Christmas Baking-palooza 2011

It's been several years since I did the Christmas baking thing. I found some recipes that I wanted to try out. Once I got started baking, I couldn't stop.

I don't remember not knowing how to bake; however, I don't remember the first time I baked. What I do remember is my mom (Marilyn) teaching me how to bake. The majority of what I know about baking is because of her. Several of the cookies recipes she shared with me were her mom's recipes. It always surprises me to meet someone that claims they do not know how to bake.

One of my new recipes came from Leigh Anne at Your Homebased Mom, her Oatmeal Peppermint Dipped Cookies are delicious!

I tweaked her recipe a bit and came up with what I'm calling Oatmeal Chunk Peppermint Bark Cookies. I can't help myself, I always like to put my twist on recipes. I rarely follow a recipe exactly. This causes a bit of anxiety with a few of my friends that insist on following a recipe exactly.

I like to call these Oatmeal Chunk Peppermint Bark Cookies.

I use a Kitchen Aid Mixer because I like to let it do all the work.

For the cookies, you'll need the following:

• 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt (Kosher or Sea)
• 3 cups oats (Quaker Old Fashioned)
• 1 bag of Nestle Chocolate Chunks

I always mix / fluff the butter then add the sugars. After the butter and sugar are fluffy, I add the eggs and vanilla. 

While that's all mixing, I measure out the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt and oats and mix in a bowl. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture.

Add in chips. I use around half a bag of Nestle Chocolate Chunks.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies will spread out on the pan, so be sure to leave plenty of space.

For the dip, you'll need:

1 bag of chocolate chips (select your favorite kind - semi-sweet, milk or dark)

*2 Tbl Crisco

Crushed Peppermint

I melt the chocolate the old school way over with a double boiler. Pampered Chef has one that fits most saucepans. The amount of Crisco to use depends on on smooth the chocolate melts. All chocolate does not melt the same. I find it usually takes one to two tablespoons.

When I dip the cookies, I don't worry too much about covering the back of the cookie. I do a quick dip of the front then place on parchment paper. Sprinkle the crushed peppermint on the chocolate while it's still soft. I used miniature candy canes - they come individually wrapped. I just tapped them with a hammer a few times and they broke apart great. 

I would love to know what you think of Leigh Anne's recipe and mine. Let me know if you how you put your twist on it. I think butterscotch chips might be yummy!

I Love Pinterest

Thanks to Jana Kleczek, I'm hooked on Pinterest. Like many, we've reconnected through Facebook. Through Facebook - who really talks anymore - she told me about Pinterest. I think she actually told me that I have to get on it.

Get on it I did! My mini-obsession with Pinterest has been going on for about a month. I was hooked immediately! I find myself saying, "I saw such and such on Pinterest," way too much. Several friends tell me they just don't get it. Today, I explained to one of my long-time BFFs why it's so fabulous.

Through Pinterest, I've discovered several blogs that I doubt I would have discovered otherwise. It's also inspired me to actually do something with my own blog. 

One of my new favorite blogs is The Small Things by Kate. She's a professional hair stylist and jane of all trades. The great thing about her blog is that she has these awesome tutorials showing you how to style your hair different ways. At the age of 39, I've learned that I've been wearing bobby pins backwards and that I'm too gentle when teasing my hair. I'm so inspired by her blog that I might just welcome back bangs.

Three different cookie recipes inspired me to start baking-palooza for the holidays. I modified - I can't help myself - each of the recipes a bit, but the three I tried are: Chocolate sugar cookie from the Joy of Baking, oatmeal peppermint dipped cookies from Your Homebased Mom, and finally mocha blossoms by Culinary Concoctions. I'll post my version of the recipes at a later date.

Give Pinterest a shot, you might just find your creative side.

Getting Back in the Creative Groove

It's been a busy year plus - marriage, new home, new job - and making jewelry took a backseat to all of it. In October 2010, I signed up to be an independent stylist with Stella & Dot. I'm torn between focusing on it and making jewelry - each has things that I love.

With the new home came what I refer to as my 'work room' (love Tim Gunn and Project Runway). My work room serves as my craft room and home office. One of the great things about the new job is that I work from home (more about that later).

I finally got the work room set up so it's functional for me. Getting it functional is all it took to get me back in the groove of making jewelry. I've added a few pics below of my favorite pieces. My Etsy shop has a good amount of jewelry available for sale; however, I've been focusing most of my energy on getting ready for a trunk show in my home.

I love the color combination of these pieces. My cousin, Veronica, treated herself to the inner necklace.

One of my all time favorite combos - this is three necklaces.