Red Velvet Cookies With White Chocolate Chips

I saw searching for a good Red Velvet cupcake recipe and stumbled on these Red Velvet cookies. I LOVE cookies with the cracks on top. So I had to make them! I found this recipe on the Cooking Classy website. I had all of the ingredients for this recipe on hand - but I was out of red food coloring.

I always buy red gel food coloring which you can buy at Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Williams Sonoma or Sur la Table. I bought my red gel food coloring at Hobby Lobby. Note: When going to these stores during December allow extra time. The lines are long with people asking stupid questions. Apparently everyone wants to be Martha Stewart come December. After December 13 or 14th I stop going to craft stores until after Christmas. Craft stores are my "zen" place and I cannot relax and look around when everyone is blocking the aisles.

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 1/3 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 tablespoon milk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons lemon juice

5 teaspoons red food coloring

1 cup white chocolate chips

2 cups powdered sugar


Directions:

In a large bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.

In the bowl of your stand mixer combine the butter and sugar and mix on low until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time making sure each egg is throughly mixed in. Add the milk, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix well.

Now add the red food coloring while the mixer is on low. Once the batter is a beautiful red color. Slowly add the dry ingredients. Once the dry ingredients have been incorporated shut the mixer off and stir in the white chocolate chips.

Cover the mixer bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for approximately two hours.

Tic Tock - it has now been two hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the powdered sugar in a bowl. Remove the mixer bowl from the  refrigerator and start rolling the red velvet dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll the balls in the powdered sugar.

Place the balls on cookie sheets and flatten them slightly. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes.

Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet then transfer them to a wire rack.

These cookies piled high on a cake plate - look like Christmas. Although I was thinking they would also be perfect for Valentine's Day!

While I was Hobby Lobby - I bought a whole bunch craft supplies to make ornaments ! So keep checking back if you need some easy and fun ideas.

Christmas Treats for the College Girls

On Black Friday Noelle and I saw these cute little plaid flannel pajama shorts. They would be comfy to wear to wear while studying or to wear to sleep. Since Noelle was taking the train back to school. We wrapped them in cellophane like toostie rolls. That way they didn't take up to much room in her suitcase.

And I had some plaid ribbon in my craft cabinet that almost matched the plaid flannel.

I made the little Spode tags out of some Spode recipe cards that I bought at Michael's.

Okay - so the pajama shorts are $9.00 at Old Navy. But they are always having a sale at Old Navy. Black Friday the whole store was 50% off and Cyper Monday everything was 30% off. Every day Old Navy, The Gap and Banana Republic email with holiday deals.

These would make cute party favors for a holiday slumber party. I also sometimes bring pajamas for a hostess gift.

Star Rice Crispy Treats

Every so often I am asked to be the substitute Religion teacher. I usually have a little notice before I teach - so that I can make plans for my son's carpool and plan the lesson.

I always bring a little treat (or bribe) for good behavior. Tomorrow I am teaching an Advent lesson to 4th graders.

So I made some Star Rice Crispy treats on lollipop sticks. Because lollipop sticks always bring your treat to the next level.

I bought this giant Rice Crispy at Target.

Using a star cookie cutter I cut out a bunch of stars. The I melted some light blue chocolate melts from Once the chocolate is melted stick the top of the lollipop stick into the chocolate and wedge it into the star.

Using the back of a spoon I smoothed the top of the star with the melted chocolate. Then I sprinkled it with a few shakes of blue sprinkles and some white pearl sprinkles.

Let everything dry and then package them in cellophane and tie with a coordinating ribbon.

The perfect treat! Or bribe!.

Spode Themed Ornaments

I made some ornaments last night with Noelle while we watched a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.  Come January when the kids are back in school and the house is put back together I am going to start writing some Hallmark channel Christmas movies! For fun! Because I have been writing some Christmas and country/western songs and I have only been able to write the bridge.

I started a fun song - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree with a Vacuum in my Hand....And now I need to write the rest of my song.

Okay - back to my ornaments. I collect the Christmas Tree Spode china. It is so festive and the most popular china pattern in the world! So I saw these Spode cupcake toppers at Michael's.

We removed the toothpick and used them for the middle of our ornament.

Then we taped the cupcake topper (minus the toothpick) onto a 2" circle and then onto a 3"scalloped circle. Taping a little piece of twine on the back to make the hanging loop.

To make the ornament "pop" we glued a circle of silver ball ribbon around the 2" circle.

Notes: I had a 30% off everything coupon. So I bought a bunch of Spode napkins, recipe cards, gift tags, etc. I might use a lot of these items in different ways throughout the holiday season. And when the light is right I will take some pictures of my Christmas Tree Spode china - it is truly beautiful.

Brown Paper Leaves Filled with Candy

For this project you will need:

Brown craft paper

Leaf cookie cutter (large)

pen

scissors

White embroidery thread

Needle

Fall themed candy

Trace your large leaf cookie cutter onto some brown craft paper. If you don't have brown craft paper - check to see if you have any brown paper grocery bags — they will also work. Carefully cut out the leaf shapes.

I like to cut out the shapes while watching my favorite television shows!

Sew two leaves together with the white embroidery thread. Once your leaf is almost completely sewn add a few small handfuls of candy. I used Reese's Pieces. Because they have an autumn feel. And I think they are delicious.

These would make really cute Thanksgiving Party Favors or Place cards. You could write the names of your guests in the center of the leaf with a brown marker.

They could also be filled with candy corn or salted nuts.

Wishing you a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Butter

This is how I decide to make a recipe. I am browsing in Williams Sonoma and I pick up the Pumpkin Butter that they sell. Hmmmm.....I bet I could make this. So I come home and Google and Pinterest until I find a recipe that I have all of the ingredients sitting in my cupboard or fridge. Many of the Pumpkin Butter recipes that I found called for apple juice. I did not have any apple juice. Then I found this recipe that called for orange juice. I had orange juice! Bingo! And before Thanksgiving I always have cans of pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Who doesn't?

 The blog that I used for this recipe is Less-than-Perfect Life of Bliss.blogspot.com. This blogger even included some labels that you can download and print out!

So my cute labels are also courtesy of this generous blogger.

I downloaded the black labels from the Less-than-Perfect website and cut them out and glued them to an orange and white polka dot paper and then glued them to a white scalloped card stock.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup orange juice

1 cup brown sugar

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 - 15 ounce cans pure pumpin

4  - clean 8 ounce jars 

Directions:

In a medium saucepan heat the orange juice, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice until the mixture comes to a low boil. Whisk constantly so that the mixture doesn't scald.  Once the mixture has thickened add the pumpkin and reduce the heat to low. Heat until all of the ingredients are mixed well and heated all the way through.

Let the mixture cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Then scoop the pumpkin butter into the jars. Put the lids on the jars. Tape the labels on and add the ribbon right before giving out the Pumpkin Butter.

These Pumpkin Butters will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three weeks.

What an easy recipe! This would be a fantastic Thanksgiving party favor or hostess gift. This Pumpkin Butter can be used on toast, english muffins, with Thanksgiving leftovers or even warmed up a little and served over ice cream.

Fall Floral Arrangements

Today I am going to a birthday lunch and I am bringing everyone a floral arrangement. I made the vases from tin cans - remove the labels and wash out your soup (or other type of can). You can also place the tin cans (minus the label) in the dishwasher.

Glue gun the entire can with twine. Then to add that extra touch I glued a pice of Fall themed ribbon, a burlap rose and a few orange rhinestones.

I bought the flowers at Trader Joe's. They always have beautiful fresh flowers at reasonable prices. I love the wild flower look. In fact I loved Kelly Clarksons wedding flowers.

These floral arrangements would also look fantastic on your Thanksgiving table. Or you could bring them to your Thanksgiving hostess. The kids can glue the twine onto the tin cans.

Happy Birthday MayAnne and Chantell!

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Nuts

This is such an easy recipe! These nuts would make a great Thanksgiving party favor or hostess gift. They would be perfect to serve on the cheese platter with some dried fruit.

Ingredients:

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons water

6 cups of assorted nuts (i used.......

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cover two baking sheets with foil. Spray lightly with cooking spray.

Beat egg whites and water in a large bowl until the mixture is foaming. Add the nuts and stir to coat. I used walnuts, almonds and cashews.

Combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt.  Pour the sugar mixture into the bowl and stir until everything is coated. Divide the mixture on two baking sheets. Spread out the nuts so that they are in a single layer.

Bake the nuts for 20 to 25 minutes. Let the nuts cool to room temperature and place them in a jar or tupperware.

 I  packaged mine into little jars for party favors.

I found these small jars at Target.

Using some brown and orange paper - I made little labels.

Then to add that little extra touch - I tied the jars with a sheer orange ribbon. I am actually bringing these to a birthday party tomorrow. But they would make cute Thanksgiving party favors - or to put them in a larger jar and present it as a hostess gift.  They sell mason jars at Target, hardware stores and some grocery stores.

Don't forget to save some nuts for yourself because they are really yummy!

Pumpkin Pie Granola

I love making granola - it is so easy to make a huge jar of granola. It can be served over ice cream or yogurt. I like to eat it on top of fresh fruit.

Pumpkin Pie Granola would make a perfect breakfast for Thanksgiving morning.

Ingredients:

5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup shredded coconut

1/3 cup wheat germ

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 canola oil

2/3 cup pure canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons water

1 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine oats, walnuts, pumpkin pie spice, wheat germ and coconut in a large bowl. Add the maple syrup, water, oil and pumpkin. Stir until everything is moist. Cover a large baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper. Bake for 20 minutes - remove from oven and stir with a spatula.

Bake for another 20 minutes and remove from the oven. Stir with the spatula again.

Bake for another 15- 20  minutes until everything is toasty and brown. Remove the granola from the oven and stir in the dried cranberries.

Once the granola is cool - place it a large jar or tupperware. This granola would also be cute in individual jars to give as gifts. A pumpkin sticker would look adorable on the jar label.

Thanksgiving Treats for the College Girls

I made some treats to send to Noelle - she can give them out to her friends before they leave for Thanksgiving break.

I found some little manicure sets and nighttime masks at Michael's and the brown/gold nail polish is from Target.

I know that Noelle will love her leopard eye mask. Although she could sleep through a 7.0 earthquake.

She will also love her manicure set. She is always painting her nails.

I placed everything in a cellophane bag. I stapled a piece of brown paper at the top and added a leopard ribbon and pink tag!

This is a fun little treat to pass out to her roommates and friends! It would also make a cute birthday party favor.

Thanksgiving Party Favors

Something I enjoy doing is turning Halloween candy into Thanksgiving Party Favors. You can buy leftover Halloween candy for 50% off a few days after Halloween. They year I bought bags of mini Rolo's and Kit Kat bars!

To make this project you will need:

Halloween candy

Brown, orange or yellow wrapping or scrapbook paper

Thanksgiving themed stickers

Scissors

Scotch tape

Plastic bags

Coordinating ribbon

Hole punch

Directions:

Make a pattern to fit your Halloween candy. Then cut out the scraps of paper to size and tape them around the candy. Add a Thanksgiving sticker. Then put the candy into the plastic bags.

The above photo is Kit Kat bars - the orange ends of the candy bar add to the Thanksgiving feel.

I find crafting relaxing. I often make these treats while I watch my favorite television shows.

I also love the gold ends of the Rolo's. I happened to have the brown wrapping paper from a cigar project I did last year. I also found the brown ribbon in my ribbon box. So before you head out to the store check your supplies and don't forget to use your coupons (Michael's, Hobby Lobby and JoAnne's).

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.