Holiday Peppermint Bark

Holiday Peppermint Bark is festive and can be a great gift if you wrap the bars in their own little bag or holiday tin. It's easy to make if you follow a few simple steps.

• 1 Package Dark Chocolate Chips (11.5- 12 oz.)
• 1 Package White Chocolate Chips (11.5- 12 oz.)
• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil or Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 Cup- 1 Cup Crushed Peppermint 

Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

I was in Keystone, CO recently and the resort gave out cookies when you checked in. One had cranberries and white chocolate. It was so good, I knew I had to go home and make my own recipe for it. I added macadamia nuts to mine, but the recipe would be okay without them if you're allergic, don't like them, or don't have any around.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups White Whole Wheat Flour

1 Tspn. Baking Soda

1 Tspn. Corn Starch (*key ingredient to a great cookie)

1 stick unsalted butter (room temperature)

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract

1 Egg

3/4 Cup Dried Cranberries

1/2 Cup chopped macadamia nuts

3/4 Cup White Chocolate Chips or chunks

DIY Snow Globe

So I've always loved snow globes and figured why not make my own?!

Super Simple. First make a run to Dollar Tree or Family Dollar (Hint: Dollar Tree is cheaper).

Buy Yourself a couple of Mason Jars there if you don't have any. Also buy village figurines and the fake Christmas trees with the white base. You will also need glitter (silver or gold- I like the big glitter) and fake snow. 

One snow globe will hold 1 tree, 1 or 2 figurines of your choice, 1 teaspoon of glitter, and 2 teaspoons of fake snow. Glue objects to inside of the mason jar lid. Let dry for 30 min-1 hour.
Fill with water (you can add a couple of drops of glycerin if you have some, if not it still works. Glycerin just slows down the falling process). Now shake and enjoy!

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

This recipe was originally from Emeril Lagasse in 2003. I've been making it ever since he aired it on TV. They are the best Christmas cookies. 

**Makes about 2 Dozen Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup raspberry jam
• 2 tablespoons Cointreau (Orange Liquor)
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies

I came up with the peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies because I bought a bag of these:

Kraft has it all, even Peppermint Mallows. I bought these and thought to myself how wonderful they would be in a chocolate cookie. 

These cookies are melt in your mouth, chewy, with a little crunch. More chocolate than peppermint, but just enough peppermint to give you that refreshing flavor. The cookie itself almost resembles the taste of a brownie. The cookie is filled with peppermint marshmallows (Hence the "Hot Cocoa" name) and topped with just a little crushed peppermint.