Packaging Treats

Presentation is everything! That's what our mothers always told us so when I give away my candy and other Christmas goodies, I always like to put them in a cute package. The problem is when you do many for craft sales etc, it's difficult to come up with quick and cost effective solutions. Thank goodness for the Dollar store.
Here's some ideas that I used this past season....

I'm a sucker for anything with a clear display window. Aren't these adorable?

These held a dozen Snickerdoodles quite nicely.

These were perfect for fudge and nuts and bolts or you could use portion cups with snap-on lids for a less costly alternative.

Another quick and easy way to dress up some candy is with a doily folded over the plastic ziploc bag. I would have decorated this up a bit more but I made quite a few for my little Christmas sale so time was a factor.

I love it when my house looks like Santa's workshop but unfortunately I don't have any elves to help with the clean-up. Time to get organized and set up for the wrapping station. Hope you liked my ideas.

Easy Gingerbread cookies

Every year I like to try a couple new recipes even though there would be a mutiny if I didn't make the old favourites. I found this recipe on the Internet and it called for Hershey kisses. Well, who are we kidding? Nobody likes unwrapping those foiled pieces especially when you're in a hurry. I don't even particularly like gingerbread but I have it on good authority, that these little morsels are out of this world! And it's so much easier to pop on a Merken's chocolate wafer. (I used white and dark chocolate) then to use the kisses but it's up to you.

It's worth baking these just to get the fragrance wafting through your house. A soft, chewy gingerbread cookie without all the work of rolling and icing. Try it, you'll like it....

Gingerbread Kiss Cookies
3/4 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

For rolling: 1/4 cup sugar
Mix butter, sugar, molasses. Add egg and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients, then combine with moist.
Roll into small balls and then roll in sugar.
Bake at 350F approx. 10 minutes or until tops crinkle. Immediately press in a chocolate wafer
and wait until completely cooled to store. If you can wait that is.

FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T READ through the recipe "Should be
chilled at least one hour before rolling!)

Sugar Cookie Bars

If you're in a hurry and don't like to roll out sugar cookies, this is the way to go. It's fast and it makes a huge amount so you won't mind sharing. The texture is a little more cake-like and you can ice with as much icing as you like. I think next time I make them, I will add a bit of nutmeg as I like that flavour in my cookies.

Sugar Cookie Bars
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. nutmeg (optional)

Frosting: Your favourite buttercream or store bought(shudder)

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla and mix well. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl and add to wet mixture and mix until just combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (13 x 18). Bake at 375F for 10 -15 minutes, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean (they won't look done so do the toothpick test)
I think I may have left mine in a hair too long. They will set up a bit while they cool.
Yummy!

Microwave Peanut Brittle

This recipe is pretty fail-proof. Once you figure out what container to use and have your ingredients ready to go, it's a breeze. Just remember you need to work quickly at the end and wear BIG oven mitts.

Microwave Peanut Brittle

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup salted peanuts
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda

Line a cookie sheet with foil and butter it.
Combine sugar and corn syrup in a 2 quart glass bowl and microwave on high
for 4 min.
Stir in peanuts and microwave another 3 1/2 minutes
Stir in butter and vanilla and microwave another 1 1/2 minutes.
Stir in baking soda and immediately pour onto cookie sheet.
Cool and break into pieces.

Note: My microwave is not very hot so you may have to play with the times but this is the original recipe so it must work quite well with the varying microwave wattages.

Nuts and Bolts

It wouldn't be Christmas without a large roasting pan full of Nuts and Bolts. This recipe came from a neighbour of ours when I was growing up. It's pretty traditional but what I like about it is that it does not leave an aftertaste of garlic and onion. If you like yours a little more seasoned, add more of both.

1 box Shreddies
1 box Cheerios
1 bag of pretzels
2 cups of salted peanuts
1 tsp. onion salt
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1/2 cup oil
1 cup butter

Melt butter, add oil and Worchestershire.
Combine onion and garlic salt.
Put in roast pan and pour liquid over gradually. Sprinkle combined salt mixture over cereals.
Bake at 325F for 1 hour stirring every 15 minute. (This may vary depending on your oven. Make sure the cereal is toasted but not burnt)
*In the last 15 minutes, add pretzels and peanuts.

WARNING: This mixture is addictive.

Whipped Shortbread

Soft pillows of buttery perfection! I love Christmas baking. I get to make all my old favourites and give them away. People seem to enjoy receiving a homemade gift and I enjoy making them.
This is a classic, I'm sure you've made it before but in case you haven't here's my tried and true recipe.....

Whipped Shortbread
 1 lb. of butter (softened)
1 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
3 cups of flour
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

Cream butter, sift dry ingredients and then add them along with the vanilla in a electric mixer and beat until the consistency of whipped cream.
Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet. May be decorated with sprinkles or red/green cherries.
Bake at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes.
Stores well in covered tin.

Well, I'm off to make some peanut brittle.

Yellow Roses

 

  Some very good friends came over on Saturday evening after an exceptionally good Christmas Music concert at Benton St. Baptist church featuring a full orchestra and an excellent choir that included my very own Aunt and Uncle in their midst.

I received this beautiful bouquet as a hostess gift. I looked up the meaning of yellow roses even though I already knew what they signify but here's what they said...

The meaning of a yellow rose stands for joy and happiness but most of all yellow roses mean

 true friendship.

I am very blessed to have Kathy and her family as my friends for over 20 years. Thank you for the lovely flowers.