The Cookie A Day Challenge: June 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

Day 71: No Bake Chocolate and Toffee Chip Treats

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Disney Wordless Wednesday

Time again to link up with Deb from Focus on The Magic of Disney! This weeks theme, the letter "B".
Come and join the fun and visit Deb's Disney Wordless Wednesday Hop! You will be glad you did!

When thinking of the letter "B" theme, three things came to mind.

1. BOYS

Boys will be boys! Showing off their best Kung Fu moves

2. BATS

This not so little guy freaked Ian out (mom too!)

3. BEST vacation ever!!!!

This was truly the BEST vacation ever!!!!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Tuesday Cookie Blog Hop

Thanks for visiting The Cookie A Day Challenge's Cookie Blog Hop! You can link your cookie recipes, or any other post that is cookie related. Follow the directions below.

1. Follow The Cookie A Day Challenge on Facebook, Twitter and Google Friend Connect (located on the right side bar)

2. Grab The Cookie A Day Challenge Button and place it in your post or sidebar help to spread the word. This hop will be open EVERY TUESDAY :)

3. Link up your post by following the Linky Tool instructions

4. Comment on my post after you link up so I know where to find you so I can follow back

5. Hop around to the other blogs and please leave comments :)

Have Fun and Get Baking!

Day 70: Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Are you a lover of all things chocolate? Then this is the cookie for you!!!

Dane celebrated his birthday earlier this month and requested I make a "Cookie with layers of chocolate." He's 9. I think we may be watching too many food shows. Not many 9-year-olds would talk about the layering flavors of chocolate. Dark, Milk and Semi-Sweet all combine for a wonderfully moist and rich treat.

Tomorrow is The Cookie A Day Challenge's weekly Cookie Link up. You can link your favorite cookie recipes, pictures or post. Anything goes! Hope you will join :) The more cookies the better! Don't have a recipe to share? Come and check out the ones that are here, get inspired and link up next week.

Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Printable Recipe click here

1 stick of butter (softened)

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp burbon vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1/2 cup dark cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt (I use Koser)

1 Hersey's Bar broke into pieces

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Sift together dry ingredients (flour, dark cocoa powder, baking soda and salt) set aside.

Cream butter and sugar.

Add egg and vanilla, mix well.

Slowly stir in dry ingredients.

Stir in Hershey's Bar pieces and chocolate chips.

Place teaspoon sized drops on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute, move to rack to cool completely.

Now, get baking! The Cookie A Day Challenge Cookie Linky will be live soon! Grab the button and spead the word!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Day 69: Lemon Lavender Cookie Bouquets

I now officially have a 7th grader (gulp!), a 4th grader and a 3rd grader! Let the summer fun begin!!!

We were luck to have such wonderful teachers this year! I wanted to make something special for them. A nice way to say thank you for all they had done for my boys this year.

While at a local craft store I found some really cute ceramic coffee mug planters. They were bright and colorful. Rather then fill the planters with flowers, I decided to try and make a flower cookies. The theme: "Thank You for Helping Me Grow Into One Smart Cookie"

This project is easy enough for beginners and is sure to make everyone happy!

I am going to break down the project into two parts. The first will concentrate on just the cookies. The second will explain how to put it all together.

I planted some lavender in our garden this year and was really excited to use it in a cookie!

Part 1: Lemon Lavender Cookies on a Stick

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For Cookies: Printable Recipe

1 stick of butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 TBS lemon juice

1 egg

2 1/2 cups of flour plus about 1/2 cup more for rolling

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 teaspoon fresh chopped lavender

lemon zest

Cookie Cutters

Cookie Sticks

For Decorating:

Royal Icing

Wilton Icing Colors (Aster Mauve, Delphinium Blue and Buttercup Yellow)

Piping bags and tips (5,16)

Cream butter and sugar together. Add egg and lemon juice.

Mix in 2 1/2 cups of flour 1/2 cup at a time.

Add baking soda and salt

Stir in lavender

Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Once dough is chilled roll out on a floured surface and cut cookie shapes.
Roll the dough out thick enough for the stick to be easily inserted.

Insert stick.

Place on cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for one minute. Remove to rack.

Once cookies are cooled, decorate.
I used a Royal Icing mix and Wilton Colors.

Now for part 2: Assembling the Cookie Bouquet.

Needed:
A Base (the coffee mug planters)
Styrofoam
craft paper or tissue paper
cellophane
twine or ribbon
Printable labels

Once the royal icing set, I started to assemble.
First, I fitted each coffee mug planter with a block of Styrofoam.
Then I covered the foam with craft paper. Tissue paper would have been easier, but I was out.
Once the craft paper was secure I poked holes where I wanted to insert the cookies.
Keep in mind that you may want level changes so make the holes in the front deeper then those in the back.
Insert cookies.
Once cookies are in place, wrap the mug and cookies in the cellophane and tie at the tip with twine.

After the gift is wrapped place a gift tag or sticker on the package.
I used labels and a template from Gartner Studios. The web site made it super easy to design your labels and print.

This was a fun project that can be customised for any occasion! Graduation gifts, wedding shower centerpieces, baby shower gifts, anything!

I found everything I needed for this project at Michael's Craft Store.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Tuesday Blog Hop

Thanks for visiting The Cookie A Day Challenge's Cookie Blog Hop! You can link your cookie recipes, or any other post that is cookie related. Follow the directions below.

1. Follow The Cookie A Day Challenge on Facebook, Twitter or Google Friend Connect (located on the right side bar)

2. Grab The Cookie A Day Challenge Button and place it in your post or sidebar help to spread the word. This hop will be open EVERY TUESDAY :)

3. Link up your post by following the Linky Tool instructions

4. Comment on my post after you link up so I know where to find you so I can follow back

5. Hop around to the other blogs and please leave comments :)

Have Fun!!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Day 68: Oatmeal Coconut Dark Chocolate Caramel Cookie with Walnuts

Whoot! I found my notebook!!! So on with the show!

Every year for Lent, My Father-In-Law gives up the same thing, sweets. For 40 days he was dreaming of the prefect cookie. I told him I would make anything he wanted and bring it over on Easter Sunday.

One night, while Adam's parents were babysitting, he came up with his perfect Easter Cookie. When I saw the list of ingredients I chuckled a little, then went into planning mode.

I found a bag of caramel bites at the grocery store and though they may work in the cookies. After baking, the caramel tended to get hard again. I would recommend enjoying these cookies shortly after they come out of the oven for the best caramel ~~viscosity~~ gooeyness.

Oatmeal Coconut Dark Chocolate Caramel Cookies with Walnuts

Print This Recipe

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup oats

!/2 cup of coconut

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup Caramel Candy Melts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butters and sugars together

Add egg and vanilla.

Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt.

Stir in oats.

Hand mix in coconut, caramel, dark chocolate, and walnuts

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Using a tespoon drop dough onto cookie sheet.

Bake for 12 -14 minutes.

Cool on the cookie sheet for one minute.

Remove to a cooling rack.

Enjoy!

My Father-In-Law LOVED his special Easter Cookies. I have a felling they may become an Easter Tradition :)

A reminder that The Cookie A Day Challenge's first Cookie Blog Hop will take place on Tuesday! I would love to have you link up!

Grab The Cookie A Day Challenge Button and join the fun!

Friday, June 15, 2012

The Tale of Oatmeal Cookies and Another Lost Notebook

Oatmeal Cookie Week has just happened to also be the boys' last week of school. Which in my house means that each boy is bringing home TONS of school work.Papers, folders, notebooks, art projects and even name tags.

Somewhere in the mix of things, I ~~lost~~ misplaced my cookie recipe notebook. Possibly, while I was frantically trying to organize the influx of clutter it ended up mixed up with the school papers and books. Once the boys get home this afternoon. we will organize their papers and FIND MY NOTEBOOK!

Until then here is a sneak peek to what's to come:

Yummy! I know! The recipes will be worth the wait.

I also want to invite you back on Tuesday for The Cookie A Day Challenge's Blog Hop. Blogs from all over will be linking up. The only requirement to link your post is that it is about Cookies. A recipe, a story about your favorite cookie at a bakery, or even just a picture. Come and have fun and discover some new and fun blogs to follow.

Planning on linking up? Grab The Cookie A Day Challenge Button and place it on your post or site. I will be hosting the blog hop every Tuesday.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Wordless Wednesday- Hollywood Studios

A busy week prevented me from participating in the Disney Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop hosted by Deb from Focused on The Magic of Disney last week. This week, I'm ready! And the theme, Hollywood Studios!

Our visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios was extra special since it was Noah's 12th birthday. He wore that Birthday Button Proud, and LOVED all the extra attention.

Noah's birthday present from us was a digital camera. A budding photographer, he captured the picture on the right of himself.

One of the highlight of the day was seeing the stunt show Lights, Motor, Action!
We were lucky enough to have a friend hook us up with not only VIP seating, but a backstage tour after the show! It was neat to see the behind the scene action between shows, learn about the cars and even better, the kids (and Papa) got to sit in the cars!!!

The boys learning the ins and out of the stunt cars.

Learning how the car that drives in "reverse" was customized.

Even Papa couldn't resist:)

Thanks for stopping by today! If you have a extra second (or 3) check out the other Disney Wordless Wednesday Posts from Deb's site. You will not be disappointed!

I would also like to invite you all to come back next Tuesday and link up to my NEW Cookie Recipe Blog Hop. I know you all have yummy recipes to share! Have a great week!

You can follow The Cookie A Day Challenge on Twitter @cookieaday, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Day 67: Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies and a Blog Hop!

As Oatmeal Cookie Week continues, I decided to try something different. Being a new blogger, I have learned a lot in the past few months. One of which is the beautiful invention of the blog hop. A great way to discover new blogs and make new online friends. I have come across some of my favorite blogs through these hops.

I participate (almost) weekly in the Disney Wordless Wednesday Hop hosted by Deb from Focus on The Magic of Disney. I have come across some great people and have been able to share pictures from our family's trip to Walt Disney World, bonus!

I am using this week as a test week. What I would like to do is set up a weekly hop where recipes, stories and pictures are shared from "Baking With Your Kids". Once I figure out how to create what is known in the blog-o-sphere as a "button" I will launch that hop.

Today, I am sharing one of my favorite Oatmeal Cookie Recipes. I adapted it from Hershey's Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookie Recipe.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies

Adapted from Hershey's Recipe

Print This Recipe

2 sticks butter softened

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

2-1/2 cups oats (I used old fashion)

1 cup HERSHEY'S Cinnamon Chips

1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg, set aside.

Cream together butter and sugars.

Add eggs one at a time then vanilla.

Slowly stir in sifted flour mixture.

Then mix in oats.

Add cinnamon chips and raisins, mix.

Please a teaspoon sized dollop of dough on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit on the cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Now it's time to Link Up!!!

Here are the Rules:

1. Follow The Cookie A Day Challenge on Facebook, Twitter or Subscribe to the blog.

2. Click on the Linky Tool Below, follow the directions and link up!

You can link up any cookie recipe you would like :) Just make sure your URL is to your cookie recipe post, not your home page.

3. After linking up, make sure you comment so I know where to find you to say thank you.

And Finally,

4. Hop around to other blogs and discover some yummy treats!

Thanks for linking up!

You can grab the button above and place it on your post if you would like. The more recipes that link up, the better!

Day 65: White Chocolate and Toffee Oatmeal Cookies

A few weeks back, I presented Brownie Week. Having a weekly theme was wonderful. I was more organized and received some great feed back from readers. Brownie week was so successful, I decided to try another themed week.

This week, I present...Oatmeal Cookie Week!

Like brownies, the flavor combinations for an oatmeal cookie are endless. Some recipes are spicy and sweet, yet others can be healthy or full of chocolate.
To kick of Oatmeal Cookie Week, I made this decadent White Chocolate Toffee Oatmeal Cookie.

This would be a great cookie for all those baby and wedding showers you are currently attending. If your life is anything like mine there is at least one shower a weekend now through July!

White Chocolate and Toffee Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 stick of butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tbs of agave syrup

1 egg

1/2 tsp of bourbon vanilla (can substitute pure vanilla)

3/4 cup bread flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups old fashion oats

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup of Toffee Bits

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Cream the butter, brown sugar and agave together

Add egg and vanilla, mix well.

Slowly stir in flour, baking soda and salt.

Stir in oats.

Add white chocolate and toffee, hand mix.

Place teaspoon sized drops od dough on an ungreased cookie sheet

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

Let cookies rest on the cookie sheet for 1 minute

Remove to rack for complete cooling.

Soft, chewy and full of flavor! If you substitute pure vanilla, try adding a pinch of cinnamon. It will add a spicy bite to the cookies.

Let Oatmeal Cookie Week Begin!!!

If you have a favorite Oatmeal Cookie Recipe, or an ingredient you would think would be perfect in an Oatmeal Cookie please comment below or on The Cookie A Day Challenge facebook page.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Day 64: Almond Cookies with Cherries and Mini Chocolate Chips

It has become routine now. Every afternoon when I pick the boys up from school the first thing out of their mouth is "What's the cookie of the day?" I am actually starting to believe they care more about the cookie then me. Well, not really but it would sure seem that way. Maybe I will implement a "NO COOKIE FOR YOU!" policy like the Soup Nazi of Seinfield.

It would be something like this:

1. Mom gets a hug

2. When she asks about your day, you give her tell her at lest one thing about your day.

3. Ask about the cookie of the day

If you don't follow the procedure it's "No Cookie For You!"

I am giggling just thinking about the look on their faces. Imagine me in a very poorly copied accent saying this to my three boys who have no idea who the soup Nazi is!!! I know, funny.

Side note: Find The Soup Nazi episode of Seinfield and show it to the kids, they will love it.

Usually, when I give my answer to the boy's after school cookie question they smile. Usually.

Any time my answer contains dried fruit Ian is devastated. I have no idea what caused his dislike for dried fruit, but he actually told me that he thinks the fruit makes the cookies "tasteds gross". Sorry kid.

Noah and Dane disagree. They both love biting into a cookie with small pieces of fruit. Noah welcomes the unexpected flavor (yep, he said that) and Dane loves all food. Dane will sit and eat anything you put in front of him. Well, except baked beans, but that is a story for another post.

I wanted to make a crunchy, fruity cookie. I came up with these.

Almond Cookies With Dried Cherries and Mini Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup chopped almonds

1/4 cup cherries

1/2 c mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Sift the dry ingredients together, set aside.

Cream the butter and sugars.

Add the eggs (one at a time) and almond extract.

Slowly mix in sifted dry ingredients.

Spoon onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until the sides are golden brown.

Cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute.

Transfer to a cooling rack to complete cooling.

Enjoy!

Noah couldn't wait to try these

Delicious!

I was very happy with the taste and texture of this cookie. If you do not have mini chocolate chips I would omit them. I think substituting regular sized chocolate chips may take away from the almond flavor of this cookie. If you must, reduce the chocolate chips by half.

I look forward to your comments and support. Remember to follow the challenge on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on our adventures.