Holiday Baking Ideas

One of the things I will miss the most about being on crutches this holiday season is baking. I know I won't be running around the kitchen baking 14 different kinds of cookies, 3 kinds of holiday bark, plus cupcakes and caramel corn. My waistline might actually like me after the holidays this year! But I still wanted to share some of my favorite holiday recipes in case you need any ideas.

Candy Cane Biscotti. My FAVORITE recipe from last year, they are delicious.

Candy Cane Kiss Chocolate Cookies. All the holiday flavors of Hershey kisses are in the stores now and the candy cane flavored ones are my absolute favorite.

Santa Hat Cupcakes. These were a huge hit with my kids!

Sugar Cookie Pinwheels. So festive and fun to make!

Peanut Butter Truffles. You knew I'd have a peanut butter recipe on here. When you package these up pretty, they make a great hostess gift.

Whoopie Pies. Another treat that can be packaged up individually and given as gifts.

Monkey Bread. Perfect for Christmas morning.

Apple Cinnamon Rolls. Also perfect for Christmas morning!

Cranberry Bliss Bars. Better than the ones at Starbucks.

Soft Garlic Knots. These would be so good with Christmas dinner.

If you want the recipe for any of these goodies, click on the red link and it will take you to the original blog post. I am going to miss holiday baking this year, but hopefully you all will keep the tradition alive. I'd love to hear if you try any of these recipes!

Thanks for stopping by today!

An Ankle Update

Once upon a time, I used to run. And I used to do boot camp and all sorts of other fun stuff. I used to complete marathons, run with friends, take spin classes, get up at the crack of dawn to swim, and try to avoid weirdos at the gym on a regular basis.

 San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, under better circumstances!

Until I busted my ankle earlier this year. I rolled my ankle on a run and ended up severely tearing a major ligament and tendon. And I ended up in this for 6 weeks:

And it was hard. It was really really hard. I went from being a very active girl to doing absolutely nothing. I even had to wear that boot when I was sleeping. I went through physical therapy for 8 weeks and slowly got back to walking, swimming, and a bit of biking. But I never got back to running. Running just made my ankle hurt so so much. It turns out, my ligament and tendon never healed. They never stinkin' healed!! My options are to live with the pain and loss of activity or have surgery to fix the problem. I'm going with surgery.

Next week I will have the surgery. The recovery is 4 weeks of no weight bearing on my foot. That means a cast and crutches. Maybe I can trick out my crutches with christmas lights? Then 6 weeks back in that beautiful boot. And also lots of physical therapy to get back to walking. And biking. AND running. Because I have races to run, dreams to chase, marathons to qualify for, soccer balls to kick with my kids, tidepools to explore, hikes to accomplish and much much more.

So send me some good vibes next week and hopefully my surgeon has an extra dose of his Wheaties the morning of my surgery. Thanks for listening and stopping by today, friends!

One more project

I have one more project to share from the November Citrus Tree Studio kit. I loved the blues and purples in this kit, so pretty and wintery without being too Christmasy.

Lots of distressing on this card, with a big bow and some buttons. I loved the punch-out tickets that came in the kit!

I hope you're having a good week so far. Lucky me caught my family's cold (a family that is sick together, stays together) and i've been battling it all week. I am hoping to be better by this weekend, we have holiday decorating and shopping to do!

Thanks for stopping by!

Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

Be honest. You didn't think I could go this long without posting a recipe involving peanut butter and chocolate, did you. I've got a nice easy recipe today that involves one mixing bowl, an 8x8 pan and mini peanut butter cups. Did you know Reese's now sells a bag of mini peanut butter cups with NO wrappers?? That's right, no more wasting time unwrapping those little suckers before throwing them into my mouth the mixing bowl.

These bars are a nice combination of a blondie base and peanut butter cups. It's quick and easy and would look lovely on your holiday cookie platter.

 

Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

adapted from Cookies and Cups

1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)

1 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 egg

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups flour

1 bag mini Reese's peanut butter cups

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8x8 pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray.

2. Combine melted butter, brown sugar, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. Mix well.

3. Add baking soda and flour. Mix until just combined.

4. Add peanut butter cups and mix until well incorporated.

5. Spread evenly in 8x8 pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

6. Let cool before cutting into squares.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

How was your Thanksgiving?

Well, I didn't plan to fall off the blog world like that. We have had a busy week! We were traveling to my mom's for Thanksgiving and my son came down with a fever the night before we were going to leave. He ended up being okay to travel but then my daughter had an earache. And then my husband came down with it. Despite that, we had a nice holiday and saw most of my family. We also went to see the new movie Arthur Christmas which was super cute! Now I have one day of rest/regrouping/taking care of sick husband before work and school starts on Monday.

How was your holiday? Did you brave the stores on Black Friday? Or shop from the warmth of your computer chair? Either way, you might need a holiday card to give with your holiday gifts you just purchased.

I used the November Citrus Tree Studio kit for this card. I love those Thicker letters, such a fun pattern! And here is something new I learned. If you string a button backwards and tie the bow behind the button, it looks pretty cool when you attach it to your card with the bow in the back. I learn something new everyday!

I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend with your friends and family and maybe the new friends you made standing in line at 4am Friday morning. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

Christmas Day

Happy Monday before Thanksgiving!! What's going on with you for the holiday? Are you traveling? Cooking? Baking? Getting together with family? I am very excited to have a short work week and I get to see most of my family this week. And I get to eat tons of yummy food, it's a win-win for sure.

I do feel a bit strange sharing a Christmas layout with you in November, but i'm sure I will get over it. This was made with the November Citrus Tree Studio Kit, A Heartfelt Christmas. 

That is my daughter's favorite face to make when she's messing around or just doesn't want to smile for the camera (which actually is alot of the time!). I couldn't decide which photo I liked better, so I used both. I loved the punch out banners that came in the kit, so easy to add a banner to your layout.

And those delighful stick pins that I love so much, I love using them to make flags!

This kit really put me in the holiday spirit! Do you know what else put me in the holiday spirit? Having only 1 more day of work this week, yeah!!! I hope your holiday plans are coming along, whatever you have on your schedule. Thanks for stopping by today!

S'more Cookie Bars

A few girlfriends and I have been getting together for a baking night. We meet at someone's house and bring 1 or 2 recipes to bake together and try out. It usually involves a yummy cocktail and lots of flour, sugar, and chocolate. Last night I brought a new recipe I wanted to try, S'more Cookie Bars. You know, graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows...all the good stuff in a pan. No more gathering wood for the campfire, people!

Oh, these bars were sooo easy to make! But they were soooo hard to cut into presentable squares. When I make them again, I will put the pan in the fridge and let them really harden up before cutting into them. While they look a mess, they taste fabulous.

I did use marshmallow fluff for the filling. It's not easy finding real marshmallow fluff on the West Coast. It's typcially an East Coast thing. I was lucky enough to have a jar since a friend of mine brought me some from Boston. But I think marshmallow creme would work the same.

These are a definite treat. So ooey and gooey and just really delicious. Please go to the Lovin' From The Oven blog for the recipe: S'more Cookie Bars. Now just don't ask me about the fudge we attempted to make. Maybe it was too many mojitos...

Thanks for stopping by!