Tag Archives: Desserts

A few of my favorite things….

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…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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Visions of Sugar Plums

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…or Sugar cookies!  I love looking back on Christmas as a child and the memories that were made during the holidays.  My mom made many different sweets over the years, and all were delicious!   But one of my favorites was her sugar cookies.  My three sisters and I loved when she made these.

I loved to stay up late with her and  help decorate.  The TV would be on in the background, my dad asleep by now in the chair and my mom in the kitchen baking away.

What a privilege it was to be able to pass this recipe on to my three girls and create our own memories of  baking and decorating cookies.   I may not have my three little girls beside me in the kitchen, but I  was blessed to have my 19-year old help me tonight!

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There’s no place like Home for the Holidays

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...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. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Time is here…

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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!

Her hubby, (my wonderful father-in-law) told her she better bake some more…so I think they were a hit!

I am not sure her kitchen looks like mine after baking!  But I am thankful my daughter will help me clean up!

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Yummy Peanut Brittle

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One of the things I love making at Christmastime is Peanut Brittle.  I have been using the same recipe for the last 25 years.   I lost it this year and thankfully my dear friend who gave me the recipe so long ago still had it! She just took a quick pic and texted it right to me. Thankful for technology…and Alyssa!   I also love that it is made in the microwave and I don’t have to use my candy thermometer! If you like to give away candy at Christmas, this makes a nice gift.

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Sometimes it takes me a couple of batches to get it just right.  I always forget that my microwave cooks high, so I need to adjust the power before cooking.  It only takes 10 minutes, so if you don’t love your first batch…the second one is usually perfect!  Enjoy!

It’s the Holiday Season…

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The hardest part about a Cookie Exchange is deciding which cookies to bake.  Do I go for the tried and true traditional cookies or venture out and try a new recipe?

This year I tried a new recipe I found on one of my favorite blogger’s website, as well as a couple of my traditional favorites.  I have included her recipe here for you to try. http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/12/15/soft-baked-white-chocolate-chip-molasses-cookies/print/

I really loved this Soft-Baked White Chocolate Chip Molasses Cookie. It has a little crunch on the outside, but moist on the inside.  This was my first time to try this recipe, but it turned out just perfect!  Thanks in part to my helpful daughter in the kitchen.

This cookie pairs well with milk!  🙂

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Fall Favorites

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Fall Favorites…

My Favorite drink…well actually Diet Coke is my favorite drink…but my husband brought this Red Wine home and it hit the spot!  So Cozy!

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LOST DRAW Tempranillo

My Fall Favorite when the air turns chilly  is Apple Cider. However this is Texas. So even though it was still 85 outside,  inside it just felt like Autumn!   This homemade cider is full of flavor and hardly any extra added sugar.  So much better than store bought!   http://allrecipes.com/recipe/211772/homemade-apple-cider/

 

Favorite pie…pecan for sure, but my husband loves pumpkin.  So I opted for both and we each had a slice, or two!

Pumpkin Pie

And of course one of my all time favorites during the fall is Pumpkin Bread. My mother-in-law found this recipe many years ago and my friends and I have been making it every fall season!  I add cream cheese frosting with a few spices, all spice, nutmeg and cloves and it adds just the right amount of sweetness.  IMG_0950[1]

I posted all of these recipes under menu above.  I think you will find something you enjoy making and eating!

Let’s Celebrate…October is here!

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I love the Fall

I love October

I love Chocolate Covered Pretzels

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We always have chocolate covered pretzels seasonally at our home.  These are so easy to make and always taste good and look fun!  This is my signature “sweet” at any party!

I also love to bake Pumpkin Bread…in fact we make this so many times over the fall season that I actually get tired of baking and eating  and baking and eating that I vow I am done with pumpkin bread and may find a new favorite fall treat.   But each October I am ready to start baking this delicious bread all over again!

 My oldest daughter just moved to Dallas and she wanted to bake something together before she left.  We found a recipe for pumpkin cookies and homemade cinnamon frosting. While they were very good, we decided they are not as good as our pumpkin bread. I have added both of these  recipes, so give them a try and see which one you like better.

Final Days of Summer

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My youngest daughter’s last few weeks at home were a crazy mix of excitement and sadness.  Before she headed off to college we tried to spend some quality time with friends and family.  And of course tried to get a few more recipes in before she left!  For our beach trip we made Lemon Crinkle Cookies.  This recipe is a keeper!  See our other August recipes.  You many want to give one a try!

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Peach Cobbler.

These pics do not do justice to this delicious cobbler, but hopefully you are tempted to make this anyway. We did drop 2 bottles of Vanilla in the process!

yum
cutting peaches
sugar and peaches
we broke 2 bottles of Vanilla
left in oven a little too long

Apple Crumble Pie.  I want us to make this again!

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Baked Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken.  Again, tasted better than the pic looks!  That will be my next adventure…learning to use the camera!

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Even our dog was sad to see her go. IMG_0180[1]

Final Cake..(and a few cupcakes)…Funfetti cake.  The cake was good but the frosting was not a favorite.  IMG_0265[1]

Sweet as Sugar

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If you are like me, any occasion or celebration brings about the desire to make something sweet.  Below are some pictures of some sweets I have made with my girls this summer.  Some of these were worth keeping the recipe and making again and some were credited to experience in the kitchen!

Strawberry cupcakes….YES.

Strawberry Cupcake

Sea Salt and Caramel Cupcake…NO.

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Peaches on the grill…Yes!

Peaches on Grill

Homemade Cherry Pie and pie crust…Yes!!!

Delicious!
pitted cherries
homemade pie crust
uneven lattice work

Sweets on Fourth of July….yes!!!

Chocolate Cupcake and Chocolate Icing
My mom’s banana pudding

The day was spent with family and friends with plenty of food and dessert to go around. Sadly, while the chocolate cupcakes were good, they were not “the best chocolate cupcakes ever” as the recipe said!!  My mom’s recipe is better than that and I will stick to hers next time!

My hubby made the guacamole and Hannah and I made the veggie salad.  I do love when we are all in the kitchen together. It’s much more fun!!!

home-made guacamole