Coffee Break

Let’s take a break from the cookie madness (Christmas cookies are completely taking over my life!!) and just catch up! How are you? Have you started to decorate your house and/or tree yet? I’m still working on getting all the ornaments up. I just got back from Texas on Sunday night and I’ve been in the kitchen since, so decorating has been at a snail’s pace over here.

And here is Jude being a complete scrooge.

Texas was a total blast. It was the last book tour stop of 2015. I don’t even know where the time went or how so much of the tour is already over! The travel was hectic for sure, but it was all completely worth it when I met each of you. And we could talk, in person, about dessert and baking and clothes and dogs and cookbooks and running and everything in between. 💜

I was in Texas for less than 48 hours, which– I know– is complete madness. Also unfortunate because I wanted to spend at least 100 days in both Austin and Houston! Such cool cities. I planned a short trip trip because I knew at this point in the tour, I’d want to be at home for the holidays. But I’m planning to go back sometime! I loved it there.

Texas is home to the nicest people on the planet.

(Thank you all for coming!)

My hotel in Austin had an entire gingerbread village on display in the lobby and I stood and stared at it for 10 minutes straight, blind to anyone else around me.

By the way– here’s how to make candy Christmas trees out of Reese’s.

Let’s talk about the Christmas cookie palooza. Are you enjoying it so far? Have you made any of the recipes yet? I try to share a variety of cookie recipes every year, some traditional and some unique, some chocolate and some… well… not chocolate. It’s been fun! Though a little stressful the past two days because I have 500 other things to catch up on. Like my inbox, contracts, invoices, partnerships, friends, family, LIFE. But the odd thing is… baking is a stress reliever for me. But also sort of what stresses me out right now? It’s weird.

Yesterday afternoon was all like:

Bake peppermint mocha cookies for this weekend. Post white chocolate cranberry biscotti on my blog. Eat toasted pecan snowballs because they’re fabulous!!!

Followed by a 5 mile run outside that felt SO GOOD. It’s been way too long since I had one of those truly incredible runs where you feel on top of the world. Runners: you know what I’m talking about? I ran super slow since I haven’t ran outside in a couple months; it’s really just been treadmill running since September. Total runner’s high right now.

Did you know yesterday was National Brownie Day? It’s not too late to celebrate with the most devilishly rich brownies on the planet. Seriously, bake these classic mint chocolate brownies. It’s unfair to all other brownies how good they are.

And last Friday was National Cookie Day. And how ironic that I posted brownies on cookie day and cookies on brownie day. BUT here are 12 recipes that celebrate the chocolate chip cookie.

Speaking of chocolate! I made another batch of my dark chocolate almond toffee yesterday to bring to my friends this weekend. (Toffee keeps for days and days, great make ahead recipe!) Instead of sprinkling with sea salt and chopped almonds, I topped the toffee with festive sprinkles. Thought you might like the idea too!

This toffee recipe is exactly like the one in Sally’s Candy Addiction. But I published two variations in the book as well– the white chocolate macadamia nut version and my beloved pumpkin spice toffee. I also have a cinnamon almond toffee on my blog! That post has tons of step-by-step pictures, tips, and tricks if you’re a toffee beginner.

Kevin made a K-cup holder! He built and stained it– and it’s the shape of a mug and the most adorable thing on the counter.

Blog recipes coming soon: my favorite slice ‘n bake cookies and the famous Quinn peanut butter chocolate no-bake cookies recipe. Yesssss!

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