Holiday Cookie Exchange

This years cookie exchange was mighty caloric and tasty. Only a few minor baking disasters and really... it just wouldn't be the same without them. Thanks to everyone who attended and for their awesome efforts and recipes. For some great cookie exchange ideas visit my favorite website http://www.cookie-exchange.com/ to start planning your very own for next year!

The Best Peanut Blossoms Ever

Clearly...it's way too late for Holiday baking, but a little pink and red Valentine flair would be sweet!

Peanut Blossoms

1 3/4 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. shortening

1/2 c. peanut butter

1 egg

2 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix: All ingredients.

Shape: Into balls and roll in white sugar and all kinds of decorative sprinkles.

Bake: 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes

Note: Immediately press a kiss down firmly after removal from oven.

Chip & Dip Cookies

Yes...this recipe actually calls for potato chips in a cookie. Good grief is that a lethal combination. This recipe is a hybrid of a recipe I found on my favorite baking site and a recipe I found in a Betty Crocker magazine. Together they make the perfect combination!

Chip & Dip Cookies

2 c. peanut butter

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1/2- 1 c. plain crushed potato chips

Dip

1/2 c. almonds

1 Baker's Dipping Chocolates

Mix: All ingredients but almonds and chocolate

Refrigerate: 30 minutes then roll into balls

Bake: 325 for 18-20 minutes

Dip in chocolate and almonds

Homage to the "Plain M&M"

Can we just give a little love to the plain M&M…the one who has been reduced to the “potty training reward” like that freezer burnt crusty meat in the spider infested corner of your local grocer. Lets face it by themselves they really are just not that interesting. Really the “PLAIN” (the name says it all) M&M was doomed immediately following the invention of it’s cousins: the peanut, almond, dark chocolate, premium (whatever), peanut butter, green tea (isn’t everything green tea flavored these days?) even the mini is cuter. And don’t even act like you would choose regular M&M’s over the Holiday colored ones. However, have you ever noticed that if the plain M&M is the only offered up snack material at your great Aunt Linda’s house, you will totally grab a handful and happily shove them into your mouth. Yep.

This is how I imagine a conversation amongst unfriendly M&M’s. Yes, the ones on the commercials with the legs, gloves and puffy white shoes.

M&M #1 (insert foreign snobby butler accent): Yes…well I come from the store on the Vegas strip. Customized not only with a message, but also by color and size. I will be making my last appearance at the Jones-Smith wedding sprinkled on the tables right next to the begonias.

M&M Plain: Yeah, well I get to live the life on the shelf of some snot-nosed kid’s bathroom. I may actually get this painful existence over with if “The Mom” would just start generously handing us out more than 3 at a time. Miserable.

And you know your favorite color is BLUE. You and 30% of the rest of the population.
Go ahead and go here to personalize some M&M’s http://www.m-ms.com/us/, or buy a nice size bag of “PLAIN M&M’s” and make these super yummy cookies.

M&M Cookies

1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. M&M's (pour a few more for the kiddos to eat while mixing)
1 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Bake: 350 degrees for 11-13 min.
Mix: Butter, egg and vanilla. Then add in all other ingredients. Make sure to form balls with the dough or use a scooper firmly packed as the consistency of this dough is very dry (perfect this way).
Yield: About 2 dozen