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C is For Cookie! and Chocolate! and Christmas!

24 Dec

I’ve received a lot of requests for the recipe for the chocolate mint cookies I posted about (at least I think I posted about them…I’m pretty sure I did…hmm…) earlier when my cousins came over…so, I thought I’d post the recipe for you all to enjoy. Maybe you’re off on break with your kiddos and want something easy and fun to do, or maybe you just want a secret stash of chocolate minty goodness for yourself

Chocolate Mint Cookies

1 box chocolate cake mix (dark chocolate or milk chocolate work great!)
1 egg
1/3 C water or milk (water works just fine, but milk might make the cookies a little more rich)
1/2 stick of butter, melted
Andes Mints (whole) or Andes Mint Chips (one bag should be good)

Preheat oven to 375°.

Blend all ingredients well; batter will be stiff. Drop rounded spoonfuls onto parchment lined cookie sheet. If you can form dough into a 1” diameter ball, great, if not, that’s ok! The dough will be a little sticky, so it’s hard to roll in your hands.

Bake for 10-12 minutes; remove from oven. Allow cookies to set for a couple seconds.

If you’re using the whole mints, just place the (unwrapped) candy on the cookie and allow to melt. If you’re using the chips, press the back of a teaspoon into the top of the cookie, like a thumbprint cookie. Fill the “thumbprint” with one teaspoon of the mint chips and allow to melt (add more or less as desired).

Use a toothpick to swirl the melted chocolates and mint so you get a lovely blend of mint green and chocolate on the cookie.

Place cookies in the refrigerator until the melted chocolate is set.

These package so nicely – they’re perfect for last minute gifts or cookies for Santa!!

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Posted in Fresh Baked, Homemade Gifts, Recipes, Tales of a Domesticated Goddess

Cookie Extravaganza…sort of…

16 Dec

My husband and I have the rest of the week off of work, to relax a bit, but mostly to finish up our Christmas shopping and what not before next week (NEXT WEEK people…NEXT WEEK IS CHRISTMAS!!! Who authorized that?!) We don’t really have any formal plans for our time away from the office, except for today and Friday. Today my cousins Emily (21) and Alyssa (19) came over to make cookies for Christmas Eve (more on that event later); Friday is our designated shopping day, followed by a hockey game that evening.

To start the morning off, I decided I’d take a break from cleaning up the kitchen and play with my new camera. Have I mentioned how wonderful my husband is??? I never really give him a list for Christmas – we always buy each other things throughout the year, so there isn’t much left for Christmas…and it doesn’t help that my birthday is a week after Christmas! As always, he finds some way to surprise me every year, and this year was no different. He got me a new camera for Christmas!! How do I know, you ask? It came in the mail yesterday…and we don’t do a very good job of keeping secrets around here! Anyway, I played with it at bit this morning…by the way, the Penguin ornament is the only ornament on our tree this year…I like to say I’m going for a minimalistic approach, but really I’m just being lazy.

Shiny star atop our scarcely decorated tree.

Pittsburgh Penguin ornament my parents gave my husband.

As soon as they arrived and we did the usual visiting and chit-chatting, we got started on the cookies. As ambitious as we felt, we didn’t really make it too far! We started with the peanut butter kiss cookies (peanut butter cookies with a Hershey Kiss in the center). Those went together super fast, and we were pretty chuffed about the progress we were making.

Hershey Hugs

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

We thought we were pretty clever by using the white chocolate Hershey Hugs It doesn’t take much for us to feel clever.

Emily wanted to make some sort of Andes Mint cookies…she wasn’t sure what the recipe was, so we kind of made one up using what we had on hand. Let me tell you, these things are AMAZING. Even my husband likes them, and he’s not a huge fan of sweets. They taste like a Thin Mint, only…better. Yeah, I said it…wanna fight about it? I wish I would have captured video of Emily trying to roll the cookie dough into little balls using her spoons…it was quite entertaining. But, you’ll have to settle for tantalizing pictures of the cookies instead

Melting the Andes Mints...

Minty Melty Goodness

At this point, the ideas were flowing; we were certain that we could keep up our momentum and have several dozen cookies to show for our efforts. We took a break for lunch and decided while we were out to stop at the store to get more supplies (I failed to take a picture of what we had when we started…everything is still displayed on the counter, so maybe tomorrow I’ll get one…this will show you just how overboard we went then you can laugh at our thinking we needed more supplies!)

After a nice lunch at the South Side Soda Shop (it was feature on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, you know) and a trip dodging the Amish at the store, we returned home…much more lethargic and sleepy than before. In fact, on the drive to and from the diner, I noticed my two cookie elves dozing off in the back of the car! We contemplated starting another batch of cookies, or working on the chocolate covered pretzels, but my elves were increasingly weary. Their eyes drooped, and their spirits snoozed. After packing them up with some cookies to share with their men-elves, I sent them on their way before it got too dark.

I decided to make another batch of the chocolate mint cookies…so tasty – uh, I mean – so easy…yeah, that’s it. Easy. And Tasty. Mmm….minty….melty….mmmm….*drools*

My day is coming to a close as the Chicago Blackhawks start the 3rd period leading St. Louis 3-0. Yes, I like the Blackhawks…my husband likes the Pens…we are a house divided. I think his Penguin needs a friend on that tree, don’t you?

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Posted in A Little Randomness, Fresh Baked, Tales of a Domesticated Goddess

Craftster.org Vintage Christmas Swap – Part 2 (The Getting)

10 Dec

…and now I’ll share the vintage Christmas goodness that I received from my loverly partner, “ntrebleagain”…and as a special Christmassy tribute, I drafted it as a poem

‘Twas the night before Thursday and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring, except for me and my mouth.
The pizza was warmed with the cheese nice and hot,
and all that was left was to rip open the box!

I grabbed for the knife, and I squeeled with delight,
as I saw the red tin peeking out in the night!
When what to my wandering eyes should appear,
a shiny red tin, adorned with a Santa so dear!

: A red shiny tin with a Santa so dear!

Not sure I could stand the suspense any longer,
I lifted the lid, heart beating a bit stronger.
The contents were nestled all snug in their bed,
While a cute ornament brought a smile to my head!

: The contents were nestled all snug in their bed…

Quickly forgetting the pizza I nuked,
Which, I assure you, is only a fluke!
I picked up the ornament so carefully,
The snowman depicted made my heart fill with glee!

: The snowman depicted made my heart fill with glee!

I turned it over in my small chubby hands,
To reveal a scene that was equally grand!
Side two of the ornament was quiet and calm,
So much so I almost dropped the f-bomb!

: Side two had a scene that was equally grand.

My eyes darted to a curious stack,
When I saw what it was, I was taken aback!
I’m really not that big of a boaster,
But I have a shiny new set of 4 coasters!

: But I have a shiny new set of 4 coasters!

This tin, might I mention, is equally grand!
I can see it was decorated by hand!
On the top and the sides are pictures of Santa!
So merry and cheery, and happy you see.

A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
There must be a thousand tucked in that sack!
His suit was red and trimmed in white fur,
His boots, black as night and quite warm, I am sure.

With a wink of the eye and a jovial smile,
He stared at me silently and for a while.
I noticed a finger was placed on his lips,
A signal to all so no secrets are dripped.

Enclosed was a card, so soft and serene
The picture reminded me of a dream.
It matched the coasters of four that I had;
Matching things always make me so glad!

I opened the card to read what it said,
Shortly before shuffling off to my bed.
A brief explanation of what I received,
Another quick read before it was sleeved.

The tin is dual-purpose – for cookies or cards,
Mod-Podge control is really quite card!
She did a great job at keeping it neat,
The papers and ribbons just can’t be beat!

I placed all the goodies back in the tin,
A great end to the night it really had been.
It’d be even better, though, I must confess
If the Blackhawks could win their hockey contest!

The swaps here on Craftster are a wonderful treat –
The hard work and talent just cannot be beat!
I’ll now close this poem with a wish that you might –
Have a Merry Christmas and a jolly good night!

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Posted in She's Crafty!, Swaps

Craftster.org Vintage Christmas Swap – Part 1 (The Giving)

10 Dec

Another successful swap to put in the books!

In this first post I’ll share pictures of the items I crafted, as well as a couple extra vintage goodies, for good measure. I also included some vintage wrapping paper from the late 40’s and 50’s, but didn’t get a picture of that!

The Whole She-Bang - Coasters, a sweater guard, kitchy frosted pine cone trees, a vintage Jewel-Brite ornament, and a vintage snowman cookie cutter.Vintage-inspired Coasters - I hope to have a tutorial for these in the next couple of weeks!

Deck your neck with a sweater guard!

Extra vintage goodies - a snowman cookie cutter, and vintage Jewel-Brite ornament.

Kitchy vintage-inspired pine cone trees, with ric-rack trimmed tree skirts.

Stay tuned for the next installment to see what lovely items I received!

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Posted in She's Crafty!, Swaps

Things I Love – It’s the Holiday Season…

01 Dec

…with the whoop-dee-do and hickory-dock/And don’t forget to hang up your sock!/’Cause just exactly at 12 o’clock/He’ll be coming down the chimney/Coming down the chimney/Coming down the chimney, down!

It is a known fact among friends and family that I like Christmas music. Oh, alright…that’s a lie. I LOVE Christmas music! I have more Christmas music than Carter’s got liver pills (do people say that any more?) While I have a strong affection for Christmas music, I just can’t get past the radio stations that begin playing it around Halloween (no folks, that is not a typo – they actually were playing Christmas music 24/7 on three local radio stations on Halloween). I REFUSE to allow myself to listen to any Christmas music – secular, religious, or otherwise – before Thanksgiving. It’s my rule; my thing if you will. I also do not decorate for Christmas until at least Thanksgiving night, after all the turkey and dressing has been packed away in Tupperware, and the pies have been demolished. Usually this doesn’t happen until the day after, just because we collapse into a tryptophan-induced coma and can’t even lift a leg to…never mind.

Anywho…I don’t decorate until after Thanksgiving…because that’s how I roll. But when I do decide to decorate, boy oh boy do I break out the Christmas music! I become fanatical about it…has to be just the right combination of music or else I just can’t work efficiently. (Freakish? Yes, I know. I’m told this every day at work.) I love (repeat LOVE…L-O-V-E) the classics – Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, The Andrews Sisters…le sigh. Perfection!

In the spirit of the season, and because I’m struggling a little bit to get totally in the mood for the holidays (there, I said it…I’m having trouble) I thought maybe if I shared some of my favorite Christmas music with you (and you’re welcome to share your favorites as well!) it might help!

The Andrews Sisters Christmas – The Andrews Sisters

Andrews Sisters Christmas Album

A great collection of music to suit any holiday mood. Whether your trimming the tree, celebrating with friends and family, or baking your heart out, this CD will undoubtedly get your toes tapping and you’ll be singing like a song bird! My personal favorites on this CD are “Jingle Bells” with Bing Crosby (this is the same version played during the movie “A Christmas Story” as the mom is getting Randy ready for school), “I’d Like to Hitch a Ride With Santa Claus,” and “The Christmas Tree Angel.” I don’t particularly care for “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” but that isn’t limited to just this album – I don’t like that song no matter who sings it!

Diana Krall – Christmas Songs

Diana Krall - Christmas Songs

I’m not a huge fan of jazz music – I find most of it to be too jittery and jivey for my liking (jivey…is that even a word?), but I DO like Diana Krall’s Christmas CD…it’s equal parts relaxing by the fire with a nice glass of wine and entertaining friend and family with some laughs and good wine (notice a pattern…?) Songs that stand out on this one are “Let It Snow,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire),” “Christmastime Is Here,” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”

Chris Isaak Christmas – Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak: Christmas

Mix one part rockabilly, one part country western, and one part crooner and you’ve got this album. I can’t pick favorites on this one, because they’re all a little different and I can actually listen to the whole album without skipping over any songs. Chris Isaak has a great voice and it really shines on this album, I think. There is one song that makes me a little misty-eyed…”Brightest Star.” Listen with Kleenex handy if you’re a tender-heart!

Cool Yule – Bette Midler

Bette Midler - Cool Yule

Another Christmas album that I can listen to in it’s entirety. To me, the true test of a singer is how well they can do Christmas standards. You’ve heard them all before, sung in many different styles – if an artist can make an old Christmas carol sound fresh and fun, they’ve won a spot on my iPod! Bette is no exception – her renditions of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is traditional, yet still never disappoints. My absolute favorites are “Merry Christmas,” “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” and “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.” The song that makes me emotional every time I hear her sing it is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” – I can’t get through it in one piece!

A Charlie Brown Christmas – Vince Guaraldi Trio

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I don’t think this album needs much explanation. It would just muddy the waters.

So, there you have it…these are just a small sampling of my favorite Christmas albums that are sure fire ways to get my in the holiday spirit…what are your favorite Christmas albums or songs? Do you prefer the contemporary music, or classics? Secular or religious? Do tell, do tell

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Posted in A Little Randomness, Things I Love

Things I Love – Movies! – Holiday Edition

15 Nov

I’m trying VERY hard to stay away from Christmas related things right now, but I just can’t help myself! We go to the store and we’re elbow deep in Christmas decorations and wrapping paper; there are radio stations playing Christmas music already! One can’t help but fall into the grips of all things holiday as early as Halloween!

I am in the middle of some craft swaps, and some times I find nothing more relaxing than plopping down in front of the television and watching (read: listening) to some of my favorite movies in the background. And since most of my swaps that I’m completing now are centered around Christmas, I find myself grabbing the holiday-related movies from our collection…and I’d like to share a few of my favorites with you!

While You Were Sleeping

While You Were Sleeping - title

I know a lot of people might have issues with Sandra Bullock, but I think this is one of my favorite movies with her as the leading lady. Bill Pullman is usually a bit too uptight or stiff for my liking, but in this film he really fits his character well. The family is one that you’d love to be a part of – so welcoming and inviting – and the scenes where they’re celebrating Christmas just warm my heart. The Grandmother cracks me up, and Peter Boyle (RIP) does an excellent role as the father. Just an all around feel good movie, and it always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside!

A scene from While You Were Sleeping.

You’ve Got Mail

You've Got Mail - title.

Alright, so this isn’t strictly a “holiday’ movie, but I always love to watch it when the leaves start to change and the air turns a little more crisp…”Don’t you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would buy you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew where you lived…” I love it! As the movie makes its way through the seasons – fall turns into Christmas – we see Meg Ryan’s character decorating her store’s Christmas tree, and there’s the scene where they’re having a party with all the co-workers and they’re all singing…and of course, the lovely story line just warms my little heart!

The Holiday

The Holiday - title

What is not to love about this movie? I normally don’t care for Jack Black or Cameron Diaz, but in this movie they are tolerable. I adore Kate Winslet, and Jude Law is just nice eye candy It makes me want to travel for the holidays, just to experience new traditions and cultures, though I’d be a little wary of exchanging homes with a perfect stranger! There is a pattern to the movies I’ve picked…they’re all romantic comedies…yes, I’m a sap! Can you blame me, though?

Scene from The Holiday.

It’s A Wonderful Life

It's A Wonderful Life - title

A real holiday classic – admittedly I only just watched this a couple years ago! My husband just smiles and shakes his head, as I sit on the couch next to him with tears trickling down my face. Jimmy Stewart…bless his heart!

Scene from "It's A Wonderful Life."

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story - title

You just can’t talk about holiday movies without at least mentioning this classic. I don’t know which I love more – the heart-warming story line, the lovely representation of Indiana in the 1940’s, or that this movie reminds me a bit of the All-American family. When we move (hopefully thanks to this new $6500 tax credit program!) I want my home to have a HUGE picture window, so I can proudly display my tree just like this:

Scene from A Christmas Story.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas - title

Quite possibly my favorite Christmas movie. It has everything you need to make the holidays merry and bright – the decor, the comedic relief of Snoopy, and the true meaning of Christmas. Don’t get me wrong – I love Christmas shopping and decorating and gorging myself on pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes just like the next girl, but some where along the way, we need to remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.

Scene from "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

Alright – I have to get busy on some Christmas craft projects…leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite holiday movies are – I’ll pick a random winner on Friday (11/20/09) December 1st to send some of my gift tags to – be sure to leave me an email address if you’re interested!

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Posted in Contests, INCrowdTeam, Things I Love

New Listings Just in Time for the Holidays!

13 Nov

I just added these to my Etsy shop! They were so much fun to make, and I definitely plan on making more of them!

Evergreen Holiday Gift Tags

Happy Homemade Christmas Gift Tags

Christmas Traditions Holiday Gift Tags

Stay tuned for more!

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Posted in Etsy, INCrowdTeam, New Listings, She's Crafty!

An Afternoon of Homemade Gifts – Finally Added Photos!

22 Dec

So, as many of you may know the Midwest was hit with a nasty ice storm Thursday evening and a lot of folks have been without electricity since then. We are fortunate enough in Syracuse to only have lost power today for a total of an hour or two including all the times it went out since about 3:00 this morning. I had decided that I would take the time to make a few (ha – a few – right…I can never just make a few of anything!) gifts for the people I work with. I usually do a food item of sorts, last year it was chocolate covered pretzels which went over well. This year I did the pretzels but a bit differently…I also whipped these cute little hot cocoa stir sticks up…It was a long day, so I documented the process for your (my) entertainment.

You’ll need:

Marshmallows – either miniature or full sized, it is up to you!
melting chocolate – I use the almond bark in vanilla and chocolate
skewers of some type – since these are to be used in a hot beverage, I chose to use coffee stir sicks
candy canes – you can use traditional peppermint or jazz it up a bit with the fruit flavored ones (I was looking for a variety pack but all the store had was Starburst Strawberry)
rolling pin
sturdy ziplock bags
parchment paper
microwave safe glass bowls

First, unwrap your candy canes and place three or four in the ziplock bag; seal it and place it on a hard surface – you’re going to crush the candy canes with the rolling pin (crush them, roll them, beat them to bits!) Chances are the bag will tear a bit, but that’s ok.

Rolling pin, Ziploc bag, and candy canes... (before)

...crushed candy canes (after)

Using the skewers of choice, slide the marshmallows onto the sticks. I’ve found that if your marshmallows are a little harder (that is, if you’ve had them for a while and haven’t figured out what to do with them…or if you open the bag and let the air harden them a bit – kind of like Peeps!) they go on easier. Depending on the size of your marshmallows will depend on how many you add – I used any where between 6-8 depending on how smushed the marshmallows became. Once you have them on the skewer, you can manipulate them to get them situated – you’ll want them touching end to end, with no spaces between them.

Marshmallows arranged on the stir sticks or skewers.

After you’ve got all your marshmallows on skewers, it is time to melt the chocolate. Using your microwave safe glass bowls, heat 2-3 blocks of bark keeping a close eye on it – IT BURNS VERY QUICKLY! Stir on occasion to make sure it is melting evenly…

Once your bark is melted, take one skewer at a time, and coat it with the melted bark. I like to use a spoon to make sure it is coated evenly…

Mmm...melted almond bark!

Place coated skewers on parchment-lined cookie sheets; before the bark starts to harden, you want to sprinkle with the crushed candy canes. Once I have the sheet filled, I like to put the tray in the fridge to set a little quicker.

The marshmallow skewers are placed on parchment paper, then sprinkled with the candy.

Ready for the fridge! (sorry the picture is a bit blurry...I think my batteries were almost dead!)

I also made some milk chocolate ones...

Package however you’d like – I placed two to a baggie, closed with a twisty-tie and ribbon (sorry I forgot to take a photo of that!) I also attached a little tag to it explaining what they are and how to use them – it was just clip art of a mug of cocoa, and to enjoy them in some hot cocoa (it was more creative with that, but that was a while ago, and I’ve slept since then!)

Miscellaneous notes:

Use any kind of decorations you’d like – peppermint candy canes, fruit flavored candy canes, or stir in flavoring extracts to the melted bark – peppermint or another flavor. Just remember these are to be used in a hot beverage so it shouldn’t be something totally off the wall!
These would look super cute paired with a mug and some seasonal hot beverages – cocoa, coffee, even teas would be yummy!
The same technique can be used for chocolate covered pretzels – this year I made them out of the rods; I broke them in half, coated the broken end with the bark, and then I drizzled with melted cherry flavored morsels (who knew there was such a thing?!) Those turned out great (I’ll try to remember to take pictures of those before I give them away)! (sadly I forgot to take photos of the pretzels – sorry!)

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Posted in Homemade Gifts, Tales of a Domesticated Goddess, Tutorials

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Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

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