Tiny Mini Kisses Peanut Blossoms

These don't last long around my house of peanut butter lovers.
- 1/2 cup softened margarine
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- mini kisses

Cream margarine, sugars and peanut butter. Beat in 1 egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually blend into creamed mixture. Shape dough into 3/4 inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 5-6 minutes or just until set. Remove from oven and immediately press one mini kiss in centre of each cookie.

*Oops! I forgot to roll these in sugar. Oh well, they were still delicious!

Whipped Shortbread

A favorite around Christmas.
- 1 cup butter (not margarine)
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch

Whip butter with beaters until fluffy. Add sugar and cornstarch. Whip. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time. Roll dough into balls (will be very soft) and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Using a fork dipped in four, make cross marks if desired. Bake at 325 for 12-15 minutes.
* Colored sprinkles or crushed candy canes make a nice touch.
** Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Gingerbread Boys

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Jessica, who is the cookie baking queen, much to her nieces and nephews delight. My five year old's request:

• 1 box butterscotch pudding mix (not instant)



• 1/2 cup shortening



• 1/2 cup brown sugar



• 1 egg



• 1 1/2 cups flour



• 1 1/2 tsp ginger



• 1/2 tsp cinnamon



• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Cream shortening and sugar, add egg and mix well. Add dry pudding mix, flour and spices. Mix well. Roll dough 1/8 to 1/4 inch think and cut with cookie cutter. This dough is easy to work with. Bake on greased sheet at 350 for 10 minutes.* Cool and add icing.**

* I baked these for 7-8 minutes so they were still a little chewy
**It's best to add m & m's or whatever you're using to decorate, before you bake these.

Homemade Turtles

A friend of mine talked about these just the other day. Then I tried them at a family member's house just a few days later. Oh my! How delicious! And super easy.

- 20 pretzels
- 20 rolo chocolates
- 20 pecan halves

Preheat oven to 300. Arrange pretzels on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Place one rolo chocolate on each pretzel. Bake for about 4 minutes. While chocolate is still warm, press pecan half onto each chocolate covered pretzel. Cool completely and store in an air tight container. You've gotta try it!

Crispy Chews

These are so easy to make and add a nice variety to a plate of Christmas baking. And they're delicious too!
Crispy Chews

• 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup corn syrup
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 2 1/2 cups rice krispies
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 3/4 cup mini marshmallows

Combine brown sugar, corn syrup and peanut butter in saucepan over low heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients, stirring until well combined. Drop by teaspoonful onto wax paper lined baking sheet. Form into firm balls. Chill for 1/2 hour.

Skor Toffee Chocolate Bars (Slice)

This has to be my absolute favorite Christmas treat. It is stick in your teeth goodness! I made these for the first time last Christmas - unfortunately they didn't last long. So I purposely held off on making them this year, until today.

Skor Toffee Chocolate Bars (Slice)

• 3/4 cup margarine
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 tbsp margarine
• 300g milk chocolate chips (I use one bag - 270g)
• 225 g chipits skor toffee bits (again I just use one bag)

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together 3/4 cup margarine, brown sugar and flour until well blended and mixture comes together. Press evenly into 9 x 13 greased cake pan. Bake at 350 for 13 minutes or until light golden brown. Set aside to cool. Heat condensed milk and 2 tbsp margarine in heavy saucepan, stirring constantly over medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Spread over base and return to oven to bake 10 minutes longer. Sprinkle milk chocolate chips and skor toffee bits evenly over top and press down lightly, bake for 2 minutes. Cool completely. If necessary, chill to set chocolate before cutting. Store at room temperature.

Sour Cream Roll Out Cookies

These are one of my favorite cookies - Dillon's too! They're an incredibly soft cookie - it's hard to eat just one!
Sour Cream Roll Out Cookies

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter/margarine
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 2 level tsps baking soda
• 3 eggs
• 4 cups of flour*

Mix all ingredients into a soft dough. (*I usually add more flour - the dough seems almost too soft to handle otherwise. Add enough flour to make it managable).

Sprinkle a layer of flour on the countertop, so the dough doesn't stick and roll out half the dough to 1/4" thick, Cut out cookies using your favorite cookie cutter or ikea cup ;). Bake at 375 for 6 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough, making sure to put flour under dough, each time it's rolled out. Let cool, then ice with your favorite icing (homemade is best!).

I like to make these around valentine's day, using heart shaped cookie cutters and sharing with friends and family. A recipe makes about 7 dozen cookies.