holiday baking

was feeling festive last night

and made icebox cookies

per this recipe



i realize these say "coin cookies" in the title

but they were almost too small - like you could just eat the whole batch yourself small.

and that could have happened except that i froze 3/4 of my cookies.

if you want an easy cookie recipe to make ahead of time this is it - i also discovered that rolling the cookie logs on parchment paper make for a more even log

i also think the "using floss as a cookie cutter" trick would work better in this instance - instead of cookie coins i had cookie footballs.

a few more treats on my list for making this season include:

Oreo Cookie Bark







uhm.  hello.  white chocolate +oreos = easy and delicious.  i'm also dreaming up a peanut butter chip+inside out oreo version.  lookout world.

Ginger Cookies







one of my favorite cookies since it's light on the sweet and big on the taste - this version is a but chewier than a gingersnap -

and probably pairs great with:

Gingersnap Dip





i made this dip a few weeks ago for the bourbon party and it was delicious - except for the fact that i would buy smaller cookies/graham crackers for dipping - eating a few whole cookies is a bit much.  but if i made the above cookie, or a traditional gingersnap cookie - i could shape them smaller in a stick shape - perfect for dipping.

lastly

this one's not for eating

but i really want the house to smell delicious

and i think bill would like to help me make some

cinnamon ornaments

i need to find some cheap dollar store cinnamon though.  there's no way i'm using my expensive cinnamon for this.

i thought these would be cute hung in our tree and tied onto gifts this year - don't you think?

ok so who's up for happy hour and pre-gaming friday tonight?  i need a break from year end.

weekend update pt 1

it feels good to be home and know i'll be home for a couple of weeks.

there was a lot of driving within a 36 hour period.

i want to save juli and mark's wedding for part two of my weekend update so let's see how the rest of my weekend played out.

i got home saturday night around 10 pm and crashed pretty hard once i got in bed.

but i was still up by 7.  bill and i laid in bed until woodford's talking convinced us to head out on a morning walk

i hadn't given much thought to it since i thought i would be out of town all weekend, but since i was home sunday, that meant i got to go to st james art fair!

bill was game as long as it meant we'd be back in time for 4 o'clock football.

it was a gorgeous day that started out pretty chilly, but the sun popped out enough to heat things up.

this fair is always so crowded, and i think a combination of getting out early and the cooler air thinned the crowds a bit - thank goodness - we were able to actually walk and look and not be herded through the booths.

happy balls were sold

 

i told myself i wanted pottery.  and if we weren't headed out on our weddingmoon i probably would have spent more to get a more decorative piece. 

so i was on the lookout for a coffee mug to use at home.

i ended up buying a soup mug

and because i had to use it right away - i made chili.

enjoyed with sam adam's harvest pumpkin brew

and since i was in a baking mood

this recipe for spiced apple cider bundt cake found on pinterest.

eh... it was ok.  a little spongey, but actually the ingredients are pretty good - low in sugar and no oil

it works pretty well for breakfast

mixed with a little stonyfield fat free french vanilla.

stay tuned for part 2!