December 13, 2013

White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

I've been wanting to make some different cookies lately so I thought I'd give these a try. I'm not a big fan of white chocolate chips, but I have friends and family that absolutely LOVE this kind of cookie so it's a win-win. I get to bake and they get to eat cookies! I decided to throw some dried cranberries in the mix and it turned out great. They look so Christmasy too!

2 & 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries (optional)
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
  • In large bowl mix sugars together. Add in butter and mix until fluffy.
  • Add eggs and vanilla to sugar mixture and mix until fluffy.
  • Stir in nuts, chocolate chips, and cranberries.
  • Bake for approximately 12 minutes, until edges start to brown.

December 11, 2013

Soda Ham

For Thanksgiving and Christmas I always try to cook my long cooking dishes in something other than the oven. I like having my oven space free, plus ham from a crock pot is absolutely tender and delicious!

You can use any brown soda you like with this ham, but I really like to use Coke, Dr. Pepper, or Mr. Pibb. I know it sounds really weird, but it's similar to honey glazing it and tastes wonderful.

Cured Ham
2 cans soda
2 tsp honey mustard
1 cup brown sugar

  • Place the ham in the slow cooker and pour one can of soda around it.
  • Pour the other can of soda in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
  • Add the mustard and brown sugar and bring to a simmer.
  • Let boil down for a few minutes then pour over the ham in the crock pot.
  • Cover and set to low and let cook all day. Enjoy!

December 08, 2013

Lemon Loaf

My husband and I went out of town for a weekend not too long ago and the hotel we stayed at had this fantastic lemon flavored bread at their breakfast. I decided it was so delicious that I had to try to make some when I got home!

I found a recipe for a basic loaf, then put the poured icing on top of it that I use for my sugar cookies, with some lemon flavoring (best part)! It was not quite the same, but just as delicious!!!

Loaf
1 & 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup oil
Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp milk
2 tsp light corn syrup
1/4 tsp lemon extract
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan and set aside.
  • Mix flour, soda, powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, lemon extract, and lemon juice.
  • Pour wet ingredients into the dry and blend until smooth.
  • Add oil and mix well.
  • Pour into the loaf pan and bake for approximately 45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out of the center clean.
  • Make the icing by combining all ingredients together until smooth.
  • Pour over the loaf when cooled.
  • Let the icing set up, then enjoy!