February 2005 Archives
Cookies
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup Land O Lakes Butter(or your favorite)
1 package(3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
Glaze
1 cup semi-sweet real chocolate
1/4 cup Land O Lakes Butter
For cookies, in large mixer bowl, combine all cookie ingredients except flour. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until light and fluffy. Add flour; beat until mixed. Divide dough into halves. Wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
Heat oven to 375. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out with floured heart-shaped cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 10 minute, or until edges are very lightly browned. Removed immediately; cool completely.
For glaze, in small saucepan, melt chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally over low heat until melted, 4 to 6 minutes. Dip half of each heart into chocolate. Refrigerate on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet until firm. Store, covered, in refrigerator. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.
This recipe comes from the Land O Lakes Cookie Collection.
What did I learn?
The glaze was a bit of a challenge for me because I could not get it smooth enough. I used Baker's Dipping Chocolate for dipping the cookies and it worked great. Get 3 to be on the safe side. Heat up two and pour them into one container. This way your chocolate will be deep enough to cover half your cookie.
Cream cheese is sold in 3 ounce packages but you do not see it in the stores very often so I cut 3 ounces off the 8 ounce silver brick. You can save the rest for bagels. :)
I know you have been waiting and wondering when I would post the photos from last year's Festival of Desserts. Click on the Cakes Galore link or the photo above to see more desserts. I used Flickr to create the photo album for this baked goodness. In addition scrumptious chicken and ham, we enjoyed the following desserts:
- Pecan Tarts
- Banana Chocolate Walnut Brownies
- Cranberry Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies w/Nuts
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- McNannygocious Pound Cake
- Egg Nog Pound Cake
- 7 Up Cake
- Chocolate Brownies
- Lunchroom Butter Cookies
- Sweet Potato Pie
- Chocolate Egg Nog Rum Cake
- Egg Nog Rum Cake
I ran short of time so I was unable to make the cheesecake and red velvet cake. I made the cinnamon rolls a couple weeks after the festival and they were great. Special thanks to CW, JS, & JS for the ham, chicken, and coffee. Also, thanks to everyone who took photos and sent them to me.
Where do I start? Baking is just as much a part of my life as music. I usually am playing good music while baking. I think I first tried my hand at baking when I was in my teens. I had been thinking about creating a separate blog devoted to baking for a while but I could not imagine having two blogs. Not sure how often I will post over here as I do not bake every week. I can guarantee you lots of good photos and a fotoblog along the way. This clever photo was taken during the recent Christmas holiday baking season. I went through a lot of butter. I will tell you more about that real soon. Creating this blog was much easier than my first one. I dedicate this blog to my dad who passed 5 years ago on this day.
