SWEET CELEBRATIONS !

I hope you had a chance to try some of my recipes last year.

I'm here to sweeten you up again in 2015.

I never met my Mother-in-law, Geraldine Gordon

 but I'm pretty sure, from the taste of this date-nut bread,

she knew her way around the kitchen.

Today's Sweet Celebration is 

All my holiday recipes from 2014 and for 2015 

are located on the tab above 

"Sweet Celebrations" or click here

SWEET CELEBRATION and COOKIE DIVAS!

"Sweet Celebrations" today plates up 
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Fudge
...and a whole lot of Cookie Divas!

If you like nuts in the fudge just add

 1 C of walnuts or pecans to either recipe 

Melt in your mouth goodness

Store in an airtight tin...
THEN HIDE IT cause this fudge will dissappear fast!

2009 marked the end of my cookie exchange parties
10 years of a fun tradition among Cookie Diva's

My final gift to these sweet friends were aprons that read
"COOKIE DIVA" and each had a different 
Lauraleigh Embroidery Designs

And here is the special DIVA that did all the embroidery!
Thank you Joan Keltner!!!

I had my own special apron...cause I am 
The Cookie Queen!

And of course..the group shot!

I hope you have enjoyed these "Sweet Celebrations" recipes.
Perhaps I will have more for Valentines Day!

ORANGE SLICE COOKIES and VINTAGE APPEAL

My recipe for "Sweet Celebrations" is a great one!

If you like orange slice candy...

then hang on to your baking sheet!

My BFF Shirley gave me this recipe a couple years ago

and it is one of my hubby's favorite cookies...any time of year. 

Look closely and you will see the little pieces of
chopped up orange slice candy in the cookies.

I remember orange slice candy back when I was growing up...
so I think it is safe to call it "vintage" 

My 2005 Cookie Party has a "Vintage" theme 
beginning with a vintage lace tablecloth on the cookie table

A vintage tree in the kitchen is FULL of vintage ornaments

and vintage toys under it. 

The curtain over the door is a vintage table cloth

I wore my Mom's apron over her house dress from the 1960s 

I asked all my friends to wear vintage aprons 

These "vintage"glamour girls wore their mink stoles!  

 "Leave it to Beaver" has got nothing on us!

I  asked the girls to wear those aprons and give them to me as my hostess gift.  
They each signed a small muslin square with their name
and the year we met...then
I made a signature kwilt with friendship stars 
using the aprons and signature squares.

"Apron Strings and Cookies" 

I will cherish this kwilt as long as there is sugar in my kitchen!
Forever!

WORLDY CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Today's "Sweet Celebration" 
is the ONLY cookie my son wants to eat!

TIPS: for baking chocolate chip cookie

and minimize the cookie spreading while baking

1. USE the CRISCO baking sticks instead of butter.  You can use any crisco product but I love the butter flavor sticks.  
2. CHILL THE DOUGH in the fridge for 15 minutes
3. Spoon the cookies onto parchment paper covered cookie sheets
4. Put the remaining cookie dough BACK IN THE FRIDGE - to keep it chilled
5. Let the pans COOL COMPLETELY before putting the next batch (from the fridge) on them.
6. If baking on two oven racks, switch the cookie sheets half way thru the baking time

2008 Cookie Party

Cookies from Around the World Theme 

Each person selected a country, a cookie from that country

and dressed to represent that country

  

     Japan                                         Sweden                                       Carribean 

If you enjoy Chocolate Chips cookies

leave me the name of your COUNTRY!

let's go "around the world"

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS & A GARDEN HOE!

Today's "Sweet Sensations" cookie is my all-time fav!

 

The recipe here is for a single batch and makes about 3 dozen or so cookies.
I always make a double batch cause everyone loves these.

All done!

Aren't' they cute on my recently finished Aspen Frost quilt

Same Peanut butter cookie dough with chocolate chips mixed in cause I ran out of kisses!

My 2007 Cookie Exchange Party
"Winter Garden Theme"
  Cookie Table

The Cookie Divas
in their garden hats...

My crazy and fun friend Betty
shows up as a Garden Hoe!

Hope you give these cookies a try!

FROST BITE

Frost bite is usually not a good thing...

unless you are having one of my 
"Sweet Celebrations"

This cookie is filled with orange liqueur soaked raisins 
and oats, then dipped in white candy melts!  

I usually make a double recipe of Frost Bite Cookies
...single recipe is below and makes about 3 dozen cookies.

   

Lay the dipped cookies on wax paper.
Once the candy sets the cookies lift right off.
 Again, these cookies freeze well!

My 2004 Cookie Party 

Snowman Theme

The aroma that fills the room when cookies

are all display is intoxicating!

 Cookie Diva's dressed for the occasion.

The Christmas Mouse (Betty) took home the prize for

the best party attire!  

 I always had a special gift for the best Christmas Party attire

My crazy friends "get me" and always made this so fun! 

SWEET CELEBRATIONS - BAILEY'S ANYONE?

I am out of my sewing room and in the kitchen,   
I'm sharing some of my recipes in a post series...
  "Sweet Celebrations"

If I know the original Cookie Diva-I will credit them.
Many of these recipes have lived in my recipe box for years!

Today's Sweet Celebration is...



I  celebrate Christmas at my house. 
  

I have many "theme" Christmas Trees in my home.
(my 2012 Christmas decorating posts begin here)

 I bake lots of Christmas cookies. 

I say Merry Christmas!

 Life is too short.. 
We all can all enjoy these Sweet Celebrations...
however you choose under any holiday reference you like! 

Beginning in 2000, and for 10 years 
I hosted a "Christmas Cookie Exchange" with my girlfriends.
As part of this series I want to share some of that fun too!

Cookie Table from 2003

Coookie Diva's

If I was ready to serve the cake, 
I would drizzle with icing - add toasted almonds.  
Since they are going into the freezer...I'll wait to do that.

*a single recipe will do a bundt pan
OR two loaf pans