Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

I tried multiple attempts to post a picture but I couldn't get it to work. This is a recipe for a chocolate cookie topped with a Hershey's candy cane kiss. Yummy!

Candy Cane Kiss Cookie

1/2 c. butter-flavored shortening
1/2 c. real butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. flour, lightly spooned into measuring cups and leveled with a knife
1/4 c. + 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream together softened butter, shortening, brown sugar, and white sugar for 1-2 minutes on medium-high speed or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Meanwhile, combine the baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, and cocoa powder. Add to the butter/sugar mixture and mix until combined. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet (I used a small scoop by pampered chef and it made 36 cookies). Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the centers are set but still soft. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes. Top each cookie with an unwrapped Candy Cane Kiss. Allow to cool completely, long enough for the Kiss to harden.

Gingerbread Cookies

This is a traditional recipe at our house. Every year we make them. These are a mild soft version of the gingerbread cookie. I don't like the hard spicy ones. But these are awesome! If you want them spicier, just add more of the ginger, cloves, cinnamon.

3 1/2 C. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
2 t. ginger
1 t. cloves
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. allspice
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. softened butter
3/4 C. molasses
2 eggs

Mix all dry ingredients together in small bowl. Cream butter, molasses, eggs and butter in mixer. Then add in dry ingredients. Mix well. I almost always end up adding about another 1/8 c. flour or so when I see the dough. It should be handled without too much stick. Chill for several hours. Roll out on well floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out with cookie cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheets for 8-10 min. 350 degrees. Watch carefully, don't overbake. You want them soft and chewy! Frost with royal icing and decorate. Or as my family is doing now, eat when fresh out of the oven! They make the house smell so good too. Makes about 3-4 dozen.

Sloppy Joes

This is a staple at our house. It is the only version of sloppy joes that we will eat. My mom's recipe.

1 pound lean ground beef, browned
1 can Campbells chicken gumbo soup
ketchup
mustard

I never measure, I just squirt and taste, squirt and taste. Use hamburger buns or hoagie rolls. Make tator tots or fries, a salad and it is an easy meal!

PS-I do have a hard time finding that soup. I emailed Campbells and found out Target carries it so that is where I have to get mine. None of my grocers here do.

Corn Flake Christmas Wreaths

1/3 cup margarine or butter
1 package (10 oz. about 40) regular marshmallows
1 teaspoon green food coloring
6 cups Kellogg's Corn Flakes® cereal
Red cinnamon candies or red M&M's


Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in food coloring.

Add KELLOGG'S CORN FLAKES cereal. Stir until well coated.

Portion warm cereal mixture evenly by using a 1/4 cup dry measure coated with cooking spray. Using sprayed fingers, quickly shape into individual wreaths. Dot with cinnamon candies.