Christmas Cookie baking, 2010

Yeah, so I'm a year late on this. I've been meaning to post it, but life has happened.

So, this is from LAST year before our nephew could crawl or walk. BIG difference from this year, where he was running around the house! :)


I'll share photos from this year's installment of cooke baking SOON! :)

Thanksgiving Dessert Recap

I am proud to report my first attempt at making a cheesecake was not a complete disaster. In fact, I dare say it was a success!


For the recipe, see this blog post.

Along the way, I learned a few things:

1) 3 c. of gingersnap cookie crumbles = 1 box.

2) I LOOOOVE gingersnap crust. It's amazing and so unlike any I've ever had before. :)

3) If you want to make the cheesecake slightly less calorie-saturated, use 2 packages of regular cream cheese and 1 package of 33% reduced calorie cream cheese. I stayed away from the "fat free" cream cheese because it had added sugar in it (and sugar is my enemy .... except in ginger snap cookies). ;) The consistency is still good and like a regular cheesecake, but it's not quite so rich .... so even if you get a big slice, you won't fee like you overindulged *too* much. :)

4) "no sugar added" cherry pie filling ain't my favorite.


5) In place of regular or "no sugar added" pie filling, I found a great alternative. I returned home and was thinking "I want to put something on my cheesecake. And in the fridge, I spotted my no sugar added Tree of Life cherry jelly (pictured above). It is the best cheesecake topping EVER (well, without added sugar/sweetener).

My Thanksgiving contribution(s)

With a major holiday this week, I've been trying to figure out how to marry my insane eating with some good old fashioned pigging out. DIfficult, I know.

A few months ago, I was reading Real Simple Magazine and found a few dessert recipes that don't call for *a lot* of sugar. So I'm making BOTH! :)


First, this Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake looks divine! For me, I'll omit the cherry topping, but others who want can add it on!

***EDIT: CLICK HERE TO READ MY BLOG POST ABOUT CHANGES TO THE CHEESECAKE RECIPE.***


Next, for those of you who can't do flour, this looks great! Flourless Chocolate Cake. I think the cherries could be added on top of this ... or ice cream, too!

Also up for me: my famous garlic mashed potatoes.

I'm also going to give a hand to making my mother-in-law's corn casserole and maybe one or two other items. She's an amazing cook and I'm not sure if I can measure up, but I'll certainly try!

Christmas Cookie Time!

My most favorite part of making Christmas cookies is .... eating the dough the night before. :-)

This ritual was done annually while growing up ... and I'm excited to show Erik the art of sneaking cookie dough in the middle of the night. Robin and Chris will be around to do the baking. And good for them. We'll leave the baking to them and the cookie dough eating to US!

(notice the Christmas tree cookie cutter? Mom always said cookies shaped as Christmas trees taste the best).