Vote for my recipe on Iron Baker Blog Edition

Aloha! Please take a moment to vote for my Caramel and White Chocolate Sammys over on the 20 Going on 80 blog. Just click on the image above to get there and vote or click here: Iron Baker Challenge. Don't they look good? Click here for the recipe: Caramel and White Chocolate Sammys.

The Zen of Christmas Cookies

Baking and boiling. Stirring and chopping. Dipping and rolling and spooning and spreading.

Remember this one thing as you roll your dough and sprinkle your sprinkles: you are making these treats for people you love.

Hold your heart in your hands as you make this food.

Cruzer & Dustin

Love is delicious.

Putting socks on cut up feet. Dang lava rock!

Sweet & Salty Rice Cracker Treats
makes 35 squares

3 TBL butter
1 - 10oz package marshmallows
2 cups arare (Japanese rice crackers)
4 cups rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
1/2 package chocolate flavored almond bark (or any meltable chocolate will work)

Melt butter over medium low heat in a large sauce pan. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until melted. Stir in arare and cereal.

Spread mixture in a waxed paper lined 9x13 inch baking dish with a buttered spatula. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.

Melt chocolate according to package directions. Dunk rice squares in the melted chocolate and allow to cool on waxed paper.

We wrapped ours up in parchment paper and tied with gift tags for neighbors and friends. Enjoy!

Cookie Bars that Talk

 What do you say when a friend is going through a tough time? Tougher than anything you've gone through in you own life? There are no pieces of advice you can offer or condolences to give.

But you can make cookie bars. You can measure out the flour and oats and salt and sugar.

You can lovingly cut in the butter with only a fork and your hands. There's lots of love in your hands.

You can arrange it just so in the pan, making it perfectly straight even though life is far from it.

You can watch it bake in the oven and count your tiny blessings.

 You can think good thoughts for your friends and bring them these cookies bars when there's nothing you can say. Because cookie bars, and anything you make from your heart, does the talking.

Do something nice for someone right now.

Maybe you'll make these cookie bars. Here's the recipe: Raspberry Cookie Bars
I used blackberry in place of raspberry jam.

Cherry Chocolate Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

This is an adaptation to an oatmeal cookie recipe from Joy of Cooking. These turned out amazing! The combination of walnuts, cherries, and chocolate is magical.

Makes about 36 two inch cookies.

1/2 c butter
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 TBL milk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c flour
1 c oats
1 c walnuts (small pieces)
1/2 c dried cherries
1/2 - 3/4 c chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Cream the butter. Mix with sugar til well blended. Add egg, vanilla, and milk and mix well. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and add to mix, combining thoroughly. Add oats, walnuts, cherries, and chocolate. I did all this with just a fork and a bowl, but feel free to use a mixer! Spoon cookies onto well greased baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-13 minutes at 350.

Additions / Subs: nearly any nut for walnuts, coconut, cranberries or raisins for cherries.

Notes: Next time I make this recipe I will add more oats (1/2 c) because I like the texture and it will lessen the sweetness. Hubs didn't think they were too sweet, so I would try the above recipe first.