Texas Mini Cookies

There's nothing big about these cookies, y'all!! 

A girl in my son's 6th grade science class is moving to Texas.  They threw a going away party for her.  Since Texas is our second home, these were a treat to make. 

They did make me a little homesick though: Whataburger, HEB, Rudy's BBQ, Taco Cabana, 90 degree weather in March, armadillos, cochroaches, and the best guacamole and margaritas on the planet.  Not to mention some great friends!!  God Bless Texas!

Want some?  Gallop on over to my Etsy shop and get them here.

Oatmeal Jumbo Raisin Cookies

I spent the first 36-1/2 years of my life without a Trader Joe's within driving distance.  Can you believe it?!?  I moved to the So. Jersey/Philadelphia area from San Antonio last June {SA has since opened one...naturally}.  So "T.J.'s" was first on my list of places to visit (Liberty Bell and Independence Hall came in close second and third - priorities, people!)

After walking up and down the aisles for about 45 minutes, I ended up at the checkout line with one thing.

Strawberry licorice.



Have you tried it???  If not, do it.  You'll thank me later.

Since then, I have gone back...mainly for more licorice (all their stuff is "healthy"  right?), and some other things I've tried and liked.  Like their parmesan crisps, dried mango, mac and cheese, and vanilla granola.

But it wasn't until last Tuesday that I came across THESE suckers:



The Jumbo Raisin Medley, consisting of golden, flame (the red ones), and the purple raisins we're used to seeing - but on steroids.

So guess what immediately came to my mind to make with these...



Oatmeal Jumbo Raisin Cookies

2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups Trader Joe's Jumbo Raisin Medley (less if you're not so into raisins like I am)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Sift and whisk together flour, soda, cinnamon and salt.

Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugars til smooth.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add vanilla and beat until pale and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.

Mix in dry ingredients just til combined.   Fold in oats and raisins.



Form dough into 2" balls using a small ice cream scoop or by hand and place about 2" apart on baking sheets.  Bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes on sheets before removing to cooling racks.  Grab some milk.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

 ** You've got to really like raisins to enjoy these cookies.  Because there's usually one or part of one in every bite ;)

This recipe is also part of a link-up party at Simply Sweets By Honeybee.  Woohoo!

What are some of your favorite Trader Joe's products?

January Cookie Inspiration Challenge: Watercolor

One of my goals for 2013 was to get back into making cookies again. After taking about an 18 month hiatus, I felt I needed some sort of push or inspiration. Coincidentally, the challenge "New Year, New You"  given by Simply Sweets by Honeybee and Ellie's Bites Decorated Cookies seemed like the perfect place to start.  We were challenged to try a new technique. 

Here is my first ever "watercolor" cookie - done with Americolor edible gel paste, a combination of Super Red and Fuschia.  Mwwwwaaaaa!

Thanks Melissa and Stephanie for pushing me out of my cookie comfort zone :)

Toy Story Cookies

My cute nephew turns 3 this week.  He's having a Toy Story 3 Party.









Happy Birthday Owen!

This set is also available in my Etsy Shop!

Royal Icing Recipe

INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp. Meringue Powder
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice (preferably fresh)
1/2 - 2/3 cups filtered water
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 T. corn syrup (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS
Combine meringue powder, lemon juice, and water in bowl of an electric mixer with whisk attachment. Could also use a handheld mixer. Beat until frothy on high, about 2 minutes. Slowly add in powdered sugar on low speed and add corn syrup if desired. Increase speed to high for 3-5 minutes until icing forms a firm peak. Store in an airtight container or cover with a wet towel until ready to use. Thin out icing to desired consistency by adding water, 1 Tbsp. at a time. Tint desired colors. Can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

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Soft Gingerbread Cut-Out Cookies

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INGREDIENTS

5 to 5 1/2 c flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cloves
1 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 1/4 c unsulphered molasses
2 eggs, beaten

INSTRUCTIONS 

Melt shortening in saucepan until just melted, not hot. Add in order: sugar, molasses and eggs; mix well. Cool slightly. Add four cups dry ingredients to mixer fitted with paddle attachment and liquid mixture. Mix until combined, adding flour as needed to create a firm dough. Turn mixture onto lightly floured surface and separate into two. Wrap in plastic wrap and flatten into a disc, refrigerate 2 hours to overnight until ready to use.

Lightly flour surface and roll out dough. Cut in desired shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes for a chewier cookie, 12 minutes for a crunchy one.  Decorate as desired.  Makes 4 dozen.

As seen in my post,  How to Host a Cookie Swap 



(Do you think I would need to double the recipe for this cookie cutter?)

How To Host A Cookie Swap

A Cookie Swap (aka Cookie Exchange) is a great way to bring in the holiday season while getting together with some of your favorite people and sampling their treats.

Create and send your invitations.

Whether you choose social media or paper invitations, plan on prepping these about 3 weeks prior to your party.  Personally I like to go old school with paper invites.  I ordered mine through Vistaprint with a $70 Groupon voucher they had for $17 - not too shabby!

A good rule of thumb is to invite twice as many people as you think will come, because this time of year gets crazy!  A window of 10 days to two weeks is usually enough time for people to get it on their calendars before December fills up.

Ask your guests to bring cookies and a copy of their recipe.  I asked mine to bring 2 dozen and 20 copies of their recipe.  That seemed to be a good amount for the number of guests I had (about 12), so each had one cookie to sample and one to take home.  I've come across a few websites and blogs that suggested each guest provide one dozen cookies per guest in attendance - (for example: 8 dozen cookies for 8 guests) but that seemed like way too much work to me.  

One of my guests brought cookies from a local bakery.  I was thrilled!  Not everyone likes baking, but that's no reason to decline and miss out on the fun.

Decide what cookies you're going to make.  

Grandma's Shortbread?  A family favorite?  A healthy treat?  Something you've been dying to try from Pinterest?   Just make sure whatever you choose is something you're comfortable making and passes the test!

I made my favorite Soft Gingerbread Cut-Out Cookies with Royal Icing.

Decide what other types of food you'll be serving, if any.  

Will your swap include a dinner potluck?  Hors d'oeuvres or finger foods?  Provide a couple of options while keeping it simple.  Two of my guests were on special diets and appreciated being able to nosh on the veggie plate and cheese platter I provided.  Another guest brought spinach dip and pita chips.

Some beverage options can include ice water, egg nog, cider, wine, hot coffee or tea, or if you're feeling really festive, a signature holiday cocktail.  Of all the drinks I served, the Crystal Light was gone first!

Setting up.

Set up a large dining table or several smaller ones.  Provide napkins, plates, and cups...whether it's your finest china or disposable paper products.  Put a simple centerpiece on the table, one that doesn't take up too much space to leave room for lots of cookies and recipes.   Provide display tags for your guests to write down the name of their cookies.

Queue up your favorite holiday playlist or let internet radio do the work for you.  Pandora's Holiday Station was mine of choice - and it was just right.

Provide packaging supplies. 

The main goal of the cookie swap is for your guests to take home an assortment of yummy homemade cookies.  There are lots of packaging options here.  You can go ultra fancy like Martha Stewart and set up a station with ribbon, boxes, tissue paper, etc.  You can use containers from the dollar store, Chinese take-out boxes, ziploc bags - be as simple or creative as you want.  I opted for dinner-sized paper plates and cling wrap.

One thing I wish I would have done was provided folders for my guests to take home copies of the recipes.  Next time!

Some additional ideas:

• Combine your cookie swap with an Ugliest Sweater contest and provide door prize (like...a cookie cookbook!).  Ornament Exchanges or White Elephants are also a good way to mix things up.
• Have guests bring a can of food or an article of clothing to donate to a food bank and/or charity.
• Set up a cookie decorating station for the kids (or the grownups)
• Assign someone to take photos of the table, each plate of cookies, and candid shots of the guests to add to an online {private} photo album and virtual cookie cookbook.

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