Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Cookies

As Mrs. Claus is looking on, lending some friendly supervision, I mixed and stirred and created some holiday goodies. All alone tonight, I set out the lot of my efforts just to enjoy the view before boxing and bagging.
My dilemma of finding no tins for sale in which to distribute my holiday cheer has solved itself. Thanks to all the suggestions on my previous post...... I was able to think outside the box.....so to speak. I discovered a plethora of stockings from Christmases past. No stockings will be hung by the non-existent chimney with care, so I decided to put the cookies in zip lock bags and use the stockings as my "containers".



Mr. and Mrs. Claus stand sentinel over the display as my camera clicks away.... I am, after all, easily amused.



On this tray are my fruitcake cookies. Before you wonder at my choice of recipe, let me assure you that they are yummy, no citron was involved in the making, just candied pineapple and red and green candied cherries. I was able to find them in the local market despite the blank looks on the faces of the young folks working there. There are also ginger puffs and some cookies called dishpan cookies from my friend, Deb. She left a lot more here, along with some peanut butter cookies with chocolate kisses. Love of my life satisfied his sweet tooth.


On the plate above you will see my pecan brittle. I made two batches today while baking cookies and preparing a batch of Chex mix. This is some seriously decadent stuff.... highly addictive. And homemade to the nth degree. I picked these nuts up at my Dad's house and shelled them all out myself. And hidden away from love of my life. I made this for my kids.


Flanking the dish of chocolate cookies are my favorite cookies. Date nut balls and crushed nut balls. I seem to like balls. I have heard my crushed nut balls referred to as wedding cookies, too (balls?). I use butter and I crush the pecans in a food processor. I use a two to one ratio of nuts to flour and have totally changed the original recipe. I like nuts. The date nut balls, well, the recipe did not call for nuts. I like nuts.


It is a well known fact among my family that I don't care for chocolate. Yes, you read that correctly. I like mocha flavor in some things and I like really dark chocolate, although it would never be listed among my favorite foods. That being said, the man I love does love chocolate. The gastronomic delight on the plate above is all for him. It is a chocolate, chocolate chunk cookie (with nuts.... he likes them,too). As soon as you pull them out of the oven you smoosh half a marshmallow on top of the hot cookie. Then while the cookie is cooling, melt semi-sweet chocolate chips, add some butter, vanilla and heavy cream, beat it by hand and add enough powdered sugar to make it spreadable and then cover the top of the cookie with this.... I guess you could call it a ganache. No, I have not tasted the cookies, but I did taste the icing. Very rich.
Christmas comes but once a year........... and for that I am most grateful!






17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well Well Well, I can say it all looks yummy yummy yummy. I'm so glad to see you are doing better. And getting in the christmas cheer. Great job on all of the goodys. And I must say to you Merry Christmas.

Brian Miller said...

'll take pecan brittle...lol. it all looks yummy and stockings make a great holder!

Rae said...

Looks delicious and I am all for those chocolate cookies. My grandkids don't like chocolate either. I never figured it out. I guess they didn't inherit my chocolate craving gene. Your stocking idea is terrific.

SkippyMom said...

WOW! I love the selection and how unique each kind of cookie is - not the "same ol, same ol" Nicely done!

I'll take the fruitcake cookies [can I have the recipe pleeeeease?] and the chex mix :)

I am with you [and also get strange looks] I don't like any kind of chocolate, but my family really does so any gifts of chocolate I get they are thrilled with. :)

Love the stocking idea.

SkippyMom said...

WOW! I love the selection and how unique each kind of cookie is - not the "same ol, same ol" Nicely done!

I'll take the fruitcake cookies [can I have the recipe pleeeeease?] and the chex mix :)

I am with you [and also get strange looks] I don't like any kind of chocolate, but my family really does so any gifts of chocolate I get they are thrilled with. :)

Love the stocking idea.

Yaya' s Home said...

Hello, Kathy,
I spent the better part of the last hour, catching up on your wonderful writing. What a natural talent you have. I so loved the story of the middle-of-the-night game. I hope you have those cough drops ready for the next time.
~ Yaya
Yaya's Home

Just Joany said...

Mmmmmmm. Need help getting rid of all that? I think I could persuade my tastebuds to take on the job. Just say the word and I'm there. ~ Just Joany
Red Wagon Flights

Cathy said...

Hello Kathy
Well all I can say is - Yum Yum can I come to your house for a cup of tea and some of anything thats on your table please:))
Have just bought some chrystallized pineapple and ginger as well as glace cherries to go in a mixed fruit cake. Easy to find here in the supermarket - not sure the young check out girls know what they are tho' Is there any chance of the recipe for the fruitcake cookies
Nice thinking 99 where the stockings are concerned lol
If I don't speak to you before - have a fabulous Christmas and I hope the New Year will be better than this one has
Take care
Cathy

The Good Cook said...

Yum to everything on that table!!

Kathy G said...

Your selection looks quite tasty.

Although I've done my share of baking this monty, I've not made ANY cookies. I don't think I plan on making any, either...I'd just end up eating all of them.

ellen abbott said...

All this cookie making! I may to to make some myself.

scarlethue said...

Those chocolate cookies sound and look like HEAVEN.

Anonymous said...

It looks so beautiful, festive...and yummy!!!

Pat said...

All look very good! My mouth is actually watering! LOL! I like the idea of using Christmas stockings. That is clever.

Now...do you have my address to mail me some of those goodies? Ha ha!!

Stephanie said...

I somehow missed this post - good heavens girl, what an incredible array of goodies. I'm worn out just looking at the variety. Have not tried pecan brittle but its got to be mouth-watering good. Yummy.

Anonymous said...

Wow, you have really been baking since we baked on Sunday...Kiley had the best time baking with you and shelling pecans with Drew...but look what else you have accomplished since then...I hope Drew saves some...I really miss you...

Teresa said...

Oh - My - Gosh! I would love those chocolate decadant things. And the pecan brittle, but my "falsies" (I have a permanent bridge) would not. I cannot stand to have stuff stuck in my teeth so even though I eat stuff that will stick, I'm like a maniac trying to get all that stuff out of my teeth (ever see a dog eat peanut butter? same kind of principle).

Your gift recipients will be thoroughly pleased while they're eating it but probably not too happy when they get on the scales. hehehe!