Preserving

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christmas Cookies - some favorite recipes

Well, it's that time of year...time for baking the Christmas Cookies. As you may have noticed, I am the baker and the canner in the family. Since there's not much gardening to blog about, I thought that I would post a couple of our favorite cookie recipes. Today I will post two recipes that I hope you will enjoy.

Chinese Cookies
  • 6 oz. Butterscotch or Peanut Butter Morsels
  • 6 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
  • 10 oz. Chow Mein Noodles
  • 1 Cup Chopped Nuts (Walnut or Pecan)
  1. Melt morsels, this can be done in the microwave or in a double boiler
  2. Stir in Nuts & Noodles
  3. Drop on wax paper. Then sprinkle them with a little colored sugar to give some color
  4. Refrigerate (I cool them on a cookie sheet in the refrigerator for about 5-10 minutes and them put them in a bag and return them to the refrigerator)
That's it!!! They are very simple and easy to make. The original recipe I got 30 years ago called for Butterscotch morsels....we think that they taste better with the Peanut Butter though. A few yars ago I accidentially purchased peanut butter morsels instead of butterscotch. I also think that they would be good with Pretzel Sticks instead of the Chow Mein Noodles.


Pecan Squares

Bottom layer:
  • 1/3 Cup Butter
  • 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 1/4 Cup Flour
  1. Beat Butter & Sugar in a bowl with mixer until light and fluffly
  2. Beat in Egg
  3. Stir in flour, mixing well until a soft dough forms
  4. Press evenly into a lightly greased 9"x 9" x 2" pan. (This is a thin layer)
  5. Bake at 375 F, for about 12 minutes or until the dough begins to firm up, but not fully cooked
  6. Remove pan from oven and place on wire rack

Top layer:
  • 1/2 Cup Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. Heavy Cream
  • 6 oz. Chopped Pecans
  • 1/3 Cup Honey
  1. While the bottom layer is cooking: Melt Butter in medium pan
  2. Add Brown Sugar, White Sugar & Honey
  3. Boil rapidly for 2 1/2 minutes
  4. Carefully add Cream and bring back to a boil
  5. Remove from heat and stir in Pecans
  6. Spread the mixture evenly over the cooked dough
  7. Bake at 350 F, for 25 minutes or until pecan mixture is bubbly and begins to set
  8. Remove from oven to wire rack and cool completely
  9. Cut into small squares and Enjoy!

These are "The Italian's" Favorite!
  

11 comments:

  1. Ohhh! The Chinese cookies using pretzel sticks sounds gooood!

    Your new background makes me colder than I already was here! Brrr! Pretty, though. Thanks!

    We're definitely getting between 2 to 4 inches of snow tomorrow! It's still on the ground from last time! I can't believe it! Then another chance on early Sunday morning! What happened? I haven't seen this kind of weather here since 1980 when my first child was born after it snowed 16 inches!

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  2. I am looking forward to the pictures. I can decide on a new cookie recipe only when I see the picture.
    But from the ingredients it sounds very promising!
    I love your new blog template.

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  3. VP, It's so cold here..the wind chill temperature is supposed to be in the single digits today!! I wish that we had some snow to go with the cold weather!

    MojVrt, I am going to make these two recipes today and will post the pictures when I am finished.

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  4. Those look delicious! I have everything for the pecan squares and I may have to make them today.

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  5. Ooh, I bet the salty pretzels in the first recipe would be awesome!! These sound like great recipes to try! Yum.

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  6. I love the pictures. Thanks!

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  7. YUM! Maybe i will try one of those recipes this year, thanks for sharing them.

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  8. Gosh, I haven't seen those Chow Mein cookies in a while. And I have had something similar with pretzels. I do love sweet and salty combos.

    Those Pecan Squares look yummy too. Of course there's no calories in those!

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  9. OK, that blog post just made me gain another ten pounds, and that was from just looking at the pictures!

    I'm catching up a bit tonight, heading for your mustard posts now, and only have another 124 blogs to read.

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  10. Villager, No...there's not many calories in those Pecan Squares :) I have another very tasty low cal recipe that I think I may post!!

    Granny, I think that I have gained 5 pounds this past month....too much good Italian comfort food! Well, at least the mustard is fattening :)

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  11. Hello Robin,

    I must confess that I am not a sweets eater, but come tomorrow I am making these! lol I love pecans, pecan pie, pecans in brussel sprouts, in cole slaw, on top of a salad... and I can tell this is a good recipe.

    If I don't see you before Christmas ;)... many blessings to you and your family! It has been wonderful to share with you this past year.

    PS: tell "The Italian" , we're still waiting. ;)

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