Cookie Crisis

My friend Diane sent me an e-mail this afternoon inquiring about where I found the Holiday swirl chips. I purchased them at Super Target in January at 75%, they were very inexpensive! I bought a few bags and some other holiday sprinkles with the intent of using them for the holiday season this year. The bags don't say limited edition, and I didn't think they wouldn't have them at the stores, because I was pretty sure I had seen them in previous years. So I checked out Nestle's web site verybestbaking.com and couldn't find the chips. I also googled it and came up with nothing. So, I called Nestle's number to see what was going on. The woman I spoke with told me that they have been carrying the chips since 2006, but discontinued the morsels in 2009. You can still get the chips in pre-made cookie dough if you would like. I'm truly sorry about this! I didn't even cross my mind that they would discontinue making these chips. So I have a few suggestions for you. Here is the original recipe I posted (this recipe is NOT the same as the Toll House recipe).

Holiday chip cookies

1 cup butter softened, no substitutes

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup white holiday swirl chips

Pre-heat oven to 350. Mix butter, sugars, and egg. Add flour, soda, and salt. Stir is chips. Spoon teaspoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 12- 15 minutes.

Instead of the swirl chips substitute with 1 cup white baking morsels. This will give you the same flavor minus the color. My other idea is to use holiday m&m's. I have made this cookie recipe before substituting a bag of chocolate chips with an equal amount of m&m's. So here is my other idea...use 1 cup of white baking morsels instead of the swirled and 1 cup of the m&m's to replace the chocolate chips. I have not tried this combination together, but I think it should work.

I hope this gives you some ideas to work with. If you have questions or if you try of these ideas let me know how they work. Again, I'm really sorry about the confusion!

If you would like to see Nestle bring back these chips call them at 1-800-851-0512 they are open from 8am to 8pm M-F Eastern time. They will also send you some coupons and recipes.

xoxo

Rach

Baked Potato Soup

I wanted to tell all of you that I LOVE your comments!!! So thanks for leaving them! If you want to leave a comment, but are unsure how. Just click the comment button below, and go through the steps. I also added a "you like this" button on the bottom like face book. So if you don't want to leave a comment, you can click that if you like. If you don't want to click on anything that is fine too! I still love ya!
Today Brian and I went to Trader Joe's, just the two of us. I love that place, don't you?!?!? We got some nice cheeses, crackers, and wine for date night tonight. I seriously cannot wait. Date night has been sparse around these parts for a few months now. We got a bunch of our other favorite things from there as well, plus a few new to try. After we left, I was teasingly told I can't go along anymore. I find too many good things.
I wanted to share my Baked potato soup recipe with you. I have been making it for quite a while, and it is one of our favorites. Ian asked me if I could make the white, not orange "mean" soup again.

Baked Potato Soup

Adapted from the Taste of Home Magazine Feb/Mar 1994

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

7 cups of skim milk

4 large baking potatoes, baked, cooled, peeled, and cubed (about 4 cups)

4 green onions

6 bacon strips cooked and crumbled (set aside in a small bowl)

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (set aside in a bowl)

1 cup light sour cream

salt

pepper

In a large dutch oven, melt the butter. Stir in the flour, until smooth. Slowly add the milk a little at a time stirring constantly until thickened and smooth. Add potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the sour cream, salt and pepper. Serve in individual bowls, top with bacon and cheese. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend friends!!!

xoxo

Rach

2 funny kiddos

i love them so....

Bits of Encouragement~for Advent

Christmas season 2005

During this Advent season I will be taking the Bits of Encouragement from The Message of Christmas by Eugene H. Peterson.

Introduction

The Message of Christmas

The story of Jesus' birth has a long legacy. Our planet fairly teems with stories and song, paintings and drama, that got their start from this story. The reproductive energies show no sign of tapering off. Writers and singers and artists, to say nothing of countless children and parents and grandparents all over the world, continue to find fresh and novel ways of keeping this story going.

But even more impressive are the lives that continue to get a fresh start-a new birth-in the story of this birth. Day after day, men and women who feel more dead than alive, in the hearing or singing or seeing of this story rediscover the utter and unspeakable and beautiful preciousness of life. The story of Jesus' birth gets reproduced in these human lives still, over and over and over again.

The birth of Jesus is a birth with a message. It takes the entire Bible to bring the complete message, but this birth is the core of it: In Jesus, God is here to give us life, real life.

The Announcement to Mary

Luke 1:26-38

God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

"Good Morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you."

She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. "He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob's house forever- no end, ever, to his kingdom."

Mary send to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." The angel answered,

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.

"And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." And Mary said, "Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say." Then the angel left her.

We have so many reasons to be encouraged during this Christmas season! I hope these "little bits" bless you!

xoxo

Rach

Holiday Baking

Remember these dreamy guys...I make them for Christmas every year. Everyone loves these truffles!! They are really easy to make, and you can store them in your refrigerator for about three weeks. Just make sure to bring them to room temperature before you serve them. Everyone will think you are an angel.



Chocolate Dreams
recipe adapted from Nutcracker Sweet by Sharon O'Connor and Martha Rubin

7 ounces Lindt extra creamy milk chocolate, chopped very finely
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup whipping cream
Dutch processed cocoa (I like Penzey's)



In the top of a double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter with the cream; cover and refrigerate until set, about 3 hours. Scoop out teaspoonfuls of chocolate and form into balls; roll in cocoa. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.


If you want to be popular with the kiddos make these marshmallows, you'll be their new hero! For something a little different add peppermint extract instead of vanilla. Then top your hot chocolate with these delicious creamy puffs, you won't even need whip cream.

Marshmallows
Adapted from the Barefoot Contessa Family Style.

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions With a sieve generously sprinkle confectioners' sugar in an 8 by 12-inch nonmetal pan.
Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup. Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat. With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Add food coloring if desired. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the marshmallow batter and smooth the top of the mixture with a oiled rubber spatula. Sprinkle on confectioners' sugar. Allow to dry uncovered at room temperature overnight. Remove the marshmallows from the pan and cut into squares. Roll the sides of each piece carefully in confectioners' sugar. Store uncovered at room temperature.
Enjoy your holiday baking!!!
xoxo
Rach

The Season for Giving

Before I share this week's gift idea, I wanted to thank you for your prayers for my Dad and Uncle. They went with eight doctors/dentists, and set up two medical camps. They served 800 people. Can you believe it?!?!? Isn't that amazing!!

It has now been placed on their hearts to build a neo-natal unit in a hospital in India. I spoke to my Dad on Saturday about this, and as soon as he told me I felt so drawn to this cause. The goal is to raise $100,000. On Friday, May 7th there will be a dinner to help raise funds for this very important cause. Could you please save the date? I know that it is difficult to think about giving in these economic times, and that many of you are already committed to giving to your church and other non-profits. I truly believe that each gift counts no matter how big or small. I would LOVE to see you there! Please join me in this great cause! Thank you so much for considering this. It means very much to me!

Do you remember a while back when I shared with you about the Wild Olives Tees? They have the cutest t-shirts!!! I think any pre-teen/teen or even a woman would love one of these t-shirts. They have a variety of sizes, cuts, colors, verses. They also offer kid's sizes now as well. Something to make everyone happy. Check out their site, it is super cute.! They also have fun buttons for your blog, if you like that sort of thing. The cutest girl I know will be getting one of these t-shirts under the tree for sure!
Have a great week friends!!

x0x0
Rach

Happy Thanksgiving

"Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and tell of his deeds with songs of joy." Psalm 107:22
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving friends!
xoxo
Rach