Finally...as promised!

Computer glitches are my very least favorite thing...however...I'm baaaaaa-aaaaaack! So sorry for the delay in the Christmas pictures, baking pics, and recipes. I'm going to do my very best to catch up. Here goes.

As my children get older, my helpers get more limited. I was lucky to have at least one helper per day...

Some new recipes were a total flop... and will not be making a return next year. This was the first batch of chocolate chip kiss cookies. Even after adding enough flour to avoid this...the cookies were still not very good. So long chocolate chip kiss cookies...

Other tried and true favorites were amazing as always... like my very favorite cranberry orange walnut cookies...Total yum. I pink puffy heart these cookies as does my mother in law. Whenever I show up around Christmas time at her house, I best be carrying a baggy of these little darlings for her!

Finally a new twist to an old favorite...Check out these peanut butter blossoms...

A few years ago we added red and green sugar. This year we added Brach's stars instead of kisses. Aren't they so pretty? The good news is, I overbought the stars and have 4 bags left...so there will be more of these come some cold snowy day.

Here is the wonderful cranberry walnut orange cookies recipe...I can't give credit...I know I got this recipe out of the newspaper about 5 years ago. It quickly became a family favorite.

Cranberry Orange Walnut Cookies

If you double this recipe and use a 1 tablespoon scoop, it makes 5 1/2 dozen cookies.

1/2 c butter

1 c granulated sugar

3/4 c brown sugar

1/4 c milk

2 tbsp orange juice or orange liqueur or 1/2 tsp orange extract plus 1 1/2 tsp water

**I prefer to use orange juice. The orange extract is too strong a flavor for me

1 large egg

3 c all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 c chopped walnuts or pecans

2 1/2 c coarsely chopped frozen, fresh, or dried cranberries

**I use craisins. They stay soft in the cookies

Preheat oven to 375F. Grease baking sheets. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Stir in milk, orange juice and egg. Mix in dry ingredients. Stir in nuts and cranberries.

Drop dough by tablespoons about 2" apart on greased baking sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet, then remove to wire cooling racks to cool completely.

Remember...if you store these in a zip lock with a slice of white bread, they stay amazingly soft and chewy.

Enjoy...

Stay tuned for more recipes.

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR~