Are you ready for 2013? Looking forward to a new year full of new ideas, recipes, fun for your home, and even some things for the kiddos.

(And maybe a little more regular posting schedule.)

Happy 2013!

Thanksgiving Runner

Thanksgiving has crept up on me... and I'm hosting this year! Ack!

On my last linen order I decided to order a piece of linen + flax to try it out. It's a looser weave with a little heaver thread and has kind of a burlap look to it, but not as scratchy. It made a beautiful runner. And you can buy one here!

Gotta get shopping for that turkey, potatoes, stuffing ingredients...

31 Days of Cookies . Day 31. Coconut Rectangles

There are so many ways to make cookies, and one of the less common (unless you're a buy-the-cookie-dough-tube-from-the-dairy-case baker) is a sliced cookie.

This recipe is maybe my favorite sliced cookie. (I think I got this one from Martha Stewart, too. The original recipe is for Ice Cream Sandwiches, but I like the cookies just as they are.)

Ingredients:
1 stick (1/2C) butter, room temperature
1/2 C sugar
1/4 t salt
3/4 C all-purpose flour
7 oz (about 2 2/3 C) loosely packed shredded coconut

Beat the butter, sugar and salt with an electric mixer. Mix in the flour, and then the coconut, beating until a dough forms.

Transfer to a piece of waxed paper.

Pat into a rectangular log, about 3 inches wide by 6 inches long.



















































Wrap in the waxed paper and freeze about 30 minutes until firm.

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Slice the log crosswise about 1/4" thick. I have found that using a French Chef knife works great for this task.

Arrange on baking sheets and bake till golden, rotating pan halfway through, for about 20-25 minutes.
Cool completely on the cookie sheet.

Addicting! Enjoy...


 

31 Days of Cookies . Day 30. Spiders

Since tomorrow is Halloween, I thought it would be fun to end the month with something kinda creepy, but actually yummy.

When we were kids my siblings and I made these chocolate treats we called Spiders. They aren't actually a cookie, but not really a candy either. But so easy you'll have fun making them with your kids.

Spiders
Just two ingredients... chocolate chips and crunchy chow mein noodles

Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler--or in a bowl on top of a pot of boiling water. (I don't own a double-boiler, and this is the way I see professionals do it on TV. Totally works!)

Add the chow mein noodles and stir till they are completely coated in chocolate.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a platter or parchment paper.

Refrigerate for about 15 minutes to cool completely and harden a bit.

Enjoy, and have a safe Halloween!


 

31 Days of Cookies . Day 24. Peanut Butter Thumbprints

I used to subscribe to Martha Stewart Living Magazine, and one of my favorite things was the very last page where I could find  "Cookie of the Month." Not all of them became favorites, but today's recipe is certainly one that is a hit. I know there are some who don't love peanut butter and jelly, but for the rest of us All-Americans, it's a winning combination. Here's the recipe:

Peanut Butter & Jelly Thumbprints

1 ¼ C flour
½ t baking powder
½ t baking soda
½ t salt
¾ C smooth peanut butter
1 stick butter, softened
1/3 C packed brown sugar
1/3 C granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
1 lg egg
1 t vanilla
½ C raspberry jam

- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Beat peanut butter and butter with a mixer on medium until smooth.
- Add sugars and beat until pale and fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated.
- Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients. Mix until combined.
- Scoop level tablespoons of dough and form into balls.

Roll each ball in granulated sugar and put on parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake until cookies are puffy, about 8 minutes.
Remove from oven and make indentations in centers by pressing with the handle of a wooden spoon.

Spoon about ½ teaspoon teaspoon of the jam into each indentation.
Return to oven and bake until edges are golden, 3–5 minutes more.

Cookies can be stored in a single layer for up to 1 week... or eaten immediately!

31 days of cookies . day 26. cookie platters

Cookies are so standard—a couple bites, no fork necessary— yet so versatile... toss a few in a baggie or lay them out on a gorgeous platter.

Delicious cookies really don't need a fabulous presentation to taste good. But really, don't you prefer to arrange them on a fun or festive or unique platter to serve them?

I have a couple go-to platters and trays that I use for cookies. And they are not round. Somehow, cookies sliding around on a round plate doesn't do anything for me.

My favorites are rectangles.

Here are some favorites i picked on etsy. (I'd love any one of these as a gift... not that I need one more.)

1. Leaf Impression Such beautiful ceramic work
2. Square Celedon Square platters are great for cookies. Loving the colors and texture on this one.
3. Rae Dunn Beauty Truth Peace Rae Dunn does gorgeous work. I've seen it in person... beauty!
4. Amber Fused Glass Platter I've only recently heard of fused glass and I'm a huge fan. Want some.
5. Teal and Copper Here's a darling small platter when you only need to serve a few.

Do a little cookie platter shopping this weekend! See you Monday with another recipe.