Pecan Tassies

One of the family's favorite Christmas Cookie recipes:

CREAM CHEESE SHELLS
1 (3 oz.) pkg Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 Cup Butter, softened
1 Cup Flour

Combine cream cheese and butter, cream until smooth. Add flour, mixing well. Refrigerate dough at least 2 hours. Shape dough into balls; put each ball into greased muffin tin and shape into shell.

FILLING
3/4 Cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 TBSP Butter
1 Egg
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt
1 Cup Pecans, chopped

Combine ingredients in a small saucepan, cook over low heat stirring frequently until mixture is melted and well blended. Fill each shell half full with filling. (Use mini muffin pans)

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Miracle Cookies

Chad got this recipe from a mom at Hometeam II and it is one of his favorites. It is sooooo easy! The cookies are called "Miracle" because they have NO FLOUR - GLUTEN FREE!!!!

Combine:
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla

Stir until mixed and dough is stiff.

Roll into 1" balls and flatten with fork tines.

Bake at 350F for approximately 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool.

EAT with a tall cold glass of milk. YUMMY! :)

No Bake Cookies

I was reminded by a friend's Facebook status that I hadn't made these in a while. These are a favorite of Craig's and so quick and easy!

1 stick butter
2 c. sugar
1/3 c. cocoa
1/2 c. milk

Cook on medium high. Bring to roaring boil. Let boil for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and...

Add:
3 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 teas. vanilla

Mix thoroughly then drop on wax paper or aluminum foil. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Mrs. Field's Chocolate Chip Cookies

The story behind these: My college roommate sent me this Neiman-Marcus Cookie Urban Legend e-mail many years ago. (I can't help but think of you every time I bake them, Leslie!) These cookies come out perfect every time, if you follow the directions - make sure you use butter!  

Mrs. Field's Chocolate Chip Cookies  

(I cut the recipe in half)

Cream the butter and both sugars:

2 cups butter
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar 

Add eggs and vanilla:

4 eggs 

2 tsp. vanilla 

Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda:

4 cups flour
5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder)
1 tsp. salt 

2 tsp. baking powder 

2 tsp. baking soda

Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts:

24 oz. chocolate chips 

1 8 oz. Hershey bar (grated)
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet..Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies..

This is per Cristin's request. Isn't it appropriate - she is planning to do some baking with her college buddies!

 Have Fun!!!

Dad's Cookies

Craig called from his tree stand announcing that he was missing something very important - COOKIES! *GASP!* I didn't have the usual chocolate chips so I whipped up some "Dad's Cookies" to keep him stocked for the rest of the week.

I couldn't help but think of Gramps, Papa, and Big Grandpa Knable - so many good memories. I also thought of Granny, as I followed her hand-written recipe, and Nonna - remembering my "Dad's Cookies" mishap: I had copied Granny's recipe, but forgot to copy the flour. The next time I made the cookies, we had a doughy, gooey mess in the bottom of the oven! :-D

Dad's Cookies
(Granny Knable/Aunt Geri?)

1 C shortening
2 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp soda
2 C flour
2 C oatmeal
2 C coconut

Cream shortening, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Add coconut and oatmeal. Make balls size of walnuts. Thumb print and fill with jelly.

Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes.

ENJOY! Yummmy! (Milk or coffee a must!!!)