Show Me Your Life Christmas Cookies

Its the holidays, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this time of year. Today's post worked out really well because I had a cookie exchange yesterday at work and I'm having a martini party tonight for all of my girl friends, which also means I make lots of goodies, so I have 3 different cookies to share with you... I apologize now for the picture and recipe overload!

Remember the containers I made on Tuesday for Thrifty Tuesdays

Well I placed these cookies inside of the containers

Hazelnut Cocoa Coins

Makes:60 cookies
Prep: 1 hour
Chill: 1 to 2 hours
Bake: 6 minutes per batch

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 3/4 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts
  
• 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon shortening

Directions

1. In large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and salt. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and cocoa powder until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour and the hazelnuts.
2. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion of dough into an 11-inch-long roll. Wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill for 1 to 2 hours until firm enough to slice.
3. Preheat over to 375 degrees F. Cut rolls into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place slices 1 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes or until tops are firm to cool to the touch. Transfer cookie to a wire rack; let cool.
4. in a small saucepan, combine chocolate and shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Generously drizzle melted chocolate over cookies. Let stand until chocolate sets. Makes about 60 cookies.

Here is the completed product for the cookie exchange

And here are all the other wonderful cookies that I received... I will be sharing these with all of my girl friends tonight

Martini Sugar Cookies

Here are the ingredients that you will need for the cookies

Cookies

• 1 cup butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 1/2 cup sifted flour

Frosting

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
• 1 tb butter
• 1 tb milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp lemon juice

Cookies:
Cream 1 cup butter and 2/3 cup sugar together. Beat in 1 egg. Add tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 1/2 cup sifted four. Mix until all ingredients are well blended. Chill dough for 3-4 hours before rolling.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out and cut. Bake about 8-10 minutes or until barely colored.
Frosting:
Melt butter. Combine all ingrediens, and beat until smooth. Add food color if desired.

I also added a toothpick to the cookie to make it look a little more realistic.

White Chocolate Dunked Oreos

Ingredients

• Oreos
• 1 block of Bakers White Chocolate
  
• 1/2 tsp shortening
• Candy Canes

Unwrap candy canes


Place them in a food processor

Melt the White Chocolate in a Double Broiler - but i don't have a double broiler (i'm hoping one day to register for one *hint hint*) so I have to create a make shift one with one big pot and one smaller pot


Set up assembly line for cookies



(I would recommend two people for this - I started the line with the oreos and sat them down on the cookie sheet covered and then have your friend cover the oreos with the crushed up candy canes - we worked from right to left based on the picture above.... don't ask me why - perhaps Jaci and I are a little backwards in the kitchen! ha)

Let set for 30 minutes until white chocolate is set.

Thank you for joining me today on my own little cookie tour.. I hope you have a sweet weekend!!! Only 14 more days until Christmas :)!!!!! Stop by Kelly's Korner to get other great cookie ideas!

Thankful Thursday...12/10

So it is officially Friday and I'm just now getting a minute to post what I am thankful for... and trust me - its not that i'm not thankful for anything this week... its just been many of late nights preparing for a cookie exchange for work today, and my girls night in martini party tomorrow!

But I am thankful for a few things

I had a dentist appointment this morning before work - i know a great way to start the work day - right??? but I have no Cavities - which is something to be VERY thankful for... and something I am even more thankful for is the sonic that is directly behind the dentist office - and every time I was able to rinse my mouth out and sit up, I just saw it there staring at me.. which is very tramatic for a girl who has not had her daily (okay maybe several daily) diet cokes!!! don't worry - I hit up the drive through to get a Route 44 before work!!!

I am also very thankful that the Cleveland Browns beat the Steelers tonight. I know that in reality a point in the win column simply means a drop in the draft column come spring, however a win against the Pittsburg Steelers (**Just a reminder - they did win the super bowl last year**) but it almost feels as if we won the super bowl ourselves. I have always said that Josh Cribbs is the best member of our team and he definately proved that tonight! CONGRATS BROWNIES!!

And one more thing I'm thankful for today.... these two

Last night I went to Gracie out the back door to let her go to the bathroom, and when I slid the glass door open she immediately went to run out and ran right into the screen door (which I then felt really badly about), but then she immediately did it again.... and then looked right up at me like "hey crazy lady, how in the heck am I supposed to get out of the place to go play?". Poor Gracie.... she did much better today with waiting for the screen door!

Wardrobe Wants Wednesday

Grey is my new black

I'm really loving grey this season... Here are a few things that I LOVE!

This shirt from Old Navy

I also love the idea of matching a VERY plain outfit with a pop of color... like this awesome Coach Purse

If i had to go somewhere for a holiday party - i would have a difficult time resisting this outfit combo:

This dress from Francesca's

The shoes from Nine West

I had every intention on including this sweater from Target today, however, my wonderful BF got me an early xmas present (probably because i was whining) and now it is sitting in my living room - but I can't wait to wear this with a white long sleeve shirt underneath

We also have a visitor with us for the next few days - starting tonight through Sunday. Her name is Gracie, she is a silver lab.

and here she is hanging out with my favorite boy!
**Disclaimer - I do have color in my house, although this picture does not portray it very well!**

Thrifty Tuesdays - Cookie Exchange Containers

Every year in the office we do a cookie exchange, and although the cookie part is supposed to be the exciting piece of the exchange, there is a bit of a "challenge" to see who can have the most creative presentation. Well I'm quiet excited about my contribution this year for my containers. Not only is it thrifty, but its pretty darn cute if you ask me...


Here is all you need (Plus Soup Cans)

I measured each piece of scrapbook paper, based on the size of the can and then cut to the correct size

I kept each piece separate and in their individualized cans because the cans are not all the same size

After cutting all the paper to the exact size, I had a lot of left over paper that I could use to decorate the cans

And then I just used a glue stick to attach them to the big piece of paper to make each can design different

I used a glue gun to attach the paper to the tin can


And voila - the finished product


I will place the cookies in the cans, and then wrap the entire fan with cellophane and tie it with a coordinating ribbon. I will post a picture when I complete the project Wednesday night.

The best part about this project is that it took me less than a 1/2 hour to create, it was fun and the entire thing cost me $2.64 in scrapbook paper - much cheaper than buying individual containers!

Make Me a Meal Monday - Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

I love my crock pot... however this is the only dish that I have ever made in it. But I'm here to tell you that its the best meal that I have ever had from a crockpot!

Here are all the ingredients that you will need (including 2 cloves of garlic - i forgot to place them out when I took the picture - sorry!)


I know the picture shows a ton of ingredients and the recipe calls for a lot - however they are mostly inexpensive items - and as you can tell I bought mainly store brand items - AND the best part- is that there is barely any prep time - just throwing it all in the pot!

FOR THE SOUP
1 lb of shredded chicken (and if you know me well enough - you know I don't do shredded meat - so I dice my chicken tenders up into cubes)
1 (15oz) can whole peeled tomatoes mashed
1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
1 medium onion chopped
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chile peppers
2 gloves of garlic minced
2 cups of water (also not pictured!)
1 (14.5 oz) can of chicken broth
1 teaspoon of cumin (and i love CUMIN so my hand gets a little heavy with this measurement
1 teaspoon of chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 oz) package of frozen corn
1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro (i always use fresh, but I'm sure you could use dried)

Place whole peeled tomatoes in bottom of crock pot and mash - I use a potato masher - it seems to work well for the tomatoes

I just dump all the rest of the canned items into the pot



I chop up my fresh cilantro (YUMM my favorite scent in the whole wide world!)


I chop up an onion (sorry - no picture - I'm pretty sure you have chopped an onion up in your day!)

and then I chop up my chicken tenders and place them into the pot as well. I buy chicken at bulk and then bring it home, clean it, and separate chicken breasts and chicken tenders, and then freeze them. I use the tenders for soups and save the breasts for grilled chicken.




and dump the rest of the ingredients into the crock pot


Cover and Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4.

TOPPING BAR FOR THE SOUP
Sour Cream
Cheddar Cheese
Limes
Avocado
Tortilla Strips (the actual recipe calls for you to make the strips - but I cheat and buy these Yummy, pre made, less hassle ones from the store!)



Because I don't want you to go for almost 48 hours without a post - I'm going to post this early today, and if I think about it, I'll take a picture of the soup with all the toppings..

There are a few reasons as to why this is one of my favorite meals #1 its easy to make, #2 its fairly healthy, #3 its mexican, and I love any mexican food!, and #4 you come home from a long day at work and your dinner is already fixed and your entire place smells amazing! whats not to love about this dish!

*Tri Delta Reunion* Ornament Exchange

I believe one of the best decisions that I made while I was in college was to join a sorority. Not only did Tri Delta give me a "home away from home" but it also provided me with friends that I will have for a life time. Since moving from school over 3 1/2 years ago, I have been able to keep in contact with my friends from chapter as well as others in the greek community from Toledo. Recently we realized how many of the girls from our chapter lived here in Columbus, so we started to have monthly reunions. This months reunion was a ornament exchange.



One of the staples from school was called Jed's, they have chicken chunks/balls that are topped with a variety of yumminess... and they just recently built a few restaurants down here in the 614, so we decided to meet there. Unfortunately only 4 of us were able to make it but we still had a great time!

Here are Ashley K and Ashley S with their ornaments



And Molly and I:


The beautiful ornament that I got - Thanks Mols!!!


All of us girls... I had so much fun! I can't wait until our next reunion!

I have been following Kelly's Korner for a few months now, however I have never had a blog to be able to participate, however, I am SO excited to do so today. As my family and friends know, I am OBSESSED with Christmas, and Justin is VERY lucky that my tree only went up in early November (normally it goes up before Halloween).

I have always wanted to have a themed tree that matched my house and this year I was finally about to do so...


I made all of the ornaments this year. This set I did by quilling scrapbook paper that matched my condo (artichoke green, tiffany blue, and dark teal)



and attached matching ribbon they turned out like this:



and my other ornaments are a frosted plain ornament, and then I added Martha Stewart's flocking powder for the green polka dots, and Martha Stewart's glitter for the teal polka dots:



And here is the tree all lit...


HAPPY ALMOST CHRISTMAS BLOGGING WORLD! ONLY 21 MORE DAYS!!!

now go check out other fellow bloggers christmas tree's at www.kellyskornerblog.com