Merry Christmas! Have a Cookie!
Dec 13, 2022 10:01 pm
First, another Christmas cookie recipe. Because you deserve it. Or those you love deserve it. Maybe Santa deserves it. Someone definitely deserves it.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
makes 30 cookies
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Cost: $2.63 for 30 cookies
butter: .30, sugar: .18, egg: .10, flour: .15, chocolate chips: .90, sweetened condensed milk: .50, cherries: .50)
1/2 C (1 stick) butter, soft
1 C sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 C cocoa
1/4 tsp salt (omit if using salted butter)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
maraschino cherries or other filling such as chocolate, Andes mints, nuts, toffee, dried fruit, or whatever your imagination conjures
Topping:
1 C chocolate chips
1/2 C sweetened condensed milk (Uh-oh, you're going to have the rest of the can to use still. That's always bad news so I'm sorry about that. You'll have to pour it over your cereal for breakfast. Note: I say that in jest; it's a totally bad idea, as is eating the rest of the contents of your can with a spoon. I'm not saying you can't, only that such a choice might be regretted. And as far as I know there's no morning after pill, over-the-counter or otherwise, for such behavior. P.S. Let me know if there is.)
1 Tbsp cherry "juice" to loosen it up (if you're not using cherries, you can add milk)
Preheat oven to 350.
Beat butter and sugar until nice and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat.
Mix in dry ingredients and beat (I always have to mix then beat because my hand-mixer sprays powdered ingredients everywhere if I'm not careful.) You'll get a very firm batter. Like this.
Now take your firm batter and roll it into 1-inch balls. I got about 30, which I managed to cram all onto one jelly roll sheet.
Now take your thumb and give these a good smash in the middle. You want a nice indentation for your cherry.
Now add the fillings of your choice.
Now throw your topping ingredients into the microwave for 30 seconds. Mix. And nuke for a few more seconds or until smooth.
Plop 1-2 tsp worth of the chocolate mixture onto the cherry or other topping. Try to get it all covered.
Bake for 9-10 minutes at 350 degrees. The edges will poof and spread a bit, so don't put the cookies any closer together than these.
And you're done. If you take them to a party, make sure the nut ones are labeled for anyone with an allergy.
Note: For pictures hop over my no-longer-active-but-still-there food blog.
If cookies aren't enough (when are cookies not enough?), you've always got books!
The Determiner is still on sale for $.99 and will be through December. The paperback is also cheaper than I will price it again at $12.99, and you can still get it in time for Christmas! I've also got a hardback available for those of you who want them to last!
I'll also be listing my other fantasy novels below in case you want to be a quick click away from your next Christmas present. If fact, I'm going to go ahead and list ALL my novels below. I also have sweet romance and memoir in case those are the books on the lists of those you love!
(Psst. All my books are currently available on Kindle Unlimited as well!)
Grey Stone. A world where shifters rule with magic and menace, wolves command, dogs sing, and humans serve. (Also available on Audible!)
Grey Stories. Many of you have read the novella if you signed up for this newsletter. I'm currently creating other stories as well. This collection of stories is in the world of Grey Stone. The other stories are currently available on Kindle Vella (but coming out in book form 2023!)
Here are my sweet romance/women's fiction books for you. Also for the sweet in your life.
From Gunpowder. A little sweet mystery.
From Ashes. A grieving firefighter. A woman recovering from her past.
From Asphalt. A paramedic who finds an injured dog on scene. Then falls for the veterinary assistant. (Only $.99 currently)
And my true stories.
A collection of essays, written with my husband. It's called Pulse: A Paramedic's Walk Along the Lines of Life and Death. (Coming to Audible 2023!)
My friend, Laura's story, about her drug use, addiction, and eventual recovery. The book is called Four Seconds. (Also available on Audible.)
A tiny collection of essays about my mother--her cancer and the bright spots we sometimes found in that difficult time. Hugging Death: Essays on Motherhood and Saying Goodbye.
And if that's not enough, I've also included this lovely freebie by Karim Soliman. I wasn't going to include other books this month, but that gorgeous cover was too hard to pass up. Enjoy!
Oath of Blood by Karim Soliman (free with sign up to her newsletter)
Live like a beast, or die like a man...
Connect with me on social: