Goodies, goodies, goodies...ah, I love goodies!

I love Christmas goodies...I love to bake them, make them, and of course, eat them! Last week I got motivated and started at it. I found a few new recipes in magazines, tried a new one from my dear friend Jane and then made the oldest recipe I own, my grandma's sugar cookies (which, in my opinion, are THE BEST!)!  I'll pass along the recipes here...maybe you'll be motivated too!

Peanut Butter Blossoms - (go here for the Hersey's recipe I used) - these are one of Brian's favs. With Chocolate and Peanut Butter together, you just can't go wrong!

Pretzel Bark - found this gem in the Kraft Foods Magazine I receive. Great for those who love the salty and sweet combo! I did substitute peanuts for the pecans, but either way, would be perfect! I would also suggest that after you spread the mixture on the wax paper, you sprinkle the top with additional chopped pretzels and nuts. Otherwise, it will not look like the picture, but probably taste just as good!

Jane's Banana Bars - This was my first time making these and oh my word, they were delicious!!! If you're watching your waistline, be sure to have people in mind to share these with, because it makes a large batch! :O) Sorry...no picture, but trust me, they are AWESOME!

Banana Bars

3 large mashed bananas

1.5 C sugar

1 stick butter, room temp

2 eggs, beaten

1 C sour cream [8 oz]

2 tsp. vanilla

[2 C flour + 1 tsp. baking soda + 1 tsp. salt]  mix and add to other batter

Mix together and put in a greased jelly roll pan.

Bake  @ 375* for 20-25.  Check for doneness with a toothpick.  Cool, frost, enjoy!

Frosting

2/3 stick butter: melt over low heat in sauce pan, stirring until light brown & bubbly.  Remove from heat.

Add 3 Tbl sour cream

2.5 C powered sugar

And last, but not least, Grandma Smith's Sugar Cookie Recipe. This recipe is not only incredibly scrumptious, it is near and dear to my heart for another reason. One of my favorite Christmas memories from childhood is of Grandma Smith coming over to our house EVERY year to make Christmas cookies with us. I honestly don't remember Matt being around too often, so I soaked up the time with my mom and Grandma, rolling the dough, sprinkling the yummy decorative sugars and filling the kitchen table with paper bags cut to open up and lay the fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies on. I loved the year when Hannah was old enough to start helping me with the cookies (the first year I made the recipe myself!) and now, each year, we make the cookies and I remind the kids about the special time with my grandma. I hope that they too will remember our time together full of flour and sprinkles, with love and fondness when they're older. They have to...I'll make sure of it! :O)

Grandma Smith's Sugar Cookie Recipe

Use mixer to blend together:  

1 cup butter (or oleo)

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanila.   

In another bowl, combine: 

3 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt   

Sift into above mixture and add 3 T. milk.    

Chill dough over night---easier to roll out.   

*I think this is a key tip...have you ever tried to roll out warm dough?!*

I cut the batch into quarters and do 1 quarter at a time. Roll dough, cut w/ cute cutters & bake!

Bake on ungreased tin @ 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.   *I did mine for 7-8  min.*

Put sugar sprinkles on before baking or after baking frost cookies and then add sprinkles.    

                                                                                     

I'm hoping this week will bring me more energy and motivation to spend hours in the kitchen, b/c after giving away lots of treats, our stash is getting low! And, I just can't have that happen! :O)

Enjoy!