Some of the Christmas Cookies Recipes

I used to cook on a regular basis. Then life changed and with church and kids, eating at home became only a few times a week. After the kids turned into teenagers, it got down to about once or twice at week when we would eat at home. Since I'm now by myself, it's too much trouble for me to cook real often because I don't have the room or the utensils to cook with and I'm getting lazier. I still love to however.

Nevertheless, during this time of year, I usually make some treats for my "wonderful" co-workers. Here's two of the more popular recipes;


Chocolate Butter Pecans

Ingredients:
Cookies:
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup pecans (finely chopped)

Chocolate Icing:
1 pound bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pecans halves

Directions:
Cookies:
Preheat oven to 375°. Mix butter and sugars in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg, salt, and vanilla then blend. Stir in flour and chili powder and mix again. Add chopped pecans and mix to combine into a smooth mixture.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place onto baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cookies are a light brown and crisp at the edges. Cool completely.

Chocolate Icing:
Place chocolate, chili powder, cinnamon, and vanilla into a large microwave dish and heat for 30 seconds on high, stir at 10-20 second intervals and continue heating until chocolate is melted and smooth. Drizzle chocolate over cooled cookies.


Dark Chocolate Lava Drops

Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Hershey’s chocolate kisses
½ sanding sugar (regular sugar will do)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350°. Put butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high pausing every 30 seconds to stir, continue until all is melted. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Add ¾ cup sugar and egg to melted mixture mix and then add flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue mixing until the dough is smooth.

Shape into 1 inch dough balls (appx). Press chocolate kiss in dough and completely cover with dough.

Place ½ cup sugar in bowl and roll dough balls in sugar, place on cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes.

Mixture should make about 24 cookies.


Good luck & enjoy,
GLW