Some Christmas Baking...New To Me Recipes :)

I woke up yesterday and just had the blahs. I knew I had alot to accomplish but just didn't want to tackle any of my tasks. Knowing that the fastest way to complete something is to start it, I started baking. But to make it more interesting, I did some recipes I've never made before.

This is a new cookie for me. It is an almond cookie with powdered sugar. I've had them for years at different colonial houses and loved them, and this year I decided to make them.

After mixing the ingredients, you can shape them in either the crescent shape:



Or you can make them round. I did both because I had to make so many for a family my size. I don't think they are the prettiest cookie I've ever made, but they taste so good!



Next I made some holiday spiced nuts. Once again, I've had these at colonial functions, but never made them myself. I started with eight cups of mixed nuts. I used almonds, walnuts, and cashews, because these are my family's favorites. You then mix two egg whites in with the nuts and get them all wet.



After mixing together 1 1/3 cups of sugar, 6 tablespoons of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, you pour it over the nuts. Mix it well, then place them on two cookie sheets in a 300 degree oven, and bake for 30 minutes.



These are just perfect and so hard to resist!



Lastly I made some Lemon Vanilla Bark. I made this because I thought it sounded good, and because I've always seen these big packages of Chocolate or Vanilla Bark, but never knew what to do with them. Another blogger (Mrs. T) mentioned this recipe on her blog so I thought I'd give it a try!

First, break up the bark squares, and slowly melt them on the stove top or in the microwave. I prefer the microwave for this. I discovered this after using the stove top :(



Using my blender, I crushed lemon hard candy, probably about two cups worth.



I quit taking pics at this point because I didn't think the recipe was turning out correctly. You mix the melted vanilla bark with the crushed lemon candy, and spread it evenly on a cookie sheet that is covered with waxed paper. Then chill in the fridge for a couple of hours.

When I took it out of the fridge, it actually broke apart just fine, and tasted delicious! You can use any type of hard candy and bark combination you'd like.



Merry Christmas!! Hope you have a happy day baking!