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Category: Recipes

Traditional Springerle Cookies

Traditional Springerle Cookies

My mother-in-law makes a delicious cookie for Christmas every year. It’s one of those special recipes that only makes an appearance at Christmas, so when I see a plate of them on her table, I savor every morsel. Luckily, not too many people like them due to the anise flavoring, which means more for me 🙂 Springerle (pronounced spring-er-lee) cookies originated in Germany and are known for the intricate designs on each cookie made by using a “Springerle Rolling Pin.”…

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Mincemeat Cookies

Mincemeat Cookies

Mincemeat – the single most misunderstood word during the holidays. I blame it on whoever came up with that name. I mean really, minced meat?? Who wants to eat that?! However, I’m here to tell you to give it a try and you might be pleasantly surprised. I was at World Market the other day leisurely strolling the holiday aisles while the kiddos were at school (so for once, I was able to really look at the unique goods!) Lo…

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Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies are the perfect “personalized” cookie because you can fill the center with almost anything – colored icing, jam, chocolate, icing with sprinkles, caramel, lemon curd, and on and on. We’ve always used icing in the middle, so that’s what I’m giving you today, but feel free to experiment with your own fillings! 1 cup butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 eggs, SEPARATED 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour 1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans or walnuts Powdered sugar…

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Harlequin Dippers

Harlequin Dippers

Today’s Christmas cookie recipe comes all the way from Germany….or at least it did at one point. I got the recipe from my grandma, who got the recipe from her mother-in-law, so at some point it was over in Germany. If you Google Harlequin Dippers, you’ll find the recipe classified as a “Vintage Cookie” but they’ve always been my favorite for the simple reason that they don’t contain eggs….which means the raw dough doesn’t contain eggs….which means nom nom nom…

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Grandma’s Cookies

Grandma’s Cookies

Snow on the ground + Christmas music on Google = Christmas cookie time! Yes, I know it’s only November. Yes, I know there is a turkey holiday coming up before the jolly man in a red suit visits. And yet, I still don’t care that you think it’s too early for anything Christmas. Is there really a defined timeline for baking cookies?? Not in this house! (I won’t even mention that Eli and Ava both have their Christmas trees lit…

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Ice Cream Challenge

Ice Cream Challenge

Halloween is over and all that’s left in its wake is a huge pile of candy! Now the question becomes, what to do with it?? Sure, there is the new “Switch Witch” thing where parents take their kid’s candy during the night and leave a toy or something in its place, but that is way too millennial for me ~ A.) I can’t think of an *affordable* toy that would be enough of a draw for a kid to overlook…

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Decorating Sugar Cookies

Decorating Sugar Cookies

Every year my family has a fall cook-off and this year’s theme was Oktoberfest! In honor of our German roots and cook off theme, I decided to try making a beer stein cookie, complete with decorative icing. I love making sugar cookies, and I love eating them even more, but I’ve never attempted to really spend time piping the icing to make them look cute. On the one hand, why spend more time than it takes to open a can…

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Noah’s Ark Chili

Noah’s Ark Chili

Nothing like the smell of chili wafting through the house to remind you that 1) it’s fall, and 2) dinner is ready and waiting! Mmmm! Everyone seems to have their own recipe for chili, but if you’re looking a simple no-fuss recipe, look no further than what I like to call “Noah’s Ark Chili” – the ingredients go into the crock pot two by two 🙂 I like to make my chili in the morning and put it in the…

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The Ultimate S’more

The Ultimate S’more

S’mores happen to be one of my favorite fall treats, so naturally whenever we are going to be around a bonfire, I always volunteer to bring the fixings for them. In my younger more naive days, I brought a box of graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows. Classic s’more. But in recent years, I have seen the s’more light and our s’mores have evolved into masterpieces! It seems each bonfire we go to, someone says, “Have you tried….” and a…

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Mashed Potato What???

Mashed Potato What???

Today I made for the first time Mashed Potato Candy! I’ve seen it. I’ve tasted it. But I’ve never made it. First of all, I rarely make mashed potatoes because it involves peeling potatoes and anyone who knows me, knows I should never handle peelers. Evvveeerrrr! I’ve peeled off more finger tips than anyone I know, and likely a whole lot of people I don’t know. I get around peeling apples thanks to my handy dandy apple peeler and corer…

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