Fried Chicken and Cheesesteaks

 2 sticks butter, melted and slightly cool in blender:  4 eggs 1 cup sugar 1 T vanilla 1 t almond extract dash orange oil 1 t salt   2 C flour 2 t baking powder mix together dry ingredients, egg mixture & melted butter, whisk well.    Refrigerate overnight.  Preheat pizelle iron, brush with melted butter, bake 90 seconds each

  First prep 12 oz of Buttersworth original hard candies.    Unwrap, put them in a gallon ziploc bag, put bag into an old pillowcase or fold into a dishcloth, and pound with a mallet or the bottom of a heavy sauce pan:       Preheat oven to 350 degrees  Cream together:  2 sticks butter, at room temperature  1 cup brown sugar Then add:  2 eggs 1 T vanilla 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt When well combined add in: 2 cups flour 1 cup rolled oats Then add:  12 ounces hard butterscotch candies (prepared as described) Drop by the tablespoon onto parchment lined sheet pans, 3" apart.    Small balls, socially distanced.   These cookies seriously spread, y'all.       Bake ~10 minutes.   If your oven is uneven, turn the pans halfway.    Let the cookies cool on their tray, undisturbed.      Then store cooled cookies between layers of parchment.  ...

the JOY cookies, stocking and star above are from this recipe. Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 2/3 cup sugar 2 sticks cold butter, cut into chunks 1 large egg yolk 1 1/2 tablespoons light cream (or half and half or heavy - I've used all three at different times) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Mix flour, salt, sugar together in bowl of mixer or food processor.      Add butter and mix until it's a crumbly consistency.     Whisk together yolk, cream and vanilla, then knead into butter/flour mixture.   Divide dough in half and roll out each piece between two sheets of wax paper or parchment.    Chill on a baking sheet in your fridge, on the porch in December or in the freezer for even a few weeks.   Preheat oven to 325 and line baking pans with parchment.  Cut desired shapes with cookie cutters, re-rolling and re-chilling scraps.      Bake about...

So in visiting Zabar's in NYC, in addition to becoming completely addicted to their spectacular $8/pound coffee, I discovered a wonderful little pastry called Rugelach.     Getting it shipped from New York to Philly is a bit pricey though, so I decided to try my hand at making it.    Ingredients: 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 sticks cold butter, cubed 1 (8oz) package cold cream cheese, cubed 1 egg yolk 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup raspberry preserves powdered sugar finely chopped nuts (I used pecans) 1.  Mix salt and flour together in food processor big bowl. 2.  Add butter and cream cheese, and pulse about 12 times, until it looks a bit sandy / crumbly. 3.  whisk together yolk and vanilla.    Add to processor and turn on until a soft dough forms. 4.  Split dough into four equal balls, wrap each in parchment or wax paper, flatten into a disc about an inch thick and chill at least 20 minutes, or a coupl...

Coconut Macaroons Recipe   Ingredients:  14 ounces sweetened shredded coconut  1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk   1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract   2 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature  1/4 teaspoon kosher salt Directions Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Combine the coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl. Whip the egg whites and salt on high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until they make medium-firm peaks. Carefully fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture. Drop the batter onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper using either a 1 3/4-inch diameter ice cream scoop, or 2 teaspoons. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown.

A yummy new cookie, I put together with a variation from a rugelach dough! 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup vanilla sugar 2 sticks cold butter, cubed 1 (8oz) package cold cream cheese, cubed 1 egg yolk 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp almond extract squeeze of orange juice In a food processor quickly blend flour, salt and sugars.   (Just use a cup of powdered sugar if you don't have vanilla sugar).     Add butter and cream cheese and pulse until crumbly - about 12 pulses.     Whisk together egg yolk and flavorings and add, then run food processor until dough forms. Split dough into four pieces, and roll out between parchment paper.    Chill (I put mine out on my porch in December).     Then cut with round cookie cutters.   (I used the mouth of a standard canning jar).  Transfer each round to a parchment lined baking pan. Place a small (about 2 tsp) bit ...

1 cup peanut butter (I prefer Jif) 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp baking powder 1 cup chopped peanuts Mx the first five ingredients well, then add chopped peanuts.  Taking rounded tablespoons of dough, roll into balls.    Roll balls in sugar or just sprinkle on top.   Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass.   Bake on parchment paper, in a 350 degree oven, for about 15 minutes.    IMPORTANT:  allow these to cool a few minutes before you remove them to wire racks to cool completely.  If desired, press a Hershey's kiss, (or a dark chocolate drop) into the cookie IMMEDIATELY after removing from oven!

Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoons ground ginger (for a spicy cookie - use less if you like) 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon (again, for a spicy cookie) 1.5 tsp ground cloves pinch of salt pinch of ground allspice, just because it there in the spice drawer 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons water 1 cup molasses (I used blackstrap, but regular will be fine too) 5 cups all purpose flour In electric mixer beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Add spices and salt and mix well. Add the baking soda mixture and molasses - beat for a while until thoroughly combined or until you reach the commercial break of the holiday special you are watching. Add the flour one cup at a time, then beat for two more minutes until well mixed. Let the dough stand while you go eat dinner or some other activity of your choice for about an hour. Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on the counter. Put about a third of the dough in the middle...

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together until light and fluffy: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup Sugar Mix in: 2 egg yolks 1/2 cup maple syrup Mix in gently (on low setting if using mixer): 3 cups flour 1 tsp salt Drop batter by rounded tablespoons onto baking tray, spacing 3" apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden on the edges. Transfer to wire racks to cool. For glaze: reduce 1/2 cup maple syrup by half. Drizzle over cookies, then sprinkle LIGHTLY with coarse salt. Allow glaze to harden overnight. Store in airtight containers.