The Best Friends In The Universe

I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but I have the best friends in the entire universe. Yesterday I dropped off a basket of cookies and when I returned to the office less than an hour later, the coolest e-card was waiting for me. My goofy friends sent the hugs I dropped off right back to me.

The cool friend stories don't end there. Kenda, Vicky and my mom all pitched in to help me cater Bree's rehearsal dinner when I broke down from the loss of my good friend, Mary Helen. They endured hours on their feet with nothing more in return from me than a great big hug and thank you. Vicky even stayed behind and cleaned my kitchen.

A couple of weeks ago when I was having a major panic attack about the annual Christmas party, Vicky dropped everything to help me pull it off. She organized things, cut veggies, basically did anything I needed, but most of all she calmed me down and made everything OK.

I have always been one that had a very difficult time accepting the help of others. I wanted to be the one giving the help. The last few weeks have taught me an important lesson...that it is OK to accept help. I also was reminded of something I always knew. I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE!

Many Hugs,

Kathy

Chocolate Crackles Cookies

Another one of my favorite cookies to make during the holidays is from a recipe I found in a holiday Martha Stewart magazine years ago. It also appears in the Martha Stewart's Cookies cookbook.

Chocolate Crackles Cookies

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. coarse salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup whole milk
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar

1. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring. Set aside to cool. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

2. With an electric mixer mix together butter and brown sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Mix in eggs and vanilla, and then the melted chocolate. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture in two batches alternating with the milk. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Wrap each in plastic; refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

3. Preheat oven to 350 F. Divide each piece into (16) 1 inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar to coat, then in confectioners' sugar to coat. Space 2 inches apart on cookie sheet lined with parchment.

4. Bake until surfaces crack, about 14 minutes, rotating cookie sheets halfway through. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

This cookie is very striking to look at. It has an intense chocolate taste, but is light at the same time. Enjoy!

Many hugs,

Kathy

Christmas Cookies Coming Soon!

The month of November was filled with lots of relaxing, eating, some baking, but not much in the way of new cookie recipe postings. I promise many good things are coming for the month of December...Mrs Cohen's Crescents (kind of like pecan sandies, but better), Congo Squares, Kevina's Peppermint Bark Cookies, Holiday Decorated Sugar Cookies and much more...

This week is Christmas Open House Party planning, decorating and cooking time. So give me until next week and the recipes will be posting, cookies will be baking and hopefully many smiles and hugs will be collected.

On Thanksgiving, Geni delivered a HeartSong Cookie basket to her mother-in-law and shared the photo with me. More smiles for my collection...how cool!

Many hugs,

Kathy

More Cookies, More Smiles

I keep baking and the smiles keep coming.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Thoughtful Handmade Perfection

Last week I received a very special thank you gift for catering my friends Bree and Jason's rehearsal dinner. For the last couple of months Bree's mom had been crafting the gifts...a hand woven cookbook basket and cheery apron. Her thoughtfulness amazed me. Both will be cherished for many years to come. Thank you Phyllis!

Many hugs,

Kathy

Cookies Never Go On Vacation

This week Mike and I are on vacation in Raleigh, North Carolina visiting my son Ryan. Ryan's birthday was on Tuesday, so Monday I pulled out the chocolate chunks, pecans, butter, sugar, eggs, flour and baked away. This time I used some dark brown sugar for extra depth of flavor and added almost two cups of toasted pecans instead of the usual 1 1/2 cups. The result was quite good and actually approved by the star quarterback at NC State - Russell Wilson. Tim who? Russell is my new favorite quarterback. He likes my cookies!

Many hugs,

Kathy

My Cherished Collection of Smiles

Some people collect antique banks (my dad, for one). Some collect fine art. Others collect Jaguars (my friend, Mark). I collect smiles. Recently my collection has been growing by leaps and bounds.

The joy I see on the faces of my HeartSong Cookie recipients is priceless. It is the reason I end almost every day in the kitchen baking cookies and begin almost every day assembling baskets. It is the reason baking ingredients covering my dining room table are a permanent addition to my decor.

Yes, I get tired, but the smile I receive at the end of all the effort keeps me going and going and going...

Keep smiling and I will keep baking!

Many hugs and smiles,

Kathy