Baking The Sugar Cookies

When you look for some favorite treat other than the chocolate chip cookies then your right choice should be the homemade sugar cookies. These provide you much flexibility in terms of their decoration and are now one famous gift option as well.

The major ingredients of these cookies are sugar, flour, vanilla, eggs and butter. It is up to you to make use of baking powder or baking soda.

These can be fashioned if you roll them or simply your hands can be used for this and you can either sprinkle or frost these with sugar. It actually depends on the holiday event on which these are to be used. In USA these are often used at the special occasions.

As far as the details of this treat are concerned, the recipe named 'Nazareth Sugar Cookie' was developed by the settlers who were German Protestant and resided in Nazareth area in Pennsylvania in mid 1700s. As it is related to the history of the area very strongly therefore it became the area's official cookie in 2001.

The probable origin for these cookies was 'jumbles' which are usually found there in England and are3 unleavened. These cookies existed already in Middle Ages. Their key ingredients included nuts, flour, eggs and sugar as well as anise. These were the treats that shaped in rolls or the rings and for the flavoring purposes sometimes used caraway or vanilla instead of anise.

Sugar cookies that are homemade are amongst the treats that are most favorite ones in USA as well as around the globe. It has now become a tradition for these treats to be included in all the occasions. These include Valentine's Day, Christmas, Halloween and Easter.

If you are the one who has a passion of cooking or baking? If yes then you should definitely learn to bake these homemade cookies. These days it might not be so much easy because of the recipes that you may find online.

Another attraction of these cookies is that one can easily bake these cookies and fashion them as well. All you need to do is get started to decided which options fit your teammates and you correctly.

There decoration is easy also and you can design these according to the occasion. Doing that involves very little effort, as they can all be easily designed on my like a piece of canvas. This is something that everyone should try at least once.

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Chocolate Kisses Cookies

This has been in our family for a long time. The recipe is easy and the cookies are delicious! Kids love to help bake these cookies, and is a good way to enjoy holiday baking. What could be better than a warm cookie and a cold glass of milk?

Ingredients

1 16 ½ ounce package of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

1/3 cut unsweetened cocoa powder

2/3 cup chocolate flavored sprinkles

2 tablespoons milk

Dark chocolate kisses, unwrapped (about 40)

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and set aside. Combine cookie dough and cocoa powder in a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag, and knead with your hands until the dough and cocoa are mixed together. Remove the dough from the bag.

2.Place chocolate sprinkles in a shallow dish or small bowl. Put the milk in another small bowl.

3.Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Dip balls in the milk to moisten the dough, then roll in chocolate sprinkles. Place the cookie balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet.

4.Bake the cookies in a preheated oven for 8 minutes, or until the edges are firm. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. Move cookies to a wire rack to cool. Makes about 40 cookies.

To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container and cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days, or can be frozen for up to 3 months.

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Cookie Recipe - Italian Butter Cookies

Italian butter cookies are very delicious cookies. It is one of the favourite cookie recipe that everyone likes. Each recipe are prepared differently by different persons. But i made this cookie very easily because i love this cookie very much and i love to eat it. Kids enjoy and love to dip this cookies into chocolate and sprinkles.

The various items that are required to prepare this Italian Butter Cookies are:

Flour - 4 cups
Sugar - 1 cup
Orange rind - two and a half tea spoon
Rum
Egg Yolks beaten - 4
Unsalted Butter cut into pieces - 1 1/2 cups
Egg White Beaten - 1

The various steps for preparing the butter cookie are:

Step 1:

Mix flour, sugar and orange rind together.

Step 2:

Add egg yolks and rum together in the previous mixture and mix it thoroughly after adding each item.

Step 3:

Now cut the butter into flour mix and then add the pastry blender. Now get the crumbly and then knead into a dough.

Step 4:

Now roll the dough on the board. The board should be 1/4 inch thick. Then cut the dough into shapes. Now keep the dough on cookie sheet. Fill it with egg white and then the cookies should be baked. The cookies should be baked at 350F for a time of around 15 to 20 minutes.

After it is cooled, the cookie should be dipped in melted chocolate and sprinkles. Now the tasty italian butter cookie is ready to eat.

Balajee Kannan has written several articles on food recipes and ceramic products including ceramic cookie jars and cow cookie jar.

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How to Make Sugar Free Cookie Recipes

Having some sugar free cookie recipes in your baking arsenal is very handy when someone enters your life who can't handle the sugar content in regular cookies. With the guidance in this article, you should be able to make the transition to sugar free cookies easily. Let's get started...
  
Replace The Sugar
 
The first thing you need to do with your recipe is replace all the sugar in it.
 
To do this, you are going to need some sort of alternative sugar substitute. You will want to use a natural sweetener, not an artificial sweetener.
 
The problem with artificial sweeteners is that they can often have detrimental effect on your health, making them a sub-optimal choice for a substitute.
 
I always make sure to use 100% natural sweeteners to replace the sugar; I also make sure to use sweeteners that are safe for diabetics.
 
The two main sweeteners that I use are Agave Nectar, and Stevia. I find that I am able to make recipes that are on-par with their sugared counterparts!
 
To use Agave Nectar effectively, you will want to put in 1 cup of Agave to replace 1 cup of sugar (1:1 ratio).
 
For Pure Stevia (that has no filler; make sure you get a good brand!), you will use ¼ of a teaspoon for every cup of sugar.
 
I sometimes like to mix the two together. So if a recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, I will use ½ cup of Agave; and 1/8 of a teaspoon of Stevia. This helps to keep the recipe from getting to wet (because agave is a syrup).
 
Do that, and you should be able to make the perfect sugar free cookie recipes.
 
Optional: Replace The Milk
 
A little bonus tip I'll throw in here for you:
 
If you replace any milk in your recipe with Almond Milk, you can make desserts that are perfect for people with food allergies!
 
Be sure to get the unsweetened almond milk; then sweeten it with Agave Nectar, shake it; and add more Agave until it tastes like regular milk.

Andrew Muller is the editor of Easy-Sugar-Free-Recipes.com - your guide to any sugar free food. Find more sugar free cookie recipes at his site.

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How to Make Cookies in Minutes: No Bake Orange, Quick Peanut Butter and Easy Chocolate Crackles

Are the little ones always asking you to make cookies? Or perhaps you enjoy baking but don't have much time. These quick and easy cookies are just what you are looking for! No Bake Orange Goodies are so quick and easy it is ridiculous. With orange juice, coconut, pecans, and vanilla wafers, you just know they have to be good. They are also perfect to make with the kids. There is no oven to cause burns, they are fun to roll into balls, and children love rolling them in the coconut. The Quick Peanut Butter Cookies have only four ingredients and one of them is sweetened condensed milk. Have you ever found a bad recipe that contained sweetened condensed milk? The Easy Chocolate Crackles use a cake mix and have a wonderful fudgy center. You can make any of these yummy cookies with a minimum amount of time, preparation, and clean-up.

NO BAKE ORANGE GOODIES
1 lb powdered sugar
1 stick butter, melted
1 can (6-oz) frozen orange juice, thawed and undiluted
1 lb vanilla wafers, crushed into fine crumbs
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 cup grated coconut

Combine powdered sugar, butter, orange juice, vanilla wafer crumbs, and nuts together well. Shape mixture into balls. Roll balls in the coconut.

QUICK PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
1 can (14-oz) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter, and salt; mix together well. Stir the graham cracker crumbs into the peanut butter mixture until well combined. Drop by teaspoonfuls, about 2-inches apart, on cookie sheet that has been lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 12 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to cool completely.

EASY CHOCOLATE CRACKLES
These cookies are easy to make and they are delicious with a fudge-like center.

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tbsp water
1/2 cup shortening
powdered sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Stir together the cake mix, eggs, water, and shortening until well blended. Using your hands, shape the dough into small (about 1-inch) balls. Roll the balls in powdered sugar and place on an ungreased cookie sheet, about 1 1/2-inches apart.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Yield: approximately 4 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com
For her diabetic recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com

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Chicken Recipe - Honey Baked Chicken

Chicken is such a versatile meat and baking it is one of the simplest ways to cook it. If you want to try a delicious baked chicken recipe, what about using honey to add sweetness to the bird? There are lots of different ingredients you can use if you want to bake your chicken but honey is certainly one of the most flavorful.

Actually, this ingredient is used in a lot of similar recipes to add a distinctive flavor as well as the sweetness you would expect. If you have never made a savory recipe with it, try this one. Most people have tried savory foods with honey in them. If you enjoy honey mustard dressing for example, you will love the flavor of the following recipe. It is also great in sweet recipes like honey cake or honey cookies.

The Difference Between Baking and Roasting

The two cooking methods are similar but baking usually refers to chicken pieces whereas roasting refers to a whole bird. The meat can be boneless or bone-in, skinless or with the skin on. Baked chicken is usually coated before you bake it and you can use various sauces, herbs, spices, or breadcrumbs.

Some baked meat or poultry recipes also call for potatoes or vegetables. You can use a whole chicken cut into pieces or just breast or just thigh. Thigh is usually more moist and succulent than breast, since it contains more fat, but it depends what you like. Some people only like the breast meat and if you cook it properly it will not dry out.

Tips for Beautiful Baked Bird

The pan you use for cooking needs to be big enough for the meat pieces not to touch one another. This lets it cook and brown evenly. Some recipes will call for the meat to be turned once during the cooking process and others will not.

The poultry must cook until the juices run clear when you pierce it with a knife. The cooking time depends on the recipe, the amount of meat and the other ingredients used. If some pieces are cooked before others, you can remove those and keep them warm by putting aluminum foil over them until everything is done.

The Recipe, Step by Step

The following recipe makes enough for six people and you can serve it with mashed potatoes or rice. There are only six ingredients in this recipe but do not be deceived by that. The taste is perfectly balanced and really mouthwatering. Use mild or hot curry powder depending on your personal preference.

What you will need:

3 lbs chicken pieces
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons prepared mustard

How to make it:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the chicken skin side up in a shallow baking pan. Stir together the honey, butter, curry powder, salt and mustard and pour this over the meat. Bake for about seventy five minutes, basting the bird every fifteen minutes until it is golden brown and tender.

Cooking with chicken is really easy and you might like to try a simple chicken soup recipe if you are new to using poultry in cooking. Recipes like chicken noodle soup are perfect for lunch or dinner. They are soothing, comforting and taste really good.

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How to Include Quinoa Seeds in Home Baking Recipes

There are many ways of including quinoa in your diet but one of the more unusual is to include it in baking. As far as I am aware this technique has been devised by me and I have never heard of anyone else using quinoa in this way. I stumbled upon it when looking for inspiration to spice up a simple cookie recipe I was about to make that had too much fat in it.

I wanted to reduce the fat content of this particular cookie recipe as I was trying to reduce fat in my diet at the time. The fat in the recipe was butter but I realized that quinoa seeds have oil in them so could be substituted for part of the butter.

The first thing to do is prepare the quinoa in the normal way using 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water. You bring it to the boils and simmer for about 15 minutes. You can cook it for less but for baking you need it to be quite soft to blend in with the other ingredients. The quinoa must absorb all the water as you do not want extra liquid in the mix. I there is remaining liquid turn the heat up to full and boil it off for a minute.

You reduce the butter content by half and slightly reduce the flour amount as well. you simple replace them with the same amount of prepared quinoa in the mix. The cooking time is the same as the normal recipe but you get a crunchier texture and taste to the cookies.

I have used this cooking method for cookies, biscuits and scones. It can take a little trial and error to get the proportions correct. It is a good way to reduce processed fats in recipes. The oil part of the quinoa works to replace the butter and the germ part replaces some of the flour. It is a bit of a balancing act but you will get it with practice

Find out how simply it is to cook quinoa. There are more and more quinoa recipes coming out now. You can find out how to cook quinoa. Learn the superb health benefits of eating quinoa and include quinoa as part of your diet Quinoa Health Tips

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Trail Mix Cookie Jar

When I was a kid we always had a cookie jar on the counter, and yes, it was always filled with cookies. Sometimes homemade and sometimes store bought. At my house we have a cookie jar on the table, but it is not filled with cookies. It is filled with trail mix.

With my oldest child growing in size and appetite, a husband with a late night sweet tooth and me always looking for a way to eat without feeling full while pregnant, I was always getting creative with snacks and fresh produce in the kitchen. One day I realized I was keeping our great trail mix hidden away in the pantry where we'd forget about it until I had this idea:

Enter in the Trail Mix Cookie Jar.

Each time I go grocery shopping, I give my almost seven year old daughter the task and total freedom of finding these items:

-2 nut varieties
-2 seed varieties
-2 dried fruit varieties

When you get home, pour the contents into a clean and clear jar with a 1/4 measuring cup for scooping and place on the counter. Tell your kids to come and get it!

You can take this a step further, making the nuts easier to digest by soaking them overnight. Pour them into a bowl of filtered water, mix in a teaspoon of sea salt and allow them to sit until morning. Turn oven on to lowest setting in the morning and rinse nuts, then pour them in a single layer onto a baking sheet and put in the oven for 12-24 hours. You'll give them a shake every couple of hours, and decide when they are at the level of crunch you desire. Once done, take out and allow to cool completely before adding to the contents of the jar.

Sample Trail Mix Cookie Jar recipe:

1 bag cashews
1 bag pecans
1 bag sunflower seeds
1 bag sesame seeds
1 bag dried craisins
1 bag of dried peaches, chop to bite sized pieces

One of the many benefits my family sees from utilizing the Trail Mix Cookie Jar is that we don't experience the blood sugar crash that comes from not eating for hours between meals or snacks. We always know this is an open option for all of us and late night snacking on unhealthy foods (or a run to the grocery store after hours...yuck!) just doesn't happen. Become a company favorite at work by making a Trail Mix Cookie Jar for your office...believe me, your fellow employees will appreciate a break from the sugar filled baked goods that show up every day!

About the Author:

Nichi Hirsch Kuechle supports moms during pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond as a lifestyle coach, craniosacral therapist and birth & postpartum doula in Minneapolis. You can get Nichi's New Parent Tool Kit, for free, by going to: http://www.MyHealthyBeginning.com.

The toolkit includes a hospital-birth checklist, home-birth checklist, a list of her favorite natural baby care items, creative ideas for helping siblings adjust, and much more. Get yours today, while it's free!

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Top 3 Mouth-watering Ideas To Make No Bake Cookies - Serve Fast Yummy Desserts from Just 10 Mins

No bake cookie recipes are great for a fast and easy dessert. They are perfect for last minute entertaining idea or simple convenient snacking treats.

On top of that, no bake cookies are hassle-free and mess-free!

But don't be fooled, these are not just any no bake cookie recipes. Great adult or kids snacks, these 3 simple no bake recipes are fool-proof. They are original, proven successes and make amazing desserts.

These are not just any ordinary no bake cookie recipes. Try them out and see for yourself!

All time classic flavors that the world loves...

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RECIPE #1: "Marble Chocolate Lover No Bake Cookies"

Ingredients: (makes approximately 2 to 3 dozen cookies)

- 250g milk (or dark, if you prefer) chocolate

- 250g white chocolate

- 2 1/2 cups of rice puff cereal

- 1/2 cup of desiccated coconut

Method:

1. Melt both chocolates in separate bowls (either melt over a "bain marie" or double boiler, or microwave for approximately 30 seconds) until soft and smooth.

2. Mix coconut and rice puffs together in a bowl. Pour the dark chocolate over and mix thoroughly.

3. Line a shallow baking dish and pour mixture evenly.

4. Pour the white chocolate around the mixture. With a large spoon, gently and roughly mix the white chocolate into the mixture to create a desired marble effect. (Try not stir and mix the colors in too much).

5. Refrigerate to harden for 1 hour or about 10 minutes in the freezer. Cut into square sizes as you desire. (Store in air-tight container in cool temperatures. Refrigerate for warmer climates).

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RECIPE #2: "Classic Jam Drop No Bake Cookies"

Ingredients: (makes approximately 2 to 3 dozen cookies)

- 2 1/2 cups of wholemeal cereal, lightly crushed (or 2 cups of oatmeal if preferred)

- 2 tablespoons of honey

- 1 cup of softened butter

- 1/2 cup of icing sugar

- Strawberry (or any fruit) jam

Method:

1. Mix butter, icing sugar and honey together until smooth.

2. Stir in the cereal carefully and thoroughly.

3. Place a large waxed paper on a flat baking dish and spoon the mixture on to the paper in small serving amounts. Lightly pat the small mounds down.

4. Add a small (about half to one teaspoon) of your favorite fruit jam in the centre of the cookies.

5. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or about 10 minutes in the freezer before serving. (Store in air-tight container in the fridge).

RECIPE #3: "Almond Delight No Bake Cookies"

Ingredients: (makes approximately 1 to 2 dozen cookies)

- 2 1/2 cups of rice puff cereal (can be honey glazed styles)

- 100g roasted almonds (finely chopped) or almond flakes

- 100g milled almonds (or almond powder)

- 1/2 cup of softened butter

- 1 table spoon of honey

- vanilla essence

Method:

1. Mix butter, milled almonds, honey and a couple drops of vanilla essence together until smooth.

2. Mix rice puff and roasted almonds together and pour into the butter mixture. Mix thoroughly.

3. Spoon mounds onto waxed paper and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or about 10 minutes in the freezer before serving. (Store in air-tight container in the fridge).

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TIP: Any cereal mix can be replaced by graham cracker crumbs or oatmeal if preferred to suit your diet.

Create magical moments with these 3 simple and fast no bake cookie recipes. Share them with your loved ones and be surprised at how hassle-free fun dessert making can be.

~* Janlia Chong has held onto her title as Baking Sensation because of her near endless knowledge of baking and packaging treats. Her ability to impress is one of her biggest traits. What's her trick? Simple, she takes something that sounds difficult and makes it easy and fun. Follow Janlia's advice and you'll be busy baking treats for the entire family. Visit http://www.BakingHugs.com *~

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Pizzelle - Host A Cookie Baking Party Featuring Pizzelle This Holiday Season

Baking cookies is inevitably a part of almost any holiday, and naturally, any seasonal treat baking can be done with family and friends. Hosting a cookie making party a few weeks before the holidays is an excellent opportunity to get together with friends and family and get some yummy homemade seasonal treats. There are a lot of beautiful holiday treats that you can help make, ranging from familiar classics like iced chocolate cookies to international staples like Italian pizzelle. 

Baking Italian Holiday Treats

Making up some Italian treats is an easy way to have several really wonderful looking desserts. Pizzelle is a classic Italian cookie that looks like a little waffle. The uncooked batter looks much like waffle batter but will usually also include flavoring oils such as orange or lemon. The batter is spooned on a pizzelle iron, which also embosses a design like a floral motif onto the cookie itself.

Pizzelle are often dusted with confectioners sugar while they are cooling, or spread with a nut or chocolate paste and eaten as sandwich cookies. Although there are only a few decorating ideas for these traditional cookies, they still are sought after at cookie parties because of their elegant appearance and the ease in preparing the batches.

Embellishing and Wrapping Your Gifts

Once your party has made all the snacks they want, you can continue the event by trading small batches of cookies with one another so everyone can sample the other batches. You can embellish paper gift bags by hand using scrapbook papers, bits of cute fabric, and paints, and can put together homemade gift tags to customize each bag.

Keep a roll of festive tinted cellophane on hand to wrap up the treats individually, then tie up each cellophane cookie with a pretty ribbon before putting it in a personalized gift bag. After the whole group has received their treats, if you wish you can continue decorating bags and use them as holiday gifts to bring back home and give to those on your gift list.

These are only a few ideas for organizing an entertaining baking party for the holiday season. You could host an even bigger event by inviting more guests and putting even more supplies and embellishing options on the table. In addition to just making pizzelle, you can include a few additional international treats as well as more popular basics such as snickerdoodles and oatmeal raisin cookies. You can also include multiple different icing flavors and recipes, ranging from bright glazes to rich cream cheese.

No matter which treats you incorporate at your baking party, you will definitely have an enjoyable afternoon with friends and family and end the party with holiday cookies that are pretty and taste excellent.

Remember, if you want to invest in a nonstick pizelle iron, then you definitely want to take a look at these pizzelle maker reviews for ones available for sale at a great price.

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Brrrrr! Warm Your Home by Baking Cookies - Angel Pillow Cookies!

With our country in the deep freeze, children home from school, and a chill throughout the house, now is the time to bring out the flour, sugar, etc and bake up a batch of cookies. Just the name Angel Pillow Cookies is enough to brighten your day. Let the kids who are trapped inside help you bake and frost these delicious little gems. The recipe calls for apricot jam but you can substitute whatever you have on hand. After all, who wants to go out in the cold to buy apricot? Not me!

ANGEL PILLOW COOKIES

1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
1 pkg (3-oz) cream cheese, softened
1 tbsp milk
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Cream shortening, cream cheese, and milk in a medium mixing bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in the brown sugar and the preserves. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Stir in nuts.Drop two level tablespoonfuls of dough into a mound for each cookie. Place 2-inches apart on baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 14 minutes. Cool on baking sheet 1 minute then removing to wire racks to cool. Cool completely then frost with the frosting recipe below.

FROSTING:

1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1 tbsp butter flavored shortening
flaked coconut, chopped

Combine the powdered sugar preserves and shortening in a small mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer until well blended. Frost cooled cookies. Sprinkle with coconut.

Enjoy!

For more cookie recipes and other "sweets" visit Linda's blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com
For her diabetic recipes and information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

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Pumpkin Baking Recipes

The smell of pumpkin baking always conjures up memories of Thanksgiving for me. The day always started early with mom bustling about the kitchen to prepare our feast. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade would always be playing in the background as she'd prepare the meal. We'd stop to watch or listen to some of the marching bands and acts they had. But always, always, would we stop to watch Santa coming down the street on his sleigh. To this day, the smells of turkey, cranberry, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and pumpkin all blending in a beautiful medley of smells brings a smile of memory to my face. Those special Thanksgiving feasts and that special time with mom are memories that last a lifetime. I hope you enjoy these fun and unique pumpkin recipes during this holiday season.

Golden Pumpkin Cookies

1 1/3 cups sugar

1/3 cup shortening

3 beaten eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 cup canned pumpkin

Cream together sugar and shortening. Add eggs and vanilla. Add in flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Mix in lemon juice, rind, raisins, nuts, and pumpkin. Drop by teaspoons on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Double Decker Pumpkin Pie

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon half-and-half

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 cups thawed whipped topping

1 (6 ounce) graham cracker pie crust

1 cup cold half-and-half

1 package (4 serving size) vanilla flavor instant pudding

1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Whisk the cream cheese, 1 tablespoon half-and-half, and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth. Add in the whipped topping. Spread this mixture over the bottom of the crust. Combine the 1 cup half-and-half and the pudding mix in the bowl. Beat well for 1 to 2 minutes (the mixture should be thick). Add in the pumpkin and the spices. Mix well. Spread this mixture over the cream cheese mixture already in the crust. Put in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. To serve, add a dollop of whipped topping to each slice and a few toasted pecans. Serves 8.

Jill Seader loves baking and telling stories. Come find a tasty baking recipe and story at her website, YourBakingStory.com or share one of your own. Happy Baking!

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How To Bake The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are the most basic and common cookies that you can find at any bakery shops yet only several of them really stand out. Mine did, so here I am to help you bring out the real 'thing' in your own chocolate chip cookie recipe.

1) Not all butter is the same. The best kind of butter that you want to use for your recipe would be the unsalted butter. In my case, I use the ones from Anchor, the brand of the butter.

2) Don't take too much time mixing the wet ingredients. The key to this is to first blend in the butter evenly, then mix the other ingredients with high speed.The faster, the better. This is to prevent any air that would enter the mix.

3) Remember to always preheat the oven first, about 20 minutes.

4) The temperature for any recipe can always be manipulated. Preferably, use mid-low temperature, for the dough to be cooked evenly.

5) Don't depend on the recipe itself on how long you should bake for a batch. You should determine this yourself by checking the cookies' colour. Up till now, I still don't know how long would it take to bake a batch of cookies using my secret recipe.

6) Always let the cookies cool. Can't stress this enough.

7) I presume all of you know that the darker the colour of the vanilla extract, the better, right?

8) Always sift the flour, you might not want those small unknown particles in your cookies and serve them to your guests/customers.

9) Let the dough aside for awhile after mixing everything altogether including the chocolate chip cookies. The result of this if the dough will turn firm and it will be much easier for you to arrange the balls of dough on the tray. Plus, it wouldn't turn out as much flat.

10) Remember to always mix the dry ingredients evenly, with your bare hands. Yes, you got that right.

11) How about salt? Never follow the recipe directly. Salt is not needed as much as baking cakes. A pinch will do the work, just to balance out the taste evenly.

So five secrets to perfect chocolate chip cookies! The tips given are based on my long experience. Follow them and see what I meant. Remember to keep in touch for more exclusive cookie-baking tips from me! http://www.afookies.blogspot.com

Amir Fikri is an experienced baker who bakes cookies for his growing business, A-Fookies! He has been baking long enough to get customers coming by to pay for his delicious homemade cookies! Stay in touch with him with his business blog, http://www.afookies.blogspot.com

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Bake Perfect Cookies on a Non-Stick Cookie Sheet

Even if you have all required ingredients and use the proper recipe to bake cookies, the absence or improper selection of a cookie sheet can not only ruin their taste but also their shape. Using proper tools and bake ware can help you in making the perfect cookies with the ultimate taste. A large variety of these sheets are available on the market to assist you in the baking process. Using a cookie sheet for baking cookies helps to make sure that your time, effort and ingredients do not go to waste.

These sheets are also known as baking sheets or oven trays. Some of the types being offered in the market include insulated, silicon, aluminum and stainless steel. With various varieties available, non stick oven trays are also available in various designs and styles to suit different ovens and baking needs. These are designed in a way that when the baking product is ready it won't be stuck to the tray or you won't have to put oil on it to ease the baked goodies off the trays.

The use of traditional oven trays requires you to oil these, so that your cookies don't get stuck to the tray. The use of such trays also leaves some food behind because of the sticky surface. In contrast, baking is made much easier and convenient with the use of non stick utensils. The non stick items and their excellent features make the cooking process easier. Superior quality materials are used in the production of these items to ensure that everything is evenly cooked. Some models of bake ware have two aluminum sheets that have a layer of air between the two. The purpose of this is to reduce the metal temperature and to ensure that each cookie gets the same amount of heat.

Such features reduce the chances or likelihood of burnt cookies and makes sure that cookies do not get over done or burn. The use of such trays not only helps you bake in lesser time, but also provides you with great taste and experience. Non stick surfaced oven sheets are expensive compared to the conventional ones but investing in them can make your cooking experience an ultimate one. Choosing the right non stick sheet is essential and baking enthusiasts swear by these as an essential kitchen item.

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Baking Secrets For Sugar-Free Deserts

If you are used to baking with sugar, it may take a little getting used to stocking your pantry for a low-sugar or sugar-free lifestyle. Once you realize that your sweet life is not over just because you are cutting back on sugar, you will be just fine. Here are some tips to help you stock a pantry with baking supplies needed to make sugar-free desserts.

Sweetening the Pot without Sugar

The most obvious ingredient for baking sugar-free desserts is a substitute for sugar. There are a number of artificial sweeteners that are widely available, including aspartame (Equal), acesulfame-k (Sweet One), saccharin (Sweet 'n' Low) and sucralose (Splenda). They can be a little tricky to use in baking because they have different properties than sugar, but there are many sugar-free dessert recipes using each of them. Because each of them differs from the others in the way they react to heat and the amount of sweetening power they have, it is also important to use the artificial sweetener that is called for in the recipe. Aspartame, for instance, loses its sweetness in when it is subjected to high heat for long periods of time as it would be if you use it in cakes or cookies that are baked in the oven. Splenda, on the other hand, is stable in heat and can be used in baked recipes, but may need additional liquid.

In addition to artificial sweeteners, there are natural sweeteners that you can use for no-sugar-added desserts. These include long-established favorites such as honey, Stevia, molasses and corn syrup, but are not limited to the obvious sweeteners. Fruit juices can add sweetness and enhance flavors when used in place of water in recipes. Apple and grape juice are the sweetest, but not the only fruit juices that you can use to sweeten desserts. Try sweetening with pineapple or orange juice for a bit of tang, or pear juice for a light sweetness.

Keep a package or two of sugar free gelatin and pudding in the pantry as well. They make moist additions to cake and cookies, adding both flavor and color. Do not forget unsweetened chocolate squares, cocoa powder, and flavored extracts - the staples are vanilla, almond, rum, butter and peppermint.

Adding a Little Spice to Dessert

When your senses are not overcome with sugar, you will find that a little spiciness goes a long way. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger are the so-called "sweet spices". They will bring out the sweetness in smaller amounts of sugar or other sweeteners and are especially flavorful when used with fruit juice or puree.

Savory spices can also add an unexpected flair to dessert. Do not be afraid to experiment a little. Chili adds an unexpected bite to strawberries, for instance, and herbs like peppermint, lavender and rosemary do a wonderful job of enhancing the flavor of ice cream and fruit sorbets.

Sugar Does More than Make Things Sweet

Keep in mind that sugar provides more than just sweetness in a lot of recipes. It can be the reason that cakes and cookies brown when they bake, aid rising and provide moisture and texture. That is why a favorite pantry staple for sugar-free cooking is baby food - pureed bananas, pears, plums or applesauce - just about any kind of baby food fruit puree will do. It will add both sweetening and moisture to cakes, muffins, breads and cupcakes along with extra nutrition.

Flaked coconut is another pantry staple that will do double duty in your sugar-free pantry. It adds sweetness and flavor to cakes and cookies, and browns nicely when sprinkled on baked goods and run under the broiler.

A jar or two of sugar free fruit spread are handy to keep in the pantry. They can be stirred into plain yogurt for a quick snack or easy dessert, or spread on pound cake instead of frosting to add flavor and extra sweetness.

Peanut butter is another staple that should be in every sugar-free pantry. It will add flavor to muffins, cookies or cakes, as well as substituting for part of the fat. Thinned with a few tablespoons of milk and stirred over low heat, it makes a quick dessert topping or sauce, and pairs very well with chocolate or bananas. Be sure to read the label carefully, since a lot of peanut butters have a surprising amount of sugar in them.

The more you cook without sugar, the easier it will be to create tasty, healthy desserts. As your taste buds - and those of your family - adjust to less sugar, you will find that other flavors come more and more to the fore. It will not be long at all before you find that you prefer desserts that are fresher and lower in sugar because they naturally taste better.

Sandy Darson is a freelance writer, who specializes in writing about cooking and weight loss techniques, sometimes discussing specific products such as Splenda.

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Let the Kids Bake Cookies in Their Own Solar Oven!

Ever heard of a solar oven? Think you can build your own? Not only can you, your kids could build it too and use it to bake cookies on your next camping trip.

When our kids first heard about solar ovens we didn't think it would be easy to do but we were mistaken.

Not only is a simple solar oven easy to make, they actually work! And they're perfect for camping trips. Now we can bake up some fresh cookies while we're camping, something we've never been able to do before and you can too.

Here's how. The first thing you need to do is to save your pizza boxes. One per child. The pizza box becomes the oven.

Close the lid of the pizza box as if you were keeping your pizza warm.

Let the kids decorate the outside of their pizza boxes or you can paint or cover the outside in black paint or paper.

Using a sharp knife (parent supervision here or a parent does this part depending on the age of the child) cut along three sides of the pizza box lid, about an inch or two from the edges. This should create a flap.

On the inside of this flap, use some regular white glue and apply tin foil to the entire inside area of the flap. Try your best to get out all the creases from the foil as you press it against the flap.

Now, open up the lid and line the inside of the whole lid with saran wrap or plastic wrap. You want to make this is as snug as you can, creating a nice seal along the edges of the inside of the lid of your pizza box.

This will create a window where you just created your flap.

Using tin foil again line the entire inside of the pizza box.

Find a stick or other sturdy stick like object and after you've closed the lid, open up the flap and hold it open with your stick or other object. Face in the direction of the sun and it won't take long for the inside of your pizza box to heat up.

When you're ready to bake some cookies place the dough in small cookie balls, slightly flattened inside your new oven. With the box lid closed and the flap held open, face your oven into the sun and wait for your cookies to bake!

Baking in a solar oven will take a little longer than in a regular oven depending on the temperature but well worth the wait.

Happy Camping!

Leanne Arnott invites you to read more articles about taking your family camping or going on a family hiking trip at http://www.family-camping-and-hiking.com. You can add your submissions on many topics and subscribe to our monthly ezine.

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How Do Fortunes Get Inside Fortune Cookies?

Have you ever sat inside of a Chinese restaurant and wondered how they got that fortune inside the little golden cookie? It seems like a complex piece of origami, but it really is quite a simple process.

After the fortune cookie went public in America around 1914, people fell in love with the little delicacy. Although stories differ as to exactly who invented the cookie and where, it is agreed that the cookie was born in California and appeared at the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair. A purely American creation, the cookie is not native to China as most think. But what would a Chinese meal be without the crisp goodie to look forward to? After all, we have to find out what our future holds.

So, how do they get those bits of wisdom inside the cookie? Back in the day, workers, such as those at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, would pour a 3 inch circle of batter onto a pan. It would cook quickly and the worker would pull it off the bake top with chopsticks, place the fortune paper on the cookie, and then, using the chopsticks, bend it into its well-known form. This process became an art form as workers' hands carefully formed the cookies.

It is only relatively recently that the fortune cookie met up with modern technology. In San Francisco in 1974, a man named Edward Louie, Lotus Fortune Cookie Company's owner, devised a machine that could automate the fortune cookie making process. He called his technological advance the Fortune III. His machine used the same basic methods of pouring out a disc of batter and baking it. Only now, the cookies, while still warm, could be picked up by metal pincers, have a fortune laid down on them, and be folded into the classic crescent shape - all in a matter of seconds.

The reason these cookies can be folded when hot is due to the properties in sugar. The batter basically consists of flour, sugar, water and eggs. When heated, these ingredients are malleable for a few seconds before they harden to a shiny, hard surface. Those precious few seconds mean a fortune can be included as part of the treat.

Now, automated machines can fold up to 8,000 cookies every hour. That's a lot faster than the hand done versions. And it's just as well because the demand has grown over the years for this crispy Confucian confection. People are now ordering custom fortune cookies for their weddings, birthday parties, corporate and business events and even as sympathy messages.

They now come in every size from tiny to gigantic. You can order them in just about any flavor you like including chocolate dipped with candy embellishments.

Today's fortunes range from wise sayings to lottery numbers. People are customizing their sayings to include marriage proposals, business logos and just about everything else you can imagine. For a small fee, companies online will insert any saying you want into the cookie of your choice. It's a delightful surprise to see a personalized saying inside a fortune cookie. No other cookie on the planet is considered a bearer of sage advice.

Although few people would list the fortune cookie as the best tasting cookie, it is considered a fun cookie in a class by itself.

Betty Ann Sherman is a mother and a baker of tasty treats. She has a special passion for baking cookies, pies, cakes, and everything wonderful. She enjoys making and eating custom fortune cookies. Check back for updates from Betty on her delicious treat adventures.

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Easy Christmas Cookies in Under 30 Minutes

The Christmas tree is up, the Christmas lights are draping the front yard, the Christmas cards are mailed and shopping done and all gifts wrapped and it's only December 8th! Does this sound like your life? Most likely ...NO! During this busy but festive holiday season there is so much to do and so little time. However, amid the hustle and bustle, there is one holiday tradition that you should not leave off your list. Take a break on a weekend afternoon, gather your kids or grand kids and have a holiday bake-a-thon. Our kids are all grown and scattered across the country and it is the one tradition I dearly miss. From the time they were little we spent a couple of hours baking Christmas cookies during each holiday season. It is such a beloved tradition that I still mail boxes of cookies to each of them before Christmas. Yes, they will be home for Christmas, but that box of Christmas cookies is just a small reminder of a favorite family tradition.

When my kids were young, I will admit our Christmas cookie baking day did try my patience. However, they loved it so much, I did not have the heart to disappoint them. There were four of them trying to help measure, mix, blend and fold in a multitude of ingredients. Then, of course, they all wanted a hand at decorating the cookies. One year I tried a short cut and bought slice and bake cookies but the kids insisted that these were not real cookies. About 4 years ago, as I was baking with the last one left at home, I discovered the most amazing shortcut..

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix In A Bag.

This mix is not quite as quick as the slice and bake, but you actually make the dough! You add butter or oil and an egg to the mix. Presto, you have a batch of dough. You can roll the dough to make cut outs, add additional ingredients such as white chocolate chips or just spoon out balls of dough and you are ready to bake and decorate. 20 minutes later, you have a batch of easy Christmas cookies! Best of all, the cookies come out as delicious as the more time consuming recipes you may have in your files.

The cookie mixes include chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal, peanut butter and even gingerbread. So you can quickly and easily make a fun assortment of Christmas cookies. Add an assortment of decorating sugars, sprinkles, candies, raisins or dried cranberries to your baking area and the kids can have a ball decorating their cookies. You can now have a stress free holiday baking session with your little ones. For a fun finale to your Christmas cookie bake-a-thon; the kids can wrap up their cookies and deliver them as gifts to friends.

For additional tips on Christmas cookie baking as well as a free printable really cute card to go with these packages visit Celebration Ideas Online. So start your own annual Christmas Cookie bake-a-thon with your kids or grand kids... it is a wonderful tradition!

Carol is married with four grown children who loves to celebrate everything! Their family celebration experiences and traditions can be further viewed at http://www.CelebrationIdeasOnline.com There are some great ideas for creating lasting family memories!

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Free Online Recipes - The Popular Cookies Recipes!

Pineapple Tarts are one of the Chinese New Year popular cookies and it is popular among the Malays too. It is easy to make and very tasty!

Pineapple Tarts

Skin Ingredients:

Butter 250 g

Flour 450 g

Egg 1

Paste Ingredients/Fillings

Pineapple 5

Sugar 300 g

Cinnamon powder a little

Paste Methods/ Instructions

Step 1: Mash the pineapple and put into a saucepan to cook. Add sugar and cinnamon.

Step 2: Keep stirring and cook until dry.

Skin Methods/Instructions

Step 1: Sieve flour in a bowl.

Step 2: Mix butter, sugar and egg in a mixing bowl. Blend it well.

Step 3: Fold in butter into step 2 mixtures to make into dough.

Step 4: Cut dough into pastry size, round and flatten it, top it with some pineapple paste.

Step 5: Place it on baking tin and bake for 15 minutes at 180 degree.

Butter Cookies

Butter cookies are popular afternoon teatime snack and it is best taken together with tea or coffee. The following is the traditional butter cookie recipes. By adding raisins or coco chips to the following recipes, you can make add flavor to the traditional butter cookies!

Ingredients

Egg 1

Butter 300 g

Bicarbonate of soda ¼ teaspoon

Cheese 100 g

Flour 340 g

Salt ¼ teaspoon

Methods

Step 1: Sieve flour and soda together

Step 2: Put salt, butter and egg into mixer. Beat until fluffy and light.

Step 3: Add in sliced cheese and flour.

Step 4: Mix well into dough.

Step 5: Cut dough into small pastry size. Round and flatten it.

Step 6: Arrange it into baking tin and brush egg yolk over it.

Step 7: Bake for about 15 minutes at 180 degree.

You can get more free online recipes at Free Online Recipes - Hobbycook!

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Chocolate Meringue Cookies - The Ultimate in Indulgence

Cookies are a real comfort food and if you are looking for dessert recipes or Cinco de Mayo recipes you might be interested in recipes like this. Chocolate cookies are one of the most popular varieties and adding meringue to your recipe makes them even lighter, more interesting, and more delicious.

Everyone has their own favorite type of cookies but chocolate tops a lot of lists. Vanilla cookies, strawberry cookies and raisin cookies are also very popular and it is fun to make different variations if you enjoy baking. Mexican ingredients such as vanilla and cinnamon work well in most dessert recipes and Mexican desserts often use these ingredients because they combine so nicely with one another.

Meringue is made with egg whites. When you beat egg whites, it is very important to ensure the mixing bowl and beater are spotlessly clean. Any spot of grease means the egg whites will not form stiff peaks, and this means that you will not be able to make meringues with them, so check that your equipment is grease-free before you start.

The following recipe makes seventy of these little treats, which might sound like a lot but they do keep well for up to a week if you keep them in a tightly sealed container. The vanilla and chocolate are amazing together and the cinnamon adds a distinctive Mexican touch, which is great if you are looking for exciting Cinco de Mayo recipes to make for the kids.

What you will need:

4 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 oz chopped semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to make them:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease a pair of baking sheets. Grind the chocolate in a food processor, and then sift it through a sieve so that no pieces will be able to block the tip of a pastry bag. Beat the egg whites with the vanilla, salt, and cream of tartar until they form stiff peaks.

Add them to the chocolate and keep beating them on a medium speed. Add the sugar and cinnamon gradually. Pipe this mixture, a teaspoon at a time, on to the prepared baking sheets.

Bake them for half an hour or until they are starting to brown and come away from the baking sheets. Let them cool on racks and keep them in an airtight container for up to a week. You can serve these little snacks with ice cream or whipped cream. They are also nice served alone or with a glass of milk or cup of coffee. Just try to eat only one - it is nearly impossible! These are so good you will want at least two!

Mexican food is easy to make and if you are looking for sweet Mexican recipes, such as Cinco de Mayo recipes for desserts, what about using chocolate, cinnamon or vanilla to make the best desserts? Cookies are just one example of a mouthwatering dessert recipe that you can make with typical Mexican ingredients.

MexicanDessertRecipes.net The Sweet Side of Mexican Food

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