Category: Christmas Cooking - Jennifer Sommer

Oreshki - Walnut Shaped Cookies with Dulce De Leche Filling

11/26/2019

When my mother-in-law offered me fifty-plus walnut shell cookie molds, I wasn't sure what type of cookie I would be making with them. After a bit of research I found the answer.

Oreshki were cookies developed during the Soviet-era when food shortages existed. Cooks needed to be creative in their recipes, and this delicious walnut-shaped cookie is one result.

It's a shortbread cookie filled with a caramel-type filling. These bite-size cookies are light and fluffy, if not time-consuming and a pain-in-the-butt to make.

But more on that later.

Christmas Cooking - Double Chocolate Shaped Cookies

12/7/2017

These bite-size cookies are crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, and taste like brownies with just a hint of peppermint flavor. It might be just a little too easy to pop in your mouth - over and over again.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 cups bittersweet or semisweet chocolate pieces
1 Tablespoon shortening
1/2 cup crushed candy canes (about 6)

Christmas Cooking: Caramel-Cashew Cookies

12/5/2017

It's time again for some Christmas cooking and I've located a few new recipes I'd like to try. I'm starting with a variation on a shortbread cookie. The light, buttery dough has cashews incorporated into it, as does the caramel filling. This cookie would be good for any occasion, but I'm betting they'll be a hit with Santa. Also at an upcoming Christmas party I'll be attending next week, if they last that long.

Santa Coats

12/15/2016

This is an easy snack to prepare for those Rice Krispie treats lovers, and I know a few. The hardest part was decorating. The color and flavoring come from Jell-O. The decorations can be about anything you have on hand. I had Jelly Belly's and chocolate chips to try out different button looks. I ran into a few problems with the decorating icing, which I'll explain in more detail later. Once you know the tricks, this would be a fun project to do with the kids.

Chocolate Snowballs - or as my mother named them - Truffle Kisses (which I like better)

12/13/2016

Looks familiar, right? But this cookie is not anything like the Angel Pecan cookies I made last. Except for the shape and the powdered sugar, of course. This snowball has a very unexpected surprise inside. Ooey-gooey chocolate cookie surrounding a Hershey's chocolate kiss. You could also try a peppermint flavored kiss and I think it would be equally good. Rod loved these. Warning: they are so rich, a couple will do you.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Angel Pecan Cookies

12/8/2016

I whipped up a batch of these to drop off with my sister-in-law after she rushed to complete a quilt I was giving as a Christmas present. They turned out to be so delicious that I know I will make another batch next week. They are light and would be great with hot chocolate on a cold winter's day. And I have a great occasion coming up next week to do just that.

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening (I used Crisco)
3/4 confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

11/22/2016

The perfect cookie all season long...they will take you through fall from Thanksgiving to Christmas and beyond with the telltale cranberry bits of color.

I admit it. I love shortbread cookies, especially when they melt in your mouth. I also love to add cranberries to recipes, especially in the fall, although you can add them to my salad anytime of year and I'll be happy.

I was just visiting my sister prior to Thanksgiving and wanted to try a new recipe while she was at work. Luckily for me, I had saved this one for just such an occasion. Lucky for both of us, they are delicious. An added bonus is that they are made without flour, so those of you out there that are avoiding wheat, here's a cookie you will be able to enjoy.

Orange Brownies

12/14/2015

Ingredients:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, divided
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 orange
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 Tablespoon orange liqueur (I used Cointreau)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
2/3 cup cup coarsely chopped roasted hazelnuts
5 slices candied orange peel, cut into pieces (recipe to follow)

Christmas Cooking - Day 25

12/25/2014

Pepper-Crusted Tenderloin Crostini

2 large onions, chopped
6 T butter, softened, divided
2 t sugar
1 T olive oil
1-1/2 lb. beef tenderloin
2-3 t coarsely ground pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 t salt
2 t prepared horseradish
1 French bread baguette, cut into slices

Christmas Cooking - Day 24

12/24/2014

Crab 'n' Cheese Spirals

16 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 C chopped crabmeat, imitation or real
1 can (4-1/2 oz) chopped ripe olives
1/4 C minced chives
3 tubes (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls
3/4 C shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 C shredded Parmesan cheese