On the Second Day of Christmas...

...Kelly gave to me, some Christmas pics and a mint chocolate cookie recipe. Sing it with me now. Okay, I guess you don't really have to sing. I'll share anyway.














Look who paid a visit to my house yesterday. It was Santa Jr. We were getting out our Christmas decorations and I guess he was in the holiday mood. He ran to the bedroom and came up with this outfit on his own. The top is his t-shirt turned backwards, there's a cowboy belt (apparently Sant's into rodeo), and all the cottonballs I have piled around his face. He had to keep his shoulders hunched up to stop the cottonballs from falling.


Here's Santa Jr. taking Christmas requests. I think he got an order for an Easy Bake Oven.









One of my small Christmas trees that sits on my kitchen island. I've got big trees, small trees, metal trees, tinsel trees. I'll share others on days to come.










And here's a little display I made for the table out of hedge apples we gathered from the side of the road in Maryland. (Note I have not gotten around to ironing the Christmas tablecloth.)

Today is Thursday, so I need to write out what I'm thankful for. 1.)I'm thankful you all can't see what a mess my house is right now. 2.) I'm glad the fella that's coming to install the closet doors is running late so I can finish my post in the quiet.

Finally today, I thought I'd share a new cookie recipe I tried yesterday. They were good a little different from the usual fare. I'd picked up the bag of mint chocolate chips a while back when they were on sale and stuck them in the freezer. Mint chocolate just seemed appropriate for Christmas time baking.

Mint Chocolate Delights
2 c. all purpose flour
2/3 c. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. butter, softened
2/3 c. sugar
2/3 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs
1 (10 oz.) pkg mint & chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. In a mixer, beat butter, sugars, and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Gradually add flour mixture until combined. Stir in chips. (Batter will be sticky.) Drop by spoonfulls onto baking sheets. Bake 11-13 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Yields approx. 4 dozen.