Holiday Baking: Super Fabulous M&M Cookies

Thanks to the always amusing Stacia for sharing her mom's recipe for M&M cookies, a recipe that she swears is "amazeballs." You can find Stacia on her own blog, Dried-On Milk. 

Merry Christmas everyone! Or should I say Happy Holidays, to cover the huge gamut of religions? You get the idea. Life with two small children has been ... interesting, especially now that EZ is way more mobile. Like, climb on the dining room table and eat part of the gingerbread house mobile. I’m saying that 18 month olds are WAY harder than newborns. Way. Harder. Unless you have more than one newborn, then you win.

Photo by Peppysis on Flickr.Tara asked me if I had a cookie recipe to share and boy do I?! My mom use to send me these cookies when I was away at college. They were always so soft, even days later, if they lasted that long. All my friends would raid my room when that package came from my mom. This is her recipe and though it’s a fairly simple chocolate chip recipe, there’s just something about these that are amazeballs.

I will say that J and I had to tweak this recipe to work for our oven. We have a gas oven and my mom has an electric. There is a difference people!!!! I noted the differences in the recipe below.

Enjoy!!

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Holiday Baking: Pecan Tassies & Christmas Cookies Past

Thanks to Jennifer Downing of Nourish for sharing this recipe with us for the "Holiday Baking" series. She has lots of fun and interesting classes coming up in her Batavia kitchen this winter. I'm eyeing the "Soup and Bread" class myself. 

Baking is my favorite part of the holidays. It’s really my favorite part of any day. Many cakes, pies, and breads, both rustic and sweet have graced our kitchen. There are always cookies, plain and fancy in our oversized cookie jar. As I write the house smells deliciously of chocolate. This new brownie recipe is very similar to my stand-by but bigger. One hundred and seventeen square inches of bittersweet chocolate goodness makes brownies for everyone. The best part of baking is sharing.

Photo by mrjoro on Flickr.The Christmas of 6^th grade, I invited friends over for an after-school tea party. An impromptu event, invitations were extended at nine in the morning and throngs of girls arrived when school let out. It wasn’t until a few years ago I learned, or was reminded, of the details from my mom.

Though now I can’t remember the names of the girls in attendance, I do remember the cookies - pecan tassies. I’m sure my mom didn’t relish making them while juggling many other holiday preparations.

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Holiday Baking: Cranberry Orange Cookies

We'll be bringing you recipes for holiday-inspired treats over the next few weeks. If you have one you'd like to share, please send it to editor@gowestyoungmom.com. Today's recipe comes from Ann Marie of White House Black Shutters. She lives in the far western suburbs with her three young children, but no matter where you live, you'll enjoy her posts on a DIY life, thrifting and food.

I feel like I’ll be doing the world (and you) an injustice if I don’t let you know how ridiculously tasty these Cranberry Orange cookies are. I might even go as far to say that these are now my favorite cookies ever. 

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest
• 2-3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chopped cranberries (I used a whole bag which is 3 cups)

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Fall Guide 2012: The Best Caramel Apple Recipe

My friend Annie from {kidlist} shared the following post. If you have friends or family in the near western suburbs, including LaGrange, Hinsdale or Western Springs, please make sure they know about {kidlist}. 

My family has tried so many caramel apple recipes over the years, with many failures. Sometimes the caramel coating would turn rock hard and be impossible to cut, let alone bite… sometimes the caramel would slide right off the apple when dipping… sometimes they just plain tasted bad. But I have great news! We found the best caramel apple recipe ever; it’s super easy and absolutely delicious.

Click here for the best caramel apple recipe of all time!

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Best-Kept Secret: Poblano Pepper Grill in St. Charles

This is the first installment in a new feature called "Best-Kept Secret" that will profile businesses, resources and sites that are hidden gems in the Fox Valley. If you have a suggestion for a place we should feature, please write to editor(at)gowestyoungmom.com.

I first heard of the Poblano Pepper Grill back in May, when I wrote a list tied to Cinco de Mayo entitled "Five Great ... Places for Tacos in the Western Suburbs." Two readers wrote in to comment that my list was missing a great spot for authentic Mexican food called Poblano Pepper Grill on the east side of St. Charles. Both mentioned that in addition to the food being amazing, the owners were wonderful, too.

Poblano Pepper Grill is located on the east side of St. Charles, in a shopping complex just off Main Street.Well, I know I have smart readers and we love Mexican food, and so my daughter and I went to check it out this summer for lunch. I was very impresed with my Asada tacos that day and the friendly attitude of the staff. So last month, I returned with my husband, daughter and in-laws so we could try out more dishes. 

My verdict? I'm still dreaming of the Sopa Azteca, a tortilla soup served with cheese and chile pasilla strips and topped with sour cream. Poblano Pepper Grill has definitely become one of our favorite restaurants in the area. Both times I got to visit with the owners -- even met their new grandchild! -- and the story of the family behind it is nearly as good as the food. 

Poblano Pepper Grill, which opened in February, is owned by Ruben and Lizette Alonso, who live in the Aurora area. They met more than 30 years ago in school in Mexico City and got married a year later. They say that even though they came from different backgrounds, both had grown up in homes where their moms prepared delicious home-cooked meals using traditional Mexican recipes.

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