Free goodies from Gooseberry Patch

I'm a fan of the artwork found on Gooseberry Patch. It is so homey and cute. This season, they have free downloadable Christmas gift tags for all of us. You can print them on cardstock or a full sheet of self-sticking paper (sticker). The gift tag file also opens in Photoshop, so you can even add your own text. They have other free downloadables like desktop wallpapers too.
 
Aren't these the cutest?

Cookie Recipe: Brown Sugar Cookies

Do you like sugar cookies? You'll love brown sugar cookies!

These cookies go well with ice cream, coffee, tea, or even as a cookie pie crust. Try them.

Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe

Brown Sugar Cookies. NoshWithMe/Flickr

makes about 15 cookies

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, separated
1/3 cup milk
1 cup flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped nuts

Cream butter. Add sugar. Beat egg whites and egg yolks separately. Add beaten eggs whites, beaten egg yolks, and milk. Sift flour with baking powder and salt. Add to egg and sugar mixture. Add nuts. Continue mixing thoroughly. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto well-oiled baking sheet. Bake at 400 F. for about 15 minutes.

Pear Cookies Recipe

So are you celebrating National Hot Cocoa Day? It's today, and whether you need child-friendly hot cocoa recipes or all grown-up hot cocoa recipes with alcohol, I have them for you, just click on the links above.

I'm listening to Christmas music and the traditional 12 Days of Christmas is playing, which is of course inspiring me to post another Christmas cookie recipe and this one is for pear cookies, (partridge not included).  ;-)

Partridge in a Pear Tree. Lydia Koby/Flickr

Now this recipe is from the days when families often had sour milk on hand.  All you need to do is let your 1/2 cup of milk sit on your counter for a while.  The exact amount of time will vary depending on the temperature in your house.  Anything bad will be killed off in that very hot 410 F. oven.  But if you are getting 21st. century heebie-jeebies, just substitute with store-bought buttermilk.  Speaking of hot oven, don't forget that most ovens need recalibrating, so watch those cookies and don't let them burn.


Pear Cookies

1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon mace
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour milk (or store-bought buttermilk)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dried pears
1/2 cup shortening

Chop died pears, Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and milk. Sift flour, measure, and sift with baking powder, baking soda, salt and mace. Add pears. Mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto well-oiled baking sheet. Bake in hot oven (410 F.) 10-12 minutes. 20 servings.

5 cute food gifts that will make recipients smile

If you are looking for some cute ideas to package your food gifts, then these are sure to please and make your recipients smile.  They are all quick and easy to do, and will be a lot less expensive than the pre-packaged gifts you'll find at the store.

Click on these links for recipes:
Hot Cocoa Recipes
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Prize-winning ginger cheese muffins recipe
Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate Brownies

Click this link to enter my latest cookbook giveaway.

Cocoa Mason Jar. Look at those marshmallows.
Just use food decorating pens. Photo: Meagan Mountford

No cookie cutters needed. Just cut strips of cookie dough.
Photo: Meagan Mountford

No baking required. 
Just layer the dry ingredients,
and don't forget to include the recipe.
Photo: Shabby Chic Crafts

Just layer dry ingredients for hot cocoa in a cone-shaped baggie.
Tie with festive ribbon, add googly eyes,
and a cotton ball at the tip. Photo: steamboatwillie33 

Place muffin mix in a tin, tie recipe with pretty ribbon.
For an extra fancy gift, place several tins in a basket
or a mixing bowl, and add a whisk or tea towels.
No baking required. Photo: C and H Sugar

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Click Here For My Latest Giveaway

Coffee Drop Cookies Recipe

Here's another cookie recipe for your Christmas exchanges.  All those addicted to Starbucks, Pete's, et al will love these coffee drop cookies.  And note the optional variation in flour, using soy or lima bean flour.

Don't miss my latest giveaway, The Family Dinner.  It's a great resource for parents and grandparents.  It's not only a cookbook, but a guide to help you connect with your children, or anyone invited to your family dinners.

Flickr/~♥ Amy

Coffee Drop Cookies
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg, well beaten
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 teaspoon cloves
3/4 cup cold coffee
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped raisins
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg. Mix thoroughly. Sift flour, measure, and sift with baking soda, salt, baking powder, and spices. Add alternately with coffee to first mixture. Add raisins, nuts, and flavoring. Mix thoroughly. Add additional flour if necessary to make a drop cookie dough. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto well-oiled baking sheet. Bake in moderate oven (400 F.) about 15 minutes. 36 servings. If desired, 1 cup soy or lima bean flour may be substituted for 1 cup flour. Mrs. C. E. Tucker, Centerville, Iowa.

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Vintage Recipe Thursday is meant to preserve your own original vintage family recipes, or out-of-print, copyright-free recipes from old cookbooks, magazines, newspapers or postcards.

You're invited! Get the details by clicking to the Vintage Recipe Thursday Homepage.

I post recipes from the Household Searchlight Recipe Book, first published in 1931. My 16th printing is from 1943.  What will you post?

Celebrate National Hot Cocoa Day with spirit and cheers

The official celebration of National Hot Cocoa Day is next monday - get ready to celebrate with these all grownup recipes.  They have just enough alcohol to keep you warm and cheerful on a cold night at home or have your friends wanting more at your next swanky Christmas party.

Need I say drink responsibly?

Click these links to read yesterday's post for 3 child-friendly hot cocoa versions and to enter my latest cookbook giveaway.

Grownups Only Hot Cocoa Recipes 
(Click here for child-friendly recipes)

Chambord White Chocolate Cocoa

Chambord White Chocolate Cocoa

1 - 1 1/2 oz. white chocolate sauce

6 oz. steamed milk

3/4 oz. Chambord®

3/4 oz. crème de cacao

Garnish: Sweetened whipped cream

and fresh raspberry

Fill glass coffee cup with boiling water to pre-heat - then pour out water. Mix white chocolate sauce and steamed milk in coffee cup. Add Chambord and crème de cacao. Garnish with whipped cream and top with raspberry.

Caribbean Hot Cocoa

1.5 oz Zaya Rum

4 oz hot cocoa (click for recipe)

0.5 oz brown crème de cacao

Garnish: 1 oz whipped cream

and cocoa powder

Pour all ingredients (except the whipped cream) into an Irish Coffee glass. Stir well. Float the whipped cream on top of the drink. Dust with cocoa powder.

Mexican Hot Cocoa

Mexican Hot Cocoa

1 ounce Mexican chocolate or bittersweet chocolate
1 cups milk
2/3 tablespoons sugar
Corralejo Reposado Tequila (to taste)
Pinch salt
Whipped Cream
Cinnamon Sticks For Serving/Stirring

Break up the chocolate into smaller pieces using a sharp knife.  In a small saucepan, combine the chopped chocolate, milk, sugar, and salt over medium-low flame. Heat and stir until the chocolate is completely melted and milk is very hot, but not boiling, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour into mugs. Add tequila to taste and stir. Add a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Hot cocoa, hot chocolate, hot chocolate malted milk recipes

Doesn't hot cocoa or hot chocolate make most people feel warm and cozy? It's a winner anytime of the year, but especially in the winter, and next Monday, December 13 is National Hot Cocoa Day - so make your children happy, and yourself too by preparing these child-friendly recipes.  Tomorrow I have more hot cocoa recipes for your smart grownup Christmas parties, or quiet evening-at-home night caps.

Click this link to enter my latest cookbook giveaway.

Child-Friendly Hot Cocoa Recipes

Hot Cocoa
 The Quilted Turtle/Flickr

Hot Cocoa

3 tablespoons cocoa
1/4 cup sugar
few grains of salt
2 cups milk, scalded
2 cups boiling water
Garnish: marshmallows
or whipped cream

Combine cocoa, sugar, salt, and water.  Cook 3 to 5 minutes over direct heat.  Add milk and beat.  Serve hot.  Top with marshmallows or whipped cream.  6 servings.

Hot Chocolate

2 cups boiling water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 squares chocolate
2 cups milk, scalded
1/8 teaspoon salt
sugar
Garnish: marshmallows
or whipped cream

Grate chocolate and combine with sugar, salt, and water.  Cook 3 to 5 minutes over direct heat.  Add milk.  Sweeten to taste.  Add vanilla extract and beat.  Serve hot.  Top with marshmallows or whipped cream.  6 servings.

Chocolate Malted Milk
 Moojieturtle/Flickr

Hot Chocolate Malted Milk

2 tablespoons chocolate malted milk
few grains of salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup water

Combine all ingredients, and beat until well blended.  Warm over direct heat for 3 to 5 minutes.  Serve at once. 

Cookbook Giveaway: The Family Dinner by Laurie David with recipes by Kirstin Uhrenholdt

Giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Hachette Book Group.

There will be 3 winners.

Enter through December 31 at midnight.

U.S. and Canada addresses only.

To enter, simply
follow Joy of Desserts via Blogger/Google Friend Connect,
and leave a comment telling me why you would like
to win this particular cookbook.

Here's what the publisher has written about this cookbook:

"Laurie David's new mission is to help America's overwhelmed families sit down to a Family Dinner, and she provides all the reasons, recipes and fun tools to do so.

"Laurie David speaks from her own experience confronting the challenges of raising two teenage girls. Today's parents have lots to deal with and technology is making their job harder than ever. Research has proven that everything we worry about as parents--from drugs to alcohol, promiscuity, to obesity, academic achievement and just good old nutrition--can all be improved by the simple act of eating and talking together around the table.

"Laurie has written a practical, inspirational, fun (and, of course, green) guide to the most important hour in any parent's day. Chock-full chapters include: Over seventy-five kid approved fantastic recipes; tips on teaching green values; conversation starters; games to play to help even the shyest family member become engaged; ways to express gratitude; the family dinner after divorce (hint: keep eating together) and much more. Filled with moving memories and advice from the country's experts and teachers, this book will get everyone away from electronic screens and back to the dinner table."

Title: The Family Dinner

Author: Laurie David with Recipes by Kirstin Uhrenholdt

Category: COOKING, FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Format: HARDCOVER BOOK

Publisher: Hachette Book Group

Publish Date: 11/3/2010

Price: $29.99/$33.99

ISBN: 9780446565462

Pages: 256

Size: 8-1/4" x 10"

Cookie Recipe: Classic pinwheels for Christmas or anytime

December is the time for cookies. So many of us give or exchange cookies, and pinwheel cookies are a classic. If you decide to use food coloring, don't forget that there is organic food coloring available too. You don't have to give chemicals to your family and friends, but you can still have pretty cookies in every color of the rainbow.

Post your own vintage recipes below if you are interested in participating.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for another great giveaway too.

Flickr/GMidora
Pinwheel cookies

Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 square chocolate, melted
3 tablespoons milk
1 egg, well beaten
1 1/2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Sift flour, measure, and sift with baking powder and salt. Cream shortening. Add sugar gradually. Cream until light and fluffy. Add egg. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Mix thoroughly. Add flavoring. Divide dough into two portions. Add chocolate to one portion. Turn onto lightly floured board. Roll white dough in sheet 1/8 inch thick. Roll chocolate dough in thin sheet the same size. Place the chocolate dough over the white dough and press together firmly. Roll as for jelly roll. Chill thoroughly. Cut in thin slices. Place on well-oiled baking sheet. Bake in hot oven (425 F.) 10-12 minutes. Food coloring may be substituted for chocolate if desired. 36 servings. Barbara Webster, Fitchburg, Mass.

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Vintage Recipe Thursday is meant to preserve your own original vintage family recipes, or out-of-print, copyright-free recipes from old cookbooks, magazines, newspapers or postcards.

You're invited! Get the details by clicking to the Vintage Recipe Thursday Homepage.

I post recipes from the Household Searchlight Recipe Book, first published in 1931. My 16th printing is from 1943.  What will you post?