Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange ~ A Blog Hop

The Virtual Cookie Exchange is a fun blog hop to share your favorite recipes, Christmas traditions, and/or Christmas projects.  It is hosted by Carol @ Just Let Me Quilt.  

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This is my first time to join in a blog hop with Carol and Friends.  I'm taking this Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange quite literally by sharing a Christmas Cookie Recipe.  Let me know if you give them a try!

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Rich Date and Walnut Cookies

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped dates
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 egg
Preheat oven to 350.

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Add softened butter and eggs.  Beat until thoroughly mixed.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Remove cookies from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to cooling rack.  (Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen.)

Results

Up until I made these cookies I would have said, "Dates.  Ewww!"  I had never tried them because I didn't THINK I liked them.  They looked too much like raisins.  For the sake of this project, though, I thought I'd try out these cookies.  They smelled wonderful!  And guess what?  They tasted WONDERFUL!  Yummy!  What have I been missing all these years?

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Go check out all the amazing participants of the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop!

December 6

Creatin' in the Sticks

Inflorescence

Quilt Schmilt

Sew Many Yarns

Pumpkin Patch Patterns & Quilting

Just Because Quilts

Treasured Nest

Cathie's Craftworks

Scrapdash

December 7

MooseStashQuilting

Songbird Designs

Beaquilter

Selina Quilts

Life in the Scrapatch

Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life 

Homespun Hannah's Blog

Cynthia's Creating Ark

Samelia's Mum

December 8

For The Love Of Geese

Days Filled With Joy

Food for Thought

Karrin’s Crazy World

Becky’s Adventures in Quilting and Travel

Stitchin At Home

Words & Stitches 

Colletta's Kitchen Sink

December 9

Just Let Me Quilt

Home Sewn By Us

Just Sew Quilter

Ms P Designs USA

Quiltscapes

Texas Quilt Gal

Creative Latitude

That Fabric Feeling

Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 12/19/19

 

Here are some things that made me smile this week:

 

 

~Organization!  I decided not to wait until January to start getting organized.  So far I've organized my budget for 2020, my paid bills cabinet and cleaned out my desk drawers.  I can't believe how long it had been since cleaning out my desk.  The drawers were so jammed packed that I couldn't even get them all the way open!  I found things that I forget I had.  It is now nicely organized with a proper place for everything :)

~Snickerdoodles!  Kaylee (daughter #1) requested Snickerdoodles this year for Christmas.  First, it took me forever to find Cream of Tartar in the market.  Second, they turned out flatter than a pancake!  They tasted wonderful though :)

~Christmas Gift Exchange!  I participated in a Christmas Gift Exchange hosted by Carol at Slaters' Funny Farm.  I receive a lovely package from Patti at This Beautiful Life.  You can go see what I received on my post from Tuesday :)

~Mount TBR Challenge!   I don't usually participate in many reading challenges because sometimes my reading can be sporadic.  However, I have a whole bookshelf of books TBR (to be read) and thought this would be a simple Challenge to finish.  Here's hoping :)

~Luke!  I finished reading the Book of Luke!  My goal was to read once chapter of Luke a day for the month of December until Christmas Day.  Some days I read more than one chapter and then on Tuesday I finished the 24th chapter.  I definitely think this could become a tradition for December!  What book of the Bible do you think I should read next?   :)

What made you smile this week? 

Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 12/12/19

 

Here are some things that made me smile this week:

 

 

~Oranges and Cookies!  The hubby told me that when he was young they always got oranges at Christmas.  We have mandarin oranges on a regular basis but he doesn't like them so when I went to the grocery store I bought him some naval oranges as a surprise.  I also made a cookie that he requested:  Reese's Pieces Cookies!  They are super yummy :)

~Disney+ !  The hubby also decided that for his Christmas present he wanted a PS4.  The PS4 also comes with the Disney+ App.  As a surprise for the family, I went online and purchased a subscription for the Disney+!  The first thing I watched was The Sound of Music but the hubby and girls have been watching Star Wars Rebels :)

~Winter 2020 Project #1!  I finally decided to use the yarn that I bought for my first Winter Project to make a Granny Square Afghan for my daughter's boyfriend's Mom.  Her name is Linda so I'm calling it "Linda's Prayer Blanket".  I'm not sure if I'll have it done in time for Christmas but I'm giving it a go :)

~Christmas Tree(s)!  We put a tiny table top tree up in the Family Room for the girls to put their ornaments on.  It is so cute!  We also went out to a tree farm on the top of a mountain to get the real Christmas Tree for downstairs.  It was freezing and muddy and snowing and so much fun :)

~Harvester's Christmas Party!  Tuesday evening we had our Church Ladies Group (the Harvester Class) Christmas Party.  Each month on the second Tuesday we have a potluck, devotion and meeting.  However, in December, we treat ourselves to a meal out and exchange gifts.  This year we picked a steak house to make reservations for our party.  The food was good.  The company was good. And did I mention presents?!?!?   :)

What made you smile this week? 

Colletta

Coffee Date ~ 12/21/12

Won't you come meet Alissa (above), me and the girls for a coffee date,

or in my case, hot chocolate with whipped cream or maybe a chai tea?

Hello, everyone!  I hope you're having a good week.  Here some highlights from mine:

~I'm having Hot Chocolate today.  I am cold and can't seem to warm up.

~Today is the last day of school for the girls and the last day of work for the hubby.  All 3 will be home with me until January 2.  The girls have a 2 hour early dismissal today.  I keep looking at the clock afraid that I'll forget to go get them!

~Wednesday was super busy.  Laken had her very first school Christmas program in the afternoon.  It was adorable.  Her class performed "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and she was the mother.  She wore her Scotty Dog jammies.  Then in the evening was Kaylee's Chorus and Band Concert.  The Chorus did such a good job.  There aren't any boys in it this year, so all the beautiful girl voices blending together was so sweet.

~I made 8 dozen chocolate chip cookies yesterday for a cookie exchange at Church.  This afternoon we're going to be making the gingerbread men.  My Mom just brought me some Nuthorns that are so addictive.  I could sit here and eat the whole bag!  Maybe I will and then I won't have to share with the rest of the family.  hehe

~We were supposed to travel my cousin Eric's in Virginia tomorrow but I don't know if it is going to happen.  Here on the east coast we are supposed to be getting blizzard condition weather which might make it impossible to travel.  Not to mention, the van was acting weird this morning.  Vehicles drive me crazy!

~We're not opening the Etsy shop back up until after Christmas so I've been making a list of things I want to do during the "down time".  Is there such a thing?  I want to re-evaluate my daily/weekly schedule and start my new blogging notebook.  I also want to finally get the curtains for under my sewing room cabinets made.  I've had the fabric since Summer but just haven't had the time to make them.

~I wish I had the equipment to make a vlog but at the same time, I would probably hate seeing myself.  I don't even like to see pictures of myself let alone see what weird faces I would probably make!  lol

~Is anyone else like me and excited about getting a new calendar?  I already bought mine.  I got a beaches calendar for in my computer room and a Psalms calendar for in the kitchen.  Did you get yours yet?  What kind did you pick?

So, how was your week?

Coffee Date ~ 12/14/12

Won't you come meet Alissa (above), me and the girls for a coffee date,

or in my case, hot chocolate with whipped cream or maybe a chai tea?

Hello, everyone!  I hope you're having a good week.  Here some highlights from mine:

~We got our Christmas tree last Sunday!  It is all set up in the base and ready to be decorate tomorrow!  It has been so hard for the girls to be patient this week.  Doug has been on 2nd shift and I wanted to wait until we could all be together to decorate it.  It is a tradition that I didn't want to break.

~Kaylee had her first Jr. High Basketball scrimmage yesterday.  Our girls won!  It was shaky in the beginning but after they got warmed up they started hitting the plays.

~Kaylee had another first this week and I need your advice on how to handle it.  She overhead someone talking about her in the locker room.  sigh....  She was so upset and cried the whole way home from practice.  Granted, we only live across town but seeing my baby upset because her feeling were hurt killed me!  I'm so proud about how she's handled it.  She decided to just let it go and she's been so mature.  My baby is such a sweet girl.

~Doug gave me my Christmas present early!  He got me a Family Ring with all our birthstones and our names engraved by each one.  Love it!

~I have one more order to ship out today and then I'm on VACATION!!!!!  I do have a few small gifts I still want to make but other than that it will be all about getting our home ready for Christmas, baking, Christmas programs and just relaxing!  Whoohoo!

~Speaking of baking, Laken has been begging to make gingerbread men/women this year.  I got a kit that has all the cutters and decorations already in it.  I can't wait to make them with the girls!  "Not my gumdrop buttons!"  I can't resist!





~OK, so for our Coffee Date we're supposed to list 3 things we wish we had known sooner or could tell our younger self.  I'm sure there are many, many more that I could list but here are 3:

1.  Get help for PPD/PPA much sooner and don't worry about what others say about it.

2.  Stay fit!  Don't let yourself get into the "shape" you are now and have to dig your way out.

3.  Never, ever, ever doubt God's love and faithfulness.

So, how was your week?

Listicles ~ Christmas Cookies ~ 12/10/12

"Top 10 Christmas Cookies"

1.  Chocolate Chip

2.  Nut Horns

3.  Sugar Cookies

4.  Peanut Butter

5.  Gingerbread

6.  Snickerdoodles

7.  Pecan Tartlets

8.  M&M Cookies

9.  Reese Cup

10.  Wedding Cookies

Now, I'm in the mood to bake!!

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Happy Monday!

Coffee Date ~ 12/7/12

Won't you come meet Alissa (above), me and the girls for a coffee date,

or in my case, hot chocolate with whipped cream or maybe a chai tea?

Hello, everyone!  I hope you're having a good week.  Here some highlights from my week:

~It is December!  Are you excited?  I am because I could get my Christmas music out to listen to.  Also, I can force ask my hubby to watch Christmas movies with me.  I watched a really cute Hallmark movie last night called "A Bride for Christmas".

~Last Saturday evening after all the housework was (kinda) done, the girls and I sat done and wrote our Christmas cards.  I signed the inside of all the cards but let the girls write the names on the front and draw pictures to decorate the envelopes.  Well, not on the ones I was mailing but the ones we would be handing out to family and Church family.  It was a really fun project to do together.

~I committed to "13 in 2013".  That means I will be trying my absolute best to complete 13 5ks in 2013!  I've already signed up for a few virtual 5ks and have some actual 5ks in mind.  I have a tab at the top of my blog where you can see more info.  What have I gotten myself into?  yikes!

~I kept Laken home from school yesterday.  She had been running a slight fever for a few days and I wanted her to have a whole day to just rest.  Her fever was gone this morning but she tried her best to talk me into letting her stay home again today.  It was not a pleasant morning, to say the least.

~This has been Kaylee's 3rd full week of Basketball practice and she is still enjoying it.  Her first game isn't until December 18th.

~It is almost vacation!  We'll be putting the shop into "Vacation Mode" on December 12th so that we can get finished up on orders and have some time to just relax and enjoy Christmas.  Things have been really hectic lately so I'm looking forward to some down time to bake cookies and work on some fun projects for gifts.

~I used Wal-Mart's online photo shop yesterday to print some pictures for a birthday present.  It was easy and fairly cheap.  I'll have to see what the prints look like when they come to really judge it fairly though.

~Tonight is Family Movie night.  We'll order a pizza and find a movie to watch together.  Any suggestions?

So, how was your week?

Rich Date and Walnut Cookies

This is another repeat  recipe.  I promise to have some new ones after Christmas, but there are just some favorites that have to be made.

These cookies are one of my mom's absolute favorites and I have to admit that I even liked them.  I thought I didn't like dates.  Who knew they were so sweet and delicious?  Well, besides the people who actually had tried them before?

The point of the story:  if you haven't tried dates, please do!  So yummy with the walnut combo.

Rich Date and Walnut Cookies

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped dates

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Add softened butter and eggs.  Beat until thoroughly mixed.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Remove cookies from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to cooling rack.  (Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen.)

Sweet, nutty and oh so good!

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies, take 2

I resurrected this recipe from last year because I will definitely be making these again in a few days to a week.  They have become a yearly tradition.  YUM!  Talk about addictive!

 

 Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies

Box of Ritz Cracker (I used the Great Value Snack Crackers)
Jar of Creamy Peanut Butter
Bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (or whatever kind you like the best)
Sprinkles, colored sugar, etc. (optional)
Wax paper

Spread some peanut butter on a cracker.

Top it with another cracker.

Melt your chocolate.  I melted mine in the microwave and then switched it to my small crock pot to keep it nice and smoothly melted.

Then drop your cracker sandwich in the chocolate and use a spoon or fork or both to roll it around in the chocolate until well coated.

Use the spoon to smooth the top out and remove some of the excess chocolate off the bottom.  Place on wax paper until the chocolate hardens.  Sprinkle with decoratives before the chocolate hardens.

And that is my very technical recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies.

Be prepared for your kitchen, kids and self to be covered in chocolate also!