Hanukkah just slap me upside the head...where did the time go? Of course I'm shopping for presents and people wish me Merry Christmas...or tell me "you must be shopping for Christmas?" No...but when I answer them Hanukkah - they look at me like I spoke a new language. People should really brush up on other holidays besides Christmas. I ended up just smiling and nodded at the lady who spoke about Christmas to me again. I know I can't change her ways of the unknown.
So this post will be about my 8 Days of Baking. New tradition I'd like to start with my four year old daughter. I will try my best to get the pictures up for everything - if not, I will share where I got the recipe and tell you how it went. Fingers crossed? The 8 days should have started two days ago, but it's hard when my 6 month old doesn't want to let me go. It's only me, my daughter, my 6 month son and mother in the house most of the time. (Hubby works) My mother usually takes my daughter to entertain her and I have my son. Love him to death but I've become such a couch potato...not cool at all. So anyways I will extend this a bit past Hanukkah.
Cake Pops (balls)
I changed the pops to balls...only because I think I made them to heavy with frosting. I put them on a lollipop stick and the melts(melted of course) pulled them off the stick. So instead I kept them off the stick. Bummer - but they were my first, so it's okay for now. I will work on them. (semi smile face)
Buckeyes
For those who don't know Buckeyes. It's like a Reece but BETTER. You take a traditional peanut butter container. (equals about 2.5 cups) Some powdered sugar, butter and some vanilla extract. Mix it in your mixer, shape into balls..freeze them while you make you chocolate coating then dip them in. You want to leave some of the peanut butter showing and set it on parchment. So you want them to look like a traditional buckeye found in Ohio.
Buckeyes Recipe
Sugar Cookies (Star of David shaped) x2 (Made them for Two Days)
Sadly I did not do this from scratch only because I had some mix from last year that I needed to get rid of. So I added the right amount of egg, flour and almond extract. Rolled them out and cut them with a star of david cookie cutter. Voila! I let my four year old daughter decorate them with my mother and we took them to the local library.
Strawberry Sufganiyot (Jewish Jelly Donuts)
I haven't tried these for like 10 years. Back then I was happy I got them done..but boy it was a pain. (I was still in High School) So it was a lot better this year. It was almost relaxing making them, got a bit of a work out as well. Only sad thing is I couldn't pipe out the jam, instead I made a hole and pinched it open so the hole was bigger. After that, I spooned in some jam then sprinkled some powdered sugar. I was fantastic. Yay me. Recipe:
Sufganiyot
Oreo Balls
So I had something like this at my daughter Halloween Party for her ballet class. I can't believe I never had these. I've seen people make them on Facebook but jeez. Anyways super easy, I used Dollar Tree Faux Oreo's. So like a bag then took a second bag, using only 6 cookies. You can judge what you feel...then one package of cream cheese (8oz). Crush those oreo's - all of it..even that luscious filling. Then make sure that cream cheese is room temperature and the recipe tells me to press the back of the spoon to soften the cheese..well I'm sorry no patience..instead I put everything into my stand mixer and bam, did the work for me. (Winks) Take like 1 tablespoon or a cookie scooper and mold into a ball with yours hands. Place the finished balls on some parchment paper - I stuck mine in the freezer. In the meantime I melted the white chocolate. Now comes the dipping...I tried dropping the balls into the chocolate, coating the picking up with a fork. Didn't turn out well. Then a light bulb flashed in my head. 'What if I do the buckeye method?' So that is taking a toothpick, probing the ball and dip it, moving it around some to coat as much as you can. I softly set it back on the parchment waited a moment then took one of those corn cob probes..no idea what they are called as you can see. Took it to slide the balls off the toothpick. Why didn't I do this before?! Jeez. Comes out what I think is Purr-fect. Ha. Here is the recipe - if you want it that is. If mine isn't good for you.
Russian Tea Cookies
So some people might call these Mexican Wedding Cookies. I read that depends where you live? Who calls them Russian Tea Cookies? Who calls the Wedding Cookies? So again I didn't get to take a picture. They were a big hit. Maybe I will update this later when my mother requests them again. (need a break) Sorry I don't have much to say but one thing: They are easy. There are no eggs..just butter, flour, vanilla, nuts (any) and powdered sugar oh and salt. So this recipe calls them Russian Tea Cakes...betty crocker why?? Anyways here you go:
Russian Tea
Peanut Butter Brownies
So this recipe is pretty simple. You will need to get that box of brownies sitting in your pantry. Follow the directions. Something like 2 eggs - 1/4 cup water? In my case I added coffee. (Inside tip: You don't have to add water. It can be milk, tea, juice..coffee?) Then the oil, however much it is. Mix everything together pour into pan. Heat up some peanut butter, for 30 seconds but in intervals. You will need approx. 3 Tablespoons. Drop it over the brownies before you put it in the oven, then swirl it with a knife. Make it beautiful. Now the oven should be preheated to 350 degrees, pop it in. Still you will want to follow the directions from the box. So if the degree is different don't take my degree...and the time should be around 15 minutes. Viola!
So this is the end of my 8 days of Hanukkah Baking. Let me know if you tried any of these how it came out. Let me know how your Holiday was, Hanukkah, Christmas or even Kwanzaa.