Christmas Sugar Cookies

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

I love sugar cookies anytime of the year, but there is something special about making them at Christmastime. These cookies bring back wonderful memories as I have been making this recipe with my mom since I was a little girl. I helped her decorate these then and I love them just as much today!

Christmas Sugar Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream together shortening, sugar and vanilla. Then add eggs and beat for about 1 minute, making sure all is creamy.

Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.

Divide dough into 4 bowls or separate in large bowl and chill for 1 hour.

Let dough sit out for about 20 minutes. Then roll out on floured surface and cut into desired shapes.

Bake at 350 for 5 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes then put on wire rack.

9Dec2018

Pecan Brittle in the microwave

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

Homemade Pecan Brittle in the microwave…so easy.

I am posting the recipe for you. Keep in mind you really must adjust to your microwave, as some microwaves cook faster than others. Mine tended to cook a little faster as I have my setting at 100%.

This is my copy of the recipe…

If you find that copy hard to read, I added it below! Try this recipe! It really is easy once you know your microwave temps. I adjusted mine a bit over the years. I usually make 2 batches as the first one comes out a little dark.

PECAN BRITTLE
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup of lite Karo syrup
1 cup pecan pieces or halves
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions:
Microwave the 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup of Karo on high for 4 minutes using a clear medium glass bowl (I did it for 3 in my microwave)

Take out then stir in pecans. Put back in microwave for 5-7 minutes or until lightly brown. My microwave took about 4 minutes to get light brown.

Remove and stir in butter, vanilla and microwave for 1 more minute.

Remove and add in the baking soda. Stir together then quickly put on baking sheet. I let the brittle slide from side to side until it evens out. In a few minutes you will have pecan brittle that is easy to break and serve to your friends!

Enjoy!

6Dec2018

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

Yummy Christmas treats.

I grew up on these at Christmas time as I am sure you did as well. Who can resist peanut butter and chocolate, right? I love this combo and I love that these are so easy to make as well. ENJOY!

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PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS

Sift together in small bowl:
1 3/4 cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream together until smooth in mixer or large bowl: (I use my stand up mixer)
1/2 cup of butter (room temp)
1/2 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar
Add 1 egg (room temp)
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla

Then blend in the dry ingredients and mix well

Shape into 1″ balls
Roll in sugar (or colored sugar or sprinkles)
Place on greased cookie sheet or on parchment paper
Bake at 375 for 8 minutes each
Remove and top each cookie with candy kiss, press until cookie cracks

Cook for 2-4 more minutes, depending on oven

3Dec2018

Gingerbread Loaf

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

My daughter came home this weekend from Dallas and we decided to try making a Gingerbread Loaf. I found this recipe which was fairly easy and quick and I had all the ingredients so it was the winner!

I may have baked it a bit too long, (as it was a bit dry) but other than that, it turned out tasty and it made the house smell amazing.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir well.
In a small bowl, add molasses and boiling water. Stir until combined. Add to wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add wet ingredients. Stir.
Pour batter into loaf pan. Cover loaf pan lightly with foil (remove foil halfway through baking. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
My oven tends to cook fast, so I only baked for about 40 minutes. Check it often after 40 minutes.
Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.

30Nov2018

White chocolate chip molasses cookies

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

I love Sallys Baking Addiction and her seasonal cookie palooza. Every day she posts new cookies and I come home ready to start baking! I would love to try them all.

Since I can’t do that, I choose my favorites and try to at least make a few each holiday season. She had these cookies on her blog a few years ago and I tried them for a cookie exchange. I absolutely fell in love with these and so did everyone who tried them.

I am attaching her link to the recipe for you to try yourself. I also have it listed under cookies on this blog. I think you will enjoy these as much as I do. And by the way…my house smells amazing today!

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/soft-baked-white-chocolate-chip-molasses-cookies/

31Dec2015

A few of my favorite things….

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

…holiday baking with my girls

Christmas

…Christmas work parties and celebrations with family

…decorating our Christmas tree together while watching White Christmas

…all of us in the kitchen together preparing our Christmas lunch

…reading the Christmas story before opening gifts

…because Jesus is the Reason for the Season…

For Unto Us A Savior Is Born!

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18Dec2015

There’s no place like Home for the Holidays

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

...cause no matter how far away you roam
when you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
for the holidays you can’t beat Home Sweet Home!

We are celebrating Christmas with both sides of our family this weekend…so the countdown has begun! I have 2 days to get all gifts purchased, Christmas desserts made and my contribution for dinner ready!

Chocolate covered peanuts are always on my list of baked goods. First..because they are really tasty, and so hard to stop eating! Second…because they are so easy to make! I am all about that when I am trying to bake all day!!

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I also always make Peanut Butter Balls. My father-in-law loves these, so I
make sure and bring to any family function during the holidays.

If you want your Chocolate to have a pretty shine, you can always temper the chocolate. I have not tried that yet, so I am not sure how easy it is. Or you can add paraffin wax, just a small amount. And it is safe to eat! 🙂 I just put a tiny amount in and it gives the chocolate a nice shine! IMG_1208[1] IMG_1388[1]

I had some errands to run and asked my daughter, Claire to shape the peanut butter mixture into balls for me. She said she could not make them into perfect round shapes. I told her to practice, practice, practice as I walked out the door. 🙂

12Dec2015

Christmas Time is here…

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

It is always a treat to be able to pick up your sister, do a little shopping, then grab a bite to eat in Austin. We ended the evening at Book People on Lamar and had the chance to meet Sally McKenney and purchase her new Candy Addiction Cookbook! Not a bad way to spend a Friday night!

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My IMG_1293[1] mother-in-law, Phillis Rhine, saw that I made one of Sally’s recipes for White Chocolate Chip Molasses cookies. She has a great Molasses recipe herself, but has never added the white chocolate chips. She loved how they looked, so she made a batch for her Cookie Exchange!