Miss Eileen’s Etsy Picks 12.16.11 It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

 

Well, we are officially getting down to the wire. Less than 10 days until Christmas. Get all your shopping done? Me neither. Let’s see what wonderful items are available from the wonderful Etsy shops for ideas. There’s still a few days left. The items featured are US only (sorry) and ready to ship. After all, there’s less than 10 days left (my hair just curled at the thought).

  Little Teapot Short and Stout with Cups by Agru   As a tea drinker, I find something soothing and magical about tea brewed in a teapot. The warmth and aroma give me a good feeling that is almost indescribable. This is a beautiful set that would be loved and appreciated for years to come.

3 robot crayons - in cello bag tied with Posh Paper Creations Robots and crayons, that’s a perfect pair! All you need is a coloring book or sketch pad.

  Retro Apples n Pears Child Apron by SweetApronzNCupcakes

The little one who loves to be in the kitchen needs an apron of her own.

         Kindle Case by Brit Gall Designs Dramatic colors and design while protecting the Kindle.

    Celestial Wand Stained Glass Kaleidoscope by Hank Barnes 1234 Kaleidoscopes are so magical and always impress the receiver. A wonderful gift!

 

                     Ceramic Soap Dish with Handcrafted  Rosemary and Mint Soap by Cindys Suds The soap dish makes this soap so special, just right for gifting. Lovely stocking stuffer.

  Two Shoji Candle Lanterns by Earth Steps Great hostess gift or something special for the candle person in your life.

  Mini Air Plant in Gift Box by Plantology I love plants. These are so sweet, perfect to send to the plant lover or put in a stocking.

Well, those are my picks. What do you think? Which one, or ones give as a gift? Voting starts right away and winner gets interviewed.

MissEileen vintage

Goofingoff Etsy Judaic fabrics, sewing patterns

GoofingOff Artfire Sewing patterns, plus sizes

Metal Woods N Water unusual stuff and  metal work

Cookie Bake Double Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

The December holidays, Chanukah and Christmas, bring the task of baking. I’ve been baking holiday cookies for years. Some of my daughter’s favorite memories were of baking meringues. I loved the thumbprints even though they seemed to be the messiest in the bunch. One year I baked every cookie in my recipe file only to find some were difficult or didn’t taste as good as they looked by the time I was done. I guess the good thing about age is you filter through the muck and pick out the best. After all this time I found the cookies everyone seems to like the most, at least when I bake, are Double Chocolate White Chocolate Chip.  I use a recipe I found on a cake mix box a long time ago. The cookies are soft and chewy, great for traveling, and surprisingly easy to make.
To make these cookies you’ll need cookie sheets, cookie racks to cool the cookies on, a mixer (a potato masher will work if you mixer is uncooperative), an oven (these are baked cookies, not no-bakes), and the ingredients listed.
Get the cookie sheets ready by spraying lightly with non-stick spray. Extra insurance is always good.
My mixer, a gift from my daughter. Pretty, isn’t it?
The recipe calls for:
one box of cake mix
1 large egg
1/2 cup of butter, softened (margarine works, too)
1 bag of chips, white or dark chocolate
3/4 cup of nuts, pecans and walnuts work well
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Cream the butter.  Add the egg. Now add the cake mix slowly. Too fast and it will blow all over the place. Don’t ask me how I know this, just take my word for it. Stir in the nuts and the chips.

When you are done mixing and stirring, make balls of the cookie dough and flatten on the cookie sheet. How big of a ball? Use a tablespoon and the cookie will be big enough. Place the cookies about 1 inch apart. Place in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Take out and let them cool before transferring them off the sheet. The cookies will be soft.
Transfer the cookies to the rack, let them cool, and pack them up. Don’t worry if the cookies aren’t decorated. Place the cookies on a Holiday plate or in a cute tin and they’ll be fine. Wait until you taste them. They don’t need icing and will become a family favorite.  You can even be crafty and put them in a take out box or make a box out of gift wrap or something to show off your other crafty skills. That’s what I’m going to do.
Have fun baking the cookies.  Enjoy!