12 Days of Sharing

The 12 Days of Sharing hosted by In Jennie’s Kitchen continues this week and so far there have been some tasty recipes by some fabulous food bloggers.

White Chocolate is a big hit in our house when it comes to cookies. I came across this recipe reviewing the grocery store holiday magazine and tweaked it a bit after trying the recipe and found using the adjusted ingredients made the cookies even better.  These cookies are budget-friendly and use ingredients that are always on hand in the kitchen when baking cookies. They make a great holiday gift and are for perfect for a cookie swap and my contribution to the Virtual Cookie Jar today. This particular recipe the cookies seem a bit larger than normal for a thimble cookie but there is no such thing as a small cookie in our house.

Visit the virtual cookie jar for other holiday cookie recipes and feel free to contribute one of your family’s favorite recipes. Here’s how you can participate: Virtual Cookie Jar.

Please don’t forget to click on the 12 Days of Sharing badge below to make your donation to help end childhood hunger.

By donating, you will earn a chance to win some fantastic gifts! Every little bit makes a difference, so no donation is too small.

White Chocolate Thimble Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups white chocolate chips

 Red Raspberry and Blacberry seedless jams

Powdered Sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in eggs, lemon juice and vanilla.

Add flour, salt and baking soda. Stir until combined. Stir in white chocolate chips.

I like using a medium size cookie/ice cream scoop to place the perfect amount of dough on the baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until slightly soft in the center.

Remove from oven and made a thumb-size indentation in the center of each cookie. Fill with 1/2 teaspoon jam. Dust with powdered sugar.

12 Days of Sharing

It was really exciting to participate as a co-host yesterday in the 12 Days of Sharing.  I enjoyed making the Holiday Eggnog Fudge  and it was a bit hit with the family, my taste testers. This has been an adventurous baking week for me. I’ll soon be posting some of our bake sale recipes for tomorrow’s huge event at the Nevada County Toy and Food Run.  The Nevada County Food & Toy Run benefits many families and children directly during our annual bike run in December.

In 1991 four motorcyclists thought about what they could do to help families in need during the upcoming holiday season. They came up with an interesting idea and within a few weeks created an event. The event drew 90 bikers and a responsive cord was struck in merchants, law-enforcement personnel, and the residents in the small sierra-foothill communities of Nevada City and Grass Valley. The event was the birth of the Nevada County Food & Toy Run, a “non-profit charitable” organization sponsoring fundraiser’s to help families in need.

The holiday season is upon us, and you can feel the magic in the air. While you are out and about shopping, consider sharing that magic with children across America.  By clicking on the bage below, your donation will help a hungry child. Over the course of the year, nearly 17 million children are at risk of hunger in America. That’s a pretty large number. With your donation, Share Our Strength is able to provide support to more than 1,000 non-profit organizations across America, help low-income families learn how to eat better for less through their programs and reach the goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.

Have a favorite cookie recipe? Consider adding a recipe to the 12 Days of Sharing virtual cookie jar. The cookie swap will run until December 18th, so there’s still time to participate:

• Simply make a donate to Share Our Strength by clicking on the above 12 Days of Sharing Badge. By donating you will be entered in a giveaway to win some fantastic prizes inluding a new Cuisinart Mixer, Gift Certificates and More! Every little bit makes a difference, so no donation is too small.
• Submit your favorite cookie recipe to the Virtual Cookie Jar. Share with your fellow readers on Twitter, Facebook, My Space and encourage them to join in as well. (How to participate details)
• Visit In Jennie’s Kitchen often and the Virtual Cookie Jar for featured recipes, more from bloggers hosting, and recipes from the virtual cookie jar.

Here’s a common traditional cookie that we’ll be selling at our bake sale tomorrow and they are really easy to make. I usually make them with butterscotch flavored chips, but for the bake sale, I’m using semisweet chocolate morsels.  This will be my contribution to the virtual cookie jar today.

Magic Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

 1/2 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels, butterscotch flavored morsels or peanut butter morsels

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

 Heat oven to 350 degrees F. I like to use my large bar pan for making these because it evenly conducts heat and these cookies comes out great! If you don’t have a large bar pan, you can coat a 13×9 baking pan with no stick cooking spray.

Combine the gragham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crumb mixture. Layer evenly with the chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press firmly with finger tips or a fork.

Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars or diamond shapes.  Store at room temperatures.

These are absolutely fabulous! Enjoy!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. With the temperatures dropping, snowflakes falling, the fireplace lit and the holiday decorations are all through the house. To me, the holidays are so much fun when the whole family can get involved, especially the kids. One of the best ways to make wonderful holiday memories with kids is to bake holiday cookies and treats. Homemade baked goods are extremely popular during the holidays. The memories that creating Christmas baked goods provide is by far the most important thing.

This holiday season, I wanted to try some new Christmas recipes to share with family, friends and add to our team’s  Nevada County Bakers  family cookbook.

Today I’m sharing one of those new recipes with you as part of the 12 Days of Sharing, being hosted by In Jennie’s Kitchen.  This year I’ve enjoyed being active in my community and excited about being able to take part in the Share Our Strength campaign during this past year and dedicating myself to help in the fight against childhood hunger. Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.

By posting and sharing your favorite holiday cookie, candy or treat along with a favorite holiday memory, you can contribute to the Share Our Strength Campaign by raising awareness in your community and across America. In the year ahead, nearly 17 million children in America will face hunger. That’s nearly one in four children. This holiday season, you can help. Join us in the fight to End Childhood Hunger.

 The cookie swap will run until December 18th, so there’s still time to participate:

• Simply make a donate to Share Our Strength  by clicking on the above 12 Days of Sharing Badge. By donating you will be entered in a giveaway to win some fantastic prizes  inluding a new Cuisinart Mixer, Gift Certificates and More! Every little bit makes a difference, so no donation is too small.
• Submit your favorite cookie recipe to the Virtual Cookie Jar. Share with your fellow readers on Twitter, Facebook, My Space and  encourage them to join in as well.  (How to participate details)
• Visit In Jennie’s Kitchen often and the Virtual Cookie Jar for featured recipes, more from bloggers hosting, and recipes from the virtual cookie jar.

This recipe looks, smells and tastes great!  Fudge is always a perfect sweet gift during the holidays.

Holiday Eggnog Fudge

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, chilled

2 cups sugar

1 cup eggnog

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

2 cups mini-marshmallows

1 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Line a 9×12-inch pan with aluminum foil and set aside. Rub the sides of a large saucepan with a little butter.

Add the eggnog and sugar, and bring to a rolling boil over medium to medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for two minutes.

Fold in the marshmallows, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring back to a light boil for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and add the butter, white chocolate.

Stir until thoroughly mixed or until the mixture starts to lose its glossy appearance.

Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with pecans. Cool at room temperature. Remove from pan, remove foil, cut into 1-inch squares.

www.noelskitchentips.com

 It’s great fun to make holiday cookies and treats with kids during the Christmas season. Holiday baking is something that can be shared with family members of all ages. Happy Holidays!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. With the temperatures dropping, snowflakes falling, the fireplace lit and the holiday decorations are all through the house. To me, the holidays are so much fun when the whole family can get involved, especially the kids. One of the best ways to make wonderful holiday memories with kids is to bake holiday cookies and treats. Homemade baked goods are extremely popular during the holidays. The memories that creating Christmas baked goods provide is by far the most important thing.

This holiday season, I wanted to try some new Christmas recipes to share with family, friends and add to our team’s  Nevada County Bakers  family cookbook.

Today I’m sharing one of those new recipes with you as part of the 12 Days of Sharing, being hosted by In Jennie’s Kitchen.  This year I’ve enjoyed being active in my community and excited about being able to take part in the Share Our Strength campaign during this past year and dedicating myself to help in the fight against childhood hunger. Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.

By posting and sharing your favorite holiday cookie, candy or treat along with a favorite holiday memory, you can contribute to the Share Our Strength Campaign by raising awareness in your community and across America. In the year ahead, nearly 17 million children in America will face hunger. That’s nearly one in four children. This holiday season, you can help. Join us in the fight to End Childhood Hunger.

 The cookie swap will run until December 18th, so there’s still time to participate:

• Simply make a donate to Share Our Strength  by clicking on the above 12 Days of Sharing Badge. By donating you will be entered in a giveaway to win some fantastic prizes  inluding a new Cuisinart Mixer, Gift Certificates and More! Every little bit makes a difference, so no donation is too small.
• Submit your favorite cookie recipe to the Virtual Cookie Jar. Share with your fellow readers on Twitter, Facebook, My Space and  encourage them to join in as well.  (How to participate details)
• Visit In Jennie’s Kitchen often and the Virtual Cookie Jar for featured recipes, more from bloggers hosting, and recipes from the virtual cookie jar.

This recipe looks, smells and tastes great!  Fudge is always a perfect sweet gift during the holidays.

Holiday Eggnog Fudge

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, chilled

2 cups sugar

1 cup eggnog

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

2 cups mini-marshmallows

1 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Line a 9×12-inch pan with aluminum foil and set aside. Rub the sides of a large saucepan with a little butter.

Add the eggnog and sugar, and bring to a rolling boil over medium to medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for two minutes.

Fold in the marshmallows, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring back to a light boil for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and add the butter, white chocolate.

Stir until thoroughly mixed or until the mixture starts to lose its glossy appearance.

Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with pecans. Cool at room temperature. Remove from pan, remove foil, cut into 1-inch squares.

www.noelskitchentips.com

 It’s great fun to make holiday cookies and treats with kids during the Christmas season. Holiday baking is something that can be shared with family members of all ages. Happy Holidays!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in the Sierra Foothills. Our first snow of the season has fallen. The trees are covered and the ground looks like powdered sugar. The baking season is upon us and today is the first day of 12 Days of Sharing.

For the next 12 days I’ll be posting some homemade baked goods and jams in honor of the 12 Days of Sharing. On Saturday, our team Nevada County Bakers will be at the Nevada County Food and Toy Run selling those baked goods and homemade jams to raise money for the Share Our Strength campaign. Being part of the Share Our Strength campaign, I’ve met a lot of fellow food bloggers dedicating their time to this great cause, including fellow food blogger, Jennifer Perillo of In Jennie’s Kitchen who is hosting our 12 Days of Sharing event.

Today I’ve decided to contribute to the Virtual Cookie Jar  a zesty Lemom Muffin recipe along with a homemade Mango jam. This is one new recipe I’ll add to our bake sales.These muffins are light and fluffy with a zesty kick. I hope you enjoy them! Later in the week I’ll be dedicating more to the cookies.

If you would like to donate to Share Our Strength, just click on the badge below.  By donating you will be entered in a giveaway  to win some funtastic prizes inluding a new Cuisinart Mixer, Gift Certificates and More!

Zesty Lemon Muffins

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup sugar, plus a little extra to sprinkle on top of muffins before baking

4 large eggs, separated

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions:

In a medium size mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add egg yolks one at a time, beating well. Set aside.

In another mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture. Slowly add the lemon juice, beating well.

Lightly beat eggs whites until frothy. Fold egg whites into batter; stir in lemon zest. Using large scoop, fill muffin cups about three-quarters full. Sprinkle tops of muffins with sugar.

Bake lemon muffins at 375° for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly brown. Makes about 12 lemon muffins.

Mango Jam

Ingredients

12 cups fresh mango diced

2 cups sugar

4 cups water

zest of 1 lemon

Directions:

In a medium pot, cook mango slices in water about 15 minutes or until tender. Drain.  Add sugar. Boil until thick and of jam consistency. Stir often to prevent scorching. Cool to room temperature. Jam will thicken as it sits. Spoon into canning jars. Makes a great holiday gift.