More sugar, please

Some of my best girlfriends came over to the house last Thursday evening for a little cookie swap. Now, I absolutely love having people over, and having them over with food is even better. I hadn't entertained in a while so I got all crafty (well, crafty for me anyways) and made everyone little Christmas Cookie Recipe cards to take home. If you haven't heard of picnik.com yet, you really should check it out. Your photos and digital creative life will forever be grateful!

These are the cookies I made, and after several attempts over the years of trying to make good molasses cookies, these are by far the best I have found. I will say that the key to these baking perfectly is using stoneware!

Let me just say that I did find out that night there is a limit to how many cookies this girl can now eat in one sitting.

Gone are the days of eating an emotional dozen while doing some girl-time bonding. Apparently my stomach now has 1) a very low sugar tolerance, and 2) even less space. Thanks, kiddo.

So I just had to time out my cookies. But, it was worth it because they were all SOOO good.

I was also given this great new cider recipe (thanks Shawna!) for the party- not only did it make the house smell a-maz-ing, it looked and tasted just as pretty!

Holiday Cider

1 gallon apple cider

1 T. cloves

3 large oranges, sliced

1 t. vanilla extract

juice of 1 lemon

8-10 cinnamon sticks

Add all ingredients to crock-pot and set on high until warm. Let simmer for 1 hour. Can be served hot or over ice. ( I have also been told that it's tasty with a splash of vanilla vodka; you know, if you want to kick the party up a notch).

xoxo

d