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Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies

My kids would eat a dozen of these in one sitting, if I let them. Because of the high butter content, these cookies will spread if the dough isn’t chilled first. Just stick the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer. Personally, we don’t mind flatter cookies, but I thought I would warn you about this. These cookies melt in your mouth. Here is a tip: Use a cookie scoop for evenly-sized cookies that are easy to drop on the cookie sheets. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) … Continue reading →

Easy Edible Easter Crafts

There are hundreds of Easter crafts that feature popular holiday candies, such as jelly beans and chocolate, but most of the finished products can’t be eaten because they contain glue and a variety of other poisonous materials. That’s fine if you are making the Easter crafts alone and gifting them to older loved ones, but when you are crafting with kids, who don’t understand that a jelly bean dripping with rubber cement is not something that should be consumed, things can get a bit dicey. When I’m working with young children I pass on the paste-and-chocolate crafts and make these … Continue reading →

Christmas Cake and Cookies

I love the elaborate Christmas dessert buffets found at upscale restaurants and hotels during the holiday season. I prefer sampling a variety of sweet treats than gorging on a single piece of rich cake or pie. Those holiday dessert buffets inspire me this time of year. While I am far from an expert baker, I do my best to whip up an array of different desserts to serve on Christmas Day. Some are traditional, while others are far from holiday fare. Regardless, they are all delicious, and as you can see from the recipes I’ve listed below, they are also … Continue reading →

Easy Chocolate Christmas Treats

You can’t go wrong with chocolate during the holiday season (or anytime of year for that matter). Whether you are looking for a decadent treat to bring along to a holiday office party, your kid’s school, or to give as a gift to family and friends, the following simple recipes will help put the ho-ho-ho in your holiday festivities: MOCHA BROWNIE COOKIES Ingredients: 1 egg 1 egg white 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons instant decaf coffee granules 1 tablespoon boiling water 1/4 cup melted butter 1 tablespoon maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 … Continue reading →

Cheap and Easy Chocolate Christmas Treats

To me, chocolate is as an essential part of Christmas as evergreens, stockings and St. Nick. I view the sweet treat as the gift that keeps on giving, which is why I try to incorporate it into as many holiday desserts as possible. The following chocolate recipes are simple, inexpensive, and more importantly, great to share. If you are looking for a delectable dish to contribute to a holiday party you are searching for homemade gifts to give to friends and family members, these recipes will do in a pinch: REINDEER SNACKS Ingredients: 12-ounce box Crispix cereal 1/2 cup butter … Continue reading →

Coconut Candy Cane Cookies and Mega Chocolate Delights

It’s the eighth of December… how’s your Christmas cookie baking coming along? My sister-in-law just called to tell me that her kitchen resembles Mrs. Field’s, but not in a good way. The countdown to Christmas is on and if you haven’t already chosen the sweet treats you plan to lovingly prepare for family and friends, then you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to share two of my all-time favorite Christmas cookie recipes. The first recipe for Coconut Candy Cane Cookies was voted best holiday treat at the TV station I used to work at. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the … Continue reading →

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes for Kids

After preparing a huge Thanksgiving meal you might not be motivated to get back into the kitchen to begin the monumental task of Christmas cookie baking just yet. However, as we all know, time flies and before you know it we’re halfway through the month and Christmas is knocking at our door. I haven’t fired up the oven just yet, but I have begun collecting recipes that I plan to make during my annual cookie baking marathon. This year (like last) I plan to devote an entire day baking with my young daughter. Last year we made sugar cookies, which … Continue reading →

The Perfect Pumpkin Cookies

It’s a virtual pumpkinpalooza in our home. Last week it was all about pumpkin seeds. Then, we made pumpkin pizza, pumpkin waffles, and pumpkin muffins to take to various Halloween parties. Now, we’re moving on to pumpkin cookies. If you are looking for an easy dish to pass at a Thanksgiving-related party, or if you need to bring a seasonal dessert to a November playgroup (like me), I highly recommend the following delicious recipes. Both are for Pumpkin Cookies, though they have decidedly different flavors and textures. The first recipe calls for pumpkin, plus the added bonus of chocolate chips … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: X is for X-shaped Chocolate Cookies

Yeah, I know, it’s not very autumnal. But you try coming up with foods that begin with the letter X and then combine them to create an edible creation. There was xanthareel, a yellow eel used in medicinal foods, and xanthan gum, which is produced from the fermentation of corn sugar (it’s commonly used as a thickener in foods such as yogurt, sour cream and salad dressings), but neither struck me as the basis for family-friendly recipes. So, I got a bit creative and went for another interpretation: X-shaped treats. The following recipe for playful chocolate cookies molded in the … Continue reading →

Dining in the Woods—Campfire Cookies and Ice Cream in a Bag

It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. That’s the way I feel about summer. While the majority of students head back to school this week it doesn’t mean you have to put a lid on outdoor activities. If you haven’t had the chance to go camping yet this year don’t despair. Many campgrounds stay open through October, giving you the opportunity to take your kids on an outdoor adventure of a lifetime. One of the highlights of camping is getting to cook meals on an open fire. Kids love munching on anything that can spear with a stick, but they also … Continue reading →