The holidays are upon us, and soon everyone will be running around like crazy trying to finish up shopping and start prepping for holiday dinners. And, don't get me started on church, school and extra curricular holiday events that you are probably baking or making things for. But, as we start getting into the holiday mode, we also find ourselves thinking back on the year as well as thinking about those who are no longer with us. It is tough when holidays roll around and families gather, as you all feel the void of family members no longer here. This year, we will not have my grandmother present, which will be hard. Even though she suffered from dementia in the final years of her life, and was in a nursing home, she was still on this Earth and it was nice to visit with her and remember all the fun times we had. She was Italian and loved to bake and cook, especially around the holidays. Whenever we went to her house she had a blue cookie jar filled with freshly baked cookies, and would serve up tall glasses of cold milk for us to dip our cookies in. --Insert a big smile here.-- :-) I really miss those days, and wish she was still around so that my girls could experience some of these treasured moments I was lucky enough to have with my Nana growing up. She was an amazing baker, but like most bakers she didn't go by a recipe. Instead, it was a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And, when you tried to ask how much of each ingredient she would say a half a palm full, or other measurement not using standard measuring spoons and cups. She would eyeball everything, and never messed up a recipe. My mom and I over the years tried to get her to bake with us so that we could get accurate (or as close as we could) measurements so that we could pass these family recipes along to future generations. There were only a few recipes we were able to get a close recipe of, and those are the ones that I love making with my girls and sharing stories of my wonderful Nana when we make them. A favorite holiday cookie we make are Nana McCoy's Melting Moments. Read on to get my Nana's recipe, to try with your family this holiday season. They really are a delicious cookie and one that you will find yourself reaching for another...and another. :-)
Like I mentioned above, whenever we would visit my grandmother she would have her blue cookie jar filled with cookies. Oh, how I wish I had her old cookie jar, but when she moved into a nursing home, the movers didn't package her stuff up properly and this was one of the things that was broken and we had to throw out. I have been looking for cookie jar to share with my family and one that would be a staple on our counter, especially around the holidays when we do a lot of baking in our house. I could never find the right one...that was, until I was asked to review a new cookie jar from the Snow Much Fun line from Precious Moments. The Snow Much Fun line includes a cute cookie jar and matching mugs perfect for cold milk or hot chocolate. We were recently sent the smiling snowman cookie jar and the 9 oz mug for review and inclusion in my holiday gift guide.
“Snow Much Fun” Snowman Cookie Jar:
"A smiling snowman with sweet Precious Moments eyes holds favorite holiday treats while a friendly cardinal perches happily on the brim of his charming top hat-shaped lid. Ceramic. Holds 2.5 quarts. SRP: $45.99
Snow Much Fun Mug:
Cozy up with some warm hot chocolate and our adorable snowman mug! Fill this mug with a few packages of hot drink mixes, top it with a bow and show up with the perfect hostess, teacher or coworker gift! Ceramic. Holds 9 oz. SRP: $12.99 (each)"
----
When I first saw the cookie jar, I couldn't help but smile and think of my Nana. I knew that if she was around today and had visited my house and saw this cookie jar, she would have thought it was adorable, just like I do. And, the first thing she would do is take the snowman's hat off and peek inside to see if I had any freshly baked cookies. If I didn't, she would be grabbing an apron and baking supplies from pantry, so that she could get to baking and fill that cookie jar up for everyone to enjoy a tasty treat.
Right now we have our Snow Much Fun cookie jar filled with freshly baked cookies and brownies I will be sharing a review of from the folks at Dancing Deer Co. (so stay tuned). I love having a full cookie jar, especially with the cold weather we are having now. It is nice to make a cup of hot chocolate and have a cookie or brownie you can grab and enjoy with it.
I can't wait to start getting in the kitchen more and filling our new Precious Moments smiling snowman cookie jar with freshly baked cookies that my girls and I bake up. And, one cookie that we will be adding to this cookie jar soon is my Nana's Melting Moments cookies. As promised, here is her recipe, in you want to try out a new holiday cookie recipe this year...Enjoy!
Nana McCoy's Melting Moments Cookies
Ingredients:
1 Cup Butter, softened (2 Sticks)
1/2 Cup confectioners Sugar
1 1/4 Cup Flour (sifted)
3/4 Cup Cornstarch
1, Place butter in large glass mixing bowl and let soften. With mixer at medium speed, cream butter and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in sifted flour and cornstarch until well mixed.
3. Wrap and chill dough at least 3 hours.
4. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
5. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes or until firm, but golden.
6. Cool slightly and remove to wire rack. Sprinkle with confectioners (powdered) sugar while warm. Enjoy!
(Store in a air tight container on counter for up to 3 days-- that is if they last that long).
So, if you are looking to purchase a new cookie jar, think that this Snow Much Fun snowman cookie jar is just too adorable to pass up, or are looking to give the baker in your life a fun gift they will love, then why not consider picking up this new cookie jar from Precious Moments. And, don't forget matching mugs to go with it, as you can't have cookies without cold milk or a hot cup of cocoa or tea. :-)
You can find this adorable cookie jar and mugs at Precious Moments, along with other products in their "Snow Much Fun" including salt and pepper shakers, a platter, nesting bowls, table runners, a cute candle holder and more.
Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
I love the fun snowman ceramics!
ReplyDelete