ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Kate B on October 18, 2008, 06:53:42 am
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The holidays are approaching quickly. This spot is for a virtual cookie exchange ( of recipes) of course. Does anyone have a family or special recipe that is their favorite?
I need a new cookie recipe this year!
Finally got around to posting a few favorites that will compliment any cookie tray:-)
My family favorite (Chocolate Chip Pistachio), Italian Lemon Drops, and Chocolate Raspberry Crumb Bars are posted on page 3 of this thread.
Updated 12-3-09:A recap of last year's recipes and hoping others add some of their treasures. Impressive group of contributors to this thread:
Page 1: Pumpkin Bread, Bon Bons, Cocoa Fudge Cookies, Popcorn Balls
Page 2: Sugar Cookie, Loaded Oarmeal Cookies, Lavendar Tea Cake, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Paula Dean Gooey Butter Cake,
Swedish Pepparkaka
Page 3: Cocunut Cupcakes, Chocolate Chip Pistachio, Lemon Drops, Chocolate Raspberry Crumble, Dog Turd cookies,No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
Page 4: Grandma's Shortbread, ginger Snaps, Wine Jelly
Page 6: Dutch Fruit Bars , Chocolate Linzer Cookies
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Hi Kate,
I'm sorry that I don't have a Holiday cookie recipe for you, just last night I was printing Holiday cookie recipes from a website but since I havn't tried them yet I can recommend them. However, I do have a family favorite Pumpkin Bread recipe that I got from a neighbor in 1980. I have made it every year since then. When my youngest son joined the Army one of the first things he requested was a batch of Mom's pumpkin bread. Since then I have sent it to Germany, Iraq & Afghanistan. When I email him and ask what he and the others he serves with would like I always get the same reply, more Pumpkin Bread & German Chocolate Brownies. We eat some of the Pumpkin bread Thanksgiving morning so it will hold us through tell Thanksgiving Dinner, on Christmas Day it holds us through the opening of presents. Here's the recipe, hope you enjoy it! Jill
Pumpkin Bread
2/3 C. Shortening
2-2/3 C. Sugar
4 Eggs
2 C. Pumpkin
2/3 C. Water
3-1/3 C. Flour
½ teas. Baking Powder
2 teas. Baking Soda
1-1/2 teas. Salt
1 teas. Cinnamon
1 teas. Cloves
2/3 C. nuts. Optional
Cream shortening & sugar, beat in eggs, pumpkin & water. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Add to Pumpkin mixture. Bake at 325 degrees. Pour into greased Kerr pint jars, filling half full. Bake about 45 minutes. Makes 8 pints.
For spicier bread add: ½ teas. Cinnamon, ½ teas. Clove, ¼ teas. Nutmeg, per batch.
Batch and a half (use a big can of pumpkin, 29 oz.)
1 C. Shortening
4 C. Sugar
6 Eggs
3 C. Pumpkin
1 C. Water
5 C. Flour
¾ teas. Baking Powder
3 teas. Baking Soda
2-1/4 teas. Salt
1-1/2 teas. Cinnamon
1-1/2 teas. Cloves
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Kate, I luffs ya dearly, but my waist line is hating the thought of this thread! :) Let me go find some family recipes... I do have my grandmother's famous holiday fudge (secret) recipe... :)
Phyl
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Here's my recipe, but first: What is mixed peel? And can you make the pumpkin bread in a loaf pan? I've never heard of baking them in a glass jar! Interesting.
Hi Kate,
My husband loves cookies! That's because his mother was a big cookie baker. Anyway, I found this one in my Cooking Light cookbook and it's very nice. These are easy to make. You could put a half of a walnut on top, if you want, or add frosting to them and add sprinkles or some kind of holiday trim to make them more festive. Have fun. Don't eat too many!! ;)
Sue in Vancouver USA
Cocoa Fudge Cookies
From Best of Cooking Light Cookbook
You can mix these incredibly easy, fudgy cookies right in the saucepan. Just out of the oven, they have crisp edges and chewy centers. You can make them with either Dutch process or unsweetened cocoa; we opted for the latter.
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons butter
7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray
Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and alt. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in cocoa and sugars (mixture will resemble coarse sand). Add yogurt and vanilla, stirring to combine. Add flour mixture, stirring until moist. Drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are almost set. Cool cookies on pans 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies frompan, and cool on wire racks. Yield: 2 dozen cookies
Sue's Notes:
You can add 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules to enhance the chocolate flavor if you wish. You can also use flavored yogurt, which I have done when I was out of the plain. I used the cherry flavor low fat yogurt and it was fine. I have not tried to “double� the recipe, but I don’t see why you couldn’t if you wanted more than 2 dozen cookies. Just use a bigger pan. You can also frost these cookies with dark chocolate frosting for an even more decadent treat. Serve with milk or coffee and enjoy!
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Mmmm... these sound good. I'll have to look through my recipes later - I'm not much of a baker. In the mean time, if anyone would like me to taste-test their submissions on this thread - send the already baked goodies on to Nashville! And before long, I'll be on line 24 hours a day because I won't be able to get up out of the chair! :o
Lori
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Thanks for the explanation. I've never seen this, but then, I've never looked for it either. If I can remember, I'll look for that.
Sue in V.
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Oh my,
This is a decadent thread! GREAT idea Kate! The ones sent in look great. I would like a REALLY good butter cookie recipe....does anyone have one? I don't like mine that much.
I will go look at recipes to see what would be fun to share.....
Mary 8)
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From a dieting standpoint, you guys are killing me. ;D
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I was glad to see that someone else wondered about the mixed peel as I had no idea what it was but wanted to make the recipe as my husband loves Christmas Cake and this sounds like a fun alternative. As for the pumpkin bread by all means bake it in a bread pan, I've been tempted to do that many times as it would be quicker than filling the jars but I like the jars because it's different and it slices up into nice little pieces you can easily hold in your hand. I like to wrap them up and put bows & ribbons on them and give them to family and friends. If you have wide mouth pint jars it's fun to do, just spray the jars with cooking spray, fill & bake, let the jars cool a bit then the bread slips right out of the jar. They fit nicely into sandwich bags so you can freeze them and then mail them with other goodies. As for the Cocoa Fudge Cookies, you had me at crispy edges & chewy centers, will give them a try.
I'm not much of a Christmas Cookie maker, fudge, pumpkin bread, party mix and popcorn balls are my childhood favorites. My Mom loved sugar cookies and we loved to make the dough, cut out the various christmas shapes and decorate them but I rarely ate them.
Here's my popcorn ball recipe, I'm guessing it's a pretty standard recipe but the important part is to not cook the syrup to as high a temperature as the cook books tells you too. You want soft popcorn balls you can eat, not baseballs!
Popcorn Balls
2 Cups sugar
2/3 cup Karo syrup
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Put in saucepan and bring to boil over medium high heat. Then at medium tell it reaches 245 degrees. Add the vanilla after it reaches 245 degrees. Take off stove and put on popcorn. Add coloring if desired, for Christmas of course we use red for one batch and green for the other. We use to make popcorn balls on Christmas Eve, it kept us kids busy so we didn't think so much about the presents under the tree. The kids can help pop the corn, the older ones can help with the syrup and everyone can form the balls. We butter our hands then dip them in cool water so the syrup doesn't burn your hands or stick to you as you make the balls. If memory serves me correctly we make about 3 batches of popcorn in an air popper per batch of syrup. If you don't have a candy thermometer or even if you do I water test the syrup to make sure it's ready, drop a bit of syrup in a cold cup of water and if the syrup gels together it's ready, if it melts away cook it a bit longer, thermometers aren't always right! Enjoy!
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Gee, now I have to figure out how to bake all this stuff, as well as knit all those hats. This is becoming a lot of work. ::)
Steve
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No one said that Martha Stewart had it easy!! Does anyone watch P. Allen Smith on PBS? He's a male version of Martha Stewart. Very multi-talented.
Mary, do you mean a sugar cookie, like the kind that you frost. I have my girlfriend's mother's recipe and it's pretty good. I can put that up if that's the kind of cookie you mean. For rolling out and making cut-out cookies?
Sue in the 'Couve
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Steve,
Maybe you could knit edible cookie hats? Kill 2 birds with one stone. ;D
Mary 8)
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Sue,
Yes I think it is what I mean. They are made with butter. I have sugar cookies I make, they are yummy, but not the Buttery Christmas cookies.
Mary 8)
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Steve - maybe you can knit muu-muus for all of us while you're at it...
Debbi
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Steve - maybe you can knit muu-muus for all of us while you're at it...
Debbi
Chuckling over the muu-muus...
These recipes sound yummy! Pumpkin bread, bon bons, fudge, cocoa fudge cookies, popcorn balls... and to think you are willing to share family secrets. Hmmm...what's a girl to try first...I will try some at the holidays and keep away from bathroom scales.
I have a couple favs to share too. Going to get cookbook and trying to decide whether to share chocolate chip pistacchio, lemon knots, or a raspberry chocolate bar...
Kate
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Hi Sue and anyone else wondering what mixed peel is. It is chopped orange and l lemon peel. I can buy this already chopped in round plastic containers usually in the baking isle .
I hope you can find this.
Donnalynn
Donna Lynn,
What combination do you use in the bon bon"s ? More orange or more lemon or equal parts of both? They sound tasty.
Kate
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Steve, I'm curious about the hats. Do you knit them on needles or use a circular loom? My daughters got hooked on the looms after I got them for Christmas presents last year.
Sara
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*a-hem*
I think Steve would prefer whichever is the SIMPLEST to learn... ::)
K
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I don't have any recipes to share - don't bake much..ok, not at all, my family will tell you. But I do EAT cookies. So, like Lori, I will volunteer to be a taste-tester for you guys! Send 'em on down here to Atlanta as well as Nashville. You know, ya'll could also whip up some home-made candies. Can't wait!
cindy
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Hi Dessert Lovers,
The following recipes are some of the best I have. Warning: Butter and Sugar dead ahead. Proceed with caution. ;)
Okay, I went through my pile of recipes and found this Sugar Cookie recipe. Last year I wanted to make good sugar cookies and I tried a few recipes. I wasn't happy with them. At all. So, I called my girlfriend, which I should have just done in the first place, because she makes really nice cut out sugar cookies. She said she uses her mother's recipe. So this is it.
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup butter
3/4 cups sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
Cream the butter and the sugar until mixed well, add the egg and extract. Mix the flour and baking powder and then add to wet ingredients. Bake @ 350 for 12 - 14 minutes. She rolls the dough to about 1/2" thick.
She did really give me the mixing instructions, but that's usually the way most recipes read. I did not sift the flour
I think that's the reason my cookies never work very well, is because I tend to roll them too thin. My friend frosts and decorates her cookies really pretty, and I've learned that I don't do that as nicely as I'd like, so I just give them a thin coat of icing and then add sprinkles or something like that. I don't have the patience or the expertise to do nice decorated sugar cookies. Drop cookies are more my forte'. I made Paula Deen's Loaded Oatmeal Cookies one year for Christmas and I thought they were great! Add a bit of rum flavoring to the glaze for the cookies. Yum! Rum! These are tender, soft oatmeal cookies. I thought these tasted really good. But then why wouldn't they...it's all about the butter! HA ;)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/paulas-loaded-oatmeal-cookies-recipe2/index.html
It's a terrible irony that the same Christmas I finally got my beautiful Kitchen Aid mixer is right when I was told I was a Type 2 Diabetic. No Fair!! But then, I'd be fatter than a pig if I hadn't been told that, what with that new toy to use and all. But I enjoy using my mixer, because it's so nice to have one like this finally, and I give cookies to the neighbors, or send them off to my husband's office. Okay, I eat a few, too! Gotta make sure they are edible. But, just two or three, not a dozen.
Okay, bakers! If you want to do this recipe someday, I guarantee that you will love it! This is tender and elegant with just a wonderful hint of lavender. I've made and given this cake away many times. I use 1 tablespoon of dried lavender flowers that you can get at stores like Whole Foods. I think this recipe says dried lavender leaves, but it's actually the dried flowers that you use. It's a keeper! And believe me, if I can make this come out okay, you can too, because I'm not that great of a cook. We had a lavender tea cake at a tea house on my birthday a few years ago and we thought - wow, this is great. I went on-line and found this recipe and have been making it ever since. I went to a store here called Wild Oats that sells the lavender.
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1157608
And then, this recipe is to die for. Which I would, if I could eat as much of this as I would like to. Guaranteed to raise your blood sugar right into the stratosphere. On a stormy, cold winter's day, whip this up and serve this freshly made and still a bit warm from the oven with real whipped cream, and watch your family and friends melt into the ultimate comfort food:
Sticky Toffee Pudding
http://www.oprah.com/recipe/omagazine/recipes/food_200503_pudding
If you have to call 911, I don't want to hear about it!! ;D ;)
All things in moderation,
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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Has anyone tried Paula Deens Gooey Butter Cake? It sounds so good but with a million calories and am sure not good for the cholesterol. I splurge and buy her food magazines. I made a Boston Creme Cupcake from one and had the best filling.
I need to hunt up my pepparkaka cookie recipe. It is one daughters favorite.
The sugar cookie recipe sounds good and wrote it down.
Cheryl R
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None of Paula Deen's treats are good for the cholesterol!! ::)
I made her Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding once. Delicious. That's great for a pot luck or big family party, because it's a lot of pudding.
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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These are very good
Swedish Pepparkaka
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup dark syrup, Karo or molasses
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
3/4 tablespoon baking soda
2/3 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
5 cups flour
Heat the sugar,syrup,and spices to the boiling point. Add the baking soda and then pour the heated mixture over the butter and stir well until the butter melts. Add the egg and the flour and mix well. Chill an hour,roll out and cut into rounds with a small juice glass. Press with a stamp. Bake for 8-10 at 325 Dough can get tough if handled too much.
I rolled mine out and used holiday cookie cutters and then frosted them and works well too.
Good to make these ahead as taste better over time.
Cheryl R
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Cheryl,
In Philadelphia every corner has a corner bakery. Butter cake, the gooey kind was my favorite. Since I moved from Philadelphia 24 years ago, I miss my butter cake. Do you have the receipe for Paul deens gooey butter cake.
mema
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Hi mema. Just go to Paula Deens website. www.pauladeen.com if it's allowed here and there her 10 best recipes are listed and it is one of them. I think there is a recipe search possibly and it could be there too if any variations of it is needed.
Good luck, Cheryl R
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Hi Dessert Lovers,
The following recipes are some of the best I have. Warning: Butter and Sugar dead ahead. Proceed with caution. ;)
All things in moderation,
Sue in Vancouver, USA
Wow! These recipes sound delish. This is quite a talented group. I've never used lavender in a tea cake and finally a good sugar cookie recipe.
Yummy yummy yummy I'll soon have dessert in my tummy...
Kate
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You won't regret trying the Lavender Tea Cake, Kate. It's delightful. Just be careful and don't overdo the lavender. One tablespoon is all you need. And that's an even one, not a heaping one! Otherwise, it might be a bit strong. But, it's a really nice treat and wonderful with some fragrant, good tea. I'm making myself hungry! Try it, you'll like it.
And that Sticky Toffee Pudding is ---- a taste sensation for me. I just loved it. Hard to just have a small portion for me! But, I didn't even make it all last winter, so maybe I can have it this winter. And don't forget - chocolate lovers - try the recipe on the back of the Nestle's Cocoa - and for a special chocolate cake use the Nestle's Special Dark Cocoa. It's sinfully delicious. Add some raspberries and whipped cream, and you have a terrific company dessert. It would be great for Christmas too.
I have really enjoyed my mixer and trying to make new things. Unfortunately, the things that are fun to make, are only good for the soul and not necessarily good for the body. Mankind should never have discovered sugar! But it's not all refined sugar that causes problems. My dentist goes on a church sponsored trip every year or so and helps the very poor people in Indonesia or somewhere like that. He had to fly to Jakarta and then take some little 8 hour flight out of there to get to the remote area of the country. The kids suck on sugar cane all day long and most of the adults have lost all of their teeth! So, the church or whoever is trying to help with medical and dental hygiene and teaching them to care for their teeth. He was telling me about his trip when I saw him for my check-up. He was really out in the remote, poorest part of that country.
Part of my vision of Heaven entails an endless dessert buffet with no consequences! ;D ;D And Paula Deen will be serving it all up with a smile! ;)
Sue in Vancouver
Actually, Ina Garten makes some mean desserts too. Her coconut cupcakes with cream cheese frosting is really good. My neighbor made them once. Yummmm
http://myhusbandhatesveggies.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/freakishly-delicious-ina-gartens-coconut-cupcakes/
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Here are one of the cookies I make yearly. They have become my sons' favorite. I originally found the recipe in a Family Circle magazine (circa 1983).
CHOCOLATE CHIP PISTACHIO COOKIES
3 1/4 cups sifted flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter,softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 TBSP milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (pecans or almonds work too!)
3 1/4 oz pckge pistachio flavored instant pudding ( I use Jello Brand)
2-3 drops green food coloring
6 oz semis sweet chocolate chips ( I prefer minis for the batter)
1/4 cup regular sized chocolate chips for top decoration
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Sift flour, baking powder and salt onto waxed paper. Beat butter, and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs, milk and vanilla: blend until creamy. Add flour mixture. Mix until stiff dough forms. Remove 1/4-1/3 cup dough to a small bowl. Add chopped nuts to this small portion of batter. (nut-dough)
Next, add pudding mix to the remaining dough. Add mini chips until you have the amount you like in the "Pistachio" batter.
Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of pistachio dough into balls. (They don't spread much when cooking) Flatten with a drinking glass covered with waxed paper at the bottom.
Then shape a marble-sized piece of nut-dough and place on top of the flattened pistachio dough. Decorate the nut dough with one regular sized chocolate chip. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set...these cookies do not brown. Cool on rack.
These cookies not only taste yummy, they look festive.
Enjoy..my family favorite passed on to all of you.
Kate
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LEMON DROP COOKIES
(These are those chunky, soft cookies with the lemon icing on top) It's an Italian Cookie.
Cookie Dough
2 sticks butter
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
Cream the above.
Drain 1 pound of ricotta cheese
3 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
4 cups flour added 1 cup at a time
Mix all of the above with the creamed mixture. Drop on cookie sheet (They are a mound).
Bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until light in color)
Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)
1 1/2 tsp lemon extract
3 TBSP milk
Mix until smooth.
Dip cooled cookies.
Makes 5 dozen.
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One more...This is a bar cookie..simple to make with two of my favorite cookie flavors..chocolate and raspberry.
CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CRUMB BARS
1 cup butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 teas. salt
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (can use fat-free)
1 3/4 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam (or more)
1/2 cup nuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter in a large bowl until creamy. Beat in flour, brown sugar and salt until well mixed. It should be crumbly not like dough.
Press 1 3/4 cups crumb mixture into bottom of greased 13 x 9 pan; reserve remaining crumb mixture. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden brown.
Combine 1 cup chocolate chips and the milk in a small, heavy duty sauce pan. Melt over low heat stirring until smooth. Spread over hot crust.
Stir in nuts (if using) to crumb mixture; sprinkle over chocolate filling. Drop teaspoons of jam over crumb mixture. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
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Just thought I would let you know that I have officially started the Holiday Baking Season! After reading the posts I decided I would spend more time in the kitchen and less time in the stores this Holiday Season! I made my first batch of Pumpkin Bread this evening and will make another batch this weekend along with some pumpkin pies. When I was young my Mom was bed ridden and couldn't cook or bake so all four of us kids (1 brother, 2 sisters) did all the cooking. Mom had us make the pumpkin pies and freeze them a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving so we wouldn't have to make them along with all the other Thanksgiving Day dishes. I freeze the pumpkin bread as well, tastes just as good as fresh out of the oven. Next I will make some Party Mix as it keeps well. Then I'm going to make some of the goodies I've read on this thread and mail them to my family and give some to co-workers and friends. Jill :P
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These sound so good. I'm printing some of these recipes out and I'll give them a try. Thanks, ladies!
Sue in Vancouver USA
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Just wanted to let you know that yesterday I baked the lemon drop cookies. Very nice! Despite all the fat and sugar, these taste very light and delicate. I didn't have lemon flavoring so used real lemon juice in the frosting and it came out great. I also put in a little bit of lemon zest, too. Since it made quite a few cookies, my husband took a plate of them to work and he reports that everyone liked them. Great recipe, and I thank you. Next it's the chocolate raspberry bars. I'll be using the dark chocolate chips. yum.
Sue
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I am glad you liked them! You'll love the raspberry bars..
Kate
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This is awesome!!! Keep them comin' just in time for my Christmas baking ~ yummmy!
I am going to dig out my favorite cookies recipe to share.
Loving cookies.
Michelle :o
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These suckers look nasty but taste AWESOME and are healthy, too!
DOG TURD COOKIES
Grab a Bag of Nestle or Hershey DARK Chocolate Chips and follow the directions on the back for chocolate chip cookies and modify as follows:
1. Use only brown sugar--they will be a little moister.
2. use 1/2 whole wheat flour or 1/2 whole wheat pastry flour
3. add to the dry ingredients--1/3 cup Hershey's Dark Coco Powder and stir well
4. when you have mixed the wet ingredients into the dry add the following:
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
and don't forget the dark chocolate chips!
5. This batter will be a little thick, (you can add a little milk) hence the name, but these cookies are thick, chewy, crunchy and good!
Bake for 12 minutes at 350 and enjoy!
Capt Deb (http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate-4.gif)
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No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies:
2 cups sugar
4 T Cocoa
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
3 cups QUICK oatmeal
1 cup peanut butter
1 t vanilla
Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in pan and mix on hot until boiling. When it begins a rapid boil, continue for just 1 minute.
Then turn off heat (or move pan to another burner).
Put in peanut butter and vanilla and melt, then add in oats and mix well.
Put on waxed paper. I do a large teaspoon to tablespoon size cookies. Makes about 24 to 36 cookies, depending on how large they are. Let sit for 30 minutes or so. Remember...use Quick 1-minute oats.
Tisha
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Holiday Baking ALERT! I took tomorrow off from work so I can bake, decorate, wrap & maybe shop a little. I have so much I want to do and enjoy doing it so I decided to treat myself to a day of nothing but Christmas fun!!! I need some support here so I will not stray and do something stupid like laundry or cleaning when I'm suppose to be having fun. I'm hoping that playing Christmas music will help me stick to the plan. I got some really good deals on some things for my oldest sons kids, I'm sure there going to love them and can't wait tell they open them. Gotta go wrap things up so I'm ready for tomorrow. Jolly Jill ;D
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I always try to pop in a christmas DVD while wrapping. A glass of wine also makes it more fun!
Tisha
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Donnalynn, are you Martha Stewart in disguise?
:D
Sue in VAN
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These recipes are better than any holiday magazine collection of cookies!
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Donnalynn, are you Martha Stewart in disguise?
maybe you should kitchen test my recipes before you let this slip okay? Then we'll start the rumors okay?
... too funny!
Donnalynn
I kitchen tested Donnalynn's Bon, Bon's today! I bought the ingredients about a month ago and was waiting for the right time to make them. Took last Wednesday off work to bake & decorate. Didn't get as much done as I wanted to. Took this Wednesday off to wrap presents and bake. It started snowing and didn't stop tell this aftenoon, so, I spent a lot of my day off shoveling, got most of the wrapping done. Woke up this morning to find my office was closed for a snow day. Hubby & I shoveled and hauled wood from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Then they called my husband into work, he drives a Med Van, takes patients to and from the hospital to rehab, and from home to the doctors. Today they rented him a 4 wheel drive truck to help the hospital get nurses to those that couldn't get to the hospital. The highlight of his day was taking a new mom home with her baby that was born a month early, they will be home for Christmas. I've wanted to make the bon bons for my Hubby so today seemed like the perfect day, you should have seen the smile on his face when he walked in from a very long days work to find the Christmas cakes I made for him! To top it off he told me yesterday that he needed something to take to work to give to his co-workers for Christmas, problem solved! Thanks, Jill
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So here's a thought.
All of you who love to make cookies, should send them to all of us who don't, so we can sample them ;)
I'll start that list:
1) Jan :D
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I'll second that! Add me to the list of people who love to eat but hate to bake!! ;D
Lori
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I'm sharing this year's goodies with those of you that don't bake:-)
Lemon Knot Cookies and Chocolate Chip Pistacchio and Raspberry Crumble bars included on the plate!
http://picasaweb.google.com/KMBphotos/CookieBake2008?feat=directlink
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I'm sharing this year's goodies with those of you that don't bake:-)
Argh, I'm too late, apparently they are all gone already. At least I don't see anything at that link... :-[
Steve
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Steve, I clicked on your message and went to the cookie link and among the messages are the recipes. I made my recipe Fri and my Michigan daughter and I frosted them yesterday.
I did not use the whole amount of floor as they seemed right at 4 1/2 cups.
Jan and Kate, she can drop off some to you when she flies home today and am sure will go over Chicago on the way to Michigan. She is managing to make it here and back among the snowstorms. The cold she didn't miss as we are below zero this am.
Cheryl R
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Steve -
you are not alone; I didn't see any picture either. I got a message about needing a password or something.
Cheryl -
cookies - especially homemade - are always welcome, so tell your daughter to open the window and throw some my way :D
I can relate to the sub-zero temps. It was -23 yesterday and -19 today. Supposed to warm up enough to snow tomorrow, though. I can hardly wait ::)
Stay warm,
Jan
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Jan, her flight got canceled today due to needing aircraft maintenance. Her flight nows leaves 6 AM! So you could have cookies for breakfast. She was not happy about it today either. I don't blame her. It is snowing now but not a big snow so she should miss the later in the day tomorrow snow. It got 10 above today. Heat wave!
Cheryl R
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Argh, I'm too late, apparently they are all gone already. At least I don't see anything at that link... :-[
Steve
That's because I needed to make it a "public album". I guess I wasn't really into sharing the first time<grins> That must be why the plate is half empty.
Trying again.
http://picasaweb.google.com/KMBphotos/CookieBake2008?feat=directlink
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Thanks Kate, they do look mighty yummy. ;D
Steve
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Jan and Kate, she can drop off some to you when she flies home today and am sure will go over Chicago on the way to Michigan. She is managing to make it here and back among the snowstorms.
Cheryl,
My plate has room for more cookies:-)
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Anybody got a good diet recipe? ;) ;D
Officially, Christmas will be over on Sunday for us, because we had to postpone because of all the snow, and my aunt has a nasty cold anyway. So, the mixer gets PUT AWAY, and husband will have to get used to FRUIT for his dessert for awhile.
And when this snow goes away, it's back to walking for me.
Sue in Vancouver USA
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Awwww Jill Marie I'm tickled.. do you like them? aren't they cute? Jim kisses me lots when I make those ;)
Happy holidays to you my dear!
Donnalynn :-*
Been busy with all the Christmas fun so I haven't been on the board for a while. I don't like fruitcake which is why I've never made it for my husband, that's why I wanted to try your Christmas Cakes, sounded like something I and others would like as well. I do like them and boy are they ever cute, one has to try them just because they are cute. I like the fact that you can try them because they are small and not worry about getting stuck eating something you don't like. Didn't get to make/bake as many things as I would have liked to as I spent way to much time shoveling snow, we keep breaking records, got 8 more inches today, helped Hubby shovel and I'm beat, so that's it for today. Jill Marie
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Donnalynn,
Why wait for Valentines Day, let's pour on the rum for New Year's Eve! On the bon bon's of course! ;) We're suppose to get another 2 to 6 inches of snow tonight so I'll most likely be using rum or something of that nature to ease the sore muscles tomorrow night. We broke the record for the most snow in one month, the old record was from Jan. of 1950. Happy New Year! Jill Marie 8)
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There were some great recipes posted in this thread last year...Any new ones???
Cookie baking starts soon.
Kate
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Wow, seeing this again reminded me of all the snow we had last year. I don't know what the hubbub is about a White Christmas anyway! Kind of messed ours up.
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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Kate -
Thanks for starting this thread -- I love it!!! I never really got into baking for last Christmas but I'll start looking through my cookie recipes for some good ones. The recipes you posted sound great!
Wendy
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Kate -
Thanks for starting this thread -- I love it!!! I never really got into baking for last Christmas but I'll start looking through my cookie recipes for some good ones.
Wendy
A recap of last year's recipes and hoping others add some of their treasures. Impressive group of contributors to this thread:
Page 1: Pumpkin Bread, Bon Bons, Cocoa Fudge Cookies, Popcorn Balls
Page 2: Sugar Cookie, Loaded Oarmeal Cookies, Lavendar Tea Cake, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Paula Dean Gooey Butter Cake,
Swedish Pepparkaka
Page 3: Cocunut Cupcakes, Chocolate Chip Pistachio, Lemon Drops, Chocolate Raspberry Crumble, Dog Turd cookies,No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
Page 4: Grandma's Shortbread, ginger Snaps, Wine Jelly
Page 6: Dutch Fruit Bars, Cocoa Linzer Cookies
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Hey, Sue, I'm going to try the Lavender Tea Cake. Do you think one could use the lavender from the flower garden?
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Dutch Fruit Bars
(from the kitchen of Joanne in Kelowna, BC)
1 ½ cups butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
½ tsp grated lemon peel
3 ½ cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
½ cup honey
2 Tbsp heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup (4 oz) shredded almonds
¾ cup mixed candy fruit
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Adjust oven rack to bottom third of oven.
Grease 15 ½ x 10½ inch jelly roll pan.
In large mixer bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, cream 1 cup butter and ½ cup sugar. Beat in eggs and lemon peel until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt and continue mixing just until well combined. Press dough evenly into pan making ¼ inch rim around the edge. (smooth with wax paper). Bake 25-30 minutes or until lightly brownish and dough is firm to the touch.
Five minutes before crust is done, melt remaining ½ cup butter in medium saucepan. Add honey, remaining ½ cup sugar, cream and vanilla. Heat to boiling, boil five minutes, stirring occasionally (lower the heat once it boils). Stir in almonds and fruit. Pour over baked crust in pan and spread evenly. Return to oven and bake ten more minutes. Cool on wire rack. Cut into 2 x 1 ¼ inch diamond-shape pieces. Makes 52 cookies about 135 calories each.
Today, is the annual marathon cookie baking day. A longtime girlfriend and I bake several varieties all afternoon. Another friend joins the group. Three women in the same kitchen..wowser. I'll let you know how that works out....
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Cocoa Linzer Sandwiches
Via Family Circle Magazine December 2007
From the Kitchen of Kate B
Makes: 12-15 sandwiches
Prep: 30 minutes
Refrigerate 1-2 hours
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
11/2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Raspberry seedless jam ( I used Solo filling)
1. Mix flour,cocoa, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. Cream butter, sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl.
3. Beat in flour mixture.
4. Divide in half; shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour minimum.( 2 hours preferred)
5. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
6. Roll out half the dough on the cookie sheet ¼ inch. Place in refrigerator 30 more minutes. Repeat with second disk. Cut with Linzer Cutter with insert. (do those first) Remove excess dough and put in ball to be refrigerated again. Cut an equal number without the insert. Bake immediately for ten minutes. Cool completely.
7. Dust tops with powdered sugar.
8. Spread jam on cookie bottom.
9. Place tops over bottoms to create the sandwich effect.
10. Enjoy!
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Oh, my! I must have one of those right now. To die for.
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Thanks Kate,
I was going to look for a recipe to use up the leftover candied fruit from the fruit cake I made, now I don't have to look for one as I just printed yours. We bought some fruit then Safeway had it on sale for 99 cents so of course I had to buy some, now I need to use it. I've made 4 batches of pumpkin bread this year my son made 1, that's it for the bread. I've made 3 double batches of party mix and my son made a triple batch, will make more. We mail and give away most of it. Now to decorate the tree! Jill
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http://picasaweb.google.com/KMBphotos/2009_12_13?feat=directlink
Here's this year's yield:-) after a marathon of baking today.
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Mmmmm. Cookies. ;D
Steve
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Somebody please send Steve cookies! Just a thought . . . ;)
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Christmas Cookie Rules...
1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test
and thus calorie free.
2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.
3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because friend's first cookie is calories free, (rule #1) yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone and, being the friend that you are, that makes your cookie calorie free.
4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.
5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.
6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!
7. Cookies eaten while watching "Miracle on 34th Street " have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.
8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking Causes calorie leakage.
9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!
10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!
So, go out and enjoy those Christmas Cookies - we only get them this this time of year!
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Christmas Cookie Rules...
1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test
and thus calorie free.
2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.
3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because friend's first cookie is calories free, (rule #1) yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone and, being the friend that you are, that makes your cookie calorie free.
4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.
5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.
6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!
7. Cookies eaten while watching "Miracle on 34th Street " have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.
8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking Causes calorie leakage.
9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!
10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!
So, go out and enjoy those Christmas Cookies - we only get them this this time of year!
lol..I
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I have to jump in here with one of my favorites, and It is a big hit with my girls every year.
Candy Cane Cookies
1 cup shortening ( half butter half shorting)
1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp red food coloring
1/2 cup crushed candy cane
heat oven to 375
Mix shortening sugar, egg and flavorings thoroughly. Mix in flour and salt. Divide dough in half. Blend food coloring into one half.
Roll a 4" strip (useing 1 tsp. dough) from each color. For smooth, even strips roll them back and forth on lighly floured board. Place strips side by side, press lightly together and twist like rope. For best results, compleate cookies one at a time-if all the dough of one color is shaped first, strips become too dry to twist. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Curve top down to form handle of cane.
Bake for 9 min. until lightly browned. While still warm, remove from baking sheet and sprinkle with crushed candy cane.
Enjoy and much as we do every Christmas.
Ginger
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Just saw this post. I will share it with the boss and daughter Nicole.
The main reason I have to exercise so much to keep in shape is because my wife is an amazing cook. Her Mom was a pro (french) and passed along a lot of knowledge. Now my youngest has taken up the banner and is always baking some amazing confection that I have a hard time (make that imossible time) avoiding.
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I've made these, Donnalynn. Just picture a regular candy cane. The strips of two colors are loosely twisted together, then the top is bent over. You can bake it just like that, or flatten slightly.
Sara
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I used to make Candy Cane cookies every year, but they are so much work, I gave up. They are in my Betty Crocker cookbook, photo and all. Google candy cane cookies image, and you will see photos of them.
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DONNALYNN,
NANCY IS RIGHT THEY ARE FROM THE BETTY CROCKER COOK BOOK, I HAVE NOT GOOGLED IT. BUT MY BETTY CROCKER BOOK IS FROM 1964, ITS THE ONE MY MOM HAD WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND HAS THE BEST COOKIE RESEPIES IN IT. I HAVE BEEN MAKING CANDY CANE COOKIES FOR ALONG TIME. THE LAST BATCH I MADE HAVE ALREADY BEEN EATEN, BUT AS SOON AS I GET SOME MORE MADE I CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF THEM.
GINGER
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(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w240/kelliekatie/r34180fpThumb.jpg)
I hope this picture works, I googled the Betty Crocker Cookies and tried cuting and pasting a picture of the candy cane cookies.
Ginger
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(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w240/kelliekatie/r34180fpThumb.jpg)
I hope this picture works, I googled the Betty Crocker Cookies and tried cuting and pasting a picture of the candy cane cookies.
Ginger
Awesome! Thank you for pictures.
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New Year Resolution recipie,
1 cup of Air Pudding
top with heaping spoonfull of bubble sauce
zero callories, zero tase, zero satisfaction, but great for the waistline
patti ut
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Last Saturday I cleaned the oven, tonight I bought the ingredients for pumpkin pie & pumpkin bread, LET THE BAKING BEGIN!! I don't generally make cookies at Christmas but if someone posts a recipe I fall in love with I will give it a try. My oldest son & I are all about tradition but since my husband and youngest son are all about trying new things I'm trying to find a middle ground. For the last couple of years I've been sending goody packages for Christmas in lieu of gifts my family doesn't really want so I've been sending my usual pumpkin bread, party mix, popcorn balls and something new. Will read back through the thread and see if there's something I would like to try that ships well or perhaps someone will post something I can try. All I want for Christmas this year is more TIME, so I can bake all I want and ship packages to lot & lots of family & friends. Jill 8)
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The cooler weather and holiday season has me really wanting to cook/bake. Does anyone have a good shortbread cookie recipe? I love shortbread, but haven't tried my hand at a traditional recipe. I know one of my former parents at school is British, and she said she used some rice flour in her recipe. Any thoughts?
Priscilla
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Hi Donnalynn,
Here's the popcorn ball recipe, I actually posted it a couple of years ago so it was easy to find and post again!
I'm guessing it's a pretty standard recipe but the important part is to not cook the syrup to as high a temperature as the cook books tells you too. You want soft popcorn balls you can eat, not baseballs!
Popcorn Balls
2 Cups sugar
2/3 cup Karo syrup
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Put in saucepan and bring to boil over medium high heat. Then at medium tell it reaches 245 degrees. Stir in the vanilla after it reaches 245 degrees. Take off stove and put on popcorn. Add coloring if desired, for Christmas of course we use red (use lots or they turn out pink, my favorite color) for one batch and green for the other. We use to make popcorn balls on Christmas Eve, it kept us kids busy so we didn't think so much about the presents under the tree. The kids can help pop the corn, the older ones can help with the syrup and everyone can form the balls. We butter our hands then dip them in cool water so the syrup doesn't burn your hands or stick to you as you make the balls. If memory serves me correctly we make about 3 batches of popcorn in an air popper per batch of syrup. If you don't have a candy thermometer or even if you do I water test the syrup to make sure it's ready, drop a bit of syrup in a cold cup of water and if the syrup gels together it's ready, if it melts away cook it a bit longer, if you cooked it to long and the syrup is hard you can use the popcorn balls for baseball practice and make another batch, thermometers aren't always right! Enjoy!
Party Mix
3 Cups Corn Chex cereal
3 Cups Rice Chex
3 Cups Wheat Chex
1 Cup mixed Nuts
1 Cup bit-size pretzels
1 Cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips
6 Tbs. margarine or butter
2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 t. seasoned salt
3/4 garlic powder
1/2 t. onion powder
Heat oven to 250 degrees. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Jill Notes: I always use margarine, I don't care for butter. Different brands of Worcestershire sauces & seasoned salts will make the party mix taste different, if you have a favorite when cooking stick with it. I don't use pretzels as they don't seem to taste any different in the mix then in the bag. I use peanuts instead of mixed nuts, family prefers that. I don't always use the bagel chips. The great thing about party mix is you can pick out the parts you like when eating it or you can make the party mix to each persons liking. I sometimes use cheerios(put them in last before you bake as they tend to burn if stuck on the bottom) and or cornuts. A guy at work has to eat gluten free things so I make the party mix without the wheat chex, then he is able to reach in and grab a handful instead of worrying about what he eats. As for the spices, as I mentioned before my youngest likes to experiment with baking so he got me to add more of everything, so after I measure, I pour in a bit more Worcestershire sauce and sprinkle in some more seasoning salt and garlic powder. Play with it batch by batch and see what everyone likes!
I made your delicious bon bon Christmas cakes two Christmas's ago, I gave them away and my husband took them to work. I lucked out and found the muffin papers at Kmart while getting Ziploc containers for the party mix. My husband loves fruit cake so I made the bon bons for him. He also loves ginger cookies, I've never made them so could you please post the recipe for me. You bon bon recipe is on the first page of this thread for others that would like to give it a try.
Priscilla, I don't have a shortbread cookie recipe for you but I do have a Vanilla Crisp recipe you might want to try. My Mom loved the shortbread cookies that the Girl Scouts sell and her ultimate favorite cookie was sugar cookies that we made every Christmas and cut into Holiday shapes and then frosted. I don't have that recipe because although I loved to make them I didn't like to eat them. When I went off to college I found this recipe that was easy to make and she loved it, she was a cookie connoisseur.
Vanilla Crisps
1/2 Cup margarine
1/2 Cup shortening
1 Cup granulated sugar
2 t. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
Cream margarine, shortening and sugar. Add vanilla and 1/2 t. salt. Add eggs, beating well. Stir in flour: mix well. Drop from teaspoon 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. (Or chill dough; shape into 1-inch balls.) Flatten with floured glass. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove immediately and cool on rack.
That's it for tonight, going to help my hubby do outside work tomorrow before the really cold weather hits Sunday, will bake and warm the house then, Jill
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Priscilla, here is a shortbread recipe with rice flour: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1610,150161-248200,00.html
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Many thanks, ladies, for your suggestions. If I can get my house cleaning chores out of the way today, I will start on the fun stuff-baking-tomorrow. Can't wait!
Priscilla
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BAH - HUMBUG!!! If things don't change quickly, like tomorrow, I'm canceling Christmas!! Sunday I put up the outside lights, I know this isn't baking related but I'll get there. Anyway, I always lay the lights out in the living room to make sure they are working, decided to save some time this year and just put them up as they are always fine, this year of course one string doesn't work, hopefully it's just a fuse, will check it out this weekend when I have some daylight to do it. Last night I baked some german chocolate brownies for my sons military buddy that is headed to North Carolina, he has 2700 miles to go so I wanted to send him some goodies to help him survive the trip. His mother passed away 15 years ago and he hasn't seen his Dad in years, thought he could use some special attention especially with the Holidays upon us. The brownies turned out great, had the oven at 350 so I turned it off in preparation for the party mix which bakes at 250, melted the butter while the oven was still warm then put the party mix together, put the mix in the oven and started to bake, stirred it 15 minutes later and then again and again, every 15 minutes for 45 minutes, wondered why it wasn't baking like it should, that's when I realized I didn't turn the oven back on. The party mix turned out fine but it kept me up an hour past the time I should have been in bed. Tonight I made some pumpkin bread to go with the other goodies for my sons friend. I put in 1 cup shortening, 4 cups sugar, 1 can pumpkin, 6 eggs and 3 cups water, went to put in the flour and realized that the water should have been only 1 cup, didn't have a bowl big enough to triple the batch and only had 5 eggs left so couldn't do it if I wanted to, which I didn't, would be up tell midnight at that rate. So, I reluctantly dumped all that food/money down the drain and started over. I told myself that at least I hadn't added the flour or spices before I realized my mistake. If all my Christmas plans go this way I'm in trouble! Jill P.S. Going out to shovel snow to relief the stress of baking!
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JM~
Sam's (& I think I saw it at HEB too) has a wonderful pumpkin bread with everything (even canned pumpkin) in a box to assemble - all you add is water, oil & eggs. Kendie, Addi & I LOVE it!! I actually throw in some semi-sweet chocolate chips as my FAVORITE bread from Great Harvest Bread is Pumpkin Chocolate Chip so I tried it!
K ;D
*the girl who takes the easy way!*
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Hi Kay, I posted a reply the other day, guess it got lost in the crash! Speaking of CRASHES!!! The post I made said I was ready to get back on the horse and ride, bought 5 more big cans of pumpkin and 15 boxes of chex cereals, etc. for party mix. Kay I need a recipe with water included so I don't screw that up again, he, he. Anyway, I did lots of baking Sunday and my husband and son made Rum Balls, Whiskey Balls & Moonshine Balls, they are chilling now will let you know how they turn out. Tonight after work I made dinner real quick so I could get started on decorating. I was putting things that are on my shelves somewhere else so I could dust and decorate. We have some shelves over our bed so I put things there like I always do, just as I went to move something the shelf CRASHED, breaking the pottery bowls my sister-in-law made for us, chipping a Beer Stein our son got while in Germany and breaking a fish bowl full of gravel. We finally got the shelf back up and the mess cleaned up just in time for bed. I'm trying to relax a bit then off to sleep. The Christmas Curse on Jill continues! >:(