Some Sweet Holiday Goodness

I have been super busy the past few weeks, but I do want to start some Holiday baking. I pulled out the family recipe book, and flipped through it. My aunt has the best frosted sugar cookie recipe, but there are a ton of steps. I really don't have the prep time to make those. They are soo good that my mom usually gives my aunt some money and asks her to make us a few dozen.

I do want to try some different recipes this year. I've been searching all over the interwebz for some great ideas. I wanted to share what I've found.

Fun with Santa Cookies

These are from the Pillsbury website. You just you refrigerated sugar cookies, and some other small ingredients. Very cute! I'm sure you could make all kinds of designs with the right colored frosting.

Festive Candy Cane Kiss Centered Brownie Bites

I saw these on Picky Palate the other day. They immediately made my mouth water. You can't tell from this picture, but there are Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses in the middle of these brownies. I picked up two bags of the Hershey's Kisses last night in preparation for these delightful treats. I love everything on Picky Palate's blog. Now only if I had the time to bake/cook more.

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies

I found this recipe on the Betty Crocker website. The ingredients are quite simple also: sugar cookie mix, butter, an egg, and food coloring.

Oreo Cookie Snowmen

My friend, Kelly, made these. They are soo simple and there's NO BAKING involved. How cool is that? All you need is White Fudge Covered Oreos, M&M's, and some gel frosting.

Canned Pumpkin Shortage

In my attempt to be a better wife, yea right, I want to bake some things this weekend. I have several recipes that are "Fall" themed. Many of them require canned pumpkin. Well it's buzzing around that there's a huge canned pumpkin shortage. Yikes! Of course, things like this always happen when I'm involved. I try and attempt to bake, and my ingredients are being held captive.
So wish me luck! I'm going to try and scout out some canned pumpkin today, another other random things on my to-do list.

Oh, here's more articles about the canned pumpkin shortage:
Washington Times
LA Times
Saveur

And Libby's has some awesome recipes on their site, if you can get yourself a can of the Holy Grail, canned Pumpkin.

*UPDATE: I found some canned pumpkin this weekend at a local grocery store. It's starting to show up here in Orange County. But there was only a small amount.

The Muffin Man

On Monday night, Angry Husband went on a rampage in the kitchen. I think he was looking for something in the pantry. Our pantry is poorly designed. It's deep and things go lost. Yea, perhaps he found some expired bread and rolls. Sorry, but sometimes it gets lost.

He removed everything and went through it all. You should see our trash can, gross. After all was said and done, he pulled out a bunch of bread and muffin mixes. He said, "make these". That was on the top of my list at 7pm, after working all day. So what does he do? He starts making chocolate chip muffins. I was laughing. He's usually the cook, so this is nothing new. But I almost wanted to put an apron on him.

Angry Toddler was very excited about the pantry clean-up. He immediately started digging in.

Yummy Food for Your Superbowl Party

I get weekly e-mails from Pillsbury. Angry Husband and I are always looking for new things to make for dinner. Ok, well, Angry Husband does the cooking, but I can give suggestions, right? Anyway, you can sign up for these e-mails @ Pillsbury's website.

I got this great newsletter with all kinds of yummy looking recipes. I'm highlighting some of the recipe ideas that they sent. Everything is made with simple ingredients.

Chicken Caesar Sandwich Ring



Mini Crescent Dogs



Crescent Layer Bars



Choco Peanut Butter Cups

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

I received this recipe last week. It is going to be in a cookbook that I will be talking about more next Spring-ish. Anyway, the people who know me best, know that I do not bake, cook, or do anything in the kitchen.

While I was making these, I was Google Chatting with Londie. She thought it was hilarious that I was baking. Even Angry Husband was perplexed. I was making these to take into work today. We do dinner every Sunday for our shift. I thought I would contribute this week. Everyone who ate them, really liked them. I'm so proud of myself.

Here's the recipe if you all want to try it. They are pretty easy to make.

Ingredients:
* 1 1/4 Cups quick oats, uncooked
* 1 1/4 Cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 Cup firmly packed brown sugar
* 1 Teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 Teaspoon salt
* 1 3/4 Sticks butter, unsalted melted
* 1 Cup raspberry jam or preserves
* 3/4 Cup white chocolate chips, divided
* 1/4 Cup chopped almonds

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in butter until mixture is moist. Reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture; set aside. Press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of an 8" x 8" square pan. Bake 10 minutes.

Spread raspberry fruit evenly over baked crust to within 1/4" of edges. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup white chocolate chips. Combine reserved crumb mixture with ramaining 1/4 cup white chocolate chips and almonds. Sprinkle over fruit mixture, pressing lightly into fruit, and all te way to the edge. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares and serve.

Makes 16 servings.