same old lang syne

Snowy Day

We woke up to SNOW this morning!!!!!! It's been snowing on and off most of the day....no worries....we are warm and cozy...Andy is on vacation until middle of next week.....we are kicking back...enjoying the warmth of the fireplace..eating lots of cookies...watching lots of movies...

Cookies...Cookies...Cookies....

I am still baking cookies.....XXXXXXXXOOOOOOOO

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Me on the left..........Andy on the far right.....both were taken in the 50's....I display our photos with Santa every Christmas...Ho! Ho! Ho!
Wishing you all a happy and healthy Christmas....with LOVE...XXXXOOOOOOOOO...
Now.......back to my BAKING..............:-)

County Courthouse

Our city's courthouse at night.....

Kitchen View

The view out the kitchen window on a crisp morning........

Night Stroll

The local candy store window at night is colorful...and whimsical...especially the flying pig......
Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful season......XXXXOOOOOOO

Oh Christmas Tree

The beauty of the Christmas tree at night....I love to sit in front of the fire where it's all warm and cozy....and stare at the Christmas tree glowing in the living room corner...XXXOOOO

Holiday Cookies

2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (one stick) butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teas. vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups (10 oz package) Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate holiday bits, divided
1 cup chopped nuts
Heat oven to 350. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
Stir together flour, soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well until well-blended. Stir in 1 cup of nuts and bits. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet. Press remaining bits on each cookie before baking.
Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.

Shine On.....

Hello everyone...hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season.....the Christmas tree is glowing brightly here...I am thinking of you...with love....XXXXOOOOO

No-Bake Gingersnap Balls

20 gingersnap cookies ( about 5 ounces)
3 tablespoons dark corn syrup
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup powdered sugar
Place cookies in a large resealable plastic food storage bag;crush finely with a rolling pin.
Combine corn syrup and peanut butter in medium bowl. Add crushed gingersnaps; mix well.
(Mixture should hold together without being sticky. If mixture is too dry, stir in additional 1 0r 2 tablespoons corn syrup.)
Shape mixture into 24 (1-inch) balls; roll in powdered sugar. Makes 2 dozen cookies
Easy...and good...especially if you like GINGER.............enjoy with LOVE!!!!!!!! XXXOOOO

Peppermint Candy Cookies

The Dough:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, soft
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 teas vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla together until fluffy. Add the flour and walnuts and blend to form a dough. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
Candy Mixture for Garnish:
1/4 lb. peppermint candy (crushed fine)
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
In a small bowl combine both ingredients. Set aside. Three tablespoons of this mixture is used in the filling below, and the remainder is used to garnish the cookies
The Filling:
2 Tablespoons of cream cheese, soft
1 teas milk
1 drop of red food coloring
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons of candy mixture (see above)
In a bowl, blend together the cream cheese, milk, food coloring, and the confectioners sugar until smooth. Blend in the 3 tablespoons candy mixture.
Remove dough from fridge and for each cookie pinch off a rounded teaspoon of the dough. Form into a ball and shape the dough around you thumb to make a little compartment in the middle. Place about 1/4 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling in the depression. Pinch the dough back together and roll it back into a ball. Repeat the process with the remaining dough and filling. Place the balls on a nonstick cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Do not brown. Remove the cookies to a cooling rack. To garnish, roll the cooled cookies in the remaining candy mixture. These are so so good! and pretty!

Good Memories

I think many of us can relate to this....I know I can...it happens all the time to me! I've been wrapping gifts this morning...and while sitting at the table full of paper....ribbon...bows...boxes... scissors....etc. it brought back such wonderful memories of wrapping gifts with my Mom....We would both sit at the kitchen table...loaded with all the supplies...and wrap presents for hours...we'd talk...and laugh...share a cup of tea and eat cookies... listen to Christmas music.....I miss you Mom! I know you were with me this morning.....
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season...and not getting too stressed....XXXOOO