Cookies, Cookies, Everywhere!

Yep - Wednesday's I usually post a Weekly Song but I have so many posts written up on other topics, I wanted to share this today instead.  Plus we are having a busy, crazy day so I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to search for a song today!

I had planned to make Christmas Cookies this year - one or two batches a week to gather up some favorites and new recipes for future years.  I don't mind baking lots of cookies because most of them you can freeze and take out later.  I've done this for vacations - during the 6-8 weeks prior to a vacation, I put 6-12 cookies from each batch in the freezer so we have a variety while gone :-)  Well, I ran out of time and grocery money due to shopping for special days and birthdays.  My original plan was to make 6 different types but I only got 4 made . .well technically 3 because the 4th one did not turn out.  Not sure what I did wrong but there was nothing right about that cookie!! 
Most of these recipes I got from a blog a follow called What Megan's Making.  I'll give you a picture, a link back to her recipe and also any notes I have about the cookie :-)

1. Monster Cookies

Check out the recipe here

My Notes:  These cookies are fabulous and I didn't even have enough ingredients!  I ran out of oatmeal and didn't have the right amount of M & M's but they were still fantastic.  This recipe makes about 3 million (ok, maybe a few less than that) cookies so it is a great one for company.  One downside, for every batch of cookies I made, I ate at least 2 in cookie dough - some of the best dough ever!! 

2) Magic In the Middle Cookies

Find the Recipe Here

My Notes:  These should be called "A little bit of Heaven on Earth" they are so good.  Wow.  You can't eat more than 2 - they are super sweet.  Unlike the previous recipe this one only makes about 24-26 cookies.  I thought they would be more time consuming, but they really weren't.  This would be a great one to make for a cookie Exchange - people would be surprised when they bit into it!!

3. Peppermint Bark - this was a very popular recipe all over blog land and it is very simple. I found this recipe at The Long Thread

Peppermint Bark Recipe

• 24 ounces white chocolate chips
• 24 ounces milk chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 20 candy canes

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. Pour the milk chocolate chips onto the pan and spread them around. Bake for a couple of minutes until they look a bit melted. Then take the pan from the oven and spread the chocolate around with a spatula. Put the pan in the refrigerator to cool and harden for about 30 minutes.
3. Next open the candy canes, place them on a cookie sheet under a clean dishtowel and crush them with a hammer (this part is fun for kids). Sort the larger candy cane pieces from the candy cane dust.
4. Melt the white chocolate chips in a double boiler (I used a smaller pan in a bigger pan), stirring constantly. Add the peppermint extract and stir in the candy cane dust which will color your chocolate a light shade of pink. Let it cool a bit, then pour it over the top of your milk chocolate layer.
5. Sprinkle with candy cane pieces and press them down gently so that they stick.
6. Refrigerate for several hours, shake off the excess candy pieces, then break the bark into chunks. Best kept refrigerated.

My Notes:  This is a really easy, quick recipe.  I like having it in my fridge for a little snack :-)  I cut this recipe in half and made it in my 1/2 cookie sheet.