A Baker's Dozen

I just can't stop!  I am a "baker" right?  And usually they make 13 of something, right?  I don't really know where that saying comes from, but I know that once I started making all of those cookies, I just couldn't stop!  So I made one more flavor.  I found this recipe for Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Sea Salt on the Ghirardelli Facebook page the other day, and I just kept thinking about them.  The recipe calls for their 60% Cacao baking chips which are my favorite thing in the world.  I also recently discovered a dark chocolate with sea salt candy bar (available at several places from different companies) AND I'm a Chocoholic, so I knew I had to try this recipe!!!

First, you melt some butter with some of those dark chocolate baking chips in a double boiler.

 Got to get that water simmering, but not too much!

 Here they are - these are so good, even just as a snack!  I like them with walnuts after the gym.

 This recipe only called for 1/4 cup of flour.  These were sure to be interesting.

 I love this wooden spoon - it reminds me of Steve's and my first anniversary - we celebrated it at Fearrington Village, only about 20 minutes from our house.  Each time I use this spoon I remember that wonderful celebration!

Another odd thing about this recipe - it called for baking powder, used more in cakes, instead of baking soda, typically used in cookies.

 A little bit of salt for the dough - coarse sea salt to come later!

 Of course some sugar to make the cookies a tad bit sweet.

 Two eggs.

 All whisked together - I didn't even break out the Kitchen Aid for this recipe!

 Trusty vanilla.

 Mix all of it together.

 Add in that tiny bit of flour.

 Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.

 Here's the salt!

 Drop onto parchment paper on cooking sheets, sprinkle on the sea salt, and bake!

 They were an ooey, gooey mess!  But they turned out really good - you have to let them cool for a long time before trying to move them over to foil or a baking rack.

 I packaged some up, along with many of my other cookies and gave them to friends, family and neighbors! I really liked this box I found at Michaels from Martha Stewart (of course).

Yummy!

Christmas Cupcakes

Well, after all of those cookies I just couldn't help myself - I had to make some Christmas cupcakes!  These were actually an order from the Executive Director of my "day job" as a thank you to those businesses that provided so much support to our tiny non-profit throughout the 2011 calendar year. 

I knew I was going to be exhausted and wasn't going to want to do a lot of decorations, plus when giving thank you gifts from your business you typically don't want to get too secular.  I suggested my famous "Ashley" cupcake - Devil's Food cupcake, but instead of vanilla buttercream I made peppermint buttercream. I crushed up some candy canes to add a delightful Holiday topping, just right for this time of the year!

First you start with the dry ingredients: baking soda, baking powder, flour, and I always use Hershey's Special Dark cocoa for this recipe.  It makes the cupcakes darker and more rich, in my opinion.

 Don't forget the butter, salt and sugar!

 The cupcake recipe is from this amazing cupcakes book - I would be nothing without Martha!

 Eggs, hot water, sour cream (secret moisturizer of cupcakes) and some yummy new vanilla Marlo got me from Penzeys. It's super strong, but I double-checked - my Costco vanilla is the same strength.  :)

 I saw this bumper sticker on Marlo's fridge on Saturday morning, and it was in my Christmas gift Saturday night!!!  I just LOVE it.  It's now on my fridge, too!

 Here are the candy canes that I crushed up - I have a huge box of these leftover from an experiment-gone-wrong last year, so I need to think of other creative "stuff" to do with them!

 And here are the cupcakes!  I made 96 cupcakes.  Holy smokes!!!!

 I hope everyone enjoyed them!  I gave a few to my own friends as well.  xoxo!

The Culmination

Well, after making no-bakes I had to get ready for the Holiday Party that my husband and I hosted on Dec 17th, so out came all of the frozen balls of goodness!

 Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip.

 Chocolate Chip.

 Cherry Chocolate Chip

 Here they are!  If you look closely you'll see 11 different kinds of cookies.  The only kind that didn't make it to the Holiday Party was the Cinnamon Blobs, since they didn't turn out and I only made about 12 of them total.

Days Nine, Ten, Eleven and Twelve!

Okay, I guess I cheated a little bit.  I made 4 different kinds of no-bake cookies.  But this was A LOT of baking to try to do, and I really, really love these no-bakes!!!

Special K Bars:

 Crush up some special K cereal.

 Boil sugar and light Karo syrup.  Add in some peanut butter.  And then the cereal.

 Spread in a well-greased pan (these get very sticky).

 Melt some chocolate chips and butterscotch chips, spread on top!

 Let harden - don't put in the fridge!!!!

*These are delicious!!!

SCOTCHEROOS:

 These call for corn flakes, but since I use the Special K for the other recipe I just use Special K.

 And peanuts!

 And butterscotch chips!  And peanut butter!

 Melt the chips and peanut butter, mix with cereal and peanuts, and drop onto waxed paper.

Chill until ready - these are oh, so tasty!!

CHOCOLATE NESTS:

 Chow mien noodles and peanuts.

 Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in the microwave and mix! Drop on waxed paper and chill in fridge.

CLASSIC NO-BAKES:

 I needed quick-cooking oats for this recipe and Steve was so nice and went to the store for me.  I was also out of waxed paper so he got some of that for me, too.

 Melt butter, sugar, peanut butter and cocoa together, mix in the vanilla and oats.

 Drop and let harden!

 These are so good!  Unfortunately, I only got one of them because someone (named Brian) took them ALL home after the party.  LOL.  (He was welcome to do so, I am just kidding.)

All in all, these no bakes are some of my favorite holiday treats!