Free Christmas novella and a recipe!

This time of year, I enjoy making candy and baking for family and friends. It is the easiest way to show the people you care about how you enjoy them and are happy to be part of their world.

With life passing by at a record rate and feeling pulled several directions at once, I decided to keep the candy and baking  to a minimum. I made sawdust cookies, ginger star cookies, potato mints, and a bad batch of fudge. I left the burner too high under the fudge while the sugar and butter was cooking and ended up with hard dry fudge. My hubby has been eating it, but I felt embarrassed to give it to anyone.

The favorite new thing I made this year were mint brownies. In case you haven't figured it out, I'm the original Peppermint Paty. ;)  I love Christmas for the candy canes, the peppermint ice cream, and anything chocolate and mint.  I used my usual brownie recipe and added mint chips when it said to add more chocolate chips. They were delicious!

Paty's Mint Brownies

3/4 C. all-purpose flour
1/4 tspn baking soda
3/4 C. granulate sugar
1/3 C. butter
2 TBLSP water
1 C. semisweet chocolate chips
1 C. mint chips
1 tspn vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Grease a 9 inch square pan.

In a saucepan, combine sugar, butter, and water. Bring to boil over medium heat, remove immmediately from heat.

Stir in the cup of chocolate morsels and vanilla extract until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Transfer mixture to a medium bowl. Cool completely.

Stir in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually stir in flour mixture until smooth.

Stir in mint chips and pour into prepared pan.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into squares.  Yield: About 16 brownies.

And don't forget you have until Dec. 31st to pick up your FREE copy of A Husband For Christmas!

A Husband for Christmas 

Final Novella in the Halsey Homecoming and Halsey Brothers Series

Shayla Halsey wanted to be home for Christmas, but never imagined her travels would include spending the night in a brooding stranger’s cabin. Snowballing events cause her to look inside herself and recognize maybe it wasn’t being home she wanted as much as it was to have a home. 

   

Mace Walker has his life in order and doesn’t want it disrupted again. Yet, when he discovers a woman stranded in the snow, he has to help her—despite her overbearing, reckless fiancé. In a matter of days, Shayla turns his life upside down, forcing him to decide between leaving or facing the consequences. 

You can download from your favorite ebook vendor:

https://www.books2read.com/u/4NDZW3

 

Chocolate vs Vanilla

I don't know about your house, but I grew up in a house divided. My mom loved chocolate in any form. My dad disliked chocolate in most forms.

When I had kids, two loved chocolate and one didn't. Both my husband and I like chocolate. To appease the chocolate and non-chocolate lovers in the family I made sure I always had baked goods that would appeal to both sides.

Here is my brownie recipe for the chocolate lovers:

Moist Brownies

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
2 tsp water
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 325° F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.
In a small bowl, mix together four and baking soda.
In a medium saucepan combine sugar, butter, and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat' remove immediately from heat.
Stir in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
Stir in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually stir in flour mixture until smooth.
Pout into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely and cut into squares. Makes 16 brownies.  (When the kids were home I doubled this)

And for my non-chocolate lovers:

Soft Sugar Cookies
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
3 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375° F. 
In a small bowl combine the flour, soda, and salt.  Set aside.
Cream together butter, egg, sugar, vanilla, and sour cream. When it is well combined and fluffy slowly add the flour mixture. The dough will be stiff.
Divide into four balls. Take one ball and roll out to a 1/4 inch thick. Using cookie cutters cut out the cookies and place on a cookie sheet. gather up the leavings and save. Roll out each ball and cut cookies. When all four balls have been rolled and cut, put the leavings together and roll out and cut more cookies. 
Cook each pan 5 to 8 minutes. Don't let the edges brown too much.
Cook on wire racks.  When cool make a powder sugar and milk icing, coloring as desired. 
Depending on the size of cookies you can get from 4-6 dozen.  

Enjoy the recipes and have a Merry Christmas!