10 December 2008

Cool Yule Giveaway


Presents! Who doesn't like to get presents? Or give them for that matter. I was thinking about presents the other day. (Well, really I was thinking about my blog post the other day and how I had to come up with something to blog about.) My mind kept coming back to presents seeing as how 'tis the season and all of that. I'm almost finished with my Christmas shopping.

Stop. I can hear everyone's groans and all of you saying how you hate people like me who finish early. I haven't always been like that. In fact, this is the first year I've been done this early. For the past five years I've worked in Retail Management and we all know what that means--no holiday time. So I swore this year was going to be different.

As my mind sifted and sorted various blog topics concerning presents, I thought why not GIVE some presents to our loyal blog readers. I sent the call out to my fellow Beyond the Veil writers and suddenly we had this fabulous contest and so many cool gifts to give away that we decided to extend it.

So as a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you, we at Beyond the Veil would like to give you a few gifts. There's a catch (there always is). You have to comment on our blog in order to be eligible. If you post anonymously or from a profile with no contact info, you must leave us an email address so we can contact you. Unclaimed prizes will be reallocated after five business days. Drawing will be held after noon on Dec. 21, 2008.

And to get you started, I'll give you some ideas to comment on. For instance, where's the best place you've had to hide your presents? What are some of your best holiday memories? Like to bake? Share a quick and easy recipe with us. Or just stop by and wish us a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday.

The contest will run from December 10 until noon (EST) on December 21 (The Winter Solstice - we are paranormal authors!). Twelve lucky winners will receive a free gift from us.

Here's a list of what we're giving away:

Download of one of Carolan Ivey's titles, unless the winner has read all of them, then a download of an SP title of their choice
Bath and Body Works Giftset from Kaye Chambers
Handmade giftbag and a dowload of any one title by Jody Wallace
Download of Dream Walk by Meg Allison
Download of With Nine You Get Vanyr by Jean Marie Ward
PDF download of any one title in Biana D'Arc's backlist
Download of any one title in Dayna Hart's backlist
Download of Heart of the Sea by Sela Carson
Download of Midnight Reborn - The Watchers by Diane McIntire
Download of Poison by Joely Skye
Download of Hunting the Huntress by Ember Case
Download of any one title in Sharon Cullen's backlist


Ready? Set? Go! Leave us a comment!


Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!



From the authors of Beyond the Veil

65 comments:

Anonymous said...

my favorite recipe at this time of te year is for fudge, it's easy fairly quick and with just a tweak here and there can be personalized to a specific person's favorites. I make boxes of it to take to the local VA Hospitals and the Local food pantry. this is my favorite recipe from Nestles Tollhouse. I know a lot of people think that the brand of chocolate doesn't matter. but it does make a difference in the texture of the fudge.

Estimated Times:
Preparation - 8 min | Cooking - 6 min | Cooling Time - 2 hrs refrigerating | Yields - 24 servings (2 pieces per serving)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups (9 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:
LINE 8-inch-square baking pan with foil.

COMBINE sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

STIR in marshmallows, morsels, nuts and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted. Pour into prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 48 pieces.

FOR MILK CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE 1 3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Morsels.

FOR BUTTERSCOTCH FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE 1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Butterscotch Flavored Morsels for Semi-Sweet Morsels.

FOR PEANUTTY CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
SUBSTITUTE 1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet Morsels and 1/2 cup chopped peanuts for pecans or walnuts.


PLace the pieces in a sandwich baggie and Wrap the baggie, I usually do four pieces to a serving instead of two, in a little bit of colored netting or tissue paper. Tie with a ribbon and form a pretty bow and you have a great small gift especialy if you work for a department store like me and don't want anyone to feel left out.

Also this is a great project to do with your kids and it gives them a chance to help out sommeone less fortunate if the gifts are going to the VA's or homeless shelters.

Pamela K. Kinney said...

I found this mew recipe and used it to make it for Thanksgiving and couple Christmas parties. I plan to make it for Christmas too.
Cranberry Butter

3 C. powdered sugar
3 T. FRESH-squeezed lemon juice (don't use the bottled stuff)
3 sticks BUTTER (margarine does not work well at all)
1 12-oz. package Ocean Spray Cranberries, uncooked



Place all ingredients in food processor and mash until thoroughly mixed and you are tired of the noise. Chill. Serve with hot rolls, toast, etc.

Note: If a lighter-flavored cranberry taste is desired, use one more stick of butter and process a little longer.


You can freeze this as it makes a lot.

Anonymous said...

I make a fruit salad that everyone loves. I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season
2 Canned Fruit Cocktail - drained
1 apple - cut into chunks
1 banana - cut in half and sliced
coconut flakes and
mini marshmallows I like the colored ones
maraschino cherries sliced in half
Coolwhip

pre-chill the cocktail in the can in the fridge overnight, drain well dump into large mixing bowl, add the apple, banana, and cherries as much coconut as wanted, and mini marshmallows, mix well then add coolwhip til well mixed together. Chill til time to eat.

Anonymous said...

These are all excellent recipes that I can't wait to try. Valerie, I make a peanut butter fudge that is awesome but takes more time that yours. I'll have to try yours.

Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Great contest!!
Eggnog Punch
2 quarts of eggnog
2 liters of 7-Up
1/2 gallon of Black Walnut ice cream
1 Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and enjoy!
2 You can substitute another "nut" type ice cream, but not one with other flavors like chocolate, caramel or coffee Ingredients

LuAnn said...

What great prizes! Wonderful way to spend the winter reading. It's definitely my favorite thing to do when it's too cold to be outside.

Carolan Ivey said...

Thanks for all the great recipes! :)

Pamk said...

I always hide my santa presents at someone else house. When the kiddos were extremely little it would be my dad's. He lived 1/2 mile away so when they went to bed I just run over there and get them.

Shadowspun said...

Hmm, I'll share a recipe I make for apple crisp/baked apples. It's one of those make up as you go recipes. I use it as a great Gluten-free recipe, but you can easily make it non GF by substituting the GF cake mix with Jiffy.

GF Apple Crisp/Baked Apples

Estimated Time:
Prep: 1 hour (for peeling and slicing all the apples)
Cook: 30 minutes to an hour
No clue of the yield, there's always enough for everyone, though.

Ingredients:
9 or 12 apples of at last three different types. I tend to use Granny Smith, Gala and Pink Lady for a nice combination of sweet and tart.
Light Brown Sugar: at least two cups
Yellow cake mix: 1 cup (Jiffy works well for non-GF and I use Gluten Free Pantry Old-Fashioned Cake and Cookie Mix for the GF version)
Spices to taste: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspince, Ginger
About half a stick of butter

Directions:
Peel and slice apples into thin slices. It takes a little while, so put on some music.
.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix the dry ingredients by hand: 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup cake mix, spices to taste.

Layer apple slices in a baking dish large enough to hold all of them. Do this in three layers or so. With each layer sprinkle some of the dry mix on it, making sure you reserve a small amount for the topping. As you layer, mix the apples and dry ingredients so the apples are coated. When all of the apples are layered and coated with the dry mix, sprinkle the rest of the dry mix on the surface.

Put thin slices of butter on top of the whole thing and bake in the oven until the sugar is melted and cake mix is browned.

If you want to make it more of an apple crisp, use more cake mix. If you want to make it more of a baked apple dish, use more sugar. It really is a personal preference recipe, but it does seem to work a bit better as a baked apple dish.

Enjoy!

Asylumgirl said...

My best place to hide presents...in plain sight. LOL

I wrap each child's presents in a different paper and don't put tags on them, so only I know which ones belong to whom.

Happy Holidays everybody!

Deidre

Cathy said...

Thanks for the great recipes. When my boys were young, I used to hide presents in green garbage bags and put them in the garage rafters.

Love your hiding in place sight idea, Deidre. Must make your kids nuts, lol.

Jeanette J said...

The recipes sound delicious. I'd like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and thank you for the contest

Blythespirit said...

Happy Holidays, Everyone! Thank you for the great recipes. I can't wait to try them. We used to hide presents under our bed. Not very original. My youngest says that is how she figured out there is no Santa. Oooops!

Meg Allison said...

Wow! We get great recipes in return? Very nice! :)

Judy said...

Happy Holidays everyone!! I will try some of the recipes! They all sound good. When my children were young, I use to hide the presents in any nook and granny I could find. I have even hid some from me and didn't find them until after Christmas:)

Carolan Ivey said...

LOL - I've done that, hide presents and completely forgetting about them!

Anonymous said...

I love making mulled wine this time of year.
Cinnamon, orange slices, vanilla, sugar, and a bottle of red wine (does not have to be expensive!)heated on the stove (not boiling)
Question re: the contests....is this open to international participants?
Thanks,
Natasha A.

Anonymous said...

When my sons were young they got to pick out a tree ornament each year so when they went away to college they had 20 for their first tree. One of my son's said he decorated a little tree in his dorm room and was the only one that had any ornaments on it the others just had lights.
Here's an easy chocolate dessert recipe for when you really don't have time to fix something.
Turn oven on 200 degrees. Place a piece of foil on a cookie sheet. Place small figure 8 pretzels on top of foil, put a Rolo candy on top and put in oven for 5 minutes or until slightly melted. Remove from oven and put an M&M Peanut candy on top. Press down lightly. Cool and serve.
JWIsley@aol.com

Jlynn said...

Great prizes! I love contests.
When we were small my mother and step-father would take us out Christmas Eve night to go look at Christmas lights and when we got back home Santa had arrived. Underneath the tree was always empty when we left and full when we got back. It was great. Even to this day we never knew who's house the presents were kept and who it was that brought them over. Then we would go to Dad's house late Christmas Eve. This was an unwritten rule that we had to be at Dad's to spent the night for Christmas morning. Of course, when we got up Christmas morning Santa had been there. It was great having two Christmases. That's the way we had to look at it having a split family at Christmas time. We have wonderful memories that we share even though it was hard sometimes.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas everyone. Now A good hiding spot for presents??I buy presents throughout the entire then I put them away so no can find them. I always think it's a good spot to hide them, that is, until I can't find then myself.
MY sister does the same thing, and she found a present when she moved that she lost 4 years ago.
Go figure. If you think you find a good hiding spot make sure you remember it.

angie said...

i love the chocs the kids make

Anonymous said...

I am not a cook or baker. So I'm not giving a recipe - I don't want to be accused of accidentally killing some one.

Anyway my favorite Christmas memories have to deal with when I was just a kid. My Grandmother lived next door to us and all of her kids & Grandkids would come and have Christmas dinner there.

Well with as many as 40 to 50 people they would set everything buffet style and when my Dad & I got through the line with our food we would sneak out and go to our house and watch football.

My Grandma & Mom used to get so irritated at us. But I'll always remember it. :)

Unknown said...

I hide the present in rubber bins dow in the basement te kids never go down there

Ironeyes said...

When my kids were younger, I would wrap the presents in the holiday wrap, then wrap over them with brown paper bags. I'd code them with a number, put a goofy address on them and put them under the tree. They would hunt all over the house for Santa's presents. The boxes under the tree were going to be shipped out so became a null target of interest. Then on Xmas eve late, I'd unwrap them, put the bow and label on. Hid them in plain sight. Now Easter egg hunts were more inventive. Another story though.

jer said...

My favorite place to hide the presents is the attic - the opening is above the washing machine and it's way dark.

lrhubble said...

one receipe that I really enjoy and can actually be done any time is:

Chocolate Pudding Pie
1-1/2 cups cold milk
1 pkg Chocolate flavor instant pudding & pie filling
1 Oreo Pie Crust (though a chocolate one will work also)
2 cups thawed cool whip whipped topping, divided.

pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Spoon half of the pudding into crust.

Gently stir 1 cup of the whipped topping into remaining pudding; spoon over pudding layer in crust.

Top with remainign 1 cup whipped topping. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the wonderful recipes. Happy Holidays everyone!!!

lindseye said...

Wow lots of great recepies and places to hide gifts. When we were little my mom hi our gifts in the attic and would bring them down late Christmas eve.

Cynthya said...

Thanks for the great recipes! One of my favorite memories is making sugar cookies with my Dad (Mom didn't bake.) He also made the most delicious lemon meringue and chocolate silk pies for Christmas--yum.

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I'm new to this blogging thing so I hope I don't screw it up. lol I just want to say what a fabulous idea for a contest and I'm having a blast discovering all of these talented authors! Thanks for introducing me to even more great paranormal reading and for the contest! :)

~ShaLyn~

ShaLyn80@yahoo.com

N.J.Walters said...

Great contest, ladies.

I make the same kind of fudge that Valerie does. It's a fabulous recipe.

Hiding presents...Luckily, I don't have to hide them. No kids and hubby is very good about leaving things alone. *g*

MsValerie said...

I don't have too many unpleasant Christmas memories. As I look back, the ones where we were all together, family and friends, are the nicest. Nothing fancy...I just love remembering being with everyone.

clynsg said...

Christmas is just about the only time I eat fudge (which is a good thing since I am a borderline diabetic) and I have been successfully staying away from the temptation to make some--at least so far. Don't know how much longer I can hold out though--I can still remember the plates of fudge, peanut brittle, popcorn balls, etc that were always out when we went to the grandparents at Christmas. That was the only time of the year we were allowed to pretty much eat as many sweets as we wanted too--maybe that's where the fudge connection comes in!


clynsg at yahoo.com

Julie Robinson said...

First, thanks to Beyond the Veil for this very generous contest. I love the name of the blogsite. It's so appropo.

Second, thanks to all for their very generous recipes. Some look like I could actually handle. Here's somewhat of a recipe: Take plain eggnog; add rum, brandy, and whiskey. Mix to taste. More rum should be added than brandy and whiskey; and more brandy should be added than whiskey. Hmm, I feel thirsty.

As far as hiding presents goes, I keep my son's presents in my closet and my husbands in the trunk of my car if I'm buying near Christmas time.
I buy all year if i see something that just fits that person, then i get it and store it in a special "gifts" box I keep at the top of my closet.

Julie

macbeaner said...

Merry Christmas. I try to make the Libby's Pumpkin Roll recipe every year.

http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=32372

LVLM(Leah) said...

My favorite Christmas--

One year, when I was a child, my parents were really broke and I remember my mom crying because they couldn't get a loan to buy us Christmas presents. That year was my favorite and really stands out in my memory because my parents still managed to get us a few things each. They were cheap toys, but they became my favorites none the less and I treated them like gold, keeping them in a special place for years, and years.

Because of that, I always give money to Toys for Tots or buy something for a few kids on the Giving Trees at the malls. I hate that a kid would have a Christmas without even one toy or gift.

Vicky said...

This is a wonderful recipe to have either for breakfast or dessert.
All you have to do is taste it and you are hooked. Enjoy

Homemade Bread Pudding with Cajun Praline Sauce

Bread Pudding:
1 ½ loaves of stale French Bread
4 cups sugar
4 cans evaporated milk
1 can condensed milk
4 eggs
1 T. vanilla

Place chunks of bread in well greased 9”x 13” pan.
In a large mixing bowl whip together all other ingredients.
Then pour over bread.
Let soak about 1 hour.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Cajun Praline Sauce:
¾ stick margarine
1 box light brown sugar
½ cup evaporated milk
1 t. vanilla

Mix melted margarine, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla in microwave safe bowl. Cook in
microwave for 6 minutes on high. Remove from microwave and whip using whisk until
cool.

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope ya'lls holiday is the best it can be.

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas to all and thanks for the recipes. My kids will love them. I like to hide my christmas presents as high as I can so my children can't reach them. They haven't grasped the concept that you have to wait until Christmas day before you rip off the paper and get your toys. The spirit of a 2 and 3 year old. So fun, so exhausting.

kmt1976 said...

Quick Salad (I found this in my mother's file)

1 container small curd cottage cheese
1 container Cool Whip
1 package of Jello
1 can of fruit

Carolan Ivey said...

My Mom used to make that - I'd forgotten! Thanks for the reminder of a tasty recipe. :)

Tabatha said...

Well I have never had to hide gifts myself but I remember as young girl that we had a loft. I had snuck up there all the time to play. (So not the best place to hide them.) One christmas my gifts were hidden up there. I was so sad because they said Santa. I couldn't help but think he wasn't real. Well I had cried to my mom. My mom told me that Santa had asked her to get my gifts for me because he was really busy and that he didn't want me to not have any if he didn't have a chance to get there on before Christmas morning. I was so happy that my mom had talked to Santa that it didn't matter that Santa is magic and could have made it.

To this day I still believe that Santa is magic... He is the one that helps moms and dads make their chilren believe that he is the one that got them that new bike or dollhouse. Santa is the one that puts that little bit of extra money in a parents pocket to make sure Christmas is filled with smiles. He even makes sure the poor has a place to go on the holidays for a warm meal.

I think that Christmas when I found my presents just showed me that Santa is everyone.

Tabatha!

LadyVampire2u said...

One of my favorite Holiday memories has to be when my family and I went to a Motown concert last Christmas. Everyone went, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, just everybody. The Four Tops, the Drifters and the Marvelettes were preforming and we had a blast. My cousin Jason was picked to go up on stage and prance along to the music wearing reindeer antlers and a red nose. And when the concert ended, well were sad for the fun to end but as it happened, fate had one more surprise in store for us. My aunt Brenda wanted to leave the building via another route since the line for getting out of the building was so long and we ended up accidentally walking into a back stage Christmas party with all the bands. I am sure these people had no idea who we were but they shook our hands, took pictures with us and signed a few things anyhow. I had a great time and so did everyone else.
Happy Holiday everyone.

LadyVampire2u(AT)gmail(DOT)com

azteclady said...

No recipe, but sending good wishes for the holidays out to everyone--authors and readers alike!

And after resisting as long as I could (I have a loooooooooooong list of bookmarked blogs that I read daily, dammit!) I'm bookmarking the blog.

(Sela, it's your fault)

rainstorm said...

Yay! New recipes to try. I love to cook. It doesn't always turn out right though. ha ha ha

kaisquared said...

I love all the new recipes I am getting from these holiday blogs! Stay warm and safe, everyone!

Loretta said...

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Here's a couple of recipes for you

Candy
2 lb. powered sugar
1 can eagle brand milk
1 stick butter
2 cups finely chopped nuts(coconut)
2 Tbsp. vanilla
Mix well and make into balls size of walnuts and refrigerate.
Melt 12 oz. chocolate chips and 2/3 stick parafin - Dip chilled balls in with toothpick.

Banana Bread
This recipe can be halved if you want.

3 cups margarine
6 cups sugar
8 eggs
6 cups ripe bananas
4 tsp vanilla
8 cups flour
4 tsp soda
4 tsp salt
2 cups butter milk
2 cups chopped nuts

Cream together margarine, sugar and eggs. Add bananas and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add to moist ingredients. Stir buttermilk and nuts into mixture. Pour into 4 greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees 50 to 60 mintutes.
Small pans to 35 to 40 mintutes

Hope you enjoy these.
Loretta
foxyllady at gmail.com

Dena said...

Wow thanks for the recipes ladies. When I had a waterbed I hid the presents behind the headboard, it was perfect no one ever found them. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and blessed new year. denwal1@aol.com

Sue A. said...

I like to indulge in shortbread this time of year. One of my favourite recipes comes off a box of Canada Corn Starch.

GRANDMA’S SHORTBREAD
1/2 cup CANADA Corn starch - 125 mL
1/2 cup icing sugar - 125 mL
1 cup all-purpose flour - 250 mL
3/4 cup butter, softened - 175 mL

Sift together corn starch, icing sugar and flour. With wooden spoon, blend in butter until soft, smooth dough forms.

Shape into 1 inch (2.5 cm) balls. If dough is too soft to handle cover and chill 30-60 minutes. Place 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) apart on ungreased cookie sheet, flatten with lightly floured fork. Alternately, roll dough to 1/4 inch (6 mm); cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Decorate with candied cherries, coloured sprinkles or nuts if desired.

Bake in 300˚F (150˚C) oven 15-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Cool on wire rack.

MAKES ABOUT 24 COOKIES.

Julie Trevelyan said...

Ooh, a contest *and* a recipe for bread pudding! Yummy... :)

Unknown said...

I love the holiday season. All year long, I look for gift ideas and have a special cabinet that I put them in. My very favorite thing to do is handcraft gifts with special people in mind. My husband and I also decide what we would like to share for the holidays and buy that something for a gift to ourselves. It is the holiday of friends and family, old and new. We do a box for Operation Christmas Child and participate in giving to others through my Beta Sigma Phi chapter.

Anonymous said...

When you don't have much time to bake, here's an easy recipe for a quick delicious chocolate dessert. Set oven at 200 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil and place on it small figure 8 pretzels. On top of each pretzel place a Rolo candy. Put in oven for 5 minutes or until slightly melted. Remove from oven and place an M&M Peanut on top. Slighty press down. Cool and eat.
Joy
JWIsley@aol.com

robynl said...

goodness, people do bake/cook up a storm at Christmas. Good recipes everyone.
I used to hide my dh's presents at my place of work being it was a motel and there were empty suites where the boss would hide them for me.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year each and everyone. Remember the reason for the season.

Anonymous said...

I have the best hiding place ever. I have a king platform bed with drawers in the bottom. My kids don't know that if you lift the mattress and boxspring there is a large area in the center of the bed and under the headboard to store stuff. My oldest is 12 and hasn't figured it out yet, but i expect that it won't last much longer since we are supposed to be moving in June and will have to take the bed apart and put it back together.

Karin said...

This is a great contest. I generally hide presents in my closet. Of course, that's if I have them before they get wrapped and put under the tree.

One of my favorite memories of hiding presents was the time I caught my sister carefully unwrapping her Christmas present from me so she could re-tape to keep me from knowing she had done it. She has no patience whatsoever and even now has a hard time waiting to give her kids their presents at Christmas.

Julie Robinson said...

Vicky,
Your bread pudding recipe sounds yummy. I can't wait to try that one out. Thanks.
Julie

Mindy said...

Cool prizes!
My favorite winter recipe is for Snowballs.
2 TBSP melted butter
1c. Granulated sugar
2 Eggs
1c. Milk
31/2 to 4c. flour
4tsp. baking powder
(You can add flavorings like vanilla, butter rum, peppermint etc)
Mix all the ingredients till they are mixed into a batter but still slightly lumpy.
Drop into a pan of HOT Crisco (2-3inches deep)by ice tea spoons (small spoons). They will float!

Between spoonfulls dip the spoon in to the hot crisco so that the batter doesn't stick to the spoon.

As the snowballs get golden brown, turn them over if they don't do it themselves.

After they are brown, dip them out and drain them.
As they are cooling down sprinkle them with powdered sugar.

Merry Christmas,
Mindy :)

Mia Celeste said...

I don't have a favorite place to hide presents. I've used the garage, the attic, the basement, under the bed, the old underwear drawer, behind the dryer, in the car's trunk and at a friend's house.
Hiding is the easy part. Remembering where I put things is the challenge because I shop all year round. May your holidays bring you joy.

Anonymous said...

OK, but we don't have to leave a recipe, right? Just a comment?

Kim S. said...

Thanks for a great new and fun blog! And for the very generous contest!

What could be better at Christmas than;

Candy Cane Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
24 pieces round peppermint candy
1/4 cup sugar
Melted chocolate, for drizzling, optional


Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a mixer bowl or by hand, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until
light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in egg, almond extract,
vanilla, and salt. Blend flour into mixture in several additions, beat
until just combined.

Remove half the dough from the bowl. Blend red food coloring into the
half remaining in the bowl until the coloring is even. Cover dough a
kitchen towel to keep it from drying out as you work. Use a floured
teaspoon to measure 1 teaspoon each of white and red dough for each
cookie. Roll into 4-inch ropes on a lightly floured surface. Place a red
and white rope side-by-side, press together lightly and twist to form a
spiral. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Curve top down to form handle
of a candy cane. Bake until set, about 9 minutes. While the cookies are
baking, put peppermint candies in a resealable plastic bag and crush
into small pieces with a rolling pin. Mix the candy with the sugar.
Place cooling rack over shallow pan. Immediately remove cookies from
cookie sheet and gently place onto cooling rack. Sprinkle with
candy/sugar mixture.

Optional: Cool cookies, drizzle with melted chocolate, and add more
candy mixture on top of chocolate.

Happy Holidays!!

Kammie said...

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday! My favorite holiday memories are those spent with my husband and family baking bread, making glögg and watching movies together.

Gina Marie Pettitt said...

My favorite holiday memory is Christmas at my grandparents, with people coming and going all day, I got to see most of my relatives and in the evening those left sitting around reminiscing about growing up in that house. One small house held 80 to 150 people in the course of each Christmas Day.

GPet789@verizon.net

Gina Marie Pettitt said...

My favorite holiday memory is Christmas at my grandparents, with people coming and going all day, I got to see most of my relatives and in the evening those left sitting around reminiscing about growing up in that house. One small house held 80 to 150 people in the course of each Christmas Day.

GPet789@verizon.net

Anonymous said...

Great Recipes and Great Contest!!!Happy Holidays!!!

Dina said...

Last year I hid some ptesents an when wrapping them thought I had more, but forogt which ones they might be then last summer found the bag, lol. when I grabbed the bags to wrap them it must have fallen behind the couch. So I hide them so well that I forget where I put them lol.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Dina

dlsmilad(at)yahoo(dot)com