Virtual Cookie Blog Hop!

You know those cookie exchanges that are so popular during the holiday season? The ones where you bake  dozens of the same kind of cookies to take to a party where you give them away by the dozen to other participants in exchange for a dozen of theirs?

Well, it turns out you can't really do one of those on the internet, but you can host a Virtual Cookie Exchange, and that's exactly what I'm a part of this month. A Cooke Blog Hop courtesy of my lovely friend and author at Gemma Halliday Publishing, Ellie Ashe! This is my Peppermint Cookie recipe...my Gingerbread Recipe will appear on my blog Dec 20 so be sure to come back for that one as well!

Peppermint Christmas Cookies

Sift together in bowl and reserve:

         2 3/4 cups flour

         1 tsp baking powder

         1/2 tsp salt

Put:  3/4 cup soft margarine in large bowl

Add:  1 cup sugar

         2 eggs

         1 tsp peppermint (or any other flavor extract)

Beat with mixer or wooden spoon  until mixture is light and fluffy.

Beat in flour mixture, blending until smooth.

Chill 1 hour or until firm.

Roll out onto floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters.

Put on cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Decorate as desired.

Merry Christmas to All....

November 2014 Round Robin Blog Fest

Welcome back to another episode of the Round Robin Blog Fest!! This month's topic is:

What is your favorite food or meal?

Hmmm....this wasn't an easy one. I love all kinds of food, except cabbage rolls, I don't like cabbage rolls. (Sorry, Mom.)

When I think about foods that mean a lot to me, the two tops are my favorite Christmas treats: Gingerbread and Baked Caramel Corn. YUM! There is a good reason why I only make them to enjoy at Christmas and give most of it away. I've discovered it's the one treat a lot of my friends won't make since it is a finicky recipe, but they all love receiving along with both gingerbread and peppermint cookies. Yes, my house smells amazing around this time of year!

My late mother-in-law came across this recipe long before my kids were born and it quickly became a family favorite. Sweet and crunchy--especially when you add nuts!--as the cookbook says "WARNING - it's addictive!" Many a waistband has exploded after consuming copious quantities of the stuff!

I do hope you'll try my recipe. Make sure to follow the directions carefully, the caramel has to be just right or it won't work.

Baked Caramel Corn

1 cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

6 quarts popped corn

Preheat oven to 250F (120C)

Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt.

Bring to a boil for 5 minutes (this is the finicky part!!) DO NOT STIR!

Remove from heat and add baking soda and vanilla.

Put popped corn in a well-greased roaster. 

Gradually pour syrup over, stir well and bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Happy Munching!!

Still hungry? Why don't we go over and see what Beverley Bateman enjoys to eat?

And if you have a large appetite, drop on by the other authors in the Round Robin Blog Fest to see what they like to munch...

Marci Baun:  http://www.marcibaun.com/

A.J. Maguire:  http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/

Fiona McGier:  http://www.fionamcgier.com/

Judith Copek:  http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/

Diane Bator:  http://dbator.blogspot.ca/

Beverley Bateman:  http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/

Skye Taylor:  http://skye-writer.com/

Ginger Simpson:  http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Victoria Chatham:  http://victoriachatham.webs.com/

Margaret Fieland:  http://www.margaretfieland.com/blog1/

Rachel Kosnski:  http://the-doodling-booktease.tumblr.com

Anne Stenhouse:  http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com

Heidi M. Thomas:  http://heidiwriter.wordpress.com/

Helena Fairfax:  http://helenafairfax.com/

Kay Sisk:  http://kaysisk.blogspot.com

Rhobin Courtright:  http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/

Happy Reading!