Merry Christmas!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Treats

Ray and I spent most of the morning and afternoon making pounds of Chex Mix and Muddie Buddies for our family Christmas Party on Christmas Day. Everyone will have treats to take home to munch on after the big day is over. Hopefully that will keep the spirit alive for awhile longer.

A Larger Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Cookies

Yield: 2-3 dozen cookies
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup granulated sugar (plus more for dipping)
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg

Preheat oven to 375˚F.

Stir together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar and butter until light and smooth. 
Add in the vanilla and egg, beating one at a time to combine. 
Gradually stir in the flour mixture. 
Roll the cookie in between hands to smooth into a ball. 
Roll into a bowl of sugar and place on the cookie sheet.
Use the bottom of a glass to slightly flatten the cookies.  Bake for 7 to 9 minutes.  Do not over bake.  Let cool on wire rack.

I hope that helps Michelle. We have lots of cats. Neighbors refuse to spay their cats so they bring their babies and move in with us. We've found homes for three litters and have spayed and neutered several but without help from the neighbors, we're spinning our wheels. We live in country where our animal control consists of one man and the closest shelter is full and isn't taking anymore animals in so we have plenty of love and work around here. We love our cats though.

Awesome and Easy Chocolate Cookies

Just finished trying out this new recipe.
These are also going to be added to the Christmas party cookie jar.

More Goodies!

I've been busy in the kitchen again trying out new recipes. The rain has made moving painful and difficult but I'm fighting through it to make the holiday special for Ray. He's a wonderful husband.

Here's a couple of things I've made over the past few days.

The Latest Creation

Peanut Butter Blossoms straight from the oven. Yummy!

Peanut Butter Blossoms


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together:
1 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter 
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Roll into small balls, (a teaspoon full works well), and press the center down with your thumb.
Sprinkle with sugar and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
Place a milk chocolate star in the center and let them cool a few minutes before placing them on a wire rack.


Makes 24 small cookies or 12 large ones.

Making Treats

I've made a few treats already for Ray and I. 
Monday night I made some fudge to eat for when Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer came on TV Tuesday night. My mom used to make that fudge for us when we were little and I remember watching Rudolph as we ate it. I feel close to her when I get lost in those memories. 

Last night it was peanut butter cookie night. Those are Ray's favorite cookies. 

Tonight I made us some Chex Party Mix. That stuff is so addicting!

I'm going to make more of that, some peanut butter blossom cookies, buckeyes candy, Muddie Buddies and some caramel corn with peanuts for our family party on Christmas Day. 

Other family members are bringing sausage balls, cheese balls, pumpkin rolls and that's just the things I've been told. I'm sure there will be more things to enjoy. 


The shopping is done and all the cards and gifts have been mailed that will be. We have a few more gifts to wrap but it's still early and we do have a few prying paws around here. With the heat vent not far from the tree, any breeze that happens to move a bow will become a fast game for our gang of felines.


Peety is snoozing in the bed by the tree at the moment.

That bed has become popular with all of them. 

 

The decorations outside are complete too.