HippieDog

Peppermint Bark

I've been waiting to make this all year.

I really didn't think I was that much of a fan of mint and chocolate. Boy, was I wrong.

This recipe is just about it.

I found the recipe on the blog Orangette, originally from Bon Appetit.

 

Peppermint Bark

17 ounces white Ghirardelli chocolate, chopped
7 ounces bittersweet Ghirardelli chocolate, chopped
1 bag peppermint candies, coarsely crushed
3/4 tsp. pure peppermint extract
6 TB heavy cream

Using a cookie sheet, turn upside down and cover securely with foil.

Score an area on your foil meausring 9 x 12 ".

Melt white chocolate in double boiler on low heat. Stirring constantly, just until melted.

Spread 2/3 cup white chocolate evenly on marked foil. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup crushed peppermint pieces.

Chill for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in heavy saucepan, combine chocolate, heavy cream and peppermint extract.

Stir on low heat, just until melted. Turn off heat and cool to lukewarm. About 5 minutes.

Spread over white chocolate layer.

Chill for 30 minutes.

Reheat your remaining white chocolate on low heat. Stirring constantly.

Pour over chocolate layer and sprinkle with peppermint candy pieces.

Chill for 30 minutes.

Cut in 2" pieces and store in airtight container or jar. Layer wax paper between layers and store in refrigerator. Keeps for 2 weeks.

 

Found our tree this weekend.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas".........

 

 

Macadamia White Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made my sisters cookies again this weekend. This time I divided the dough and used half white chocolate chip with macadamia nuts and the other half milk chocolate chips and Christmas M&M's.

Heaven........

Macadamia White Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
3 eggs, room temperature
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
5 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt
5 cups flour
1 TB. vanilla
1 package white chocolate chips
1 package macadamia nuts, chopped

Mix butter, sugars until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla until smooth. In another bowl sift all dry ingredients and slowly add to sugar mixture until blended and yummy. Add white chocolate chips and nuts.

Tip: You can divide the dough and make half white chocolate chip and half milk chocolate with M&M's. :)

Bake on cookie sheet or stone 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cookies will be light brown, cool on wire rack.

Store in air tight container. Makes about 5 dozen.

Holiday Cookies = LOVE

Thanks Sis!

 

The Ginger Bread Boy

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon making Gingerbread Men cookies with a certain little boy.....not to be confused with the "Ginger Bread Boy". No silly foxes in this story :)

I've run away from a little old woman,

A little old man,

And I can run away from you, I can!

 

Run, run as fast as you can;

You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man.

 

 

 

I know I posted this recipe before here but it's such a great recipe I wanted to share it again :)

The perfect Gingerbread cookie recipe from my mother in law Rosemary.

Dan loves these cookies and remembers his mom making cookie sheets full of gingerbread men and sugar cookies during the holidays.

 

Rosemary's Gingerbread Men Cookies

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
frosting
candies
additional sugar for decorating

Combine shortening, sugar, molasses and egg. Beat well. In separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Gradually add to sugar mixture, just until combined.

Refrigerate dough overnight or in our case for at least 2 hours.

Roll dough on floured or powdered sugar surface ( I use powdered sugar) and cut out gingerbread man shapes or desired shape.

Bake 350 degree oven for 6-8 minutes.

Decorate with candies, sprinkles and make faces with cake decorating gel.

Tip: Use a straw and poke top of gingerbread mans head to make a hole for hanging.

Decorate with yarn, string, tinsel or ribbon for a darling Christmas tree ornament or garland around the mantel :)

 

Have a very Sweet weekend :)

 

Whoop-de-do

 

This just in.......Jake won a basket in our church raffle.

He's so excited!

The first thing on his list....put money from piggy bank in large-oversized crayon bank and ask mom to make microwave popcorn.

It's just the little things in life :)

 

We have most of our holiday decorating finished but you know how it goes.....it's always fun to keep adding more :)

 

 

Don't you love our little red cardinal tree vinyl?

I picked it up last year on clearance....yes for a song :)

 

 

Pine cones never go out of style and seem to be the "it" Christmas decorating idea this year. So many things you can do with pine cones.

You can spray paint them in funky shiny colors of turquoise, pink and lime green. Don't forget to spray on glue and glitter them up too. Or you can glitter them in reds, greens, golds and silvers if you're more traditional.

Me........well, I just really love my pine cones natural and with a few drops of cinnamon oil. Makes the entire house smell heavenly :)

 

It's the holiday season.....so whoop-de-do!