Baking for Our Open House

Most years we like to do a Christmas Open House.
We get the house clean. Decorated for Christmas. Then we invite friends and family - both church and birth, to come over for anything from 5 minutes to two hours.

This year we've set the date as December 14, and have (since we have a toddler that still sometimes naps) set the hours from 7-9 p.m. Consider this your invitation to come. :)

Today I set out to do some baking for this event. And yes I always go more than I need to, but what's leftover I can bring our Christmas Program on the 16th...7 p.m, if you are close by, come on out, we'd love to have you. :)

Justin helped me make:
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar (I used white)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. Recipe calls for minis but I always use regular.

NO FLOUR! :) Nice when cooking with toddler. :)

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, sugar and egg.
2. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Scoop level tablespoonfuls and roll into balls.
4. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten with a fork.
5. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes,or until browned

You get about 2 dozen cookies.
Justin watched me flatten the cookies...about three of them, and said "I do that!" He did the job really well.

Rice Krispy Squares

1/4 cup butter
1 250 g bag mini marshmallows --- or about 40 regular marshmallows, 5 cups minis
1/2 tsp vanilla
5 cups rice krispy cereal

Directions:

1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in vanilla. Stir in rice crispy's cereal until well coated. Using lightly buttered spatula, press into buttered 3.5 L (13 x 9") pan.
3. Allow mixture to cool. Cut into bars.
   

Justin contributions was to eat the cereal and marshmallows..PAN HOT!

Then Justin went to bed for a nap..Yes...this week he is napping again... go figure must be the cold. and he's eating good too...perhaps he is growing again too.

I made
Cinnamon Lemon Cookies
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1.5 cup white flour
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp salt
cinnamon sugar

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in egg and vanilla.
2. Combine dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, b.powder, lemon peel and salt. Add to butter mixture. Blend well.
3. Cover and refrigerate two hours until firm.
4. Shape dough into small balls, about 3/4 inch diameter. Roll in cinnamon sugar to coat.
5. Set cookies 1 inch apart on lightly greased sheet
6. Bake at 360 for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
7. Cool slightly on pans, then remove to racks to cool completely.

Not sure what else I will bake, but I'll try to post what I do.
Oh..will do peppernuts, italian sprinkle cookies and something else. Not sure what. :)