White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Merry Christmas from  Memphis, TN. I made a batch of these White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. Here is a trick: Beat two eggs, let the dry cherries or cranberries set in the egg mixture  for about 30 minutes (cover with plastic wrap) It will help "plump" the fruit up.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

1 stick butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose  flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons milk
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a medium bowl, with electric mixer, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until just combined. Set aside.

Sift together flour, soda, and salt. Add milk to the butter mixture and then add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Batter should be stiff.

In another bowl, combine nuts, cranberries, and white chocolate. Then add to batter, stirring only to blend. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for approximately 11 to 13 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

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Posted in: Cookies

Chocolate Fondue

I don't believe there is anything more satisfying in this world, food wise, other than chocolate. Dark brown, creamy goodness makes my day! I have a quick recipe for a milk chocolate fondue.

I usually don't make my own, since I do not have a fondue set, but I thought I could swing it in the microwave.

The story goes like this:
Sent husband out to buy groceries a few days ago and asked him for a bag of milk chocolate chips so I can make cookies.

Husband comes home with a bag of milk chocolate chips that look dry and off color and clumped together. (They obviously got too hot somewhere in transition)

I decide not to waste the "chips" and go for this very yummy fondue recipe. 

Let me know what you think......

Chocolate Fondue

Picture taken from: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chocolate_fondue.html_0

 

 

• 1 bag of milk chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon creamy peanut butter

In a microwave safe bowl add chocolate, butter, vanilla and milk. Cook in microwave on medium heat for 4 minutes. Stir and add in peanut butter. Cook for one minute on medium high heat. Serve with your favorite fruits, cookies, brownies, donuts, nuts or whatever you can think of!

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Christmas Ornament Chandelier

What will $2, thirty minutes of free time and the need to decorate get you? A nice ornament chandelier, that's what! I have to admit, I really like Pinterest and have found some really neat craft ideas on the website. One I saw, and thought was super pretty, was a silver ornament decoration hanging from dining room  lights. Now, in my dining room, I have a ceiling fan with lights, but it still works.

So after listening to Christmas music, drinking hot chocolate and watching my kittens roll around in the curling string for a while, I was able to hang my new and cheap decoration:

Nothing too fancy, just ornaments hanging out. :)









What you need: 

Pack or two of glass ball ornaments. I used various sizes for interest.
Curling String

Scissors
Hot Glue (optional)
A place to hang the decoration

The first step is to hot glue the ornament top (where the hook usually goes) to the ornament itself to make sure it is secure. You do not have to do this if you feel the ornament will hold.

Thread the curling ribbon through one of your ornaments and continue until you have about 8 or 9 ornaments in a single line on the ribbon. Make sure to leave a good 6 inches or so at the top.

Tie a knot at the bottom of the ribbon to prevent the ornaments from slipping or falling off.

Tie a loop at the top of the ribbon to hook around a nail or place a ornament hook to hang the decoration. I have two sets of ornaments hanging in the picture.

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