Chewy Ginger Cookies

Does anyone else love the cookbooks that are collections of recipes from a church, business, or organization? Aren't they the best? They're always chock full of treasures that quickly become family favourites.

The recipe I have to share with you today is from one such cookbook. It's from the cookbook that my high school put out back when I was still in school... way back when. :)

My mom bought me a copy of the cookbook at the time to have for when I "grew up & moved out". 

When my husband & I got married & set up house, I was suddenly plunged into the duties of cook & baker. My mom had taught me some, but I learned mostly from experience.

In that first year of marriage, I tried so many new recipes - searching for our own family favourites. This recipe was one of those & has been a favourite ever since. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Beef & Barley Soup

I'm sure looking forward to spring. Are you with me? From some of the photos I've been seeing, there are those of you who are seeing sprouts of green in your gardens & are feeling the sun on your faces. We are sure seeing the sun here in Saskatchewan, but our gardens are still buried under 2 feet of snow. No tulips will be seen for awhile...

For the time being, we are hunkering down, staying warm, & trying not to envy the people who are holidaying or living in warmer climates. My parents are in Mexico right now... sigh. (I choose to be happy, I choose to be happy.)

Anyway, how was your long weekend? Ours was good. My husband is now in his last week of school. Soon he'll be a journeyman plumber! (I'm so proud!) He did a lot of studying on the weekend, so the kids & I hung out together, but we went swimming as a family on Saturday. On Monday afternoon, I fired up my iTunes podcast library (my fav thing to do while I'm cooking or baking is listen to preaching podcasts. I learn a lot & am encouraged in the process) as well as the oven. I made a chocolate cake, chewy ginger cookies, biscuits, & a big pot of this yummy Beef & Barley Soup...

Only one change. I used venison this time. It's delicious with either kind of meat. After it simmers together for an hour & a half, you can't even taste the difference.

Peanut Butter S'more Cookies

Having baking on hand is a two edged sword, right? It's great for the kid's lunches & snacks, but it's also around to temp me. I really like to try new baking recipes, so finding new recipes to add to my favourites that the whole family enjoys is a great thing (although an exercise in self control for me).

This week, I did some digging in my Pinterest boards to get some baking inspiration. When I was looking through my C is for Cookie board, I found this recipe. I baked up a batch & we loved them! It has since been moved to my We Tried Them & We Liked Them board. :)

Peanut Butter S’more Cookies  adapted from The Three Little Piglets
Makes about 3 dozen

½ c. shortening
¾ c. creamy peanut butter
⅓ c. granulated sugar
⅓ c. light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tbs. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. all purpose flour
½ c. graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 c. mini marshmallows
4 – 1.55 oz. Hershey bars, broken into chunks (I didn't have these on hand so I used 1/2 cup chocolate chips mixed into the dough.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening, peanut butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well. Mix in flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt until well combined, but do not over mix. This is where I mixed in the chocolate chips.

Shape dough into 1” balls. Place on ungreased cookies sheets. Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass.

Bake 6 minutes or until slightly set. Remove from the oven and add three mini marshmallows and three small chunks of Hershey Bar to each cookie. Return to the oven 3-4 more minutes until lightly browned.

Cool 1-2 minutes and then remove to wire racks and cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Don't they look yummy? Trust me, they are! A little taste of heaven. The toasted marshmallows are the best!

For more marshmallow love, try some of these recipes!

Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

Chocolate Marshmallow Fudge

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Enjoy your day!

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as well as the Weekend Potluck

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Brownies with Peanut Butter Chocolate Frosting

Romeo & Juliet.

Salt & Pepper.

Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy.

Spaghetti & Meatballs.

Some things are just meant to go together. Like Chocolate & Peanut Butter.

Can I get a witness?

And what better way to celebrate this celebrity food pairing than to make Peanut Butter Cup Brownies!

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Brownies  (Print recipe)

makes 16 brownies

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup cocoa

2 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/8 tsp. salt

8 or more Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray an 8x8 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Melt butter (I melt mine in the microwave) & stir in cocoa. Set aside.

In medium bowl beat eggs until frothy. Add sugar, flour, chocolate chips, & salt. Don't stir yet. Pour cocoa mixture over top & stir all together. 

Scrape half of the brownie batter into the pan. Top with the peanut butter cups.

Then top the peanut butter cups with the rest of the brownie batter.

Bake for 30 minutes. Cool for about 10 minutes before frosting.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Frosting

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 cup icing sugar (also known as confectioner's sugar)

1/3 cup cocoa

1/4 tsp. salt

5 Tbsp. milk

Cream the butter & peanut butter together. Beat in the vanilla. Stir in the icing sugar, cocoa, salt & milk. If it's still too thick, add more milk 1 Tbsp. at a time until it is a nice smooth, spreadable consistency. 

Frost the brownies. 

Wouldn't these make a great Valentine's treat? 

Nothing says "I love you" like some yummy chocolate treats. :)

If you love peanut butter & chocolate you may also want to check out some more yummy recipes:

Peanut Butter Nummies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Pie

Almost Instant Buckeyes

Thanks for reading. If you like what you see here on Silver Boxes, I'd love it if you would become a follower on Google Friend Connect, subscribe by email (sign up on the right sidebar), 

or follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter. 

And please leave a comment when you do so I know who my new friends are! :)

Enjoy your day!

Check out the great parties I link up to!

Cheater's Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie

For the past few weeks, I've been wanting to make a coconut cream pie. Having never made one (from scratch or otherwise) I wasn't sure what all went into making one. In my ignorance, I grabbed a few things at the grocery store that I thought would work to make one. Then I went on a search for a recipe. 

I think I did things backwards. 

I couldn't find a recipe that worked with the ingredients that I had. 

So, um... I made one up.

It turned out really good & my family loved it!

Here's what I started out with:

Cheater's Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie

makes 1 pie

1 Pie crust

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened and divided in two 

1 pkg. vanilla instant pudding

1 pkg. chocolate instant pudding

2 cups milk, divided in two

1 cup coconut, divided in two

4 cups whipped topping, divided

Here's what I did:

Bake pie crust according to package directions. Cool.

Mix chocolate pudding mix with 1 cup milk until well combined. Add half of the package of cream cheese & mix well. Add 1/2 cup coconut. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping. Mix well. Pour into cooled pie shell.

Repeat process with vanilla pudding. Carefully spread vanilla mixture over chocolate mixture. Top with the remaining whipped topping. 

Let set in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.

You're done!

Cut a few slices & share with your friends & family.

It's a perfect pie to make when you're short for time.

YUM!

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Enjoy your day!

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Caramel M&M Bars

Are you done your Christmas baking? I was.

Then, I decided I wanted to make these yummy bars to share with you. And hey, my family wasn't complaining. :)

M&M's are my favourite candy - by far. Ask anyone. Okay, ask anyone that knows me.

Caramel M&M Bars  Print Recipe

makes 24 bars

1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1 cup Rice Crispy cereal

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

35 vanilla caramels, unwrapped

1/3 cup milk

1 (14 oz) package of M&M's (I used the Christmas ones), divided

~Heat oven to 350º. Spray 13x9 inch pan with nonstick spray. In large bowl, combine brown sugar & butter; beat until smooth. Stir in oats & cereal. Add flour, baking soda & salt; mix until well blended. **Reserve 3 cups oat mixture for topping.** Press remaining mixture in bottom of sprayed pan. Bake at 350º for 10 minutes.

~Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine caramels & milk. Heat over low heat until caramels are melted & mixture is smooth, stirring constantly.

~Remove pan from oven. Sprinkle 1 cup of the M&M's evenly over base. Drizzle with caramel mixture, being careful not to let caramel touch the sides of the pan. (Sounds like such a little thing, but trust me, you will have a heck of a time getting the bars out of the pan if they are caramel-glued to the sides! I'm speaking from first hand experience here.) Drop reserved oat mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls over caramel mixture. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate pieces.

~Return to oven; bake an additional 20-25 minutes or until centre is set & top is golden brown. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Cut into bars. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator. 

 Look at the layers of candy & caramel - delish!

I hope you're having a wonderful countdown to Christmas!

Thanks for reading. If you like what you see here on Silver Boxes, I'd love it if you would become a follower on Google Friend Connect, subscribe by email (sign up on the right sidebar), 

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This recipe featured on:

Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

This past Saturday, some friends of mine organized a Christmas cookie exchange. It was a great success & I have to tell you how nice it is to have a HUGE chunk of my Christmas baking stroked off of my Christmas to-do list!

We each made 8 dozen of one type of cookie & this is the one I chose to make. They are delicious & literally melt in your mouth. So. Very. Yummy. It's like Christmas in your mouth. :)

**Update: for those of you that have been asking, these are similar to a shortbread cookie. You really could change up the flavours however you wanted!**

Peppermint Meltaway Cookies   Print recipe

Original Source: Taste Of Home

1 cup butter, softened - make sure it’s at room temperature or you won’t have good results.

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch (yes, you read that right - 1/2 cup)

Frosting:

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons 2% milk

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies (I use candy canes)

In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Combine flour and cornstarch; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Shape into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

In a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, & extract; beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies. Store in an airtight container. 

Yield: approx. 3 1/2 dozen.

Have you ever done a cookie exchange? What's your go-to cookie recipe? 

I sure hope my friends make this an annual event because I think it's a fabulous idea!

Thanks for reading. If you like what you see here on Silver Boxes, I'd love it if you would become a follower on Google Friend Connect, subscribe by email (sign up on the right sidebar), 

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Enjoy your day!

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and The Country Cook

This recipe featured on:

Christmas Crafts & Recipes Of The Past...

Now that American Thanksgiving is over, I know a lot of you are looking for Christmas ideas & recipes to get started on. I know I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for new ideas! 

Since many of you have followed along since last December (Thank you!), today I'm doing a run-down of my favourite crafts, recipes, & projects from last Christmas.

Let's start with some fun crafts...

Christmas Banner

I still need to make one of these babies for myself! I made a few last year & sold them all. Must. Keep. One. :)

Spool Christmas Trees

These little trees were so fun to discover as I pulled them out again this year. They're a fun part of our decor.

Spool Tree Ornaments

Possibly my favourite Christmas craft ever! I have these arranged on a wreath this year with some twinkle lights.

Let Heaven & nature sing...

Light Bulb Snowmen (with photo tutorial!)

Our kids get such a kick out of these snowmen every year. 

They love that they have one that is personalized & belongs to each one of us.

Glittered Pinecones

These sparkly cones are filling a metal lantern in my front entryway this year.

Now on to recipes...

Classic Sugar Cookies (No rolling or cutting needed!)

Merry Berry Cheese Bars (Cranberry Cheesecake Bars)

Chocolate Marshmallow Fudge (Fast!)

Almost Instant Buckeyes (Another fast one!)

Egg Nog Tarts

Cards, tags, & gift card holders...

Gift Tags

Use your Cricut or Silhouette to cut out some cute shapes, attach string & create your own gift tags!

Gift Card Holders

Make your own simple gift card holder for those hard to buy for people.

Christmas Cards

Create a few custom made Christmas cards for your friends & family with these ideas.

Those are just my favourites! I hope you found some inspiration here.

Thanks for reading. If you like what you see here on Silver Boxes, I'd love it if you would become a follower on Google Friend Connect, subscribe by email (sign up on the right sidebar), 

or follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter. 

And please leave a comment when you do so I know who my new friends are! :)

Enjoy your day!

Check out the great parties I link up to!