Christmas Cookie Heaven

I love sweets.  I love cookies.  I reeeally love Christmas cookies.  If you put the word "Christmas" in front of the word "cookie" it's instant magic.  Give me an Oreo and call it a Christmas cookie and I'm one happy girl.

I do love and appreciate a new recipe for Christmas cookies and every year I look for new treats to share with family and friends.  I couldn't wait to try out the recipe that Julie from This Gal Cooks sent me for the Christmas cookie swap!

The recipe:

White Chocolate Mint Cookies

Ingredients
1/4 cup of shortening
1/4 cup butter softened
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg, room temp.
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup All purpose flour
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup mint M&M's chopping (use Food processor)

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and shortening with mixer on medium high for about 30 seconds.
2. Add white and brown sugar, baking soda, and mix until combined.
3. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
4. Gradually beat in the flour.  Mix until well blended.
5. Fold in white chocolate chips and mint M&M's.
6. Drop dough into round tsp size balls onto baking pan lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Allow to cool before serving.

Did you notice?  The recipe includes white chocolate chips and Mint M&M's!

This recipe was quick, easy, and absolutely delicious!  I will definitely be making these again before Christmas and probably in the years to come.  It was a perfect blend of white chocolate and mint.

The only thing I needed for an evening of Christmas cheer were these cookies, a cold glass of milk, and my Christmas tree!

So here is what you need to do... bake a batch of these cookies, go sit near your Christmas tree, and read Julie's blog.  You'll be glad you did!

Deck the Halls.

What is it about this time of year? Several nights in a row the past few weeks Caleb and I sat in the living room, no TV, tree lit, cocoa or wine in hand and it was almost magical.

I've been preparing for said magical moments accordingly by putting out every Christmas decoration I own with the addition of a few new little pieces {like the adorable fawn pictured below!}.

I'm also looking forward to a weekend of Christmas cheer complete with cocoa, gift wrapping, and time with my hubby at home.

Ahhh... this time is year...

Sometimes You Need A Break!

Hey guys! Happy Monday {is it possible for those words to go together?!}!

I can't seem to shake my serious case of bloggers block. I can't think of anything to write and not posting makes me feel guilty. Like I'm not doing something I'm supposed to be doing. You know what I mean? I hate it so I'm giving myself permission to take a break. I'll still be around and I'm still going to post, but I need a break from the pressure of feeling like I have to constantly come up with something worthy and interesting to say. Like I HAVE to have a weekly Pinterest project or I HAVE to participate in link parties. So... I'm not gonna (except the cookie swap cause I'm super pumped for that!)...


That being said...

I've been having a lot of fun lately! Decorating, visiting with family, going to street festivals... I love this time is year! I'm going to leave you all with a few of my fave pictures as of recent. See you soon!