Friday, December 14, 2012

Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop




Welcome to my stop on the Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop.  I'm going to talk a little about my families Christmas and New Years traditions and share my favorite cookie recipe too.

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Now what are those prizes?


1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet - Open to US and International Entries 

2nd Grand Prize: A $200 Amazon or B&N Gift Card - Open to US and International Entries 

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more! - Open to U.S. Residents Only!


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My Family Traditions

We try to get together every holiday but with 2 of my 3 sisters out of town, it can be difficult.  It's become somewhat of a tradition to celebrate Christmas with my youngest sister in town with my parents at her house, we either get together for Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day brunch.  We usually have a nice ham, two different kind of potato dishes (mashed/hash browns and sweet potato), lots of crescent rolls (usually at least 40), sometimes we'll have scrambled eggs, a non-alcoholic Trader's punch to drink and then all kind of cookies and other yummy desserts to eat.


Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies (Courtesy of Crisco)


Ingredients: 
  • 3/4 stick Crisco® Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
  • OR 3/4 cup Crisco® Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
  • 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (I sometimes cheat and add more)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 3/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour (or whatever brand you have)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 (6 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup)
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional but I love them)
To Prepare:  

  1. HEAT oven to 375ºF.
  2. COMBINE shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into shortening mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
  3. DROP by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
  4. BAKE 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet on a cooling rack. Remove cookies to rack to cool completely.





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40 comments:

  1. Hello there. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Diana C
    unachica_latina@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the cookie recipe, I'll definitely have to try it! We always stay at home on Christmas. When my kids were little, I never thought it was fair to make them leave the house, after just opening presents a couple of hours earlier. For me, the most magical part of Christmas, is watching my children's happiness & joy while playing with their presents. So, I always told our family if they wanted to see us, they would have to come to our house. It has now become a tradition. I cook and everyone comes, LOL.

    Alyssa
    hesperialovesbooks(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was contemplating what cookies to bake for my granma, and this recipe looks simple and perfect. Thanks for sharing.

    I follow via email: nrlymrtl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Merry Christmas! My favorite holiday cookie is Chocolate Mint Thumb Cookies. They taste like the York peppermint patties and are so easy to make. YUMMY!
    Hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win. <^_^>
    reneebennett35 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the recipe and the giveaway. Happy Holidays!

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  7. One of my favorite Christmas Romance Books is The Untamable Rogue by Annette Blair! The story is about Ashford Blackburne Fifth Earl and he has to get married and get his willing bride pregnant before Christmas or his grandfather won’t let him inherit his money. Ash truly needs to inherit the money because his late father squandered it all away and he is taking care of his mother. After getting stood up at the alter, again, Ash and his friends go to the local pub where the owner plays a drunken Ash in a card game…his consolation prize is the pubs daughter Larkin, who he wants to get ride of. Ash has to learn to forgive…Larkin has to learn how to trust…can two completely different people find love together. This is a cute, extremely funny, romantic story with a surprise Christmas ending!

    Angelheart618@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. These cookies look great! I may have to try them, love good homemade chocolate chip cookies.
    manning_J2004 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for the cookie recipe & the giveaway! Our holiday tradition is decorating the tree together & looking at the homemade ornaments we have collected from the kids over the years.

    JessieL62(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the yummy cookie recipe, Merry Christmas to you and your family. Our tradition is to get together extended family on Christmas Eve, have dinner, talk, laugh, open presents and watch movies.

    Rafflecopter Name: Dawna Newman

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!! :)

    rachelanniramos@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for being a part of the hop and for the great giveaway. I love the recipe however I am no longer allowed to cook so I don't burn the kitchen down (again lol)

    Merry Christmas,
    Marlena
    charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have to agree with Marlena... I haven't burnt down the kitchen or even come close... I just however haven't discovered my inner Martha Stewart.

    kvmatlock(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Merry Christmas to you! Thank you for the giveaway!

    verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the hop!

    Lasha
    mslasha at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. The whole family usually gets together at some point and we do a big Christmas Dinner. I never thought to put pecans in my chocolate chip cookies I always put in walnuts. thanks for the giveaway Merry Christmas
    crystaley73 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. My mouth is watering with that recipe! My fave - traditional choc. chip cookies.

    mrs.hildebrand AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the great hop.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. The picture just made me realize I haven't had chocolate chip cookies lately.
    bituin76 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. That picture of those cookies makes me miss how mom always made an assortment for Christmas. I want one.

    Raonaid at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. the chocolate chip cookie recipe is making me hungry to try this recipe lol merry christmas angelwolfmystic@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. The cookies look great!
    Thanks for the chance and Happy Holidays!
    sqwalker2@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. i like to make cookies with the kids for santa
    kaholgate at ymail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy Holidays everyone!!! We always spend the holidays with family and close friends.I love reading Christmas romance books.


    DevilAngel39@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I really enjoy the holiday season. I enjoy the smells, the food and lights. Oh and the music too. Not much into baking anymore. But I do enjoy tasting, ask my scales. Tee Hee. Great blog. Thanks for being part of the Holiday Blog Hop.
    roya-clan@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  26. We do lot's of baking:)
    Happy Holidays!
    ajcraig77@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  27. Happy Holidays! Great giveaway!

    aprilnu2003(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Those chocolate chip cookies look so good! hthurmeier @ gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Mmmmm.. those cookies look good.

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Christmas brunch sounds wonderful. I wish my family liked ham, but alas, I'm the only one who likes it. Ham biscuits are among my favorites. Your cookie recipe looks amazing. Yum!
    starcriter at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks for being part of the blog hop

    wolphcall(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for the chance to win :)
    raynman1979 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thank you for the chance!

    spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ooh, now I want chocolate chip cookies! :)

    Thanks for the chance to win: c.descoteauxwrites [at] gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. What an awesome hop!! And a fantastic giveaway! Thank you!! Happy holidays to you all! Best wishes and many blessings!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for the recipes!
    smoofrog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Merry Christmas Maria and thanks for the cookie recipe.
    Z
    Seawitch Reviews @ yahoo .com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Those cookies look delicious! I'm definitely going to check out that recipe :)
    laceyblossom1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Def gonna try that recipe :D
    Happy Holidays, Big Hugs
    Missie Jones
    missie25524 @netzero .com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Merry Christmas!

    Deliachic3@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete