Happy New Year ~

Martha Stewart

May the New Year welcome you and your family with peace, love and happiness!

Just a Little Eye Candy ~

Images from Mannigan Design

Almond Shortcake Thumbprint Cookies ~

This is another favorite cookie around our house. These are so good that I really have to reserve them for special occasions or else you might have to roll me out my front door. With that said, they are yummy - and if you like almond, you will LOVE these!

Cookie Ingredients:
1 Cup Softened Butter
2/3 Cup Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Raspberry Jam

Glaze Ingredients:
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
2 to 3 Teaspoons Water
1 1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract

Combine butter, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low, add flour. Beat, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Cover, refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Make indentation in center of each cookie with thumb (edges may crack slightly). Fill each indentation with about 1/4 teaspoon jam.

Bake for 14-18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand 1 minute, remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, stir together all glaze ingredients in small bowl with wire whisk until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. This recipe from Land O Lakes.
Enjoy!

Merry Christmas ~

Southern Accents

The Season of Love ~

image from here

Most Wonderful Cake Cookies ~

For my Holiday baking, I started with the Most Wonderful Cake Cookies - this is how I refer to these super easy, super yummy morsels of goodness. These are the cookies I wrapped up for gifts here.

1 box Cake Mix (I used white)
1 Cup Chopped Pecans (or any nut of any amount)
1/2 Chocolate Chips (or any flavor chips in any amount)

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees.

Combine cake mix, nuts, chips. Add 1/2 cup oil, 2 eggs and 2 Tablespoons water. Drop by heaping Tablespoon onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Allow to cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet then move to cooling rack to complete cooling.

Enjoy!

Baking Holiday Cookies ~

A few weeks ago I decided to be superwoman
plan ahead and use the auto clean on my oven - now I have had my lovely oven for about 6 years and never had the desire to "clean" that bad boy - but I hit the button with a smile on my face and about an hour into the cleaning mode my oven went kaput! Needless to say, I have learned my lesson: don't auto clean your oven, and if you are even thinking about it - don't do it right before Christmas! So last Friday, the bottom oven was fixed, the top is still awaiting his long awaited appointment - but one oven means it is cookie time! I have been holding off - well clearly, I had no oven- but it is on!

Do you have any favorite holiday cookie recipes?

Southern Living


Country Living

Enjoy These Moments ~

Martha Stewart

I hope everyone is enjoying all the moments of this wonderful and crazy season. We are heading to 4 parties this weekend, finishing wrapping gifts, making gingerbread houses...oh and my twins 4th Birthday is on Sunday! Needless to say, we will be busy - but I will be constantly reminding myself to enjoy the moment and live in the now!

Have a wonderful weekend!

My Mom's House for the Holidays ~

Here are a few shots from my Mom's house - I looks amazing and I just couldn't resist pulling out my camera! Enjoy.

Let The Wrapping Begin ~

Since I have vowed to use all of my odds and ends for my Christmas wrapping, I decided to make my own tags so there would be some sort of continuity under the tree! I mean can you go wrong with a crown?

This is just the beginning, but I am impressed with my starting point considering this is usually the night of the 23rd - always sliding in right before Christmas Eve!

Gift Wrapping Ideas ~

This year I am determined to "use up" all of my odds and ends when it comes to wrapping paper and ribbons...but I might, just might need a few more ideas for wrapping and here are a few creative packages.

Country Living

Martha Stewart