Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Toffee
English Toffee
14 Tablespoons of Butter
1 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons of cold water
1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans (optional)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
6 Oz Chocolate Chips
Butter a cookie sheet and set aside
Put butter, sugar and water in a heavy pan or skillet. Bring to a bubbling boil, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove the spoon from the pan (this is very important, you have to leave it alone) and cook to a very brittle stage (about 300-310 on a candy thermometer or you can do a cold water test) Remove from heat and add the pecans and the vanilla. Pour onto the cookie sheet and spread it evenly. Let it to cool slightly and them put the chocolate chips on top. Spread them as they melt. Cool completely and then break into pieces.
Variations:
You can chop the nuts and put on top after the chocolate melts instead of inside the toffee
After the chocolate melts you can put crushed candy canes on top
You can do all kinds of things, be creative
Sugar Cookies
This is by far my favorite sugar cookie recipe. I love soft fluffy sugar cookies, not the thin crispy kind, and this recipe fits the bill!! It has a ridiculous amount of baking powder in it, and I love them. Once you put the frosting on, they are delightful. It might be a little late for this year, but hold onto this one for next year, or Valentines day, or Easter!
Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Butter
1 Egg
4 1/2 Cups Flour
1 1/4 Teaspoon Baking soda
4 teaspoon Baking powder (yes, 4)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Milk
Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Combine all the dry ingredients, add to the butter mixture. Add milk and vanilla. Roll out the dough pretty thick, you will need a lot of flour on the counter and on your rolling pin. Cut out the shapes and put them about an inch apart on the cookie sheet (they grow) and bake for about 8-10 minutes, depending on the size of cookie.
Frosting (I am a big fan of a buttercream type frosting, so that is what this is. I know some people like the royal icing type, because it looks prettier, too each there own)
2 Cups Powdered Sugar *
1/3 Cup butter room temperature
1/2 Teaspoon vanilla
1-2 Tablespoons of Milk (add more if it is too thick)
Combine all the ingredients, if you want a double layer of frosting or you are planning on piping on the frosting double the above recipe
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Buttery Sandwich Cookies

COOKIES:
2 cups butter, softened (4 sticks)
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
4 cups flour
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Cream softened butter, gradually adding flour, then cream. Roll onto a generously floured surface, approximately 1/4 inch thick, and cut into 2 inch circles (or another small cookie cutter shape). Prick each cookie with a fork three times and back for 7-9 minutes at 375 degrees.
* I found these cookies to be VERY delicate, so I froze them after they cooled slightly, which helped them hold up while I frosted them.
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FILLING:
1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
1.5 cups powdered sugar
4 Tbs. heavy cream
2 teas. vanilla
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Combine filling ingredients and spread between two cookies.
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Yields 50-60 sandwich cookies, depending on the size of your cookie cutter.
PS. You will think that there is not enough filling, but there will be plenty, so load they up because the filling is the best part

Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monkey Munch, Puppy Chow...Blah Blah
Monkey Munch
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1/4 Cup Butter
Melt all the above ingredients. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, microwave another 30 seconds until smooth
Add 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla.
Pour over 9 cups of cereal (corn chex, rice chex, cripix something along those lines) and toss until coated.
Pour cereal into a ziploc bag. Pour 1.5 cups of powdered sugar into bag and toss until coated.
***If you eat the whole bag, make sure you check your shirt for the evidence or it the powdered sugar will give it away!