Cookie Baking Day 2011

Monday was the traditional cookie baking day at my mom's house. Saturday evening Barney and I mixed up 8 bathes of cookie dough and that was just the beginning... by the time I left on Monday evening I believe we had made 16 different kinds of cookies and several different kinds of candy. Here are some pictures of the amazingness that is CBD11:

Ethan, Sam and Josiah making gingerbread cookies

Ethan worked really hard to peal all these pieces of candy and I didn't see him take a snitch once!!

Collyn and Megan Sloan making pretzel buckeyes...what's better than a buckeye? adding  pretzels :)

Ben and Ryan making Cinnamon Crackle Cookies...they were really disturbed by the lemon peel in these cookies!

Nate putting on the finishing touch to the peanut butter kisses 

We had 2 ovens running all day long but we always had a back log of cookies waiting for an empty shelf

Ashlyn hard at work

Everyone really had a good time making the gingerbread cookies 

Look at all those candies Hannah is so proud of

Denise Sloan making my favorite cookies!! Look at the spread behind her...my belly is rumbling :)

Brianna <3

Katelyn and Bekah making Turtles

Making even more candy!

If I am anywhere close to right we made over 60 dozen cookies and pieces of candy, not bad for 14 adults and 18 kids and about 6 hours! 

Cookies?? Maybe not but we have chicken and potatoes

I'm thinking I should change the name of this blog. I've been cooking recently but not baking. Any ideas on a name or should I keep the name? It's fate rests in your arms...

Last week this is what was cooking up in my kitchen:

Hand breaded chicken with the stove top baked potatoes

What you need...

Large skillet with lid

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Italian style bread crumbs

Lemon juice

Egg

Milk

Italian style bread crumbs

Yukon gold potatoes

• Thaw chicken
• Mix together egg, lemon juice and milk
• Poor bread crumbs into shallow dish
• Dredge chicken in egg mixture and bread with crumbs, repeat
• Place in UNgreased skillet
• Cut potatoes into small, bite sized chunks (no need to peel)
• Place potato chunks in skillet around chicken
• Cover and cook on low to medium heat for 15-18 minutes.

Potatoes can be seasoned before putting in the skillet but I haven't found that they need to be.

I love this because there's no grease and it cooks so well together and what's better than one pan cooking??

Canadian Bacon, Sweet Onion, and Apple Pizza

In case you were wondering, I haven't made cookies recenty BUT I have still been cooking it up in the kitchen...I made this for Christmas and it was a real hit!! Super easy to make as well :)

Canadian Bacon, Sweet Onion, and Apple Pizza

Ingredients
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 1 package refrigerated pizza dough
• 1 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup shredded lowfat mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup diced sweet onion
• 1/2 cup cored, seeded and diced Golden Delicious apple
• 1/2 cup sliced Canadian bacon

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly spray 1 baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray; set aside. Press dough into a rectangle on a floured surface. Cut into quarters and place on prepared baking sheet with floured fingers. Top with apple butter, cheese, onion, apple, and Canadian bacon. Bake in oven 12 to 17 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Slice and serve.

Makes me dream of ice cream

Ok, so I DO realize it isn't cookies...

This looks AMAZING!! I am not a fan of chai though so I'm going to do some other research on making an equally inticing and beautiful pie.







Watch for follow up posts :)




http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/caramel-pecan-upside-down-chai-apple-pie/b201c1c3-b8fe-4ad5-b400-c4a4f546776d/

As read on cookie shop wndow...

According to research 14 out of 10 people like cookies.

This looks like it should be fun and sounds tasty too :)

I was looking for a cream cheese cookie recipe and then changed my search to either a butter cookie recipe or simply a cut out cookie recipe and lo and behold what do I find?? Cream Cheese Cut Out Cookies! I haven't tried these yet but will in the morning or late tonight and will let you know what I think.

Cream Cheese Cut Out Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp table salt
1 stick margarine

3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well to distribute and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light-colored and smooth, a couple minutes with a stand mixer, longer by other methods.
3. Gradually stir in the flour mixture to incorporate. Divide the dough into four pieces, wrap well and refrigerate at least 2 hours, up to 24.
4. When ready to bake, set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375F Lightly spray cooking sheet and set aside.
5. Let dough stand at room temperature 3 to 5 minutes before rolling on a floured surface with a lightly-floured pin. Roll to about 1/8" thick.
6. Cut out as desired and bake for 7 to 9 minutes, until golden and lightly browned on the edges.
7. Let stand on the cookie sheet for 1 minute before transferring to a rack to cool. Store tightly covered or freeze well-wrapped for up to one month.

Yield: 24 – 36 cookies, depending on the cutters.