Karen Ciancio asked:


The weeks leading up to Christmas are so busy. You want to bake a variety of Christmas cookies, squares and goodies, but where do you find the time?

The answer may be in organizing a small Christmas cookie exchange. Here is how it works -

Having a variety of holiday treats on hand means baking at least 6 or 8 recipes. Instead, gather together a group of 4 to 6 people who are each willing to make a large batch of 1 or 2 recipes.

If 4 people each make a large batch of 2 recipes and share them with the other 3 bakers, each person will have a variety of 8 different holiday treats for family and friends. It works best if each person ends up with at least a dozen pieces of each recipe. Getting together to divide up the treats can be a fun time too.

Here are three large batch recipes that are perfect for sharing with members of your Christmas cookie exchange group.

Decadent Truffles

1 1/3 cups whipping cream

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup light rum

2 teaspoons vanilla

16 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

16 ounces milk chocolate, chopped

Finely chopped nuts and assorted sprinkles

1/4 cup (or more) cooca powder

Heat cream, sugar, salt, rum and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is hot.

Remove from heat. Add chocolates, stirring until melted (return pan to low heat if necessary). Pour into a shallow dish.

Cover and refrigerate until just firm, about 1 hour.

Shape the mixture into 1 1/4″ balls. Rolls balls in nuts, sprinkles or cocoa powder to cover.

Refrigerate truffles until firm, about 1 hour.

Note: If your kitchen is very warm, keep a portion of the truffle mixture chilled as you shape and roll balls.

Makes 6 dozen truffles

Sugar Cookie Wreathes

1 package Sugar Cookie Mix

1 egg

1/4 cup oil

1 tablespoon water

Green food coloring

Candied or maraschino cherry pieces, chopped

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Combine cookie mix, egg, oil and water in a large bowl. Stir until thoroughly blended. Tint dough with green good coloring. Stir until desired color.

Form into balls the size of miniature marshmallows.

For each wreathe, arrange 9 or 10 balls with sides touching into a ring and place 2″ apart, on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with fingers. Place small pieces of candied cherry on the center of each ball.

Bake for 5-7 minutes or until set but not browned. Cool 1 minute on baking sheets, then remove to cooling racks.

Cool completely. Store in airtight container.

Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Chunky Butter Christmas Cookies

1 1/4 cups butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup dairy sour cream

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups old fashioned or quick oats, uncooked

1 package (10 ounces) vanilla milk chips

1 cup flaked coconut

1 jar (3 1/2 ounces) macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Beat butter and brown sugar together in large bowl until light and fluffy. Blend in sour cream, egg and vanilla.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix well. Stir in oats, vanilla milk chips, coconut and nuts.

Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough, 2″ apart, onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute then remove to cooling rack and cool completely.

Makes 5 dozen cookies

If you would like to have a variety of holiday cookies and treats on hand, but are short of time, consider the benefits of a Christmas cookie exchange for a more relaxed, and tasty, holiday season.



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Luanne Reilly Oda asked:


This delicious cookie recipe is from the very little (heart shaped) cookbook titled The Bear Facts Recommends. It was published by a small company back in the 1980’s. I am sure it is no longer in print. They called the cookies simply CARAMEL BARS. The cookies taste like a candy bar and anyone you share them with will love them too!

The Ingredients are

2 cups flour

2 cups quick rolled oats

1.5 cups brown sugar

1tsp. baking soda

1tsp. salt

1.5 cups melted butter

1 14 ounce pkg Kraft Caramels ( or similar )

1 cup evaporated milk

2 cups chocolate chips

1 cup walnuts, chopped or dry roasted peanuts.

I always use real butter not margarine, & I prefer the walnuts, but that is up to your taste.

Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, soda, salt and butter. Press 1/2 to 3/4 of mixture into a 11″ x 16″ jelly roll pan.Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Melt caramels with evaporated milk in a double boiler. Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts over cooked crust. Spread caramel mixture over chips & nuts. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on the top. Bake 15- 20 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown. These will be a big hit with everybody – they taste like a candy bar!

Recipe makes 3- 4 dozen cookies. After cooling I like to use the smaller sized spatula either one made by pampered chef, or a similar one to remove cookies from pan. Serve on a pretty cookie plate, or pedestal cake plate.

These cookies are wonderful anytime, but I particularly like them in the fall. I think the carmels make me think of caramel apples which remind me of fall.

Nanalulus Linens and Handkerchiefs

Luanne R Oda aka NANALULU www.nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com



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Joe Golson asked:


If you’re a parent who spends very little time with your kids due to the daily hassles in your office and/or in your home, then I say this to you: make time. When you’re old and look back, you’ll regret not doing things with your kids. You might even end up miserable and hating yourself and the real sad part is that you’ll never get that time back. So why be that old man, try doing things with your kids today. One little activity that is very rewarding for you and your kid is inviting your children into your kitchen. There are quick and easy recipes where you and your kids can enjoy.

How many times have you scolded your kid for playing around the kitchen? Well this is understandable given the potential dangers around the kitchen, knives, hot surfaces, boiling water, hot oils, etc. But by involving them in the cooking process you will be able to teach them the proper and safe conducts in and around the kitchen. This beats scolding anytime.

Children love the whole process of cooking. They the way big pieces of ingredients are chopped, sliced, or grated and mixed together to form a terrific dish. Maybe to them it’s a big jigsaw puzzle which when you get it right you will have one whole piece of dish that you can enjoy and eat.

Be patient when you’re working with kids. Expect a big mess of things. Your work table will most likely be overrun by various ingredients, drops of seasonings, scattered utensils, measuring instruments, and other cookware. This is fun to them, and who knows you might enjoy a taste of chaos once in a while. It might actually be liberating. But for the kids, the experience is hilarious and when they made good with their food, the feeling would be fulfilling.

There are several easy recipes that kids can make. Some very easy and simple dishes include omelet recipes and other breakfast dishes. Making French toasts is quite easy as well. Salads and sandwiches are also quite easy to make plus they are very healthy. Your kids can also bring these sandwiches for their lunch breaks.

One simple recipe is making a banana crepe, or make than a chocolate banana crepe. What you will need is some crepe flour, milk, eggs, melted chocolate, butter and of course sliced bananas. Mix together everything in a bowl except for the chocolate, bananas and butter. Let your kid do the mixing process. Use the butter to grease a crepe pan and then pour the crepe mixture on it. Make sure to spread out the mixture over the pan. Remember to flip it to cook the other side. Once cooked, spread the melted chocolate, line up the banana slices, and then fold it. You can add some more chocolate on the outside. Enjoy this with your kid.

Making pancakes is also another easy one. You can either go with the quick cooked pancakes available in the market or make your own from flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Whatever you decide, your kids can handle the mixing of the pancake mix, the greasing of the pan, the flipping of the pancakes and the presentation and additional touches like topping with chocolate or strawberry syrup.

Allow your kids to experiment and be imaginative. You will enjoy quick and easy recipes if you cook them with your kids. Sure expect a dirty kitchen later, but you have so much to gain if you involve your kids with the things you do.



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Linda Wilson asked:


One of the best ways to make memories with your children or grandchildren is to allow them in the kitchen with you.  Kids love to bake and they enjoy eating and sharing with others the goodies they make.  It is also a fun learning experience for them, one they don’t even realize is a lesson.  Organing ingredients, following the instructions in the recipe, working together to make something special, and don’t forget clean-up.  It is important for children to learn that after the fun, there is clean-up to be done.  If you work it right, they will even think that is part of the fun.  Counting and measuring is also a good math lesson.  So don’t try to keep your children out of the kitchen.  Invite them in and have fun together.  Homemade Chocolate Sandwich Cookies is a recipe they will love as they get to put the cookies and filling together to make “sandwiches”.  They may not get them perfect but life is not about perfection in everything.  You aren’t trying to make a masterpiece, just a cookie!  And the kids will love dunking the Chocolate Dunk Cookies in the chocolate mixture.  Note:  When baking with chocolate and children, be sure they wear aprons, smocks, or older clothing.

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE SANDWICH COOKIES

This recipe is from an old Midwestern State church cookbook.

1/2 cup butter or oleo

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup milk

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsps baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup cocoa

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together in the order given. Beat until smooth. Drop by rounded teaspoon on buttered cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 7 minutes. Do not over bake. Cool and make sandwiches using the filling recipe below.

Marshmallow Filling:

1/2 cup white shortening

2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup marshmallow cream

1 tsp vanilla

3 or 4 tsps milk (adjust amount for the right consistency)

 

Cream shortening and sugar together and mix in rest of the ingredients. Spread between cookies and make sandwiches. Wrap individually in plastic wrap to store so they won’t stick together.

CHOCOLATE DUNK COOKIES

1 3/4 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

8 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate, divided

3/4 cup margarine, softened

2 tbsp firmly packed Splenda brown sugar blend OR 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup SPLENDA granular

1/4 cup egg substitute

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In small mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.  Coarsely chop 5 squares of the chocolate and set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, beat margarine, brown sugar, and SPLENDA with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add egg substitute and vanilla extract; mix well.  Gradually add flour mixture to egg mixture beating until blended.  Stir in chopped chocolate and nuts.  Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.  Dough drops should be two inches apart.  Bake 11 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool 1 minute before removing from cookie sheets.  Cool completely on wire racks.  Melt 3 squares of chocolate in microwave as directed on package.  Dip one half of each cookie into the melted chocolate.  Place in single layer on waxed paper and let set until chocolate is set.

Note:  This recipe uses some ingredients that make it diabetic friendly.  You can make the following changes, if you do not have diabetics in your family:  Substitute 1 egg for the egg substitute and 3/4 cup granulated sugar for the Splenda granular.

Enjoy!



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Mike Lawson asked:


If you were to make chocolate chip cookies, you would need to do a few things to ensure successful results. Namely, you must: gather your ingredients, measure accurately, and assemble all of the ingredients according to the recipe. If you neglect a step, your recipe may fail. The same is true of search engine optimization. To achieve successful results, (in this case, high search engine rankings), it’s important to follow the recipe.

Step 1: Gather your ingredients. Words will be your main ingredients when it comes to search engine optimization. Keywords are especially important. If your text were chocolate chip cookies, keywords would be the chocolate chips.

Choose your keywords according to the audience you are targeting. Usually they will be derived from what your website is about. They should be words that your target audience would use as search terms. For example, if your business is selling organic health foods, you’d probably want to choose ‘organic health foods’ as your keywords.

Step 2: Measure accurately. Search engines rank a web page based largely upon the text that it contains. They prefer blocks of test, as opposed to individual sentences scattered here and there about the page. Too few words, and your page might get overlooked. Conversely, you don’t need thousands of words to catch the attention of a search engine. Usually 500 words (give or take a couple hundred on either side) will suffice.

Your text body is like your cookie dough. Now, it’s time to add your chocolate chips, or keywords. It’s important that you ‘measure’ those too. Your keywords should number between 1.5% and 5% of your total number of words. Less than that, and your page may not get a high enough ranking to attract your target audience. More, and search engines may assume you’re trying to trick them. They might not index your page at all.

Step 3: Assemble the ingredients and follow the recipe. Following the recipe is important. If you don’t mix the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies in the correct order, you won’t get very appetizing cookies. Similarly, you need to mix your keywords into your text in the right order.

Search engines assume that terms which appear in certain strategic locations within your text are more important that others. These locations include the title, the opening paragraph, and the closing paragraph.

It’s okay to put some keywords in other parts of your text too. But it’s critical to insert them in these strategic locations. If you concentrate all of them into the middle of your text, your page may not get indexed under your desired terms. Always include your keywords in these three locations for the best possible results.

The true test of your chocolate chip cookie recipe comes when you put your cookies into the oven. How they come out will depend upon how well you followed the recipe. The same is true of search engine optimization. When you post your text to your website and publish it on the Internet, follow your rankings in the major search engines.

Give them 2-3 weeks to find your page and scan it. If you rank high after this period of time, you probably found an effective recipe. If you aren’t pleased with the ranking, or you can’t find your ranking at all, you may need to tweak your recipe. Often, all it takes is a few minor adjustments and then to put it back ‘in the oven.’ Eventually you should hit on a combination of ingredients that will give you the successful results you desire.



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Shelly Hill asked:


When it comes to making cookies in the Summertime, I prefer to use the stove-top method. Not only is the stove-top method quick and easy, but it saves on heating up your kitchen.

I find it best to line my countertop or tabletop, with some parchment paper. You will want to ‘drop’ your cookies onto the parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat, to let them cool. After they have cooled to room temperature, store them in an airtight container.

Here are 5 of my favorite no-baking involved cookie recipes.

Raisin No-Bakes

2 c. raisins

2 c. Chinese noodles

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

1/4 c. honey

Mix raisins and Chinese noodles in bowl. Put peanut butter and honey in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until smooth and hot (no need to boil). Pour over raisin mixture, toss with a fork until evenly coated. Shape rounded spoonfuls into size of golf balls pressing gently with fingers. Let cool.

Chocolate Cracker Cookies

Round Crackers (like Ritz)

1 1/2 lbs. almond bark

peanut butter

12 oz. bag of chocolate chips

Spread peanut butter on crackers. Top with second cracker. Melt almond bark with chocolate chips. Dip sandwich cookies into the chocolate mixture using tongs. Drop onto waxed paper and let cool.

Chow Mein Bites

1 c. peanut butter

12 oz. pkg. butterscotch chips

4 c. miniature marshmallows

4 c. chow mein noodles

Place peanut butter and butterscotch chips in the top of a double boiler. Heat over hot water until melted. Combine with marshmallows and chow mein noodles. Mix well and drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Chill for 1-2 hours.

Sunshine

1 box vanilla wafers

1 stick butter, softened

1 sm. can frozen orange juice

1 box of powdered confectioners sugar

shredded coconut

Crush vanilla wafers to make crumbs. Mix with a stick of butter, orange juice, and sugar. Roll in small balls about the size of walnuts; roll in shredded coconut. Chill for 1-2 hours, until firm.

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bakes

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. cocoa

1/4 c. margarine

pinch of salt

1/2 c. milk

3 c. quick oats (oatmeal)

1 c. creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large pan and boil for 1 minute, stirring often. Turn off the heat and stir in the oatmeal, peanut butter and vanilla. Drop by the spoonful onto wax paper. Let them cool and they will harden as they cool.



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