12 Days of Cookies "Apple Cider Ginger Cookies" Day 6

 

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday of the year,

 

 

for a myriad of reasons.

 

 

One of those is my annual "Gal Pals ONLY Christmas Party".

 

Last year's was a resounding success,

(NOTE: No, mySamuelson was not in attendance- remember, NO testosterone! ;)  This pic was taken at the end of the night- minus a few who had to leave early- just in time for him to photo bomb after returning from a movie with Dad.)

 

with a whole lotta smiles

 

 

 

and  much laughter.

Per the party's tradition, attire was casual.

 And the Ornament Exchange a barrel of fun.

 

 

You know what, though?

Somehow nobody got a picture of the spread of cookies from our Cookie Exchange!! 

Than again, they didn't grace the table all that long. ;)

 

With being such a pretty cookie, as well as one of mine and mySamuelson's faves, it demands its turn in the spotlight.  

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Apple Cider Ginger Cookies

                        Ingredients:

                        2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour           

                        ¾ t salt               

                        1 T ground ginger

                        2 t baking soda                                 

                        1 t cinnamon       

                        1 t ground allspice

                        1 t ground cloves                            

                        1 large egg          

                        1 t vanilla extract

                        1/3 cup apple butter                                                    

                        1 ¼ cups packed dark brown sugar

                        12 T (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature      

 

                        Directions:

                        In a bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger,

                        allspice, and cloves; set aside.  Using an electric mixer, cream butter and

                        brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 min.  Add egg, vanilla, and

                        apple butter and mix until just combined.  Stir in the flour mixture in two

                        batches, beating each addition on low speed until just incorporated; cover

                        and refrigerate dough for 1 hr.

                        Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line 2 baking sheets with

                        parchment.  Form chilled dough into 2-tablespoon-size balls (you can use

                        a 1 ½-inch cookie scoop), then roll in the red sugar to coat.  Place balls on

                        prepared baking sheets 2 inches apart.  Bake until lightly browned around

                        the edges, 10-12 min.  Cool on the baking sheet for 5 min; transfer to a

                        wire rack to cool completely.  Store at room temperature up to 1 week.

                       

                        Yields: 3 1/2 dozen 







12 Days of Cookies "Peanut Butter Cookies" Day 5

A classic...
 

Peanut Butter Cookies

 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup (1 stick) sweet butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup (8 oz) crunchy peanut butter

Pinch of salt

 

Directions

Sift the flour and baking soda together.  In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugars until soft and creamy.  Combine the egg, flour mixture, peanut butter, and salt.  Add the butter and sugar mixture and mix until smooth.

 

Wrap the dough in foil or parchment and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

 

Shape the dough into 1 1/4-in. balls and place them 2 in. apart on a baking sheet.  Flatten slightly with a fork.  Bake 15 minutes or until golden.

 

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.  Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. 

 

Makes 2 dozen.

 



 



12 Days of Cookies "Two Hundred Fifty Dollar Cookie Recipe" Day 4

Neiman Marcus

 Two words synonymous with posh, extravagant and rich if there ever were two!

$1M watches.

$250,000 Private Dinner for 10

(Click here for 9 of their most lavish, impractical gifts for 2013.) 

 

Definitely fare for the wealthy!

 

Until now that is.

 Thanks to my Great Aunt Anna Mary, us commoners are now privy to one of their recipes!!!

And it cost someone $250!

Yep, you read me write! ;)

250 buckaroos for a cookie recipe!!!

No, my Great Aunt isn't wealthy, in worldly terms that is.

She was given the recipe from a friend, whom I believe obtained it from a friend, who procured it from a friend...

Somewhere back there is either a person with a large bank account, or someone desperate for a new cookie recipe!

I just couldn't let this one pass by.

My curiosity got the better of me,

 "WHAT in the world does a two hundred and fifty dollar cookie taste like??"

 

I'm not telling.

:)

 

Make a batch and judge for yourself.

;)

 

(Note: For those not aware, the darker a stone gets, the more non-stick it becomes.  Have had this one for 8 years now and can attest to the truth in that statement.  It's not pleasing to the eye, for sure, but the stomach finds the fruit of its labor quite appetizing!)

 

 

Two Hundred Fifty Dollar Cookie Recipe 

(As you can see, the recipe makes a large batch- yielding a supposed 112 cookies!  I cut it into a third and came out with 3 1/2 dozen.  I listed my adjustments in parentheses, off to the side of each ingredient.  Measuring was a bit of a challenge, especially the 1.3 eggs.  In that case, I used one egg and a few teaspoons of the egg white of another.  It also helps to have a kitchen scale that weighs in ounces.  Mine was my saving grace for the Hershey Bar and chocolate chips.)

 

Ingredients

5 C blended oatmeal (1.6)

2 C butter (.6)

2 C sugar (.6)

2 C brown sugar (.6)

4 eggs (1.3)

2 tsp vanilla (.6)

2 C flour (.6)

1 tsp salt (.3)

2 tsp baking powder (.6)

2 tsp baking powder (.6)

24 oz chocolate chips (8)

18 oz Hershey Bar (grated) (.6)

3 C chopped nuts (your choice) (1)

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder.

Cream butter and both sugars.  Add in eggs and vanilla, mix well.  Mix together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda and add to the wet mixture.  Blend well.  Stir in chocolate chips, Hershey Bar and nuts.  Roll into balls (I made 1 1/2 inch balls) and place two inches apart on a cookies sheet.  bake for 13 1/2 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.



12 Days of Cookies "Frosted Cranberry Orange Drops" Day 3

Today's recipe comes from my beautiful Great Aunt Anna Mary.

She is an AMAZING woman, with being a phenomenal cook just one of the many attributes that make her so special.

 

Fifteen years ago she compiled every recipe she could think of, as well as what her file box contained, into a treasure trove of a cookbook she dubbed "From Grandma's Table".  Some of the recipes are hers, and others not.  When she knows the source, she gives credit accordingly.  It's a treasure trove of dishes that sparkle with yumminess and heritage.  These cookies were the first recipe I tried from her cookbook- and I WAS NOT disappointed!!  Cranberries and oranges pair so well with one another-especially in a baked good. 

 

 

 

And whatever you do, DON'T skip the homemade icing!

 



 

The orange juice adds just the right amount of acidity to the ultra sweetness of the powdered sugar, creating an icing that, well, is pretty much icing on the cake cookie! ;)

 

 

 

 

 

Frosted Cranberry Orange Drops

 

Ingredients

2 1/2 C All Purpose flour

3/4 C sugar

1/2 C fat-free sour cream

1/2 C butter, softened

1/4 C honey

2 eggs

1/2 tsp baking soda

 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 C dried cranberries

2 tsp grated prange peel

 

Directions

Heat oven to 350F.  In large mixing bowl, combine all cookie ingredients except 1 C of the flour, cranberries and orange peel.  Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often until smooth (1-2 minutes).  By hand, stir in remaining flour, cranberries and orange peel until well mixed.  Drop dough by teaspoonful's onto lightly greased cookie sheets.  Bake 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool completely.

 

Frosting

1 1/2 C powdered sugar

2 tsp butter, melted

1-3 Tbls orange juice

 

In a small, deep bowl, stir together sugar and butter.  Stir in enough orange juice to make desired consistency for icing.  Frost cooled cookies.

 

*A little slice of heaven!!



12 Days of Cookies "Pumpkin Cookies" Day 2

 

Was THRILLED when mySamuelson approached me this evening and asked if he could help make tonight's cookie.

 

 

You see, with being at 10's backdoor, he's starting to identify more with "Dad"- 

as it should be.

 

 

Thus, I try to never allow an opportunity to spend time with this awesome kid, whose had my heart since March 4, 2004 at 3:07 p.m., pass by.

Pumpkin Cookies
*A wholesome, healthy cookie low in fat.

Ingredients
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups All-Purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup light brown sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease baking sheet.  Mix together pumpkin puree, yogurt, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl sift the flour, spices, and baking soda.  Add the sugar.  Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture gradually, and blend until smooth. (See "NOTE" below)

Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet 2 in. apart.  Bake 12-15 minutes until firm.  Cool on wire racks.

When completely cool, store in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

Makes appx. 2 dozen

{NOTE: These are a cake-type cookie.  The batter comes out quite thick and sticky, so I highly recommend using a spoon to scoop and drop on the baking sheet. If you plan on handling the dough- perhaps to shape it once it's been dropped- try spreading a bit of vegetable oil on your hands.  It's a great non-stick solution to handling sticky dough.  With the intent of thinning it out and experimenting, I did add a fourth a cup of Skim milk to the last batch I cooked.  It affected nothing other than the cosmetic appearance- the taste remained the same, full of spice!  Yummy!!


"Traditions" have to start somewhere; 12 Days of Cookies "Sugar Cookies" Day 1

"Tradition"

~ the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.

 

Maybe it was the taste of the Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Roll at Thanksgiving dinner.

  

Could it be the whetting of my "writer's appetite" when pulling out my half finished memoir for my GrUnk (Uncle who's great) to proofread during his and my Aunt Su Su's visit last week? 

 

Or perhaps- let's go back a little further- it was the Halloween candy.  After all, 3 kiddos, even "treat'ing a small amount, generates a mound when combined at the end of the night!

I'd like I'm going to think it's just honest-to-goodness, sincere excuse desire to consume sugar spend special time with my young'uns, making happy Christmas memories.  

 

 Regardless of "how" the idea originated, am thrilled it sally forth'ed  to the front of my mind two days ago!

 

 

Cookies

+

12 days somewhere in December

=

Family "doing".

And isn't that what it's all about, anyways? 

That's at least what this Wemmick family is all about; "doing together to STAY together"!

 

 

I hereby officially launch a new Wemmick family tradition:

12 Days of Cookies!!!

 

And what better way to start than making cookies with Grandmaw Janiceson??

 

Sugar wanted to take mySamuelson hunting

 

 so he dropped Mad & Punk off at Grandmaw's and spent the evening scoping out deer while the girls made the much-loved

hard to resist

finger-lickin' good

 

SUGAR COOKIES!!

 

 

 

    Soft Sugar Cookies 

     

      INGREDIENTS

     1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup oil (canola or vegetable oil)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cream of tartar

½ tsp baking soda

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, oil and both sugars.  Add the egg and vanilla, and mix until fluffy.  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, cream of tartar and baking soda.  Add the flour mix to the butter mix, and stir until fluffy.

Let the dough rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes or longer. 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray your cookie sheets with cooking spray.

When ready to bake, drop the batter by rounded tablespoon (I use a small scooper) onto the cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 9-11 minutes, making sure not to let them brown.  Makes 18 cookies.

 

Crack-a-lackin' cookies!! :) 

"Hands of a child" Super Sale!

In the Hands of a Child is having their annual Back to School Sale

on their HUGE selectionof Lapbooking and Notebooking Products.

Save 50% on over 400 different titles!

See complete details here: handsofachild.com.

Anticipation

Seabrook Island, South Carolina
August 2011

A LITTLE note with BIG meaning

Go in schoolroom/playroom to put away a few things from the schoolday and find this taped to my side of our work table.

This son of mine can take my breath, and speech for that matter, away like no other.

My late Memaw was right, God created him extra-special.



Aspiring young artist wins Judges Choice!

We're still scratching our heads wondering where her artisitc flair came from.  Genes plead the fifth.  This is all Madalyn Grace.

On January 20th, she brought home an announcement from school sharing that one of her oil crayon's had won Judges Choice and had been selected to participate in the school's, Bob Jones Academy, 2nd Annual Art Exhibition!

Yes, a big deal!

A very big deal for a 5 year old.

A HUMONGOUS deal to a sister accustomed to playing second fiddle to an outgoing, winner-take-all brother.

Included with that announcement was a special invitation to the by-invitation-only "Opening & Reception" of the exhibit where her piece would hang for a week in Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery alongside fellow students who displayed similar artistic talent.

Decked in our finest, we attended the gala on February 6th where we gawked at her picture, ate some delicate cookies and nuts, gravitated back to gawk some more, choked down a strange tasting punch, found ourselves in front of the Cardinal again, graced the Ladies Room a time or two (even tiny artists get a belly full, or should I say, bladder full, of nerves) and of course were the last ones out the door.    

She's asking to take Violin now.

What's next?

Radio City Music Hall???

Sam'ism VI

{Setting: mySamuelson and I in the schoolroom/playroom wrapping up a good day of school.}

mySamuelson: "Let me ask you one good question Mom."

Mom: "What is it?"

mySamuelson: "How did baby Jesus get out of Mary?"

Budding Scientist



Gotta love ebay.

Bought a bag of 100 small shark teeth the beginning of the summer for our "all things science loving Sam".

After this self-motivated stint in classifying ALL the sharkteeth, I now call him my "Brain".

This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge.

Mini-Sunshine

Sunshine's mini sunshine.

*Joining in I Heart Faces weekly photo challenge.*

Firsts

First day of Kindergarten...

First day, of first year, being homeschooled...

Decisions, decisions...

Punk took initiative for the first time in her potty-training and went to the bathroom all on her own!

To celebrate such a landmark event, I broke out her kryptonite: chocolate.



Hershey Nugget, Oreo or Candy-topped brownie?

How's a girl to choose?

Joining in iheartfaces photo challenge.

LifeWithmy3boybarians' Sweet Shot Tuesday. 

And,

5MinutesforMom's Wordless Wednesday.

The family "firecracker"!

Happy "belated" 4th of July!

Taking on the "Sweet Shot Tuesday" photo challenge over at mythreeboybarians.

And joining in "5MinutesforMom's" Wordless Wednesday fun!

NO boys allowed!

The first day of summer, as it usually is, was June 21st.

What better way to celebrate it's arrival than a "Girls Only" Pool Party???

After all, girls just wanna have fun!

Some of us were content with floating about lazily on the inflatables.

While others idea of fun varied just a bit.

Which some of us cracked up over.

We even had Olympic material make an appearance!

       And we all flipped



over the traditional bar-b-que spread.

No thanks to the novice griller who lost 2 hamburgers between the grates into the charcoal! 



And unbelievably, we ate an entire watermelon!

And if exhaustion is any indicator of the experience,

I'd say the day was an all-out blast!