I've got everything I need to make gingerbread men...except the cookie cutter. >.< WHERE THE HELL DO I GET A GINGERBREAD MAN COOKIE CUTTER?! I've looked everywhere and I can't find one!! >.<


and yes, ok, I can't have looked EVERYWHERE or else I'd have found one by now.

 

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There's a place near where I work called 'U-Bake'. They not only sell the finished gingerbread men but also a TON of cookie cutters.


Silver

 

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I got mine at WalMart, lol.

 

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Real sweets are a rare treat in our household. I got to do one thing--a tweaked version of Paula Dean's Dummy Fudge:

2c of chips (I used 1.5c semi-sweet chocolate and 0.5c peanut butter)
14oz can of evaporated milk
1.5tsp of vanilla extract
1c of walnuts

Melt chips & milk in a double boiler til smooth. Add vanilla and nuts. Pour in buttered dish and set in fridge for about 30min. Great results & easy.

I'm crushing oreos in a bag with my feet to a Christmas song.

 

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I always make a variation of a Wolfgang Puck black bean and leek soup from an issue of food and wine from back in the 1980's or early 90's

Essentials - leeks, onions, black beans, pork(bacon or sausage), a bit of corn, and a few small diced potatoes, salt 1t. and white pepper(1/4 teaspoon), a bay leaf or two, basil 2T.

Prepare the beans I start with dry but you can opt for canned

Slice the meat in to bite size pieces and prep cook as necessary.

Saute leeks(50%) and onions(50%)

Add enough stock or water to cover the leeks and onions (at least 6 cups)and bring to a boil

Add the beans, meat, corn, and potatoes plus the spice.

Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce to simmer for about a half hour or until the potatoes are soft.

I'm a cook and recipes change a bit every time I cook to what seems right and tastes that day as right. Note you must use white pepper or this soup looks dirty.

 

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I made caramels and then experimented with the recipe and made maple-pecan caramels on the second batch. Two batches of hot chocolate mix in different flavors to give to friends... and then peanut butter kiss cookies.


I don't think I'll have enough cookies to put in bags and give out now.. they keep getting stolen!

Caught my husband sneaking into the kitchen last night, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing!"

"What's that in your mouth then?"

His response... quite muffled, "Vitamins".


The boys thought it was hilarious and now they're sneaking in as well, all three talking about how they need to take their "vitamins".

 

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