Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop Day 1 12/3/11

Welcome to Round One of the Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop! You should have come from Zenita's blog.  If you are starting here and wish to hop from the beginning of the hop, please visit Dena’s blog :  http://missdjones.blogspot.com   

There was so much response to the Christmas Cards & Cookies Blog Hop that it had to be split between two weekends. This is Round One and begins Saturday, Dec. 3rd, continuing through Sunday, Dec. 4th. Round Two will be held next weekend. We have a talented group of women who love papercrafting and baking. Each of them is sharing a recipe for a yummy Christmas treat along with a Christmas card or tag. Hopefully, you’ll pick up some great ideas for your own Christmas gift giving this season. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy!
I have two recipes, so be sure to come back tomorrow!!!

I asked my mom to help make cookies, since we always make Christmas cookies together.  We were both thinking up recipes, since I didn't want to make pfeffernusse cookies for this blog hop...  So I found the recipe for PERFECT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES on my iphone, using this FREE app, Cooks Illustrated -  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cooks-illustrated/id385674638?mt=8

Who can resist Perfect cookies???  Not me!!!


So we made the recipe - I will admit it's a little more complicated than my usual chocolate chip cookie recipe, but luckily with my mom's help, we got them made... 

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/detail.asp?docid=19364

Ingredients

• 1 3/4cups unbleached all-purpose flour (8 3/4 ounces)
• 1/2teaspoon baking soda
• 14tablespoons unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks)
• 1/2cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces)
• 3/4cups packed dark brown sugar (5 1/4 ounces) (see note)
• 1teaspoon table salt
• 2teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 1/4cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks (see note)
• 3/4cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)

Instructions

1. 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large (18- by 12-inch) baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
2. 2. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.
3. 3. Add both sugars, salt, and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using), giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.
4. 4. Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use #24 cookie scoop). Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets, 8 dough balls per sheet. (Smaller baking sheets can be used, but will require 3 batches.)
5. 5. Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10 to 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

Here are some pictures of the cookies in progress & complete:


Brown Butter

 Raw Cookie Dough

On the rack

Close up of the cookie...
I have to say all these pictures made me hungry!  I'm eating one of the cookies now!

Hope you like the cookie pictures!  My co-workers were appreciative of the cookies!
YUM!!!


I know you came here for a card or tag.... so here's a card:

The card is made with stuff from my stash - Thomas Kincaid stickers I've been hoarding for FOREVER, poinsettas left over from last year, glitter buttons (I love these & need to buy some more) and I cut the paper with my new spellbinder die (I really like it!)


If you're new to my blog, be sure to become a follower. Please help me get to 750!  I'm so close - 748!


Crafty Card Gallery is an iPhone app (works on iPad and iPod Touch) that is now available for Android Phones. It is a card gallery for handmade cards. You can follow great designers, and look for ideas. It's updated monthly so there's always new great content for you...   - It now has 760 cards, and growing every month!


You can get it in the iTunes app store and the android marketplace.

So here's the blog candy - I will select a winner on Wednesday. You must be a follower to win..

1) A free copy of the Crafty Card Gallery iPhone app. I will email you a free code for the iPhone version of the app.

2) 2 clear Christmas Stamps

Be sure to come back tomorrow when I share another card and the recipe for Thick Soft Sugar Cookies with M&Ms......

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please be sure to visit Kari's blog next to see what she has to share with you!


Below if the complete blog hop lineup:  

1) Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
2) Robin : http://scrapandchat.blogspot.com/
3) Janet N: http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/
4) Carla: http://racincrafts.blogspot.com/
5) Zenita: http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com
6) Jennifer: http://www.craftycardgallery.blogspot.com/
7) Kari: http://purplefuntastickcreations.blogspot.com/
8) Susan: http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/
9) JulieK: http://jk-littlebitofbling.blogspot.com/
10) Ellen ♥ CardMonkey: http://www.cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com
11) Kerri: http://crafttimeandcupcakes.blogspot.com/
12) Janet S: http://www.ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/
13) Carol: http://huffandpuffscrap.blogspot.com/
14) Christina http://cema1cema.blogspot.com/
15) Staci McD http://preciousmem.blogspot.com/
16) Pam http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/
17) Maria http://marlm-creativebydesign.blogspot.com/
18) Nicolette- www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com