The point of this cookie, anyway, was to test out the new rolling pins I received last Christmas that roll out embossed cookies. I now have four decorations and they are all so festive. I wanted to try them all. So here goes. Tip: brush olive oil on the rolling pin to help prevent the dough from sticking to the rolling pins.
Brandon Marie Miller is the author of 13 award-winning biographies and histories for middle grade and young adult readers. I last interviewed Brandon on this site in June 2016. Since then, she has published another very important historical nonfiction book, this time about Robert E. Lee. Since it came out just prior to Covid, I wanted to catch up with the author to find out about the book and what the effects of both the pandemic and the recent stir about Robert E. Lee and the dismantling of statues has had, if any, on this book. Briefly describe your latest book, “Robert E. Lee: The Man, The Soldier, The Myth" A look at the life and times of Robert E. Lee, one of the most mythologized men in American history. From his turbulent childhood, his years of service in the U.S. army, his fame as a Confederate general in the Civil War, how did this man become an American myth and what was the real story? I prepare make-ahead breakfast bakes of this type often because they are ready to throw in the oven when I wake up. It's less stressful, especially when I am hosting guests. Sweet or savory, they can be prepared a day or two in advance just waiting for the final bake. Easy-peasy! Ingredients
4 oz. dry French bread, cut into 3/4" cubes (4 cups) - (I used leftover sandwich bread that was getting old) 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (6 oz.) 4 slices s, crisp-cooked, drained and crumbled, or 1 cup diced cooked ham 2 cups milk 4 eggs, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard (I actually ran out of mustard and ended up using a packet from our last Chinese takeout order) 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/8 teaspoon onion powder If you enjoy a soft, fudgy dark chocolate cookie mixed with peppermint, this is the cookie for you! My, oh my! These are very rich and pack a punch with flavor. I think Santa will appreciate a tall glass of milk with these. Ingredients 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey's) 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 cup butter, softened 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 granulated sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (I used 72% cacao) Peppermint Patty thin mints (I used York) Green sprinkles I had a good pepper harvest this year and wanted to make something new and interesting with them rather than stuffed peppers. I remembered a hot pepper jelly appetizer from a work party years ago and the thought of how delicious that was made me investigate pepper jelly recipes. This is one that I've adapted slightly. It's delicious! Ingredients 5 cups granulated sugar 2-2/3 cups finely chopped green peppers 1-1/2 cups white vinegar 6 oz. liquid pectin (usually found with the canning products, or sometimes in the sugar section) This is great cake to make in the fall, full of spices, raisins, and walnuts. Use apples from your own harvest if you have them! I honestly don't remember who I got this recipe from, but I scribbled it down with an "excellent" jotted at the top and stuck it in my recipe file years ago. Nothing fancy, just a good loaf! Ingredients 1-1/2 cups Sugar 1-1/2 cups Applesauce (I used about 5 small apples instead) 1 cup Vegetable Oil 3 large Eggs (I used extra large) 2 teaspoons Vanilla 2-1/4 cups all-purpose Flour 1 teaspoon Baking soda 1 teaspoon Baking powder 1 teaspoon Salt 3/4 teaspoon Cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon Nutmeg 3/4 teaspoon Cloves 1 cup Raisins 1 cup Walnuts, chopped Confectioners Sugar This is super easy to prepare. If you need a snack for a crowd, try this. The sweet and salty flavors are a terrific mix. Then you can serve it in a bowl or in individual bags, or both. The Ingredients:
Rice and Corn chex cereal - about 2 cups of each (I used Kellog's Chex Mix which includes both rice and corn chex, and then I use the entire box) Pretzel sticks -I used about 2 cups Honey roasted peanuts - I used about 1-1/2 cups Halloween M&M's - use the entire bag, why not? There is another color combination that is more autumn colors that I use for a similar trail mix. Choose whichever feel you're going for. White Baking Chips - again, why not use the entire bag? You can see that this recipe is not exact. Mix it the way you want it. |
I remember the excitement of visiting the public library as a child. The magic and suspense of reading favorites like The Velvet Room and The Secret Garden tugged at my imagination. Biographies of George Washington Carver and Betsy Ross allowed me to see the lives of those who came before me and to appreciate their accomplishments. Poetry collections like my favorite The Tall Book of Poems, which I took with me on sleepovers, introduced me to a range of poetry where I could consider how the placement and rhythm of words affected your mood – sometimes bouncy, other times melancholy. Plus, I really loved the way that book felt in my small hands. My goal in writing children’s books, I think, is an attempt to recreate those feelings, those early years of reading books where everything seemed possible.
I received an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and won the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award from SCBWI. I worked as a Children's Librarian for 20 years and still prefer to read books written for young people. I have two Cavapoo dogs named Prince Albert and Daisy Wu, and a black kitten named Mortimer. I am married and split time between homes with my husband Rod in Dayton, OH and in Cadiz, KY where we enjoy our pontoon boat on Lake Barkley.
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