Category: Lifestyle

Make sure to clean your jars first. Next on the outside of the jar create little white dots in a pattern that should resemble snow falling. Make sure to go all the way around and 3/4 of the way down the jar.

1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of a standing mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter with ½ cup of the confectioners’ sugar (set remaining sugar aside for later) until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat to combine. With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour and salt until the dough comes together. Add in pecans and combine.
3. Scoop out the dough by the tablespoonful and use your hands to roll into balls. Place the balls 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, until cookies are set but before they begin to turn brown. Immediately transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes.
5. Place the remaining powdered sugar in a shallow dish. Roll the warm cookies in sugar to coat, then return them to the rack to cool completely.
6. Once cool, roll the cookies in confectioners’ sugar once again.

The Grinch has always been one of my all time favorite Christmas classic movies. We would watch it every year as a family as one of our many traditions, and now as an adult I still do! When I came across these adorable bright green cookies, I just had to try them! They are super simple to make and kids will love them.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1⅔ cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3-5 drops bright green food coloring
• 3⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons corn starch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1½ cup red and green M&Ms (pus additional ½ cup for topping cookies, if desired)

Directions: 

1. 1. Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until well-combined and light and fluffy (about 1 minute).
   2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
   3. Stir in vanilla extract and food coloring, until well-combined.
   4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
   5. Set mixer to low speed and gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture. Add ingredients and stir until well-incorporated.
   6. Fold in M&M candies and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
   7. Once dough has finished chilling, preheat oven to 350F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
   8. Drop cookie dough by heaping 1½ Tbsp-sized scoops onto prepared cookie sheets, for perfectly round cookies roll dough in your hands into a smooth ball.
   9. Bake on 350F for 11-13 minutes. If desired, gently press additional M&Ms into the tops of each cookie for decoration while they are still warm
   10. Allow cookies to cool completely on cookie sheet before removing.

Thank you to https://therecipecritic.com for sharing this recipe.

At Christmas time I love trying out new cookie recipes and sharing with friends and family. These cookies are the perfect combination of sweet with the white chocolate really complimenting the candy cane crunch. They are soft in the center with a great cookie crunch on the edges. A must try! Ingredients: 

• 1 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup crushed candy canes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment.
2. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. Beat butter and sugars until pale and fluffy (approx. 3 mins).

4. Add egg and mix until fully combined. Add vanilla.
5. Gradually add in flour mixture. Mix until combined.

6. Add in crushed candy canes and chocolate chips and mix until just incorporated.

7. Using a medium cookie scoop (1 1/2 Tbsp), scoop cookies onto baking sheets. With floured hands, roll each one into a ball.

8. Bake for 10-12 mins (may take longer for larger size) until cookies are golden brown on the edges. Cool completely on baking sheets.

After our apple picking adventure at Apple Annie’s Orchard, we had quite a few apples to go through. I took this opportunity to look up a few fun apple recipes! Although I love to bake, this week was way too busy to take on anything too time consuming. I came upon these 2 super easy and quick recipes that looked super yummy. After trying these I can tell you they definitely are delicious! Let me know if you give them a try.

The first recipe was found at momlovesbaking.com, Chocolate Turtle Apple Slices. Apple slices covered in chocolate and drizzled in caramel and pecans. Doesn’t that sound amazing?

All you will need for this simple recipe is 2 large apples, 3 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 cup melted caramels and chopped pecans.

First step is to slice apple into 1/2″ pieces. Then microwave chips in a microwave safe bowl for about 2 minutes. Stir in coconut oil and keep stirring until smooth. You will see this makes the chocolate easier to work with and gives a glossy finish. Cut a little slit in the bottom of each piece of apple and insert a wooden popsicle stick (I did not have these on hand so I used cake pop sticks).

Dip apple slices into chocolate and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Then drizzle with melted caramel and sprinkle with pecans. I gently pressed pecans down to make sure they stuck to the apples. Refrigerate for 1 hour and then enjoy!

Ingredients

The 2nd recipe was found on theblondcook.com, Apple Pie Bites. These are perfect little apple pies that are easily made in less than 30 minutes! I can see these being perfect for holiday parties as well. I definitely see me making these again.

First place Pillsbury crescent rolls triangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  You then spread a mixture of brown sugar and apple pie spice on the crescent rolls. If you don’t have apple pie spice mix equal parts of nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon. Next sprinkle chopped pecans on top of brown sugar mixture. Apple slices (that have been dipped in melted butter) are then placed on the wide end of each crescent roll.

Then roll them up and bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees F. 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon apple pie spice, and additional apple pie spice (about 1/4 teaspoon) for sprinkling on top of crescent rolls
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1 small Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced into 8 (1/2-inch) slices
• 1 (8-ounce) can Pillsbury Original crescent rolls

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and apple pie spice. Set aside.
3. Melt butter and toss apple slices in butter, set aside.
4. Arrange crescent roll triangles on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Evenly distribute brown sugar mixture onto each triangle.
5. Sprinkle each triangle evenly with the chopped pecans.
6. Place an apple slice on the wide end of each triangle. Wrap crescent roll dough around each apple.
7. Brush each crescent roll with remaining butter. Sprinkle lightly with additional apple pie spice.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Fall is my favorite time of year! I adore the crisp air, leaves changing, pumpkin spice lattes and the fashion. Unfortunately living in Arizona we don’t have the cooler weather until late October, so I have to create my own fall atmosphere in my home adorned with pumpkins and acorns. To escape the still 100 degree heat, we took a day trip down to Apple Annie’s Orchard in Wilcox, Arizona. I took full opportunity to wear my adorable new gingham dress from Collyn Raye with my slouchy grey boots and a statement necklace. The orchard was in prime season full of many different varieties of apples, my favorite being Gala and Granny Smith. After picking 18Ib of apples (which I will mostly be using for baking, recipes coming soon), we then enjoyed tasty selections form the Orchard Grill including warm apple pie a la mode. Such a fun day at the orchard to start out the fall season.

Although I know some will think it is entirely too early, I could not help putting out my fall decor this week. There is just something about pretty glass pumpkins and fall leaves that makes my heart so very happy. The promise of cooler weather, big sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes. I can’t wait! I also made a few stops at my favorite spots for fall decor: Home Goods, Pier 1, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby. Be sure to check out the vlog bellow to see it all come together!