WIAW: What I’ve been Baking

So you know what happens when you go home for break?

You get sucked into the vortex of laziness. Yes, I’ve been productive cleaning my room out, watching t.v., and exercising but blogging has not been happening. Maybe it’s because I’m not doing anything interesting?

This weekend was Cookie Baking Extravaganza 2012 (not a thing but I just made it one). It also turned into Cookie Eating Extravaganza 2012 so instead of a normal WIAW- it’s the cookie edition.

Thanks to Jenn for hosting! Here are my not so healthy eats treats of late.

Peanut Butter Blossoms and Molasses cookies:

My dad is a huge fan of both the blossoms and molasses cookies. I enjoy the molasses for the spicy bite and the blossoms are always a favorite.

Snickerdoodles:

Fluffy and cinnamony.

Pineapple cookies:

For some reason, I always associate Pineapple with Christmas time. Yes, I know it’s a very summery fruit and it definitely makes me think of warmer weather but it is also reminiscent of the holidays for me. My best guess is because of these cookies or that we occasionally have pineapple on Christmas morning. But def a fav for the moist but sweet taste.

Sugar cookies:

Of course we made these. And this is the best batch ever.

Baklava:

Maybe not a Christmas cookie but I spent yesterday learning how to make these from my Greek uncle and they’re a treat!

Any holiday treats for you?

Happy Wednesday!

 

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Semester complete

I’m headed home today for about 8 weeks for my winter break so just popping in to say hi!

With another semester under my belt, it’s a bittersweet feeling but I’m ready to enjoy a nice break before starting my final semester.

Snacks for the road today: apples, oranges, a little bit of chocolate, half of a sub from last nights dinner and trying a green smoothie. I like to have lots of variety and choices in the road!

And just a snippet of what I’ve been snacking on lately: pomegranate arils. Soooo good!!

Have a great day!

The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2012

Last year I participated in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap hosted by Love & Olive Oil and The Little Kitchen and decided to do it again this year!

The swap also was a benefit for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was an awesome way to give back during this holiday season! Go check out everyone who participated!

Receiving 3 dozen cookies of different kinds is awesome and such a treat and I’ve enjoyed baking my own and sending them out too.

This year I made a Double mint Double chocolate cookie.

My recipe was based on a chocolate chip recipe that I LOVE but I jazzed it up by making a chocolate base and adding white chocolate chips and peppermint pieces.

Crushing the peppermint was so hard (I later learned that using a hammer is a much easier method) but I think the cookies turned out okay.

I sent my cookies to these lovely bloggers:

Carrie @ Poet in the Pantry

Alex @ yums and loves

Alyssa @ What’s Cooking, Love?

And received some delicious cookies from the following:

Nancy @ River tree Kitchen sent me these lovely Browned Butter Bars with Chocolate Ganache

Kathia @ Pink Little Cake sent me some chocolate shortbread which really melted in my mouth

Dana @ Food for Thought sent me some delicious oatmeal cookies with cranberries and chocolate chips. These were devoured so quickly that I forget to take pictures.

I really enjoyed the exchange both for receiving cookie, baking them, and getting to interact with bloggers from all over the country!

Last but not least here’s my recipe:

Double mint Double chocolate cookies

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

Mix the above together

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Mix these together and then add to wet ingredients

Add about half a bag of white chocolate chips, 1 cup mint m&ms and 1 cup crushed peppermint pieces (I would also suggest Andes peppermint baking pieces, I just couldn’t find them at the time)

Mix together and drop by rounded teaspoons on a baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.

Cool and enjoy!