Christmas Treats with Mom

Every year as a child, I, like most of you, looked forward to baking christmas cookies and treats with my mom around the holidays. If you ask anyone on the northwest side of Chicago, they will tell you my mom makes some of the best baked treats around. She is never afraid to, what we call in my family, “fuss.” 

So this year, my mom made a trip up to Wisconsin and we spent the day making a few extra Christmas treats that will spice up any holiday cookie platter. These bite sized desserts are easy to make and require very little baking. You can make as many or as little as you want. They are great to fill out a holiday platter or wrap individually to give as a heartfelt Christmas gift, just as Anne suggested in her recent post.

I’ve added them to a cookie platter filled with my Vanilla Spritz Press Cookies, Lemon Ginger Snowballs and Nutmeg Yule Logs. 

Turtle Pretzels

Ingredients:

• Snyder’s Pretzel Snaps
• Rolos
• Whole Pecans

Place pretzel snaps on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place Rolo on top of the pretzel. Bake in oven at 250 degrees for 4 minutes. Immediately press pecans on top of chocolate. Set in refrigerator.

Christmas Mice

Ingredients:

• Maraschino cherries
• Hershey’s Kisses
• Melted milk chocolate
• Slivered almonds
• Black and white gel icing

Pat cherries on paper towel. Dip in chocolate and place cherry on its side on a foil-lined baking sheet. Immediately place unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss as the head of the mouse. Set in refrigerator until chocolate hardens. Using black gel icing, attach slivered almonds to top of Hershey’s Kiss to create mouse ears. Use white gel icing for eyes. 

Chocolate Dipped Meringues

Ingredients:

• Vanilla meringues
• Milk and/or white chocolate, melted for dipping
• Christmas sprinkles

Dip store-bough vanilla meringues in chocolate. Immediately dip in shallow bowl of holiday sprinkles of your choice. Set on foil-lined baking sheet in refrigerator until chocolate hardens. 

M&M Chocolate Pretzel Rings

Ingredients:

• Pretzel rings
• Milk and/or white chocolate, melted for dipping
• Holiday M&Ms

Place pretzel rings on foil-lined baking sheet. Using small spoon (my mom using one of my old baby spoons!), drop chocolate into pretzel ring. Immediately place M&M, “M” side down, on chocolate. Set in refrigerator until chocolate sets. 

Mom’s Chocolate Melting Tips:

• Using chocolate squares or chips, place in microwave safe bowl for one minute. Stir. 
• Don’t let any water get into the bowl – the chocolate will harden and will not go back!
• Don’t over heat. After one minute, stir. Use 15 second  increments to get to desired consistency. Stirring is the key!
• Place a 1/2 teaspoon of shortening in with the chocolate before melting to even out the consistency.

From my mom’s kitchen and my kitchen to yours – Merry Christmas!

Shortbread Cookies

Is this what your kitchen looked like last weekend?

It is that time of year when I decide to bake cookies and bread for all of my friends and neighbors. On Saturday I made 12 loaves of Amish Friendship Bread and 4 batches of shortbread cookies. I always get about half way through this process and question why in the world I am doing so much baking.

Instead of making many different kinds of cookies this year, I decided to make 4 batches of shortbread and added ingredients to make each batch a little different.  I then packaged these up in basic white candy boxes and tied them with sweet red ribbon.  Simply stated, but still something all of my friends and neighbors will enjoy receiving.

Shortbread Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

My optional additions: mini chocolate chips, chopped and toasted pecans, grated orange zest with chopped dried cranberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Butter an 8 1/2-inch round cake pan or a 8 inch square pan.  Sift together flour and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl cream butter until whipped, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sugar, and continue to beat until fluffy, being sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Beat for about 2 minutes more.

Add flour mixture a little at a time and beat on low until flour is fully incorporated and dough sticks together when squeezed.  Pat dough into pan and prick all over with a fork. Bake until firm in the center and just starting to turn light brown, about 50 minutes.

Take out of the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.  Cut into desired size.  Let cool 15 mins more and then remove the shortbread from the pan and place on a cooling rack.

Cookies will keep, in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 weeks.

Happy Baking!

Ladies Night: A White & Gold Holiday

“Hosting ladies night” has been a social tradition among women for decades. What was once parlor games and tea became Bunco parties and quilting bees and has now morphed into book clubs and excuses for cosmopolitans.  Some groups have fun names, such as my mom’s Stitch ‘n Bitch Sisters, but our group of fab ladies simply calls it what it is:  Girls Night.

While impromptu get-togethers are great, what really makes a great ladies night is a little planning. Here are our tips:
- Choose a consistent night - our group of gets together on the second Thursday of each month
- Make a schedule – at the beginning of the year, assign each lady a month to host. She’s only responsible for her month and can plan the night however she wishes, from food to drinks to even an event
- Invite new friends – have a new neighbor or coworker? Help them meet people by inviting them to come
- Keep it casual - if you can make it great and if not, no big deal

And guys, you can do it too!  Although my husband’s “Man Night” is less frequent and a bit rowdier, it gives him an excuse to go to sporting events or hit up a new brewpub with friends he doesn’t see often.

Do you and your friends have a “Ladies/Man Night”?  Tell us about it!

White & Gold Holiday Theme
And now onto my recent White & Gold Holiday Ladies Night!  Because it was the holidays I got a bit fancier than I usually do.  I carried my metal & wood obsessions into my holiday decor this year and created a white & gold holiday party with touches of fresh greenery.

I fancied up an undecorated fresh wreath with leftover gold ball ornaments and discount gold wire ribbon to greet guests as they arrived.

We sipped on a festive golden Pear Champagne cocktail dotted with pomegranate seeds.  I just mixed organic Pear Nectar and organic Pear Juice, found at Whole Foods with champagne or non-alcoholic pear sparkling cider for the two mom-to-bes.

I served homemade Giada de Laurentiis’ White Bean Dip with gold pita chips and carrots, along with an Apple, Fennel & Parmesan Spinach Salad.  I also made a hearty Rosemary-White Cheddar Mac & Cheese, which was such a crowd-pleaser that I forgot to take pictures!

To add to the winter decor, I took my gold sprayed branches and combined them with some fresh boxwood.  I clipped a few branches of the boxwood into small sprigs and layered them with fake snow into hurricane glasses.

I adorned my chandelier with a combo of sparkly gold ribbon, cheap gold ball ornaments and mercury glass gold balls. Dessert was Martha Stewart Gingerbread Cupcakes with my Eggnog Frosting.  Yum!

A Little Delay: Meet Lena!

My post is a little delayed today because we added a new member to the HAP family this weekend!  Meet Lena, our seven week old yellow labrador puppy.

Lena

Coming up later:  A White & Gold Holiday Ladies Night!

3 Easiest Appetizers Ever

If you are anything like me, you often end up having impromptu gatherings with only hours to spare. While a bag of tortilla chips and jar of salsa works to moderately appease the appetites of your guests, you can do better without much more work. These three appetizers are guaranteed to satisfy hungry bellies and make you look like the true haute homemaker you really are. Each recipe uses no more than four ingredients (ones I always make sure I have on hand). A total prep time of 15 minutes for a night of food and fun – do you think you can handle it?

Harry and David’s Onion and Pepper Relish

In our Under $25 Holiday Gift Guide, one of my top picks was Harry and David’s Onion and Pepper Relish. This dip is my husband’s favorite. All you do is use half a jar of the relish and mix with one package of cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat Philadelphia). Mix together and serve with tortilla chips.

Mustard Ranch Pretzel Dip

This dip involves only four simple ingredients and isn’t too harsh on the waistline.

Mix together and serve with pretzels:
1/2 C. low-fat mayo
1/2 C. low-fat sour cream
1/2 package dry Ranch dressing mix
1/4 C. yellow mustard

Some people aren’t real mustard lovers. If you are one of them, simply add the mustard slowly and taste to your liking.

Easy Chili Cheese Dip

I’ve been making this dip since the days of my college dorm room. With a glass pie plate, a few ingredients and a microwave, you can make this anywhere.

Ingredients:
1 package cream cheese
1 can Hormel Chili, no beans
1 package shredded cheddar or mexican-style cheese

Spread the cream cheese at the bottom of a pie pan. Spread Hormel Chili across the top of the cream cheese. Top with a few handfuls of cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees, or microwave for 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips.

Anyone can conquer one or all of these to create a great party atmosphere without all the fuss.

Feel free to share your five minute appetizers with us! I’d love to add more to the arsenal.

Buttermilk Pancakes

I grew up eating bisquick pancakes.  You know, the pre-measured mixes where you just add milk, eggs and oil.  They always did the trick and were easy enough to make, so I never thought about going out and finding a pancake recipe that was made from scratch.

Well, that all changed a couple months ago when I discovered my Grandma’s Buttermilk Pancake recipe.  I whipped up a batch of these homemade pancakes and quickly realized that taking a little extra time to measure out my own ingredients, and add a few extra special ones, made a world of difference.  These pancakes were light, airy and sweet.  I may never go back to the box!

Buttermilk Pancakes

2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup melted butter or oil
2 eggs

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the remaining buttermilk, butter or oil and eggs and beat well until combined. Fry in a well oiled pan.

This recipe works well cut in half for a smaller group.

Haute Homemake Tip: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, don’t worry!  Simply take one cup of regular milk and add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice.  Let stand 5 minutes and use as much as the recipe calls for.

Gilded Lavender Butter Cookies

Light and buttery with a hint of “what am I tasting?”, these cookies are elegant enough for a bridal shower or holiday party but simple to make.  I was inspired by Martha Stewart’s Rosemary Butter Cookies but have been wanting to test out a new recipe with lavender.  With the lavender you not only get the usual aroma of cookies baking, but your house smells like a spa too!

Since this Christmas I’m obsessed with anything sparkly, I used gold sanding sugar to “gild” the edges.  You can find the sugar in a variety of colors at Michaels and the lavender at most spice stores or natural food markets.

Gilded Lavender Butter Cookies
1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1 whole egg
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp coarse salt
2 1/2 C flour
1 Tbsp dried lavender
gold coarse sanding sugar

Preheat oven to 375. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in whole egg and vanilla. Add salt and flour, beating flour in one cup at a time until well combined (dough will appear crumbly). Add dried lavender and mix by hand with a spoon or spatula.

Divide dough in half and place each on a medium sized piece of parchment paper. Roll dough into a log, about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Place each log on the edge of the parchment and roll it the paper around the log. Freeze logs for 1 hour.

Unwrap the log from the parchment and place the parchment on a cookie sheet. Use a pastry brush to brush frozen logs with egg white. Pour sanding sugar onto a plate and roll dough in sugar, using your fingers to cover the log evenly. Slice log into 1/4 inch thick rounds and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 16-20 min.

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Haute Homemaker

As we finish up gift guide week we couldn’t resist adding our favorite picks for the haute homemaker.  Even if you’re not an expert chef or gardener (yet!), you can still be stylish while you learn!  We’ve had so much fun and hope you’ve found some ideas to pick up for friends or to add to your own wishlist.

Anne’s Picks:

My top pick for the Haute Homemaker in your life is the Everyday Food cookbook by Martha Stewart.  I received it last year from fellow HAP blogger Katie and it has become my go-to cookbook for simple and delicious meals that can be made in a reasonable amount of time.  It’s a must have in your kitchen!

From left: Teatime Apron ($28), Everyday Food ($25), Enameled Cast Iron Pot ($79), Illume Glacial Jars Candles ($32)

Katie’s Picks:

Is it weird that of all these pretty things I desperately want that Compost Pail??  A great gift for a gardener or your eco-conscious friend, Crate and Barrel makes composting sleek, stylish and odor-free.

From top: Pottery Barn Checkered Handknit Throw ($99), Envirosax Reusable Bags in La Boheme ($38), Fruit Loop Bowl ($42), Soule Studio Citrange Pitcher in Slate ($90), Stainless Steel Composter ($40)

Stef’s Picks:

My favorite pick for your haute homemaker this holiday is a gift certificate to a Sur La Table cooking class. Sur La Table offers a variety of classes, from tapas to Christmas brunch. Give a gift to yourself and tell your haute homemaker you will come too! If Sur La Table is not in your area, I recommend searching the web for the closest cooking school.

From left: Cooking Class Gift Certificate from Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Carving Board ($99),  Crate and Barrel Matilda Vase ($30), Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration ($19), 222 Fifth Dinnerware Paisley Ornament Appetizer Plates ($25)

Holiday Gift Guide: Under $25!

Anne’s Picks:

My top choice for a gift $25 and under are the Monogrammed Mugs from Anthropologie.  They are incredibly adorable and unbelievably reasonable.  At that price you could get mugs for the entire family and still not break your budget!

From left: Linen Hemstiched guest towels ($19), Ski Cap Candle ($26), Monogrammed Mugs ($6),  BabyCakes Cookbook ($24)

Katie’s Picks:

I’m torn on my favorite here so it’s a good thing all these gifts are under $25! As a designer my loves for color and typography are battling so I’m going to cheat and choose two favorites:  the pick-your-favorite-color Pantone mug and the fabulously industrial Empire letter sculptures.

From top: Paperwhites ($20), Gauge nyc Empire Letter Sculpture ($10), Pantone Color Mug ($15), Tasting Beer ($12), Voluspa Candle in Frost Pinecone ($18)

Stef’s Picks:

Add a little Christmas cheer this season with Straight No Chasers newest Christmas album. A YouTube sensation, this acapella mens group reunited years after graduating college. Their version of You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch will give the cast of Glee a run for their money.

From left:Personalized Dragonfly Note Cards ($10), Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom ($12),  Harry and David Onion and Pepper Relish ($15), Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio ‘07 ($20), Straight No Chaser Christmas Cheers Album ($13)

Holiday Gift Guide: For Kids

Anne’s Picks:

It is hard for me to pick a gift for a child without thinking of my own daughter.  Right now, she cannot get enough of play food.  I especially love Melissa and Doug toys because of their commitment to safe toys and adorable designs.  That’s why my top pick for kids this year is the Melissa and Doug Sushi Slicing Play Set.

From left: The Giving Tree ($16), Sushi Slicing Play Set ($20), Bear Slippers ($17), Fun on the Farm Stacker ($39)

Katie’s Picks:

Like many a little girl, I’m a sucker for sparkles which is the first reason why I love TOMS Silver Glitter Shoes.  But even better is the fact that for every pair you buy, TOMS donates a pair to a child in need.  A sparkly gift that keeps giving sounds just about perfect.

From top: Personalized Wire Hanger ($15), Animal Alphabet Poster ($28), Gap Boy’s Warmest Pants ($50), The Polar Express ($11), TOMS Silver Glitter Shoes ($38)

Stef’s Picks:

With my little bouncing baby boy on the way, I cannot help but be obsessed with GAP’s buffalo plaid collection this winter. The plaid trapper hat is not only adorable, but practical for cold Wisconsin winters, complete with a velcro chin strap to help keep the hat on your little ones head.

From left: GAP Buffalo Plaid Trapper Hat ($16.50), Playskool Explore n Grow Busy Ball Popper: ($25), American Girl – Rebecca Rubin ($118), Fisher-Price Little People Christmas: Nativity Set ($25), Gymboree Chairman of the Board Baby Boy outfit ($12-$21)