12.21.2012

Twelve Days of Goodies

On the first day of holiday prep, I made some chocolate acorns.


Saw these on Pinterest and immediately put mini Nutter-butters on my grocery list.   Assembly is easy-peasy:  Melt chocolate chips and use them as the 'glue' to stick a Hershey's kiss onto a Nutter-butter.  Use another dab of 'glue' to stick a chocolate chip to the opposite side.   Edible acorns!

On the second day of holiday baking, I made an overnight cheese bread.  So different, so easy, so delish.  It serves 6-8, but I know I could eat the whole thing by myself.  


You hand-stir the dough, then let it rest overnight.  Next morning, knead in some cheese.  Plop it in a hot, covered casserole dish and bake it (no peeking.)  This bread is on my holiday menu from here on.  Here's the recipe:  LAZY WHOLE WHEAT CHEESE BREAD.

On the third day of holiday prep...Christmas trees.


We're on our third year of not putting up a Christmas tree.  We decorate the piano.  (For that story, CLICK HERE.)  In lieu of a live evergreen, we have sugar cookie evergreens.  Except they're not always green, as you can plainly see.  And they don't last forever, because we're pigs when it comes to grandma's sugar cookie recipe.

We also have sugar cookie bells, which I made on the fourth day of prepping. 


Can't you just hear Carol of the Bells?  (CLICK HERE and you will.)

On the fifth day....golden rings with lingonberry jelly (or whatever jelly I have.  The cookie doesn't care.)  


For every M&M I placed....I ate one.  I had to get that off my chest.

On the sixth day of baking, I made a mess with oatmeal and coconut and puffed rice and chocolate mint.

                     

These are Meemaw's Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies from Paula Deen - with my own variations.  For this recipe CLICK HEREMy three variations:

1.  I used mint chocolate chips instead of toffee bits.
2.  I used green buttercream frosting, instead of white chocolate.  And I drizzled the frosting instead of dipping the cookies in frosting or chocolate.  We try to watch our sugar intake around here.  Not.
3.  I eliminated the crushed candy canes, because I used them in another treat.

On the seventh day of baking, I made swans-a-swimming dressed in white buttercream feathers.

                       

This sparkly one posed for a picture.  Shortly after the picture, her head was snapped off and eaten. 

On the eighth day of baking...pretzel buttons.



These little gems are everywhere on Pinterest.  Little waffle pretzels topped with Hershey's kisses or Rolos.  Melt a few minutes in the oven, then top with a nut or M&M.  Recipe here: PRETZEL BUTTONS.  A perfect salty/sweet treat.  I've gained five pounds since I've joined Pinterest.  I've also learned how to make a pencil holder from a cheese grater and hang a picture using a soda pop top, so I'm expanding my mind as well as my behind. 

On the ninth day of maniacal baking, a three-year old helped me.  We made peanut-butter reindeer.


Somebody got carried away with the red-hots.   A couple cyclopses ended up on the cookie sheet as well.  Everyone is welcome here in the Ballpark kitchen.  For these body-less creatures, make balls of dough using any peanut-butter cookie recipe.  Press mini-pretzels into the dough for antlers, and use chocolate chips and red-hots for facial features.   Add as many noses as you want.

 On the tenth day of baking...snowy candy canes.  



Living in the Sunshine state, I've not really seen snow in twenty years.  I'm pretty much OK with it, because I never want to drive on ice again.  But, snow dots are pretty on cookies, so there ya' go.

On the eleventh day of baking, I lit up the place with old fashioned tree lights.

I love this cookie cutter because it's small, and, unfrosted, these little lights are for those who just want a tad of something sweet.  If you want more, you can eat ten of 'em.  It's not important how I know this.

On the twelfth day of baking...dreamy, creamy Oreo cookie/peppermint bark. 




Chunk up 1/2 - 3/4 bag of mint Oreos.  Spread them out on greased cookie sheet, using only half the pan.  Crush 4-6 candy canes in a blender/food processor until desired consistency (we like ours fine.)  Gently melt 2 bags of white chocolate chips.  (I melt mine in the microwave, using the "auto defrost" button, stirring every 30 seconds.)

As soon as the chocolate is very smooth and pourable, drizzle it over the cookies.  Gently fold a bit as needed to coat the cookies well.  Smooth out the mixture to desired thickness.  Sprinkle the candy crumbs over the top, and place the sheet pan in the refrigerator. 

When the chocolate is set, break the bark into chunks and share with everyone you know.  If you eat it all yourself, it will put you in a coma until Easter. 

I am so going on a diet come January. 

What are you gaining weight on this holiday season?




24 comments:

Barefoot Hippie Girl said...

Mare, you have a great sense of humor. I love the cyclops comment.=)

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I love your 12 days of baking. That bark with the mint oreos looks wonderful. I'm saving that recipe for next year. I didn't make cut out cookies and regret that I didn't have time. The kids love them the best. Hope you have a Merry Christmas !

Cranberry Morning said...

I love those swans-a-swimming!!! and had to laugh at the mutant reindeer. lol Fun post!

Tamera Brose said...

Love it! You have way more patience than I do to make all those different things. I am only a little chagrined to admit the vast majority of my pins on pinterest have to do with chocolate, sugar, and/or butter. So many clever ideas out there.

Dana said...

Fudge! I'm gaining weight just thinking about it.

Everything you made looks so good! The kids and I will do a little baking this weekend, I think. :)

The Dose of Reality said...

You are baking up a storm, aren't you?! I bet your house smells delicious! :)

Chatty Crone said...

What a great idea and you sure were a busy gal! Everything looked wonderful.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Ok now I am feeling hungry for sweet treats thank you for that, it is only 7.40am and far to early to be eating such stuff........lol

Marianne said...

This post was kinda mean.

But if you want to make it up to me, I live in Chicago. Address the box simply to "Marianne."

They know me here.

Michael Ann said...

Everything looks so yummy! And very clever :-)

Jerralea said...

Thanks for sharing all the great ideas! I love your sense of humor.

Just so you know ... I eat an M & M for every one I use in cooking too ...

Retired Knitter said...

Wow, these all looks so yummy! I did some baking too, but less interesting things. I bake only once a year!

Brenda said...

I think I gained a pound just by looking at your cookie list!
Merry Christmas!

Kathleen's Blog said...

Wow.....I wish I could visit your house this Christmas for a snack....the cheese bread is most definitely on my 2013 "to-do" list.
Merry Christmas!

Farida said...

Looks Wonderful!

May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter.

Blessed Christmas!

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas, Mare! Have a wonderful holiday!

Rita said...

OMGosh! These are amazing cookies and goodies! Hope there are still some left today--LOL! Merry Christmas! :)

Emmy said...

Those light cookies are so so cute! I would be in trouble if I made that many cookies.

Unknown said...

I love them all! Being a bread girl I think I'd make that first and since I'm having company on New Years Day I might give it a whirl. Thanks!

Tami said...

My favorite cookie is the reindeer. I am going to use that idea with my day care kids next season. Thanks for the great idea!!

Lynn Proctor said...

i loved this---we made the pretzel things--addicting--but i found i needed to heat them back up or risk my teeth---happy new year mare :)

Tina said...

W O W. WOW. You've got a bundle of energy! Probably the sugar... LOL. Just reading this has sent this hypoglycemic girl in search of some protein...Your family is lucky to have someone make all these wonderful treats. Mine got oreos.
Tina @ Life is Good
http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/

Darlene said...

12 days of yummy! Each looked yummier than the last, but I'd have to say mint oreo bark would be my favorite!

ejwforeman said...

Those all look so very delicious and relatively easy to bake! Thanks for sharing. There are definitely a few that I am going to try. Happy New Year!