Christmas Cookie Exchange

Tis the season for giving, baking and eating and I have started mine off with a bang!! As part of the IFBA's Christmas Cookie Exchange Farmer Melly and I exchanged our favourite christmas recipes. She sent me her Baileys Irish Cream and Chocolate Cookies recipe  which makes amazing american size cookies and which have a lovely festive kick.

This recipe calls for Baileys but if you dont have baileys you could try it with another liqueur such as creme de menthe, coffee liqueur or whatever you like. I used Coole Swan, an Irish liquer from Co. Cavan. The recipe was given to me in cup quantities so a cup is approximately 225 grams. The recipe is quite dense so use a LARGE bowl and if you have a mixer instead of hand one use that as I really thought my hand mixer was going to die of exhaustion. I actually gave up using it at the end and got the hands in instead. The end result was worth it though and I have been asked all week to make them again!

I also think that this recipe would be quite versatile perhaps leaving out the cocoa and chocolate chips  and adding cranberries and white chocolate which I will have to try out myself this weekend and keep the family happy!!

The cookies also looked wonderful all wrapped up as edible gifts. 

My own recipe was for my Granny Salisbury's Chocolate Coconut Pyramids and if you would like to see how Farmer Melly got on with them have a look at her blog http://farmermelly.blogspot.com

So if you are looking for something new to add to your Christmas Cookie plate or as impressive edible gifts then this is a great recipe to add to your collection.

Baileys Irish Cream and Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).           
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Gradually add eggs and Baileys while mixing. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Cookies should be at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 23 to 25 Minutes.  Immediately transfer cookies to cooling rack after baking. These keep well at room temperature or refrigerated.

National Crafts and Design Fair 2011

Now I know this is not strictly to do with food but this weekend the National Crafts and Design Fair is taking place at the RDS. So myself and the mother headed down last night to see if we could find any good gift ideas and with over 500 designers, artists, and craftspeople  we were spoilt for choice. Within about 10 minutes of being in the place we had both managed to find gifts that we loved. Gifts for ourselves might I add!! The place is packed with beautiful and unique gift ideas and there is something for everyone's budget. 

After two hours of oohing and aaghing at many an item in the main hall we made our way to the food hall where over a 100 food producers were present. We executed our plan of action which is basically making our way around the stalls eating the samples! While we loved all the stands, one stand that we were particuraly taken with was The Scullery whom we had never encountered before. From Nenagh in County Tipperary they make wonderful relishes, compotes and glazes and delicious christmas puddings. There is also a packed agenda of cooking demos which covers entertaining at christmas, cooking with leftovers and baking with craft beer to name but a few.

So if you haven't started your christmas shopping yet or even just have a few hours to spare a visit to the Fair this weekend would be well worth the trip. My mother and I bought 2 hats, a necklace, candles, jam, relishes .......

For more information on the National Crafts and Design Fair: http://www.nationalcraftsfair.ie/
For more information on The Scullery: http://thescullery.ie/