Carol, of Just Let Me Quilt is our gracious hostess, and she's made the rules for this exchange simple and easy, which is just up my alley.
I have seven grandchildren who all love to work in the kitchen. When they spend the night, they go to sleep having discussed the breakfast plan. It's usually pancakes made with grandpa or scrambled eggs made with me. Either way, they all love to help and unless we are in a hurry, I love to work with them.
They all like oreo cookies and just love the ones covered in chocolate. So what's a grandma to do? Let the kids make them, of course.
They like the traditional style where the classic oreo is dipped in chocolate; but they also like the vanilla cookie dipped in chocolate.
Since there are two different kinds, they differentiate between them by topping one of them with sprinkles. The flavor that is decorated changes each year, of course. It just makes life fun and interesting.
While I like the oreo cookies, one of my all time favorite cookies is a wonderful buttery shortbread-type sugar cookie. There are minimal ingredients which makes them quick and easy to make. The kids can help with these too, but I typically make the cookies and let them do the decorating.
Just like so many cookies, it all stars with butter! You can substitute margarine, but I really do prefer butter. (I use salted butter, but you can use unsalted and then add a pinch of salt when mixing everything together.
Here are the ingredients:
2 cups butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla (or almond)
food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees
2) Cream butter and vanilla in bowl until fluffy
3) Add flour, powdered sugar, and cornstarch a little at a time, mixing after each addition. (You may find it necessary to knead the dough a bit to get a nice smooth consistency.)
4) If you are opting to use food coloring, divide the dough into however many different colors you are using, and knead in a few drops of coloring.
5) Roll into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet (I don't like to use a non-stick cookie sheet.), and flatten with a fork or the bottom of a pretty glass. (If the dough sticks, dip the glass bottom in sugar before flattening the dough.)
6) Top with sprinkles, if desired.
7) Bake for 20 minutes, or until cookies are firm, but not hard.
8) Cool completely and let sit at least 24 hours before serving. (This is the hard part because I like them warm!)
9) Once cooled, you can add frosting or glaze, if desired.
10) Enjoy!
Besides making cookies each year, my kids and grandkids get together one day the week before Christmas (depending on work schedules), and enjoy a day of games and other activities as well as a special meal.
We typically enjoy shrimp cocktail and crab legs, along with some veggies. Last year, Lynn and Ty also made sushi, and that was fun. The grandkids all love the feast and enjoy being in the kitchen during the food prep. It's chaotic, but fun!
After we eat, we have our gift exchange and then relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Ok, it's usually not easy to relax with seven kids there, but we do have fun. We play with their gifts, play games, watch birds, etc.
Every year, I try to make something new to celebrate Christmas; so this year, I made some napkins.
I also made place mats using the scraps from the napkins. (This is a really bad picture, but I just couldn't get a picture to show that the background is a very light green batik.
Whatever you do to celebrate, I hope that it involves family, good food, and lots of fun.
Be sure to check all of the blogs and see what traditions, creations, and yummy recipes they share.
December 2nd
December 3rd
December 4th
December 5th
December 6th
Thank you for sharing your yummy cookies and your Christmas napkins
ReplyDeleteI need to make those cookies. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSounds like great holiday fun at your house!! I love sugar cookies... and oreos :) Your mat and napkins are great. Thanks for sharing and have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love the placemat... very stylish in its simplicity!
ReplyDeleteWhile I may not set out to make decorations every year, it seems that some idea comes along that we just cannot pass up. We made snowmen, snow flakes, trees and santas the other day when we had a late Thanksgiving celebration.
ReplyDeleteMelvaLovesScraps(at)NolanQualityCustoms(dot)com
What's not to like about Chocolate dipped Oreos! You sure know how to dress up a table with mathching placemats and napkins. They are so festive. Love your special dinner. We do a crab boil for Christmas Eve that's always a hit.
ReplyDeleteI adore the tree napkins ... I made a set of those quite a few years ago and had forgotten about them! Shortbread...yummy! I'm going to have to give your recipe a try! :)
ReplyDeleteThose chocolate covered Oreos look so yummy! Looks like a fun project for the kids, too! I love those placemats and matching napkins - so festive. Flying geese are a favorite of mine!
ReplyDeleteSince anything with the word "Oreo" in it catches my attention, I think these dipped ones will have to be added to my list of things to make. Yum! Shortbread is such a delicious cookie...thank you for the recipe. Those napkins and placemats are so pretty and festive. What a great addition they will be for your amazing holiday meal! Thank you for hopping with us!
ReplyDeleteGreat cookie ideas. Love Oreos and shortbread! Those napkins and placemats are so cute. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne! I love hearing about family traditions, and having all seven grandchildren over at the same time is just the BEST. I can imagine it is a bit chaotic but that just adds to the fun times, doesn't it?! I can hardly wait until my littles are old enough to start decorating cookies. I know they taste all the better when they're decorated with love. Your napkins are so cute as are the placemats. Thanks for sharing. I'm adding that butter cookie recipe to my make list. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteYour holiday sounds like so much fun and chaos with all the kids. I only have grandkids but my sister has 4 and almost 5 now so when we all get together it will be lots of fun as well.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting recipe to try. Thanks for sharing! Both of your projects are SEW lovely. I especially like that you used the scraps from the napkins to make your placemats!
ReplyDeleteI need to make napkins for everyday - thank you for the push to get them done!!! Thank you for the cookie recipe and how to enhance Oreos!!
ReplyDeleteThose Oreo dipped cookies sound like winners with the little ones. I laughed when I saw that you use chocolate and vanilla cookies. What a festive table you'll have with new placemats and napkins.
ReplyDeleteI am not a baker so let me tell you how interested I am in the Oreo's covered in chocolate, wow what a terrific idea. Your napkins and placemats are a beautiful addition to any holiday setting.
ReplyDeleteI have actually made the Christmas tree napkins...very cute!
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun at your house. Love your napkins and placemats.
ReplyDeleteOreos have always been one of my favorite cookies. I have never had them dipped in chocolate though. I will have to try them that way as well as the shortbread cookies. I love those napkins. They look just like Christmas trees. It sounds like you are well into the Christmas spirit. Enjoy those grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteOh, dipping oreos would be so fun with the Grands. My guild made those napkin trees for the meals on wheels on year and they loved them.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun Christmas projects you have shared. Each one is perfect to share with family and friends. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThese are such fun projects and how fun to incorporate all the grandkids. We have a bake day each year with mine and have a great time. Your buttery short bread sugar cookies sound great. I may have to add that to my growing list of short bread cookie recipes! Thanks so much for sharing your holiday fun!
ReplyDeleteOh, my! Those napkins and placemats are so pretty. And the cookies look great, too.
ReplyDeletePretty place mats, thank you for the tutorial. Thanks for the recipes also. I tend to love vanilla and white chocolate.
ReplyDeleteWhat great fun you have with your grandkids! Definitely a blessing! All of your cookies look delicious. Love your Christmas projects, especially the holiday napkin. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour place mats and napkins are lovely and those cookie look sweet. My brother would love those.
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