Julie's Favorite Christmas Cookie - Raspberry & Almond Shortbread Cookies

Did you read that?

RASPBERRY & ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES?!?!?

Just the name sounds delicious, right?!
I gotta say,my mouth is watering just as I was uploading the pictures of  these cookies. They are MY FAVORITE cookie!!! I made a batch of them this past Saturday & Sunday afternoon every single one of them were gone. Don't freak out... I had helpers in the consumption!
So today as I'm feeling more & more in the Christmas spirit, I wanted to share the recipe with you!
And of course now I'm itching to make another batch...but I'll refrain...for now!

Raspberry & Almond 

Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

1 Cup Butter, softened (do not use margarine)

2/3 Cup White Sugar

1/2 tsp Almond Extract

2 Cups All Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup Seedless Raspberry jam

Glaze:

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

3/4 tsp Almond Extract

1 tsp Milk

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter & sugar until smooth. Add in 1/2 tsp almond extract & mix. Begin to add in the flour until dough comes together.

Roll the dough into 1/2 inch balls & place on un-greased cookie sheets.

Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb/pointer finger.

Fill the hole with preserves. *To do this I put the preserves in a sandwich bag & snip a  small hole in the corner & use it like a pastry bag...filling the holes of the dough with the preserves.

Bake for 14-18 minutes in preheated oven or until lightly browned. Let cool for a few minutes & remove onto a cooling rack.

In a medium bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, 3/4 tsp almond extract & milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over cooled cookies. *Again, I use a sandwich bag for a glaze...just snip an extra tiny hole to make a prettier drizzle :)

Enjoy, my friends! 

Another reason to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Love,

Julie

*And, HEY!!! Don't miss our Christmas giveaway with JAMBERRY NAILS!

Go leave a comment for Melissa & like her facebook page :) Tell her which of the two Holiday Shields you would pick if you won! 

Jamberry Nails! Christmas Giveaway!

Time for some Christmas FUN!

Our blog has been quiet for too long!

Let's get rollin again in style, shall we?!

WHO WANTS A GIVEAWAY!?!?

Who wants to try Jamberry Nails?!?!

My friend Melissa starting selling Jamberry Nails recently & after joining her Facebook page, I was interested in HOW she was getting these adorable designs on her nails! They look so good & the designs she keep sharing in her pictures were crazy fun! 

Well...I have good news!

Melissa let US try some shields out, AND she wants to giveaway a set of Christmas shields to ONE OF YOU!! 

Not only are the Jamberry designs fun & look awesome, they made my thin, weak nails stronger! WAY better than my experience with polish! I was SHOCKED how much longer & thicker my nails were when I took them off after 6 days. My best guess is that the shields protected my nails from the abuse I give them daily from cleaning, crafting, diapering, & GOING! I also received compliments left & right...even from my oil change guy! hahahhaa!

I LOVE THEM...and so did my family!

It was a JAMBERRY Thanksgiving this year!!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: 

'Like' Melissa's Jamberry page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jamsRrockin) & leave her a comment telling her which design you'd pick if you're the winner! That's all!

Merry Christmas Design OR  Red White & Green Diagonal Stripe

This Friday (at noon EST) we'll pick one winner! 

And hey, even if you don't win, maybe you'll consider choosing some shield for those teens & ladies on your Christmas list! Melissa is your Jamberry girl!!

They're PERFECT for a stocking stuffer or to pair with some manicure items as a gift!

Go!! Have fun!!!!Trust us, you WANT to win!!!

Christmas Chex Mix (White Chocolate Peppermint)

Anyone else CRAZY busy this time of year?!  I've had no time to update this blog (makes me sad). I've got LOTS of fun projects I've been busy with just no time to share...  I have to say this post it TOO AMAZING not to share!  I have a co-worked who is on the hunt for the Peppermint Chex Mix that only comes out around Christmas.  I've never had it but it sounded good and I assumed it couldn't be too hard to figure out...   This is my version and it's SO simply and SUPER tasty!!

Peppermint Chex Mix

8 Cups Chex Cereal (I used Rice Chex)

24 oz White Choc Chips

8 Regular Candy Canes (crushed)

1 T Criso Shortening

1 C Powdered Sugar

-Place Chex mix in a bowl that can be used to mix everything together in a few minutes (helps if it has a lid).  

-Melt the White Choc Chips in the microwave (mine took 1.5 minutes), when almost melted add the shortening.  (I think you could skip the shortening but it thins the chocolate just enough it makes it easy to work with).

-Pour melted chocolate over the Chex and stir until covered.

-On a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper spread the Chex out and sprinkle with Candy Canes.

-Place Powdered Sugar into the bowl (can use the same bowl as earlier), pour in candy coated Chex.  Seal the lid and shake shake shake.  

-Pour your chex mix back onto the lined cookie sheet to cool.  

When cooled place in sealed zip lock bag (make sure completely cooled/dried or else the moisture will make the chex mix stale).