Saturday, December 11, 2010

Championship Cookies

Wow. We're almost in the middle of December and I've been having fun so far. A day away from the oven is like a day without life! And yes, I still have those days...but I think it's a good thing because I get to rest. I'm thinking of Christmas cookies to sell and give away so I'm testing recipes that I find in the net and in cookbooks. 

Well I bought this book from Bacolod City at Book Sale[ something like a garage sale store for books] at Php 55.00. It's called Southern Living Holidays and Celebrations compiled and edited by Julie Fisher. It's copyrighted and first printed in 1994. It's kinda old for a book but recipes never grow old, you know... :)

So yeah, I found this Championship cookie recipe meant for Father's Day but it has cinnamon on it so I guess it could qualify for a Christmas cookie. haha I don't know the rules really. I just associate cinnamon with Christmas. hihi So yeah, in place of Snickers [which are expensive here] I made use of Cloud 9, a cheaper but still good tasting version. 


Lights on. These are how they really look like. :)

 Christmas Lights on and this is how they look like. :)
Pretty. :D

They didn't come out at their best form immediately. I had to tweak the temperature a little to make them look like cookies. The Cloud 9 bits were just melting all over making the cookies look like they were bursting with awesomeness. haha Well yeah, caramel out and white stuff molten. Well, it worked after the tweaking and tastewise, yeah... champion! [for me]


2/3     cup butter flavored shortening
1 1/4   cups firmly packed brown sugar
1         large egg
1 1/2   cups all purpose flour
1 tsp   baking powder
1/2     tsp baking soda
1//4   tsp salt
1/2     cup regular oats, uncooked
1/2     teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 (2.07 ounce) chocolate coated caramel peanut-nougat bars coarsely chopped 
1 tsp    vanilla extract

Beat shortening at medium speed of an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed 5 minutes. Add egg, beating well. 

Combine flour and next 5 ingredients. Add to shortening mixture, beating at low speed just until combined. Stir in candy bar and vanilla. Chill dough 30 minutes. Shape dough into 1 1/2 inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes (cookies will be soft). Cool Slightly on cookie sheets; remove to wire racks to cool completely. 



Monday, December 6, 2010

Giant Christmas Cookies

A friend suggested the idea of making a giant cookie because she wanted to order some. I didn't make it to her deadline though because something came up causing me to decline. My brother wanted to bring some cookies on his way back to his work place in Cebu City. And so I suggested the same idea to him. When he said yes, I started doing my thing. I was on graveyard shift last night and I'm dead tired but nothing can stop me from doing something I really want to do. 

So here goes.

Christmas Tree

Wreath

Mistletoe

Snowflakes [not thoroughly dry yet.]

Notice they're not your ordinary cookies. 
They're approximately 7 inches in diameter and tastes just as good as the small ones. :)
They're not the most gigantic ones but they are giant enough for me. :D 

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Decorated Cookies

Well well well... Christmas is in the air and it's the season for all kinds of sweets. As for me, it's starting to get a little busy already. It's getting into me and causes me lack of sleep at times, but you know when you love what you're doing, you don't mind getting tired.

Anyhoo, here are my latest creations. :D

Bridal Shower Cookies

Dress 

Shoe

Bouquet

And here's my Christmas bunch. I sold these during our church's Thanksgiving Sunday Bazaar. 

Christmas Tree

Wreath




Snowflakes! :D



Woah, I'm so excited to let my imagination run wild and decorate some more... and more!!! :D

Happy Holidays, Everyone! :D



Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Snoopy Cupcakes


It's my first time making these and I'm glad they turned out quite good :D

December's Here!

Oh yeah and it only means one thing for me : THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE! Weeeeeee!! I cannot contain my excitement. Anyhoo... We always celebrate the beginning of December with a blast because the first day of this month is my Mama's birthday! 

Last year, I was struggling trying to perfect my marshmallow frosting and presented to her a store-bought chiffon cake. I was just starting then and my techniques are so novice. 

Lookie here! hihi 
Very novice indeed. :D

Well I went up a little level higher this year and made my mom a Coffee Cake with Coffee Frosting that I found on Tastespotting yesterday. I printed the recipe from Gastronomy Blog. I hurriedly made it since I was going on duty at 12am. 

Lights off and here it is :)

This is how it looks like with the lights on. 

cake innards


My mom is a coffee fanatic and it is needless to say that she loved the cake and so did the family. I brought some to the hospital and one of my colleagues just licked the frosting 'til there's so little left. I love coffee too but don't drink much so my tolerance for coffee is not so high which I think explains why I didn't feel so sleepy last night while we were taking care of our lone NICU patient. I must admit though that I slept a little.... about 3-4 hours after eating the cake. :D

Btw, here's my mom. Pretty noh? :D

Happy Birthday, Mama
and 
Happy Holidays, Everyone! :D

Special thanks to Catherine of Gastronomy Blog for the recipe of this cake.