Ho Ho Ho in the kitchen!

First of all, the answer of the last post question is... Pepe Jeans!!!

The kitchen is a very important thing on Xmas, because it's not just a place to decorate, it's also the center of everything, the place where you (or any other member of your family) will prepare the dinner!!

And today, we're talking about... XMAS DESSERTS!! Delicious!!!

All of U know that I'm not the best cook in the world, in fact I'm between a not-good cook and the worst cook, but I prepare good desserts, or that's what people who tried them said to me, maybe they're liars!!

But I prefer trusting them, so I'd like to cook desserts for this Xmas, so I've been looking some ideas up, and want to share this with you!

But first, if you want to prepare desserts with the Christmas' spirit, you have to get that spirit, so don't forget decorating your kitchen!

With this decoration in front of you, I think you'll get that Xmas feeling!

Maybe you don't want to cook because... whatever! Well, it is not necessary to have special desserts, cookies like on picture are ok, but don't forget decorating, that's the touch!

And here, for all of U who don't want to cook, this post finishes.

xo

But for all of you who want to cook or try at least, let's continue!!

I bring u some ideas, obviously they are not mine, my creativity is in coma. I tried awakening it from coma, but I didn't get results! So, let's go with some others' ideas!

Who doesn't like brownies??

Ingredients:

1 box Betty Crocker® Orginal Supreme brownie mix (with chocolate syrup pouch)

Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box

2 or 3 drops green food color

1 cup Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 1-lb container)

Betty Crocker® Decorating Decors red and green candy sprinkles or miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits

Miniature candy canes (2 inch), unwrapped

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2 inches over short sides of pan. Grease bottom only of foil with cooking spray or shortening.

2. Make and bake brownie mix as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan, using water, oil and eggs. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Remove brownie from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. To cut brownie into triangles, cut lengthwise into 3 rows. Cut each row into 7 triangles, see diagram. Save smaller pieces for snacking.

3. Stir food color into frosting. Spoon frosting into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; partially seal bag. Cut off tiny bottom corner of bag. Squeeze bag to pipe frosting over brownies. Sprinkle with decors.

4. Break off curved end of candy cane; insert straight piece into bottoms of triangles to make tree trunks.

Source

Butter cookies!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least one hour. Chill cookie sheets.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Press dough out onto ungreased, chilled cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly golden at the edges. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Source

Well, this is a very easy recipe, I'm sure that, at least once in your life, you have made cookies! You can decorate them, and they will look "Xmas cookies"

And a cookie recipe is always one of the best ideas if you have little fingers around U who want to help U, which is really really Xmas spirit!!

Maybe U have guests, if U do, I think one of the best "desserts" to put on your table are Cupcakes. But what's true, is that, to make this kind of desserts, you have to be veeeery patient. So, if you are, don't doubt it: they're the nicest and funniest!

I have here some recipes, take note!

Christmas Sprinkle Cupcake

This is by far the easiest idea for Christmas cupcakes.  Simply prepare your favorite cupcake recipe, frost with white, red, or green frosting, and top with red and green sprinkles.  Instant holiday!

I'm sure that, if you have never made cupcakes, U are wondering how to prepare a simple cupcake!

This is the easiest recipe I've found:

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

• 1 1/3 cups sugar

• 3 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup shortening

• 1 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 2 large eggs

Easy Cupcake Recipe Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Add shortening, milk, and vanilla.  Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.  Scrape side of bowl with a spatula.

Add eggs to the mixture.  Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.  Scrape bowl again.  Beat on high speed for 1 minute 30 seconds until well mixed.

Spoon cupcake batter into paper liners until 1/2 to 2/3 full.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 5 minutes in pans then remove and place on wire racks to cool completely.

Once cupcakes are completely cooled, frost with your favorite frosting recipe or decorate as you desire.

Ok, now we know how to make a cupcake (if you want more information visit this link)

Let's go with more cupcakes!

Christmas Cupcake Tree

Ingredients

• 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) devil's food cake mix
• 1-1/2 cups mint chocolate chips
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 4 to 5 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon Spice Islands® pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 teaspoon baking cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon green paste food coloring
• Candy-coated milk chocolate miniature kisses
• 2 chocolate stars
• 12 Starburst candies

Directions

• Prepare cake batter mix according to package directions for cupcakes; fold in chips. Fill foil-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
• Bake at 350° for 18-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in milk and extracts until blended. Transfer 2 tablespoons to a small bowl; stir in cocoa. Stir green food coloring into remaining frosting.
• Frost 21 cupcakes with green frosting; arrange in a pyramid to form a tree. Decorate all but the top cupcake with miniature kisses for lights. Frost two cupcakes with chocolate frosting and place at base of tree for trunk; top each with a chocolate star. Save remaining cupcake for another use.
• With a rolling pin, roll two yellow Starburst candies flat; cut with 2-in. and 1-1/2-in. star-shaped cookie cutters. Press smaller star onto larger star; place on cupcake at top of tree.
• For presents, roll five Starburst candies into 3-in. x 3/4-in. rectangles; cut each rectangle into four 3-in.-long strips. Place two strips widthwise on one whole Starburst candy; press together at base to attach.
• For bow, form two strips into figure eights; press together in center and press onto wrapped candy. Repeat with remaining strips and remaining four whole Starburst candies. Place presents beneath cupcake tree. Yield: 23 servings.

Gel Icing Christmas Tree

Simply frost your wonderful cupcakes with white frosting then use store bought gel icing in a tube to draw a simple Christmas tree on each cupcake.  You could make a plain triangle tree or even a squiggle line Christmas tree.

Reindeer Cupcakes

This is a very cute idea for a child's school party.  Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting.  Use various candies to make the facial features of your reindeer.  For the antlers, use a large twist pretzel that you break in half and carefully trim.

Snow Cupcakes

These are incredibly simple to create and are great if you're short on time.  Frost cupcakes with a white frosting, top with grated coconut and dust with powdered sugar. Voila!  You now have your very own winter wonderland.

Presents Cupcakes

Frost your cupcakes in a variety of colors, and decorate each one like a present.  Red licorice can be used to make bows.  You can make place setting holders by placing name cards on your presents to look like gift tags.  This idea is great for birthday parties as well as Christmas parties.

Source: All Xmas recipes

Well, these are just some ideas for a fun day in the kitchen, with all Xmas decorating around U and listening something like this:

Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!

Xmas is coming!!!

xo