The Christmas Cookie You've Never Tried but Should! Napoleons.

This easy bar dessert recipe with chocolate and vanilla cream is so delicious it will make your heart race! I make sure and make a special batch for my mother-in-law as this is HER favorite of the treats I make. It's mine too! A wonderful dessert for the holidays!

Ingredients:

Crust:
1/2 cup of butter
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 of cocoa
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Melt in a double boiler until butter is melted. Add 1 egg and stir continuously until thickened, about 3 minutes.
Add:
2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
1 cup of coconut flakes
Press into a 9x9 pan

Filling:
Cream 1/2 cup of butter
1 small package of vanilla pudding
2 cups of powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons of milk
Whip until fluffy.
Spread onto the crust and chill

Chocolate topping:
6 oz of semi-sweet chocolate ships
2 Tablespoons of margarine
Melt in a double boiler and spread on the filling, chill in the fridge.  Cut into squares and keep in the fridge.

So rich and delicious! Its a new holiday cookie that you haven't tried yet for those cookie swaps!

Best Cut-Out Cookies Recipe EVER!

The BEST Cut-Out cookie recipe you will ever taste! Finished my baking this weekend! Lots of cookies for plates and kids, its my favorite thing to do!  I have the perfect Christmas cookie recipe and royal icing that is fast and easy.

Sugar Cookie Ingredients

• 1 c. {two sticks} of REAL unsalted BUTTER, softened
• 1 1/2 c. confectioner’s sugar
• 1 egg
• 2-3 tsp flavoring {pick what you like, I prefer almond}
• 2 1/2-2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt

Instructions

1. Cream together softened butter and confectioner’s sugar. Crack the egg into a separate bowl, and add the flavoring. I use emulsions, but extract also works well. Add that to the butter sugar mixture and mix until the egg is thoroughly incorporated. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then add little by little to the mixture. I can tell the dough is ready when most of it sticks to the paddle. When I touch it, it has a little give, but does not stick to my fingers.
2. Roll out on parchment to about 1/4 an inch thick, use flour for dusting as necessary. Then, cut and bake at 400 degrees for 7-8 minutes. This version makes 2-2 1/2 dozen, doubled, it makes 4-5 dozen.

Royal Icing Ingredients

• 2 pounds {one bag} confectioner's sugar {907 grams}
• 5 tablespoons meringue powder {approximately 53 grams}
• 2-3 teaspoons oil-free extract or emulsion
• 1/2-3/4 cups warm water

Instructions

1. Begin by stirring the flavoring into half the water.
2. Using a paddle attachment, gently mix the sugar and meringue powder. It's not necessary to sift the sugar beforehand, but you can if you like.
3. With the mixer on it's lowest setting slowly add the water/flavoring mix to the dry ingredients. As the water is added, the icing will become thick and lumpy.
4. Continue to add the remaining water {this may or may not be the entire amount} until the mixture reaches a thick, honey like consistency. At this point, turn the mixer to medium speed and whip 2-4 minutes until this icing is thick and fluffy. Mixing time can vary greatly so watch carefully and stop mixing when the icing is this enough to form a soft peak.

If you're new to royal icing make sure to visit Sweet Sugar Belle's site with lots of tips and tutorials!

Hope you enjoy this easy cut-out cookie recipe!

MOUTH Watering Peanut Butter Crisp Balls!

My husband has FINALLY convinced me to release my family recipe for these amazing Peanut Butter Balls.  I will always remember the first time I took them to my husband's family Christmas... the men actually got into a physical tug-o-war over the balls.  Seriously... It was almost my LAST Christmas with that family! Hahaha.

Ingredients

• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar

• 4 cups rice crispy cereal
• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Mix room temperature butter with the peanut butter until blended.  Add the powdered sugar and blend. Then add the rice crispy cereal and mix well. 
2. 
   
3. Form into 1 inch balls, place on cookie sheets, chill till firm in refrigerator (over night is okay). *Tip: I spray my hands every so often with Pam cooking spray so it doesn't stick because it will!
4. 
   
5. Melt chocolate in double boiler.  I add 2 ounces of food grade paraffin wax that has been grated finely to melt faster, this gives the chocolate coating a gorgeous shiny look. Dip them and place on cookie sheet. As you dip them place them back on cookie sheet and chill until set.  I store these in the refrigerator.

There you have it.  My Pride and Joy... Take care of her.


Don't forget the Almond Raspberry Shortbread cookies that are to die for and the SUPER simple Peppermint Bark!

DIY Stocking Hanger!

I've been searching everywhere for the PERFECT stocking hangers... I just never found them.  So I created my own!

I got a board at the hardware store and stained it to match my fireplace. Then I attached a curtain rod to the board to hang the stockings on.  I did weight it down JUST to be sure it wasn't coming down when the stockings were loaded.

That beautiful garland I saw in a store for $89.  RIGHT?  Guess where I found it for $39?  Rite Aid Online of all places.  Decorating on a budget for the win!

I LOVE the look and I can change the spinals next year to something different if I want!  Maybe dress it up a bit more glamorous... what do you think?

I also found this red lantern in the closet that we had and added a wreath around it for a festive look. We can always light it too!

What creative things are you coming up with?

Almond Raspberry Shortbread Cookies!

These cookies MELT in your mouth, they are so yummy.  I make these every year for my husband. So very easy and so good.  What I also love is that my daughter can help in the process.  I used to be a perfectionist with everything I did.  But I will tell you those cookies that my daughter did... they are the priceless perfect ones.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. 
   
3. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.
4. 
   
5. Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.
6. 
   
7. In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar, 3/4 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.

25 Days of Christmas

Well I tried potty training a 2 year old while holding an 8 week old AND we're all sick.... after I had a good laugh (possibly a few tears and a glass of wine) I decided to put up our Reading Tree instead.

I wrapped 24 books to place under a new tree I purchased specifically for this project. Each night the kids open one book to read for family time. Of course the last book is The Night Before Christmas that is read by grandpa on Christmas Eve.

I wanted a woodland theme tree and I happened to have the ornaments on hand from last year. I love how it turned out.  

Some of our favorite books
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas 
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Frosty the Snowman 
The Littlest Elf 
Little Blue Truck's Christmas 

Christmas in a Manger

Source: 

Tree - Ballard

Pine Cones - Michael's

Trolley to the North Pole

We had a great weekend even if it was pouring down rain and we're in the midst of an 18 month sleep regression.  We got up Saturday morning and headed downtown to see Santa on the Christmas Trolley. The Trolley we rode was built in 1928. The conductors were dressed up, we sang carols (which all of the children loved) and got to meet Santa.  Baby J was more interested in the Gingerbread cookie...

After Baby J went down for a nap the hubs and I decorated Christmas cookies or at least started too... they aren't finished yet.  Hopefully by New Years!

With Jessy going through her 18 month sleep regression with the picky eating and tantrums (which I'm really fortunate that its not as bad as other moms have been going through) but you really just do whatever it takes to have a good day. I keep reading that it can last from 2 to 6 weeks and things will go back to normal... you just have to hang on and make it through.  So sometimes we wear funny hats... apparently it makes us better eaters... and blanket forts are the best for calming us down in the evenings.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas week!

Best Toy Purchase So Far

So we got this little gem for baby J and we had to open it this weekend to play on it ourselves.  It is so much fun that I came home yesterday to find the nanny riding around on it.  "This thing IS fun!".  We all love it.  Its called a Swing Car, it holds up to 220 pounds and it turns on a dime.  I'm pretty sure we will be buying another one in the near future, mostly because mom and dad are competitive and there simply needs to be a race!

Its completely affordable and made really well.  Like I said, we'll definitely be getting another one! Baby J LOVES it.  

Purple Swing Car

Christmas Books with 30% Off COUPON Today ONLY!

I want to start the tradition of 25 books of Christmas.  Wrap 25 books and put them under the tree. Each night baby J gets to choose one, open it and we read it.  The last book is, "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Here are some books I picked up!

Olive, the Other Reindeer Such a cute story. Going to be a favorite.

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas This is one of my favorite books that we got last year.  I love my husband when he does the voices.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas (The Bear Books)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas (Holiday Classics) My dad started the tradition of reading this to baby J on Christmas Eve.

They have a coupon good through today for 30% off your second book!!  Use coupon code HOLIDAY30.

What are some of your favorite holiday books?