Sunday Music Time.

The first line of this song is the beginning of the Christmas Story.
He came as an infant, walked among mankind, was crucified , buried and rose again on the third day and then ascended into heaven.

He will return as The King that all were looking for at the time of His birth.

And now, If That Isn't Love, I don't know what is. 

Christmas Baking Time--Even For The non-Cooks

Thursday I offered up a recipe for THE BEST CHOCOLATE COOKIES with some "power ups' for them.

This is such an easy recipie that anyone can do it and the kids or grandkids will love helping out with the making of them, expecially the rolling of the dough into the ball shaped pieces and then placing them on the baking sheets.

Today THE  BEST LEMON COOKIES

What a great cookie for serving when friends drop by unexpectedly or when a few friends are invited over just to chat.  They make a perfect "tea cookie" for those who still do tea or have time to do so.  Too bad the custom has been replaced by "chat" on the 'puter or texting.  The personal touch has been lost when it comes to conversation and "entertainment".

1 Box of Lemon Cake Mix (any brand will do but Duncan Hines is good and usually less costly than some of the others.)

1/2 cup of oil (again I use canola, you can use what you wish)

2 eggs

granulated or confectionery sugar to roll the cookie dough balls in. ( in this case I like the bit of crunchy that the granulated sugar gives when baked)  Later on you may want to make a batch and leave off the sugar for a "power up" topping.

DIRECTIONS:  Mix ingredients until well blended ( as a note, don't use a mixed as this dough is thick and sticky) adding the eggs one at a time. Scoop out the dough using a table spoon or a melon ball scoop, rolling into round ball shape. Roll these in the sugar mixture and place on a baking sheet. Place in the pre-heated oven (350 degrees) for 12 TWELVE minutes. Remove and allow to cool for TWO (2) minutes before removing from cookie sheets.

POWER UPS:  Grate lemon peel and roll dough balls in the peel. I also use the sugar mixed with the peel for this . (Orange peel grated is delicious also)

If you can find fresh mint leaves this time of the year you might wish to try this:  Make a small batch of "simple syrup" (that is sugar and water boiled. I use equal parts to start and add sugar if necessary to "slightly thicken".  You can add some Orange flavor liqueur or Lemon flavor, half cup of liqueur, half cup water and cup of sugar.  Mix in the mint leaves into the simple syrup and allow to stand until the mint flavor is to your liking. Brush the tops of each cookie making sure that you get a piece or two of mint leaf on the cookie.  It makes a bit of a glaze on the cookie. I have brushed the tops prior to baking to insure a glaze and then added just one more swipe with the mint leaves in the mixture after the cookies are slightly cool. 

Adding orange slice candy pieces to the cook dough is also a treat for the little ones.

To really POWER UP make a Creame Cheese Lemon Frosting and top each cookie after they have had time to cool slightly or make a stack cookie by putting the frosting on one half and topping with another cookie. I would suggest that you double your recipe if you are going to make these.

The frosting recipe is for a double layer cake so you may want to cut it in half. The icing will keep refrigerated for a week or more if it is too much. I have actually used only a third of this but found it difficult to get the consistancy just right. You may have a different recipe and that's ok by all means use it and if you wish share it with others.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 4 drops yellow food coloring(I only use two drops or maybe three. I don't care for the real yellow look.)

Directions

1. Beat cream cheese and butter in a bowl until combined. Beat in powdered sugar and lemon juice.
2. Beat in 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 cups more of powdered sugar till frosting is of spreading consistency. Stir in a few drops of yellow food coloring.

 

Christmas Baking Time--Even For The non-Cooks

This is what you will be getting on Ticker's blog from now until who knows. Well at least until after New Years. 

You can read all the political stuff at everyone else's blog site and comment away.  You can go to a separate blog site for food and stuff from one of our other blogger friends sites, but only on Jus'Sayin' can you find such delectable goodies from now through the rest of the Holidays.

Most of these goodies are for those with a sweet tooth and who won't care if they put on an extra five or ten pounds from now until Christmas time. After all you can always make a New Year's Resolution to lose those extra pounds and not worry about it until then. 

I love to cook and I love to bake. I was fortunate to have a Mom who also loved to cook as well as a grandmother that I called Mammy and both taught me well, starting about the age of 5 or six.  

My first attempt at a cake came at the age of eleven. My Mom was in college and didn't seem to have the time to bake all those great chocolate cakes that I and my Dad loved so much.  I complained one night at the supper table (yes, we had supper, not dinner where I grew up) that I sure did miss having chocolate cake for dessert.  Mom said, "Then why don't you bake one and we can all enjoy having chocolate cake."  She showed me where her recipe was located and were I could find all the ingredients.  No we didn't open a box mix and stir up a cake real quick in those days, we made them from scratch.

 

Next day this eleven year old got up the nerve to give it a try.  I followed the recipe to the letter and when I was ready to pour the batter into the cake pan, lo and behold, I had enough for three pans so a triple layer cake was in the making.  

While the cakes were baking I commenced making the icing, again from scratch. 

Now anyone who has made icing from scratch knows that sometimes it can turn out a bit "sugery". In other words it ain't creamy and has the consistency of chocolate sugar.  Fortunately mine turned out creamy on first try. 

Somebody up above must have been watching over this eleven year old boy because that's the only explanation that I can offer for the success. 

The cake turned a little side wonkie,( it was not stacked just exactly right and there was a bit more icing on one side maybe than on the other) but nevertheless it was ready for supper that night.  

I held my breath as Mom sliced it and placed it on the plates with a generous scoop of ice cream on the side.  I was turning blue by the time Mom and Dad got the first bite swallowed and then the sun began to shine in my little boy heart as I heard both Mom and Dad say, "Son, it is delicious"!.  

Then the other words came out of my Dad's mouth, "...and you cook just like you Momma, you dirty every pot in the kitchen." Truer words were never spoken for I had a mess in the kitchen when I finished making the cake and the icing but I did clean it up with the help of my Dad who got home before Mom when he worked the day shift at Eastman.

So now to share a simple recipe that won't make a mess and yes you can use a box mix for this recipe.  I call it the BEST --------COOKIES.  in this case Chocolate. Some of you may have made this recipe but heck I'll share it with those who haven't and give you some hints on how to "power" them up for Christmas.

1 Box of Devil Food Cake Mix. ( I use Double Fudge)

1/2 cup of oil ( I use canola)

2 eggs

Sugar to roll cookies in( granulate or confectionary--I prefer confectionary but the choice is yours)

Directions: Mix ingredients until well blended, adding eggs one at a time. Place cookies on a cookie sheet 1 inch apart or so. I use a melon ball scoop or a table spoon will do and roll the dough into balls then roll the balls in the sugar or other "power" goodies that I will suggest below. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes (twelve). Remove and allow to sit for 2 Two minutes before removing them from the pan.  This makes about 2 to 2.5 dozen depending on the size of the scoops you use.

POWER UP:  Add some peanut butter chips to the mix for chocolate peanut butter cookies.

                   Add some chopped pecans to the mix and also roll the balls in  chopped pecans.

                   For the holiday spirit add some York Peppermit Patties pieces to the mix.

                   For color crush some candy canes and roll the balls in the red and white candy cane pieces.

                   Use you imagination and I am sure that  you  can find other "power ups" for you

Best Chocolate Cookies.

Bake and enjoy. Be sure to get yours early one because they disappear fast. They are the lightest, softest morsels that ever melted in your mouth.

Coming up: How to make other BEST----- COOKIES that are sure to be a hit at  your Christmas Party or just to perhaps send over to a neighbor.