Do you call your Mom for recipes?

During The Christmas is there a recipe that you call your Mom about?

Who is Santa?

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th (December 19 on the Julian Calendar).

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.

Snowball Cookies

12.25.2015

So where did these cookies originally come from? They are so amazingly good I guess that several different countries want to label them as their own =). What do you call these cookies? Some of the common names for these delicious balls of pure bliss are, Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Italian Wedding Cookies, snowdrops, butter balls or more specifically pecan butter balls. The name that I think is most fitting is for them is Snowball Cookies, simply put because they look like little snowballs of course. I can understand where the “wedding” and “tea” labels come from because these seem so dainty and fancy, and they’d pair nicely with a warm cup of tea. You’ll want to sit in your finest chair and enjoy these cookies with you pinkie fingers up, taking the most delicate little nibbles at a time as you gently dab the excess powdered sugar that falls from the cookie onto your well kept lips with a freshly pressed linen napkin…. Nah! You’ll want to just pick up the entire plate of cookies and shove as many as you can fit in your mouth at once =). I absolutely love these cookies and I actually do enjoy savoring each melt in my mouth bite, not in the manor as mentioned above but I think each bite should be enjoyed.
The snowball/tea/wedding cake/cookie doesn’t seem to get the attention it deserves. They are such a classic and maybe it’s their old fashioned notion that has pushed them out of the spotlight and to the back burner. These cookies should most definitely not be forgotten and go unnoticed. They are a simple cookie but they have much to offer. Textural wise they are similar to a shortbread cookie but with more dissolve to them (thanks to the cornstarch I added in this recipe I created). Their shortbread portion isn’t overly sweet which pairs nicely with the generous coating of powdered sugar they are given after baking. You wont find an overabundance of nuts in this recipe just because I don’t like that many nuts in my cookies, but if you do of course you could add in more if you’d like. These cookies are one of my favorites. Easy and simple but delightfully delicious. I love how they also remind me of my Grandma who has passed away because she always made these kind of cookies. She was such a fun and amazing lady. Enjoy!

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Snowball Cookies

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 Tbsp cornstarch
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup finely chopped Pecans (I just used Pecan cookie chips so I didn't have to do any chopping, just poured them in right from the bag).
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups powdered sugar, for coating

Print a Coupon for Land O' Lakes Butter

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix butter on medium speed until creamy, about 20 seconds. Blend in 2/3 cup powdered sugar and salt. Mix in vanilla. Sprinkle cornstarch over mixture (just so it doesn't blend into one area) then with mixer set on low speed slowly add in flour and mix just until combine. Stir in Pecans. Scoop dough out 1 Tbsp at a time and roll into a ball, then place balls on Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheets and bake in preheated oven for 16 - 18 minutes, until bottom edges are lightly golden (these are a cookie that I think are best when they aren't moist in the center so I'd say don't under bake them. These actually are a cookie that are meant to be dry. Dry but a melt in your mouth kind of dry). Remove from oven and allow to cool several minutes then while cookies are still warm, pour 2 cups powdered sugar into a bowl and roll cookies in powdered sugar. Transfer to a wire rack to cool then once cookies are cool, roll in powdered sugar once more, this time to generously coat (I pressed it into the powdered sugar to give it a thick coating. Store cookies in an airtight container.
• Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Christmas Peanut Butter Blossoms

I’ve been making these cookies for as long as I can remember.  Sometimes, I’d even make them when it wasn’t Christmas, but that somehow just felt wrong.  So, that didn’t happen that often.

But this year, I was inspired to do something a little bit different with these cookies.  Spice things up a bit and get creative!  I turned the traditional cookies into super fun, super cute Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms! It was super easy too! All I needed was green frosting and holiday sprinkles!   They took just a few minutes to decorate but they create an immense impression!

These Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms would be perfect for a holiday party, cookie swap or on your cookie platter for Christmas!

Festive.  Fun. Delicious!

Enjoy!

Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms

 

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

7 mins

 

Serves: 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 48 Hershey's Kisses chocolate candies
• ½ cup shortening (I used Crisco)
• ¾ cup Peanut Butter
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ sugar, for rolling
• green frosting
• red, green, & white holiday sprinkles
• disposable piping bag fitted with a Wilton #4 piping tip

Instructions

Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended.
3. Add ⅓ cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.
4. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well.
5. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
6. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar and place on prepared cookie sheet.
7. Bake 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned.
8. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Assembly

1. NOTE: Cookies must be completely cooled & chocolate hardened before decorating.
2. Fill the prepared piping bag with green frosting.
3. Starting at the base of the Hershey Kiss, pipe a line of frosting that swirls up & around to the top of the kiss.
4. Immediately sprinkle with holiday sprinkles.