in the middle and away from the sides so it doesn't ooze out when you turn the muffins out after baking.

8) Once all of the tins have filling, top them all off with the remaining batter.
9) Bake for 20 minutes.
10) Let cool for about 2 minutes. Not too long! Loosen them from the muffin tins with a knife.
11) Melt the butter in a small dish, and pour the cinnamon sugar into another small dish.
12) Dunk the tops of each muffin in the butter and roll in the cinnamon sugar. Let cool.

Personalized Wooden Letter

A great way to add a personal touch to your home decor. This would be a great engagement, wedding or engagement gift. I had looked at loads of places for a wooden H but never had any luck finding one that matched our decor. This was my first experience with Mod Podge...loved it! I already have added these letters to my list of gifts to create for the holidays! Happy Crafting!
Here is the tutorial I used as a guide.

1. Paint letter preferred color. This will be the background color. It will be noticeable from every angle except the front. You don't have to paint the front of the letter since you will be covering it with paper, but I would paint a little past the edge incase your paper doesn't cover all the way. Let letter dry.

2. Choose scrapbook paper for front of the letter. Trace paper and cut out.

3. Use mod podge to adhere the paper letter to the wood. I first painted the paper, put it on top of the wood then covered the whole thing with my new best friend-mr. podge.

4. Let dry and enjoy!