Pecan Pick-ups (aka Tassies)

This time of year nostalgia is in full gear! This year I have been trying to recreate childhood memories in order to develop new tradition for my new family. One fond memory is pecan pick-ups (which is what my grandmother called them) she used to spend many nights with her neighbor, Gladys, making them. Every member of the family would take home boat loads of them, so much so that I would be sick of them until the next year rolled along.

Anyway, I decided to try my hand at them and they turned out pretty decent if I say so myself. They were pretty easy to prepare, my only issue was I had ONE muffin pan (bad bad idea). I found the recipe online (unfortunately I don't have my grandmothers) and it wasn't the best, so I wont be posting it.

My meager work space. Notice the empty chair for my little assistant who, by the way, was absent most of the time.

Note to self: need more muffin pans!

Annual Cookie Party Part 4

Well the cookie party is over. The cookies were a hit with my family and the orange zest just adds a nice change to an easy tasty recipe. I would definitely recommend it! The baking process went easier than I thought. It just took me a couple of hours in the afternoon and all I had to do was rotate the pans in the oven and I was still able to spend time with my daughters. The hardest part was keeping a 10 month old away from an open oven door no matter how far she was she would make a beeline to it the second it opened!

I really built it up to be more than it was, but lately it so hard to accomplish things with the baby and I feel bad when my 5 year old has to fend for herself, so I'm just torn. My saving grace was making the dough ahead of time and freezing it, then all I did was slice and bake, I didn't even defrost. I thought they were easier to slice when frozen and by the time they went into the oven they had defrosted. Actually I still have tons left over and I hear it calling me now, wonder if the neighbors would care for some fresh baked cookies?

The Year of the Sweet Potato Casserole

Thanksgiving and Christmas are not complete without Mom's (grandmother) sweet potato casserole, it was my favorite item on her dinner table no matter the holiday. Since she is not here I make it every year for both holidays. My husband requested it for a Thanksgiving work party and it was such a hit that it was requested again for Christmas. I also had a request by a friend who has had it previous years. I thought I was totally over this dish until I smelled it baking once again and I just had to dive in. There were numerous recipe request on Thanksgiving but I made everyone wait till after the Christmas party, so here it is.

Mom's Sweet Potato Casserole

-3 cups cooked mashed sweet potato

-half cup of sugar

-half cup of milk

-2 eggs beaten

-6 tbsp butter (soft)

-1 tsp vanilla

-half tsp salt

Pre-heat oven 350. Mix well and place in casserole dish.

Topping (best part)

-1 cup chopped pecans

-1 cup lite brown sugar

-half cup coconut

-third cup flour

-third cup melted butter

Mix and spread evenly on sweet potato mixture. Bake for 40 minutes.

For Mom

One reason for my baking persistence is my grandmother. We all called her Mom (long story). She has been gone almost 3 years now and she is still sorely missed, especially around the holidays. My grandmother loved to feed people and she loved to bake! The holidays were her favorite time, she cooked constantly.

She worked in the fields here in Miami in our so-called winter. Because of her, I discovered my love of sun-ripened tomatoes and strawberries. I can still see her picking up the largest tomato she could find and saying " this would make a great tomato sandwich!"

Needless to say when I bake I feel closer to her. So I will probably mention her quite often.

Annual Cookie Party Part 3

Ok I swear there will only be one more part after this one. I know, I know-- how hard can chocolate chip cookies be, for pete's sake. Well as you might come to know I'm a bit of a perfectionist so therefore I give up way too easily and most of the time don't even try because, to me, I will fail. So this is why I'm here-- now I WILL perfect the chocolate chip cookie or they will just be alright and I WILL be ok with that too!

I am re-reading this and realizing how ridiculous this is, HELLO they are just cookies and will be gone in maybe 20 seconds-ok growth, now I will move on!

Annual Cookie Party Part 2

Well two batches of cookies are done, however I will not be taking them to the party. Which is unfortunate because they will be going directly to my thighs (I might save some for my daughter). As always they are good enough for me but not to give out. Somehow when I bake for guest or a party I freeze up and something always goes wrong. Could it be I'm looking for ultimate perfection as usual? Anyway batch #3 will be going, I don't care if they are all black and burnt!

Batch #1, the cookies did not spread right when baked so I bought new baking soda. Batch #2, I used a white whole wheat flour which tasted fine, but they did have more of an earthy flavor. I will definitely be using that flour again for my family, but for a special occasion I will stick with the "bad for you" refined bleached flour.

So what I did was use the Toll House recipe with my hot pink mixer and added the zest of two oranges (no pith) in with the eggs. Previously, I added the zest with the sugar but it stayed in a clump so I find when you add it with the eggs it distributes much better. The house has such a lovely scent for two days after you've baked them.

Level: Easy

• Prep: 15 min
• Cooking: 9 min
• Cooling time: 15 min cooling
• Yields: 60

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet
  Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped nuts

conversion calculator

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. COMBINE flour, baking soda and
salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar
and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs,
one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat
in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded
tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. BAKE for 9 to 11
minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2
minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Annual Cookie Party Part 1

This year I will be attending my cousin's annual cookie party and I need to bring 10 dozen, yes 120 HOMEBAKED cookies. I, however, have a 5 year old and a 9 month old plus live 2 hours from my cousin, so in considering my cookie choice I thought what is the easiest, yummiest cookie I can come up with?

My favorite cookie (probably favorite dessert) of all time is just a simple old chocolate chip with nuts and the best recipe I have found is the Toll House recipe. To pep it up a bit for the party I will add some orange zest and probably eliminate the nuts just in case of nut allergies and it is more cost effective because of the quantity of cookies. I just think chocolate and orange make a great combination.

Top chocolate & orange finds so far:

1. Newman's Own Organics Orange Chocolate Chip Cookie
2. Pepperidge Farm Orange Milano
3. Lindt Bar Intense Orange Dark Chocolate

Anyway, I will be making the dough (with my hot pink mixer) ahead of time and freezing in logs so I can just slice and bake when the time comes. Let the baking begin!!