Blogger Friend School #10 Cookie Exchange

I love cookies, baking, goodies during the holidays. Lots of fond memories surround those times in the kitchen while growing up.

One of the favorites that I usually do is peanut butter balls.

Peanut Butter Balls

Candy Ingredients:
3 sticks butter, melted
2 C peanut butter
2 boxes (2 lbs) powdered sugar

Mix in large bowl with hands until crumbly. Form into small balls. Place on tray covered with parchment/wax paper/aluminum foil.

Coating Ingredients:
1 large pkg chocolate chips
1/2 cake paraffin wax

Melt in double boiler. With toothpick, dip peanut butter balls in chocolate. Let cool. Store in air tight container.

Each year, my mom would make these to hand out to people at Christmas. One of the “rules” was that they gave back their original package (tin or other container) to be refilled. People loved it. Now, I often will make these to go along with a goody package for various people. Munchkin enjoys dipping them in the chocolate.

Another baking tradition in our home is monkey bread on Christmas morning. This is a tradition that started in my childhood and has carried over into my marriage. Growing up, my sister and I would help mom make monkey bread each Christmas morning. Now, Munchkin is helping me make monkey bread on Christmas morning. This year we’ll need to find a different way to make it as we can no longer use the prepackaged dough. Here’s the traditional recipe:

Monkey Bread

2 cans of buttermilk biscuits
Butter
Cinnamon Sugar mixture

Cut biscuits up into fourths. Rolls the pieces in butter, then cinnamon sugar. Place in baking dish (I like to use a bundt pan to make it a little more fancy; I’ve also used shaped cake pans). Continue doing this until you’ve used all of the biscuits. Cook according instructions on biscuit can.

Baking and cooking in the kitchen is a fun way to connect with family members during the holidays. If you do a little throughout the season, you won’t get stressed with too much baking. Many recipes can be frozen and taken out of the freezer as needed.

“When I pray, you answer me, and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.” Psalm 138:3