Have a Happy!

I'm taking a few days off from my "real" job, so I figured I would take a few days off from blogging as well.  I hope you all have a very Happy Holiday and a great start to 2012!

I'll leave you with a picture from my loot I scored at last night's cookie exchange

Tuesday Edition: Kitchen Tip



"tupperware" uploaded to Flickr by tWo pInK pOsSuMs



I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to my January exercise program and "diet"!  I had been doing so well up until last Saturday, when we had our holiday block party and I made that delicious bread pudding.  It was all downhill after that - cookies at church, cake and brownies at work . . . and it's only Tuesday!!  There are still many more days before Christmas and there are going to be parties, and get-togethers and dinners.  I will be lucky if I can fit into any of my pants on Sunday morning.

Tomorrow I will be going to a cookie exchange.  It's going to be a big one - about 20 people are coming - so I am going to get a lot of loot.  Which is great in theory, because I love Christmas cookies.  But it is also worrisome since (1) I want my pants to fit; and (2) where am I going to put all these cookies?

Well some of them I will bring to work.  Others I will just leave on the counter on a platter covered with plastic wrap.  And then, a portion of them will be stored.  I use the following method to store my cookies: in a plastic container or cookie tin, line the bottom with wax or parchment paper, add a layer of cookies, and then repeat the paper and the cookie layers until you reach the top.  Finish the layering by adding a piece of foil before putting the top on the container. 

You can also freeze your non-frosted cookies using this method.  With either method, just make sure your cookies are completely cool before storing them.

How do you store your cookies?

Friday Edition: Yummy Finds

It is finally feeling like December around here.  For the past few weeks it has been very mild weather - in the 50's and 60's - and mostly sunny.  That certainly doesn't feel like Christmas to me!  But thankfully it started to get cold yesterday.  Just in time for the Husband and I to take the Toddler ice skating outside for the first time tomorrow.  Wish us luck!

Besides ice skating, I am going to be planning out what cookies I need to make for a cookie exchange party and to give to Santa.  Any suggestions?  I found the following, which look really yummy!

Yummy Find No. 1:  Mini Peppermint Meringue Cups by Martha Stewart

 

Via Martha Stewart

Oh Martha!  Love you!  And I love these "cookies".  So pretty and perfect.  And they have my favorite combo: chocolate and peppermint!  Check out the recipe here.

 

 

Yummy Find No. 2: Santa Madeleines by Better Homes and Gardens

 

Via BHG

 

How cute are these cookies?  I think the best part of these cookies is that you can get store-bought madeleines and then decorate them the way you want them!  Genius.  Or you can make your own - here's the recipe.

 

Have a cookie recipe you want to share?  I would love to feature it!  Send me an email at actfastchef [@] hotmail [.com] and let me know.

Tuesday Edition: Kitchen Tip

"Christmas Cookies" uploaded to Flickr by everyspoon

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, are you thinking about making some holiday cookies?  Or maybe you already started making them?  Or maybe you just rely on co-workers, friends and family to supply them for you!

It is a tradition for me to get together with one of my good friends from high school and make cookies on Christmas Eve day.  Unfortunately this year will be the first time that we won't be able to meet up.  Life will just get in the way.

So this year I will make my own cookies and my sous chefs will be the Husband and the Toddler.  The cookies will probably not be that pretty, but I am sure they will be edible!  And that is all that counts.

I will be making sugar or butter cookies and decorating them with fun icing and tiny trimmings.  To be honest, I do not have the patience for decorating so intricately and usually the cookies just end up being iced with no decorations.  But I know many of you do!  And here are some tips to make simple holiday cookies (courtesy of Cooks Illustrated):

• Color your own sugar by placing 1/2 C of granulated sugar in a bowl and add about 5 drops of food coloring.  Mix thoroughly and push sugar through a fine mesh strainer.  Spread the sugar on a plate and let it dry completely.
• Use a muffin tin (mini or regular size) to hold and separate all of your tiny decorations.
• When doing cut-out cookies, peel away the scraps, not the cookie.

My own tips: (1) use a plastic sandwich bag with a corner cut off to pipe out icing/frosting; (2) sample all decorations, especially m&m's; and (3) do a cookie exchange with friends so you only have to make one type of cookie.

What's your tip?

Tuesday Edition: Kitchen Tip

"Christmas Cookies" uploaded to Flickr.com by Starshaped

I can't believe I am doing a post in November that includes a picture of Christmas cookies!  I am pretty dead-set against celebrating or planning for a holiday when we still have another holiday to celebrate in the meantime.  The turkey just gets no respect anymore!

That said, it is hard to not get caught up in the preparation and planning for Christmas.  So I guess having a little Christmas in November on my blog is no big deal.

And actually, this tip can be applicable any time of year since it deals with keeping cookies fresh.  I found this tip in my new favorite magazine - Cook's Illustrated. And their tip (courtesy of Lum Pennington of CO) for keeping cookies fresh is to store them in a tin with layers of flour tortillas and parchment paper between the layers of cookies!  Sounds good to me.

Do you have a tip for keeping cookies fresh?  My tip would be to eat them all right away so you don't have to worry about them going stale ;)