Cookiepalooza 2.0

This year I decided to do things a little differently.  My sister had cookies that needed to be made, I had cookies to make ... and we both had Christmas cards to finish.  So when I heard her offer on Saturday morning to work together, I had to take it.  (Besides, her kitchen is bigger).

So a 2-hour drive later, and we were unpacking half my kitchen from my car and planning our attack.  There were several cookies that required making the dough, then chilling it before it could be worked into cookies.  Those went first.

After I got those out of the way, I started on the pizzelles.  I made these last year too.  This is the recipe that yields somewhere in the vicinity of 3000 cookies (or maybe it just seems that way).  I like to make it because it requires whiskey, but not a whole bottle.  See how that works?

In any case, the pizzelles were serving double duty this year because I was planning to make another kind of cookie using the pizzelles as a base ... but smaller.  So while the cookies were still warm and pliable, I used a round cookie cutter to turn them into 6 cookies.  Then I slathered some melted chocolate on them and sprinkled some toffee bits, creating these:

Because it was so late in the evening by the time I got to my sister's, I think those were the only cookies I finished on Saturday, but I can't even remember.  Everything's pretty much a blur.

We woke up early on Sunday, had coffee, and got started on the dough we had chilled the night before.  First up, another repeat from last year - Horseshoe Cookies (my personal favorite):

Clearly, there were more than just these - but they are fragile, and I didn't want to risk breaking any more than I had to.  What? I get to eat the broken ones!

Unfortunately, we did not anticipate the wear-and-tear on my sister's oven.  With all the opening and closing of the door, we apparently jiggled the screws on one side of the handle loose.  

We didn't let that stop us though ...

Next up was the Tea Time Toffees, one of my grandmother's recipes - and another one I made this year.  They turned out better this year - I didn't burn them.  And I made 2 batches, so I get to keep some! 

The next two cookies are also repeats from last year: peanut clusters and kiss cookies:

We stopped making cookies some time around 6 p.m. and gave ourselves 2 hours to work on our Christmas cards.  I left a little after 8 p.m. and made the 2-hour drive home.

When I woke up on Monday morning, my calves felt as if someone had given each of them a "code red*" during the night.  Do you know how hard it is to limp with BOTH legs?

Anyway, when I got home after work on Monday, I finished the last of the cookies.  These acorn cookies are some that I saw on Pinterest (courtesy of a share by Thomas MacEntee).  Unfortunately, mine don't look nearly as cute as the ones on Pinterest, but at least I finally made something I pinned!  

I think I was supposed to use mini chocolate chips on the top, but holy cow, I already looked like I rolled around in melted chocolate just using the regular sized ones.  There was chocolate on everything I was wearing, the furniture, and possibly even the cats (who were in the other room).  I will likely not be making these again.  And if I do - and I'm forced to use the tiny chips - I will be naked.  You've been warned.

I'm just glad everything turned out edible.  Merry Christmas!


*if you don't know what this means, watch the movie "A Few Good Men."

Do we share any ancestors? 

Please email me at lostancestors [at] gmail [dot] com

COOKIEPALOOZA (2nd annual) 2011

Today is Bake Cookies Day.  So I did.  A lot.  Those of you who follow me on Facebook have probably seen the pictures of all the cookies I've been baking today*.  For those of you who haven't ... ta da!


This is really more impressive if you know that I hate to cook.  I have basically come to the conclusion that I'm allergic to any food product that isn't handed to me through a window.  Baking, on the other hand, is a completely different story.  Might have something to do with the end product ... jury's still out.

The "before" picture
(none of the refrigerated items are shown -
mainly because I forgot them for the photo op).

I first had to prep ... which is the hardest part for me.  I like instant gratification.  However, some dough had to be chilled before it could be used.  I can deal with that because I know how awesome the cookies are, and I'm flexible that way.


What was disappointing is that (probably because I don't cook), I forgot to get the butter out of the fridge last night - hence, all the recipes (which is about 90% of them) that called for "soft" or "room temperature" butter had to wait.  Of course, those are the ones that also have to be chilled before the dough can be manipulated into complete cookie awesomeness.


While I was waiting for the butter to soften, I went ahead and made my first batch: Pizzelles!

I remember having these back when I was little.  I always thought I was being a little bit naughty when I ate them because they have whiskey in them!  (The recipe also makes like 8 billion cookies, so I realize why we always had some).


With the butter finally softened, I got the dough mixed and chilled.  My next batch was Tea Time Toffees (or tiny pecan pies).  My grandmother used to make these and I always thought they were amazing!

Mental note: don't forget to set the timer

Normally they are much prettier than this, but I let them stay in the oven a minute or two too long and they got a little burnt on the top.  Still totally edible - and if no one wants them, I'll eat them.


Next up: Dusty Roads:

These are a new addition to the event this year.  It's a buttery cookie  with walnuts and a hint of cinnamon that nearly melts in your mouth.  Not sure if you can tell from the photo, but there's a light dusting of powdered sugar.  They would be perfect with after-dinner coffee ... or for breakfast ... whichever.


Next I decided to work on the Kiss Cookies.  I made these last year, and I forgot what a pain it was to unwrap all those kisses.  But they seem to be everyone's favorite.  So, next year either Hershey will start making kisses without wrappers, or I am going to the craft store to get the cheap stuff.

The oven needed a break for a little while (so did I), so I decided to whip up some Kahlua fudge with walnuts real quick.  Yum!

Fudge with walnuts.  Yumminess factor = 10!

Next I made the foundations for my Horseshoe Cookies and my Melting Lace Cookies.  Those will require some additional "dressing" after they cool off, so we'll come back to those.

This is another new addition this year.  I got the recipe from (of all places) the lady in the call center for Medicare when I called to check on the status of a letter we needed for one of our clients.  I think she called them Peanut Clusters ... if not, it sounds like a good enough name to me.  These were so easy to make, I made two batches.

Then came the Kix Brittle - like peanut brittle, except with Kix cereal.  It only takes about 10 minutes to make, then once it cools, you get to smash it up! 

Note: this candy gets very hot.  If you try to make this, use a wooden spoon.
Plastic or nylon will melt.

Now for my two favorites - Melting Lace and Horseshoe Cookies!

Butter cookies with semi-sweet chocolate and fun sprinkles!

Dark chocolate sandwiched between two delicate oatmeal cookies

Whew!  I can't wait to get them all packaged up for delivery on Tuesday!

*I'll be happy to share the recipes for any of these with whoever wants them.  Just ask!