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Ingredients:

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Combine crumbs, brown sugar and butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan.

2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

3. In a saucepan, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 1 minute. Pour evenly over crust.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand for 2 minutes.

5. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand until chocolate is melted. Spread evenly over top; sprinkle with pecans. Cool completely before cutting.

Recipe from here

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“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
 Maya Angelou

Merry Christmas everyone!

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Ingredients
Cookies:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cookies:

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Glaze:

Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours. Pack the cookies into a decorative container.

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Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup finely chopped Diamond of California® Pecans, optional
Colored sugar, optional

Directions
In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars and oil. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour, salt, baking soda, cream of tartar and cinnamon. Stir in the pecans if desired. Cover and refrigerated for 3 hours or until easy to handle.
Roll into 1-in. balls. Place on greased baking sheets; flatten with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired.
Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Yield: about 8 dozen.

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The mother told the child with a very mild tone to go to bed. The little girl did not want to, she was too excited after seeing the snow falling down and all she was thinking about was to go out and play. But it was already rather late and the mother was determined. Thus the only remaining alternative was to ask for a bed time story.

The mother pondered, went to the kitchen and came with both hands closed, the child was curious, but the mother told her to close her eyes, and to stretch out her left arm. She felt something wooden. Then the left arm, she got a little softer piece.

And then the story began ...

Imagine it is late afternoon and you are walking towards the old castle where the Christmas market is placed each year. The snow fell all around you and it is crispy and cold, but you warm with your nice new pullover all around your neck and hot hands in the winter gloves. You walk around the little market, with each stand having amazing wonderful things to discover. The first thing you discover is the cookie stand where a lady is handing over some samples.

And then the mother told the her to smell what she has in her left hand. And the girl was surrounded by cinnamon and she could imagine how her favourite cookies smell and taste.

The story went on.

The next stop is the toy stand with lovely carved wooden puppets and small cars which Thomas (her cousin) loved and cheerish. Then the steam startled her, the old train was coming just around the corner with rosy cheeks little children which were laughing and enjoying the crispy afternoon. So many things to see, here some thick wool socks like the granny knits all winter long, here some jewelry for young girls and then again something to eat.

After a small tour a small stop to have a children punch.

And then the mother told the her to smell what she has in her right hand. And the girl was surrounded by tangerine and she could imagine how her favourite winter drink would smell and taste.

The story went on.

The snow started to fall down with huge flakes, the evening was coming down and one by one the children return to their homes. Another look towards the market with its beautiful lights and smells and stands and it is time to go.

The mother stopped and smiled, the girl was all curled up and sleeping. She took the  tangerine skin from her right hand and the cinnamon stick from her left. With a last look she tucked her baby and wished her good night. 

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Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/3 cup coarse or sanding sugar (optional), for decorating
Directions

In a food processor, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt; process until smooth. Add flour and pulse just until combined. Form dough into an 8-inch-long round or square log; wrap tightly in plastic and freeze until firm, 30 minutes (or up to 1 month).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Cut dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Dip edges in sugar if desired and transfer to two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are golden brown around edges, 15 to 18 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool 5 minutes on sheets. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Recipe from here

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Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Assorted candies, sprinkles, or colored sugars, for decorating (optional)

Directions

In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; beat until combined. Divide dough in half; flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic; freeze until firm, at least 20 minutes, or place in a resealable plastic bag, and freeze up to 3 months (thaw in refrigerator overnight).

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Remove one dough disk; let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Roll out 1/8 inch thick between two sheets of floured parchment, dusting dough with flour as needed. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. Using a spatula, transfer to prepared baking sheets. (If dough gets soft, chill 10 minutes.) Reroll scraps; cut shapes. Repeat with remaining dough.

Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges are golden, 10 to 18 minutes (depending on size). Cool completely on wire racks. To ice cookies, spread with the back of a spoon. Let the icing harden, about 20 minutes. Decorate as desired.

Recipe from here

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“Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”
Oren Arnold

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if I don't manage to take off to my hometown tomorrow. Currently we have some heavy winds and rain, it looks rather scary outside and Frankfurt airport has some problems. I cannot think of anything else and my travel will also mean less blogging till after New Year's Eve (some posts are scheduled ahead!) but please believe me that I will think of all of you dear blogging friends. I wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and may 2012 find us all healthy!

Keep on smiling!

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Despite having a heavy cold I decided that I need to bake, to fill the house with the wonderful aroma of cookies :)

So here I went, ending up with many more than I thought, but I am sure that I will make some people happy!

Coconut cookies
Honey cinnamos stars
Cranberries cookies
Espresso stars

Orange Xmas trees
Almonds cookies
Marzipan balls
Chocolate cookies - not so pretty but delicious
Cookies which I will fill with jam :)

Any takers?

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