Mimi's Kitchen

Here are a couple of quick and easy recipes from my Christmas cookie recipe collection- one for the grown-ups at your house and one that your kids can help with. These recipes are simple but delicious, and are especially nice because they both only require 7 ingredients, and both take just a few minutes to put together.



Grown-up Christmas Cookies-These chocolate gems pack a yummy punch thanks to the bourbon


1 (9 oz.) package chocolate wafer cookies, finely crushed (about 2
1/3 cups)
2 cups finely chopped almonds
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup bourbon (I recommend Kentucky bourbon)
1/4 cup light corn syrup
Powdered sugar

1.      In a large bowl, combine crushed cookies, almonds and 2 cups powdered sugar.
2.     Stir in bourbon and corn syrup.
3.     Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar.
4.     Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 5 days to blend flavors.




Chocolate-Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
Your kids will love helping make these easy treats


1 (6 oz.) package semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup peanuts

1.      Cover cookie sheet with waxed paper.
2.     In 3-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips, corn syrup, peanut butter, milk and vanilla  
       over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is s
       smooth; remove from heat.
3.     Stir in oats and peanuts until well coated.
4.     Drop mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper.
5.     Refrigerate uncovered about 1 hour or until firm. Store covered in refrigerator.

I read this post the other day by Crescent Dragonwagon (yes...that's her name, trust me...just Google it) and just had to share it with all of you who may be struggling at "being" a writer. Let me state for the record, I do not know Crescent, have never had the pleasure of actually meeting her, although I wish that were not the case. However, I do admire her a great deal, own some of her cookbooks and have exchanged comments with her on Twitter and Facebook on occasion (does that count?)

Why is she important to me? Well, in spite of the fact that we have never met, I consider her a mentor of sorts. A few years ago, when I began writing seriously, I was struggling...doubting myself and wondering if I would ever really "be" a writer. I reached out to Crescent on Twitter...and she responded. The thing about this that's so incredible is that Crescent Dragonwagon is a well-known, very successful author (over 50 books) who took the time to actually answer me. Amazing! She gave me words of encouragement...and then she told me "always remember..every day that you write, you're a writer!" I held on to those words, kept writing, and am now under contract for my first cookbook (coming 3rd quarter 2012). I will always be grateful to Crescent for her generosity and for being so approachable and genuine....she helped me more than she can ever know.

So here's a link to her recent post...I hope you get as much out of it as I did. And remember, whether it's a blog, a book, web content, or something else...every day that you write, you're a writer.

http://crescentdragonwagon.typepad.com/nothing_is_wasted_crescen/2011/12/real-writer.html