Candy Cane Blossoms

Forget rolling out the sugar cookie dough to the perfect thickness,

cutting out the dough with cookie cutters,

and frosting them.

These are SOOOOO much easier

and cuter,

and yummier!

They're my new favorite Christmas cookie/treat!

Recipe from HERSHEY'S

What You Need

1 bag Hershey's Peppermint Kisses

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp milk

Red and Green sugar

What To Do

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, remove wrappers from kisses

2. Beat butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla in large bowl until well blended

3. In separate bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt

4. Add flour mix alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended

5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red or green sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet

6. Bake 8-10 min. or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set

7. Remove from oven; cool 2-3 min. then press kiss into center of each cookie

8. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.  Cool completely.

{ENJOY!!!}

My newest hobby...

...is baking!

Baking BREAD to be exact.

Last month my new sister-in-law and I took a three-day 

(three hours each day)

course in downtown Houston on how to make artisan breads.

We learned how to bake

Rustic Italian

Focaccia

Ciabatta

French Baguettes

Sourdough

Rosemary Sourdough

Pain a l'Ancienne

Pizza Dough

My faves were definitely the baguettes, focaccia, and ciabatta.

And let me tell ya...these aren't exactly the easiest breads to make.

They aren't exactly super difficult either, but they are time consuming and there are certain techniques that would probably be hard to figure out if you didn't learn from someone.

Hence, why we took the class.
And it was totally worth it 'cause I learned a lot!

So far, since I took this class, I've made baguettes twice and focaccia once.

Ciabatta is next on my list.

I'm sad that I didn't get a picture of my focaccia, but here are some of my baguettes.

They turned out heavenly!  

I'm thinking of becoming a baker.

Not really.

But maybe :)

The way to a man's heart

Homemade Salsa Fresca

Well...it's at least the way to Nick's heart.

I think I was able to solidify our marriage even more when I made it for him.

Nick told me I could make it anytime.  I told him as "easy" as it is, it can be time consuming and tedious chopping up all those veges.  So we went to Target and bought THIS small 3-Cup food chopper thing.  I love it. And Nick loves it too because now I can whip out some Salsa Fresca in no time. Our goal is to plant a garden where we can grow most of the ingredients.

Maybe you already make this.  Maybe you already have your own recipe.  

But for you Salsa Fresca virgins, here's my 

EVER-SO-SIMPLE-AND-NOT-REALLY-MEASURED-SALSA-FRESCA Recipe

{Add or subtract according to your own taste}

Chop and Mix

8 Roma Tomatoes

1 Onion

1 bushel of Cilantro

2 or 3 cloves of garlic

1 Jalapeno Pepper

1 Serrano Pepper

(However, last time I made it I omitted the Serrano Pepper 'cause the Jalapeno was a HOT one)

Then squeeze the juice of 2 limes right in there.  And also add a dash or two of salt.

And TADA!  Amazingly fresh Salsa!

George: Salsa is now the number one condiment in America.
Jerry: Do you know why? Because people like to say "Salsa"

Watch the video HERE!