SWEETS AND STUFF

I just need to share that I'm head over heels in love with Walker Hayes right now.  His music is amazing, he has the best sense of humor,  and really seems to be all about family.  Speaking of family, he and his wife are expecting their 7th child soon.

Are you caught up in the all the deliciousness of the season and still want more?  Here's a few recipes that are perfect for you or Santa and come from The Southern Cookie.

CHAI TEA EGGNOG COOKIES

INGREDIENTS
1 Chai Teabag
1 17.5 Oz. Package Sugar Cookie Mix
1/2 Cup Butter, Melted
1 Large Egg
4 Tbsp Eggnog, Divided
Parchment Paper
Cinnamon Sugar
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 Tsp freshly grated nutmeg, or the kind in a jar

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, remove the tea leaves from the tea bag, and throw away the bag.

Combine the tea leaves, cookie mix, butter, egg and 2 Tbsp Eggnog into a medium bowl, blending until combined.  Drop the dough by spoonfuls on the parchment lined baking sheets.  Flatten the dough slightly with the bottom of a glass dipped in cinnamon sugar.

Bake in batches for  8-10 minutes or until slightly browned.  Transfer to wire racks or a plate, and cool completely for about 10 minutes.  Whisk together the powdered sugar, nutmeg, and remaining 2 Tbsp eggnog  until smooth, then spoon over the cooled cookies.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED PRALINE PRETZELS

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Cups Coarsely Chopped Pecans
1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Heavy Cream

Butter
Parchment Paper
2 4-Oz Semisweet Chocolate Baking Bars, Chopped
16 Pretzel Rods

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, then combine pecans, brown sugar and cream in a medium bowl.
Spread mixture in a single layer in a lightly buttered -in round cake pan.  Bake for 20 minutes, or until the sugar is slightly crystallized, stirring once.  cool in pan for 10 minutes, then finely chop.  Spread mixture in a single layer on parchment paper.

Microwave the chocolate in a microwave safe measuring cup on HIGH for 1 minute or until melted, stirring at 15 second intervals.  Immediately dip 2/3 of the pretzel into the chocolate, twirling to cover all sides.  Then roll into the pecan mixture.  Gently place on parchment paper, allowing it to set.  These can be stored in airtight containers for up to 4 days.

CRACKERS
For some reason, I can never eat just one cracker.  Has that ever happened to you?  Nabisco released the saltine cracker in 1876 with the slogan, "Polly Wants a Cracker", but it didn't get really popular until The Great Depression.  How do those holes get in the cracker?  The super thin dough  is docked precisely to allow the steam to escape while baking, therefore creating that crispy cracker we've all come to know and love.

MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE TO COUNT STEPS
If you live somewhere cold and want to rev up that metabolism from eating all those cookie, stand outside for just 15 minutes.  Doing this is the equivalent of 1 entire hour of exercise!!!!

BE CAREFUL
Clearing snow from the walkway/driveway is supposed to protect everyone from slipping as they head to your house for those cookies. According to recent studies, 11,000 people go to the emergency room because they get hurt while shoveling snow.  Just like lifting heavy objects, experts encourage us to use our legs instead of our backs. 

Christmas Photos by Ken Cedeno/Verbatim Photo Agency

I really enjoy looking at Christmas decorations all over the country, and every year a special is shown on HGTV on how the White House decorates.  You can stream the show, or watch it On Demand.  It's really cool to see what 159 volunteers can create in one week of nonstop decorating.

Summer on Blossom Street-Debbie Macomber

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS?
A few weeks ago there was a paperback giveaway which I was thrilled about.  I went inside with my bag, prepared to load up on lots of goodies.  Imagine my surprise when I realized that all the paperbacks had no cover!!!  What in the heck?

Hardcore readers already know that the inside has a disclaimer that if the book was purchased without a cover, it's considered stolen property, and was reported as unsold.  

This is what I'm used to seeing, and what I'm reading right now.

The books weren't being sold, so does that make the people who gave these away feel that it was okay to strip the cover? I'm super grateful for that giveaway, because I saved a ton of cash, and added to the ever growing pile.  It was also very kind. By the way, if you happen to pick up Summer on Blossom Street, which was published in 2009, the front of the book has instructions on how to knit a cable scarf.

If I purchase a book, or one is given to me, I'm pretty much expecting an intact book, which includes the cover.  So really I'm wondering if anyone has ever experienced this, and if it means something special that I'm missing?