Watkins Newsletter – Around the Kitchen Table – December 2009 Issue
December 6, 2009 by Eleisia
Filed under Recipes & Tips
Welcome to another issue of Around the Kitchen Table!
I don’t know about you, but 2009 seems to have flown by. While winter doesn’t officially arrive until later this month, harsher winter weather has arrived in most parts of North America. We had strong gusting winds for a couple of days and our electricity was off for a few hours Saturday evening. The moon light shining through the windows provided enough light for me to find candles and matches so we weren’t sitting in the dark. As it turned out we had a very peaceful evening.
There’s still plenty of time to shop for your holiday baking, entertaining, and gift-giving needs. Place your order now as some products are selling out.
Recipes this issue are Creamy Mashed Potato and Onion Soup, Oatmeal Spice Cookies, Bananas Foster Bars, Wintermint Wafers, Nutmeg Sugar Cookies, and Pistachio Biscochitos.
Enter December’s Newsletter Giveaway! You could win a bottle of J.R. Watkins Lavender Hand and Body Lotion certified 97.9% natural by the Natural Products Association.
If you are considering a home based business please take a look at Watkins. I will give you a $30 gift certificate to buy products for yourself. Just join with me as your sponsor, Eleisia Whitney ID# 335001. Sign up at my business information web site http://www.vanillasage.com , at http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney under Join Us – As an Associate, or by calling Watkins at 1-800-928-5467. Give my name and ID# as your sponsor.
Read this issue now
http://www.everydaynecessities.com/december1-09newsletter.htm
Wintermint Wafers
Wintermint Wafers are minty, chewy, chocolaty and buttery wafers drenched in dark chocolate.
Chocolate Cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon Watkins Pure Peppermint Extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsweetened Watkins Baking Cocoa
1 1/2 cups flour
Chocolate Coating
1 pound semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon Watkins Pure Peppermint Extract
colored sprinkles for garnish
Chocolate Cookies
In large bowl, beat butter and confectioners’ sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in peppermint extract followed by salt and cocoa powder; mix. Add flour and mix to incorporate.
Divide dough in two pieces and place each on large sheet of plastic wrap. Flatten into 1/2-inch thick discs, wrap and refrigerate until firm enough to roll out, about 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove chilled dough, place disc between two sheets of parchment; roll out to 1/8-inch thick. Cut desired shapes and place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 5 to 6 minutes. Remove cookies from oven; cool on pan 3 to 4 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.
Chocolate Coating
Place chocolate in large microwave-safe dish. Microwave 30 seconds on high, stir and continue to microwave in 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring after each until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in peppermint extract.
To frost cookies, place one cookie on slotted spatula, carefully dip into the chocolate, coating completely; lift cookie out. Hold cookie on spatula, allowing excess chocolate to drip off. Place cookie onto wire cooling rack and garnish with colored sprinkles, if desired. Repeat with remaining cookies. Let chocolate set. Place coated cookies in freezer for 1 hour to set before storing or serving. Store cookies in airtight container for up to 1 week, or in freezer for up to 3 weeks.
Happy Holidays!
Until next month,
Eleisia
