Shortbread Cookies

Even though I’m a total chocolate lover and I’m always finding new and exciting recipes to experiment with, sometimes I just like something simple and plain.  As a child, it thrilled my soul when I’d get to eat homemade teacakes.  They were so simple….no chocolate candies, frostings, or sprinkles involved, yet they were so yummy!  So today I’m paying tribute to that simpler time and that simpler taste with these delicious shortbread cookies.
Reminder – If you have a cookie recipe you’d like featured for this month’s cookie round-up, please email me.  Bars are welcome too!

Recipe for Shortbread Cookies:
Ingredients:
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
If dough is too dry, add up 2 tbsp milk. (I didn’t do this.)

Directions: Mix together all your dry ingredients. Then add butter and vanilla extract.  Mix well. Add milk if dough is too dry.  Roll out in to dough balls or use a cookie cutter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes. 
Note – Be careful that you do not overbake these. Even cooking them a couple of minutes too long could make them brown and hard, and they won’t taste nearly as good, so keep watch as these are baking.
Tip – If you’re not looking for something simple, you can always put frosting on these. In fact, they’d be great for sandwich cookies too. Or you could add anything else you like.  In a couple of weeks, I’ll also be sharing something else that you can do with these shortbread cookies.  (You’ll definitely be excited, so stay tuned!)

Check out my sidebar or my Party Page to see all the fabulous places where I’m linking up.

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Bubble Chocolate Review & Giveaway

As the readers of this blog know, I love sweets, especially chocolate! So I was thrilled when I got the chance to sample some Bubble Chocolate .  Before I tell you how I liked this chocolate, I thought you’d be interested in how this product and company came in to being.
Bubble Chocolate’s Story:  “If you (like we) have had the good fortune of traveling outside the US from time to time, either on business or for pleasure, most likely you would have discovered one of our European neighbors’ most treasured taste experiences….bubbles-with-chocolate (technically known as aerated chocolate). Many years ago we developed a deep adoration for this chocolate’s unforgettable sensation. We kept waiting for it to arrive to the US shores. It never came. So we finally decided to take matters into our own hands to make it readily available to all discerning cocoa lovers in the US. From our families to yours enjoy the virtues of Bubble Chocolate® each and every day!”
Personally I’ve never been to Europe, but I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with people who have, who incidentally brought back some European chocolate. So I have tried it before, and it was beyond delicious. Learning that Bubble Chocolate was modeled after gourmet chocolates from Europe, made me even more excited to try it.  And let me tell you, Bubble Chocolate did not disappoint!
Bubble Chocolate is meant to be savored, so as instructed by their FAQ page, I broke off a small piece of chocolate at a time. You then pop it in your mouth and let it melt for a few seconds. As you begin to feel the bubbles soften, you begin to chew gently, and the chocolate grows moist and creamy.
The chocolate has a unique, smooth texture and a rich, creamy taste. I’ve been breaking off just one or two pieces at a time to eat, and it is a very satisfying snack and taste sensation!  Being a fan of milk chocolate, I especially loved this bar.  (No surprises there!) However, I was surprised by the pleasant taste of the dark chocolate bar.  Generally I’m not a big fan dark chocolate, but I actually enjoyed dark bar from Bubble Chocolate.
So obviously I love the concept behind this product, and even more so than that, I loved the taste! I would definitely recommend this chocolate to all my chocolate-loving friends.  You can purchase a case of Bubble Chocolate online via the Bubble Chocolate website or at any of these retailers near you.
Win it! Today I’m very excited to give some of you the chance to try Bubble Chocolate! 5 Simply Sweet Home readers will win a Dark Chocolate Bar and a Milk Chocolate Bar to sample.
Giveaway Closed.  Congrats to our winners from the following sites:  Beauty with Mary, Rockin Deals 4 You, Gothic Mist, More or Les(ley), and My Own Take on Things.

-Jerri

Disclosure: For hosting this giveaway, I was given 2 bars of Bubble Chocolate for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are mine.  Giveaway prizes are being provided by Bubble Chocolate

Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a big favorite of mine! Sweet, simple, and delicious! It’s one of those old fashioned treats that reminds me of childhood. I remember making these with my mom and my aunt.  And it’s also one of the only things I can remember my grandma baking when I was a kid.  She was older and didn’t do a lot of cooking anymore, but when she did, they were tasty!
Also, when we were in school, they used to serve sugar cookies on St. Patrick’s Day, except they’d add green food coloring to the dough.  I’m sure you can imagine all the giggles and jokes that went around about “the green cookies in the cafeteria.”  Well, I decided it would be easier to just add green sprinkles to these for a little St. Patrick’s Day flair.  And of course, they were yummy!   
Recipe for Sugar Cookies:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Directions: Mix flour, soda, and cream of tartar together. Set aside.  Cream sugar and butter.  Mix in egg and flavorings. Add dry ingredients.  Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut out with cookie cutters. Bake at 375 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes. (Makes 5 dozen 2-2 1/2 inch cookies).  Eat plain or decorate with sprinkles or frosting. 

-Jerri

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I’m posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by Blessed With Grace.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by We Are THAT Family
Tip Me Tuesday is hosted by Tip Junkie
Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Sharing Ideas Wednesday is hosted by The Trendy Treehouse
Friday Food is hosted by Mom Trends
Friday Foodie is hosted by Designs by Gollum
Finer Things Friday is hosted by Amy’s Finer Things

Extraordinary Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies? (No one I know of.) And I know everyone out there has their favorite version. This particular recipe came from the Betty Crocker magazine. I decided if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me, so I tried it. And of course they came out looking, smelling, and tasting delicious!

(Reminder: No Sweet Thursday Dessert event this month. Instead it will be hosted on Feb 11. The theme is Winter/Valentines. To have your creation featured here, just email me the link to your post (simplysweethome@hotmail.com). Also, if you have a particular photo you want used, send that as well.

Also, I’d like your opinion: I’m considering adding a linky to the event for anyone who just happens to come by. I figure we’d start with one or two links and maybe eventually get a bunch. However, I don’t want a linky to dissuade people from emailing their item to me before the event b/c I still want to keep the usual format until a day when their may be too many entries to handle. On the other hand, a linky event might get more participation anyway. What do you guys think? I’d love to get your opinion!)

Sorry for the digression……enjoy the cookie recipe!

Recipe for Extraordinary Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
4 cups all purpose flour
2 teapoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 bag (24 oz or 4 cups) semisweet chocolate chips
(Note: I only used 2 cups)

Directions: Heat oven 350 degrees. In large bowl mix butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs with spoon. Stir in flour baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded measuring tabespoonfuls about 2 inches apart. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Remove from cookie sheet to colling rack.

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I’m posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by
Blessed With Grace.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by
11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by
Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by
We Are THAT Family
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

-Jerri


Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash: Homemade Gifts

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Welcome to Day 1 of the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash! Today Jen at Tater Tots & Jello is hosting our Homemade Gifts Event! So head on over to Jen’s place and link up. We can’t wait to see your homemade gift ideas!

Also, don’t forget to stop by A Baby Changes Everything tomorrow as Teresa hosts our Christmas Tree event!


For my Homemade Gift post I’m sharing the Christmas Candy Boxes I made last year. I just love making Christmas candy, but I admit it can be a hassle sometimes. Fortunately I was able to select a “menu” of items that weren’t too difficult to make and easy to multitask and make together.

I basically spent an entire evening making and baking everything—that’s not too bad considering the amount of stuff I made, and considering that I did it all by myself. And in all, I believe I spent about $20 on all the ingredients, plus 6 containers. (And I had a lot of candy left over…probably enough to do 3-4 more boxes if I’d wanted.) So it’s an awesome value for the money and time I put into it.

Everyone liked them so much that I’ll be doing it again this year (except with different treats). Here are the recipes I included in last year’s Christmas Candy Boxes:

Rocky Road Candy

Cake Mix Cookies

Rice Krispy Treats

-Chess Cake (Recipe will be posted here on Thursday for the Christmas Recipe Event!)

I started with these lovely plastic containers. I got these at Wal-Mart for $1 each! And then I just lined them with red tissue paper I had on hand.


Before stuffing the containers, I made all my sweets so I could get an idea of how to divide it all out equally. Here’s my dining room table covered with all the goodies:

Put the goodies and the festive containers together, and you have a lovely package that’s perfect for gift giving!

For my assortments, I included 3-4 pieces of chess cake, 4 pieces of Rocky Road Candy, 3 Rice Krispy Treats, and 6-8 Cake Mix Cookies.


After dividing out all the goodies, I finished the project, placing name tags and bows on top of the containers.

-Jerri

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I’m also sharing this post for TMTT at Blessed with Grace, TT at Beauty and Bedlam, Newlywed’s Holiday Treat Week and WFMW at We Are That Family.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies


Need help deciding what kind of cookies to make for Santa? Food Blogga is hosting an Eat Christmas Cookies event. Be sure to stop by and see all the featured Christmas cookies, and share a recipe of your own! Also, don’t forget to stop by for dessert at the Bloggy Progressive Dinner over at Amy’s Finer Things. And link up at Life as Mom for the Dessert Edition of Holiday Food Fest. There’s also a cookie exchange going on at A Fine House. And Around the Table with Tami is having an awesome giveaway this week, so you should definitely go by and link up there as well.
Cookies seem to be the quintessential dessert for the Christmas season. Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of my favorites, and when you add oatmeal to the mix, the result is incredibly yummy. Once you get these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies out on the plate, they won’t last long. It’s the perfect combination of healthy and sweet rolled in to one awesome treat! I know you, your family, and Santa will love them!


Recipe for Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

110g (4oz) butter, softened

110g (4oz) caster sugar

110g (4oz) soft brown sugar

1 egg

2 tbsp water

1 tsp vanilla extract

250g (9oz) porridge oats (rolled oats)

110g (4oz) self-raising flour

1 level tsp salt

110g (4oz) chocolate chips, raisins or chopped nuts

Directions: Preheat the oven to 180C (350F), Gas Mark 4. Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft. Add the sugars and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg, water and vanilla extract while still beating. Reduce the speed and gently mix in the oats, flour, salt and raisins to form a dough. Using your hands, roll the dough into walnut sized balls and place slightly apart on two baking trays. Bake in the oven for 12-25 minutes or until light golden brown but still slightly soft in the centre. Allow to cool on the trays for a minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool.



-Jerri

Get Your Holiday Treats at Millie’s Place

No recipe this week. Instead I’m featuring some yummmy treats from my wonderful sponsor Millie’s Place. Millie’s Place is your place for delicious baked goods. And just in time for the holidays, Donna (the owner of Millie’s Place) has added a few new treats to the menu!

You can start with a 1/2 Pound of Coconut Cookie Dough Truffles (shown above.) How yummy! Or try the 1/2 Pound Cookie Dough Truffles (without the coconut.)

Or if you’re a cookie lover, you can get 2 dozen of Millie’s Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies.

And Millie has a lot of other traditional holiday favorites such as her Chocolate Fudge w/ Walnuts , Peanut Butter Fudge With Walnuts , as well as a delicious assortment of brownies, macaroons, and cookies!

Stop by Millie’s Place today and pick up all the treats you need for your holiday parties and gift giving, or pick up something that you can indulge in yourself!

-Jerri


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I’m posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by
Blessed With Grace.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by
11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Ultimate Recipe is Swap is hosted by Life as Mom.
Friday Feasts is hosted by
Momtrends.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by
We Are THAT Family
Hooked on Fridays is hosted by Hooked on Houses

Sweet Thursday: Cookie Round-Up

Sweet Thursday time! The other day a reader left me comment, saying that Sweet Thursday “sounds dangerous.” I told her that it can be dangerous for the waistline! LOL. So there’s your disclaimer. You have been warned!

Still here? Good! Then take a look at all the cookies!

Thanks again to everyone who participated!

Joining The Round-Up: If you’d like to be a part of this round-up and submit your own cookies, you can still send in your link to simplysweethome@hotmail.com, and I’ll add you.

Next Round-Up: Our next round-up theme will be Fall/Halloween. This one has unlimited possibilities. I can’t wait to see what everyone makes! Send in your submissions to me by October 29. Thanks!

Mint Chocolate Oreo Crunch from Finding Joy in My Kitchen

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from Thrifty Craft Mama

Texas Sized Almond Crunch Cookies from Snooky Doodle Cakes & more

Light Big & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies from Snooky Doodle Cakes & more

Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies from Snooky Doodle Cakes & more

Flourless Brownies from Chaya’s Comfy Cook Blog

Pumpkin Streusal Bars from Sweet and Savory Says It All

Brownie Drops from Sweet and Savory Says It All

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Millie’s Place

Lemon Glazed Shortbread Cookies from Millie’s Place

Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies with Walnuts from Millie’s Place

Lemon Chocolate Cookies from Nina’s Recipes

Candy Coated Oreos from Her Cup Overfloweth

PB&J Cookies from How To…Do Something

Fruity Pebble Cookies from Simply Sweet Home

Peanut Butter Cookies from Simply Sweet Home

-Jerri


Fruity Pebble Cookies


I’ve always been a big fan of Fruity Pebbles cereal. I ate them all the time as a kid, and I still like to have a box of Fruity or Cocoa on hand. (shh…don’t tell anyone.) So I’m always intrigued when I see desserts that people make using this cereal.

Today I’m sharing a recipe for Fruity Pebbles Cookies. These were deliciously sweet. And they’d make a great party cookie. Just look at the festive colors! I think they’d be perfect for birthdays and other holidays, particularly Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.

And if you want to change this one up a bit, you can easily make this into chocolate cookies with Cocoa Pebbles in them. (I’ll definitely be trying that in the future…I think it may actually be even better than these!)

This recipe will also be part of the Sweet Thursday cookie round-up this week. If you’d like to have your cookies featured here, simply email your link to be at simplysweethome@hotmail.com and I’ll be happy to add you.


Recipe for Fruity Pebble Cookies:

Ingredients:
1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup water
1 large egg
3 cups Fruity Pebbles Cereal

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat cake mix, oil, water, and egg with spoon until blended. Add cereal and mix well. Drop dough on to a cookie sheet (about a tablespoon for each cookie) and place them about 2 inches apart. Bake 11 minutes or until lightly browned.

 

 

 

-Jerri


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I’m posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by
Blessed With Grace.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by
11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Ultimate Recipe is Swap is hosted by Life as Mom.
Friday Feasts is hosted by
Momtrends.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by
We Are THAT Family
Hooked on Fridays is hosted by Hooked on Houses

Peanut Butter Cookies

Lately I’ve been in a cookie baking kick. I’ve found so many new cookie recipes in the last few weeks that I can’t wait to try! This week I’m sharing a classic recipe for peanut butter cookies. I’ll also be featuring this recipe in my Sweet Thursday Cookie Round-Up on September 24. (If you’d to bake some cookies and have them featured in the round just send me an email.)

Recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
additional sugar

Directions: Heat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, beat sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, butter and egg. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls about 3 inches apart. Dip dough ball into sugar, top only, and then flatten with fork in criss cross patterns.
Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until light brown. Cool 5 minutes, remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

-Jerri


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I’m posting a link to this post on the following sites:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday is hosted by
Blessed With Grace.
Homemaker Mondays is hosted by
11th Heaven’s Homemade Haven.
Make Something Monday is hosted by Go Graham Go! and Jolly Mom.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Balancing Beauty & Bedlam.
Ultimate Recipe is Swap is hosted by Life as Mom.
Friday Feasts is hosted by
Momtrends.
Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by
We Are THAT Family
Hooked on Fridays is hosted by Hooked on Houses