Hello Celebritys

Our family subscribes to Cook's Country magazine. If you have never picked up an issue of Cook's Country, I recommend you do so. The magazine is filled with great recipes and the nice thing is that they explain why the prepare the recipe the way they do and the best methods and equipment.

This recipe was in Cook's Country as a finalist in their Christmas Cookie Contest. I knew I had to try it and I am so glad I did...these cookies are amazing! In fact, my dad thinks they should be the only Christmas cookies we make from now on....I will note that NO...the recipe does NOT contain eggs. I didn't forget an ingredient. They are eggless cookies, which means you can eat the cookie dough without feeling guilty! :)

Sparkling Coffee Snowflakes

Sparkling Coffee Snowflakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
1/2 cup semisweet-chocolate chips, melted
1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted
1/4 cup turbinado sugar (such as Sugar-In-The-Raw)

1. Make Dough. Combine flour and salt in a medium bowl. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and espresso powder until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture and mix until just combined. Divide dough in half. Pat each half into a 5-inch disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.

2. Roll & Cut. Heat oven to 300-degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. On lightly floured surface, roll each chilled dough disk into 11-inch round (you may need to let it soften for a minute or three), about 1/4-inch thick. Using 2-inch star or snowflake cookie cutter, cut out cookies, gathering and re-rolling dough as necessary.

3. Bake Cookies. Place cookies 1-inch apart on prepared baking sheets and bake until set, 18-22 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

4. Decorate Cookies. Drizzle cokies with melted semisweet and white chocolates and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Let sit until chocolate hardens, about 15 minutes.**

**I found that the chocolate on my first batch did not set up. So I added 1 tsp. Crisco to the second batch AND popped them in the refrigerator for a few minutes. It seemed to set up nicer.

About a week ago I went to a mystery dinner at a friend's house. It was a potluck and I was assigned to bring a dessert. Since I knew the event was to be a little bit "nicer" than your average potluck, I wanted to make something super special. I decided it would be fun to tackle a cheesecake. Now, mind you, I had never before made a cheesecake. I had no idea what was involved, but I knew it couldn't be too hard. So I set out to find a recipe. I started my search at www.copykat.com, which is a website with copycat recipes for restaurant foods. I found a recipe for the Cheesecake Factory's Oreo Cheesecake, and I must say this cheesecake is a winner!!!

Cheesecake Factory Oreo Cheescake


Crust:
1-1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs (about 20-23 cookies, finely chopped)
2 Tbsp. melted butter

Filling:
1-1/2 lb. cream cheese
1 cup sugar
5 large eggs
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup flour
8 oz. sour cream
5 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped, for the batter
10 coarsely chopped Oreo cookies for the top of the cheesecake

You Will Also Need:
9" Springform pan, buttered on bottoms and sides

Directions:


**CRUST**
Mix melted butter with Oreo crumbs and press into springform pan, covering the bottom and 1-1/2" up the sides (Note: I did not have enough crust to go up the sides). Set aside.

**FILLING**
All ingredients need to be at room temperature before beginning. Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Keep mixer on a low setting during the mixing and beating process. Add sugar gradually and continue beating cream cheese until mixed through. Add eggs one at a time and continue to beat until blended. Measure the vanilla, salt, and flour, pour into cream cheese and egg mixture and beat until smooth. Add the sour cream and beat well. Turn off the mixer and stir in the coarsely chopped Oreo cookies with a spoon.

Pour cream cheese into the springform pan and place the remaining coarsely chopped Oreo cookies on top of the cream mixture. Place pan on the top rack and in the middle of a preheated oven at 325-degrees, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. When the time is up, prop the oven door open and let the cheesecake stay in the oven for one hour. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let cool enough to place in the refrigerator for 24 hours. It is worth the anticipation. A cheesecake should season. The flavor ripens and becomes enriched.


Original Recipe
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Yum, yum, yum! Everyone who tried this cheesecake at the party thought it was delicious. I am hooked on making cheesecakes and am even planning to make a different flavor/recipe for tomorrow night's dessert as my aunt and uncle will be joining us for dinner. Stay tuned to hear how that one turns out! :)

Orange Glazed Chicken

My mom attended a cooking class at a local kitchen supply store recently, and the class was all about soups. She brought home the recipe and I was immediately attracted to the recipe for Butternut Squash Soup. See, I don't really care for squash (I know it's good for me. . .I just don't like the texture/flavor that much) but a couple years ago I tried a Butternut Squash Soup that was absolutely to die for. The person who made it was unable to give me the recipe, so when I saw this recipe I knew we had to try it to see if I liked it, also.

See the end for my comments. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Butternut Squash Soup


2 Tbl. Butter
1 Onion, chopped
1 Carrot, chopped
2 stalks Celery, chopped
2 Russet Potatoes, chopped
1 Butternut Squash, peeled, cored and chopped
1 quart Chicken Stock
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
Fresh Sage (to taste) (I used dried, as we did not have any fresh sage on hand)
Salt (to taste)
1/2 cup Heavy Cream or Sour Cream (optional)

Directions:
1. Melt butter in a large stock pot.
2. Add chopped vegetables (including potatoes and squash) and cook for 5 minutes on medium-high heat, until slightly browned (I cooked them for about 8 minutes).
3. Add stock and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until all of the vegetables are tender.
4. Using a stick blender, blend the soup until smooth.
5. Finish with fresh sage, brown sugar, salt and cream.
6. Enjoy (I also topped each bowl with additional sour cream and sage)!

My Thoughts:
- Super easy to make! The most time consuming part is chopping the veggies. And waiting for it to cook, of course. :)
- Our whole family enjoyed this soup. I think that means the recipe is a "keeper." Let me know how your family likes it, if you try it!

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For previous 12 in 12 recipes, check out the following:

1. Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
2. Chewy Toffee Bits Cookies
3. Deviled Chicken
4. Cinnamon Rolls
5. Strawberry Trifle
6. Easy Chicken Alfredo
7. Pumpkin Spice Muffins