Can you say.. A N G I N E T T I ? CLICK HERE if you can’t.. I think he’s hysterical? { Or maybe I’ve had just a little too much wine tonight? } The weather …”blah blah blah”… is just about the same as last time we spoke, er, I wrote, and this…
Category Archives: Cookies
This is Reading Week for my kids! If you’ve ever crammed for finals.. or slaved over projects and essays you’ll understand a well-earned and much-needed break for a treat, and sometimes, only chocolate will do! Katie found this recipe.. (somewhere and just sent a text message of the ingredients over her iPhone) and we just…
I so want one – YUMMERS! Happy Friday – Happy Chocolate:)
These look delicious! And what a treat to help studying along. xx
Fantastic, Smidge! Looks like brain food to me (in the best possible way!) Bite-sized little poppers when you need a boost – I am definitely going to give these a go! I have some little GFers in my clan too! 
xx (wish good good luck on those exams!)
These look really good. I love how decadent they look yet there’s no sugar. Amazing how you were able to find those chocolate drops and how refreshing to see just three ingredients on the list – if only all packaged food was made with real ingredients and nothing harmful xx
These look utterly lovely and so healthy my friend 
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Not a cookie maker, but this I think I would be able to pull off.
Why does the baking sheet lined with parchment or with silpat liners.??? In clear language what does that mean???
I hope you will have a great weekend.
This one is *begging* to be fixed chez Sparks!!!
Sounds delicious, Barb, and glad to see that the Emeril recipe is the GF gift that keeps on giving. I just don’t think a snack that requires a spot on the counter is right for this household. Whether left on the counter or in Max’s feed bowl, the difference in its shelf life would only be minutes, if that.
I think Max would go crazy with these left-out.. but then again, so would I:D
It’s quite a sticky dough, it’s my way of making sure the cookie comes off the cookie sheet easier:) If you have a non-stick pan, you should be ok! xx I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well! xx
Now that would make shopping so much easier:)
Ahh, brain food, I think it was smarties back in my day:)
Fantastically healthy and sugar free! Good luck to the girls for the exams
I want to come and live with you for a week – always such decadent delicacies coming from your kitchen Smidge.
Best of luck to you all with getting through the exams.
Mandy xo
These sound like something I would not feel bad about eating a whole batch of. Dangerous!
Shellfish in chocolate? Who knows – as you probably know by now we’ve been eating horse for years in ground beef without knowing it – so anything is possible
Okay, now I understand … I don’t really know how I read it the way I did – blame my Swenglish. I will give them ago.
We’re not a gluten-free household, but my littles each have friends who are. I’m going to tuck this little recipe into my file so that I have something homemade for them when they come to play. Thank you for sharing!
Hope you will post a follow up after you add the brown rice flour. Leaving anything with chocolate in it on the counter is not an option for me (they will not be on the counter for long) as I am trying to maintain a certain weight.
These look like the perfect mix of wholesome and decadent!
I can’t believe how easy these are…they also look nice and rich YUM!
They look like delicious mini-meteorites!
Lovely little cookies! Delicious combination of ingredients!
Hello Smidge, You are such a great mom-making cookies to help our teenagers get through exams and deadlines. I am sure these delicious little chocolate bombs will help them preserver through the worst of it. Exams and expectations are getting more difficult each and every year, especially here in HK, China, some really tough competition here. I feel sorry for our kids as it was not like this all those years ago when we attended school. All the best to your crew for success. You have changed your theme again, every day I visit it is a fun little place to visit. Did you make the switch over? PS: I am having a difficult time leaving comments. Did this one go through? Take Care, BAM
Hello Smidge, You are such a great mom-making cookies to help our teenagers get through exams and deadlines. I am sure these delicious little chocolate bombs will help them preserver through the worst of it. Exams and expectations are getting more difficult each and every year, especially here in HK, China, some really tough competition here. I feel sorry for our kids as it was not like this all those years ago when we attended school. All the best to your crew for success. You have changed your theme again, every day I visit it is a fun little place to visit. Did you make the switch over? PS: I am having a difficult time leaving comments. Did this one go through? Take Care, BAM
Oh my Barbara!! These are over the top chocolate delicious in a good way!
I loveee those chocolate chips!! They are amazing. These cookies are right up my alley!! No need to store them, I would eat them all in one sitting!
Yummy Smidge! I love how this recipe includes ingredients that most people would already have on hand. You gotta love convenience! I’m looking forward to making these with my kids. I think that they would absolutely love it! PS- I have a GF muffin recipe that I’m going to send to you. I made it over the weekend and it was a hit! xx
Oh, please do.. I’d love to have that recipe!
These are perfect!!! The ingredients all sound like they go together perfectly for flavor. Thanks, Barb! These are the perfect treat me for….a little afternoon pickup, ya know? 
Lovely photos, great looking cookies. And no sugar? Wow, these look wonderful! Truly good stuff – thanks so much.
That does not look vegan at all, Looks good!
I have a GF friend who would LOVE these! Definitely passing this recipe on!
My daughter will love these! She’s always looking for GF Chocolate cookie recipes. These look delicious!
I use those exact chocolate chunks in my Double chocolate espresso cookies! They lend such a different result than just plain old chocolate chips! Looks delicious Barbara!
It’s been such an exciting week.. of reconnecting with friends and making new ones! { Some friends never change.. and we’re so glad they don’t! } I’m overjoyed to have reconnected with Lois, my Maid of Honor and the doctor who helped deliver my Baby Girl { she was the one who nick-named her “Peanut”…..
They look amazing and sweet yum!
Beautiful!
Amazing!
Absolutely stunning! Gorgeous post! Definitely in the mood for Spring now!
V
You are a true artist!!! “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” ― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
These are incredibly beautiful looking cookies my friend
Cheers
CCU
Beautiful cookies!
Saturday evening and I’ve just sat back with the day’s jobs completed and thought “I’ll treat myself to a little browse”. And here you are, Smidge- never disappointing. Such pretty hearts- I’m sure my daughter could use this technique.
Lovely to reunite.
What a lovely gift to bring to a baby shower. These cookies are so gorgeous! I love your video. It’s great to see talent in action! These seem very time-consuming but the end result looks so worth it. Glad you had a good time re-connecting with peanut’s doctor! xx
What a lovely treat for Lois! She will be delighted. It was great fun having you for lunch and coffee, and I know we have a lot in common! Still working on my blog issues, but we can talk about that another time. Thanks for your help.
Oh Smidge! Every time I click on one of your posts, I find myself blown away by how creative and clever you are. Those cookies are just the prettiest things I’ve seen in forever. Clever you and clever Amber!
These are pieces of art — I’d hate to bite into them. Ok, twist my arm — they look sooo good though
Delicate perfection- your art of baking confection!
Wow, you’ve exceed Martha and her team with this one Barbara, they are simply beautiful! So delicate and I cannot believe how much time each one takes. I bet your new friends were over the top happy with these beautiful cookies. I’m sure you could see them. Thank you for the tutorial, now I know for sure that I certainly don’t have the patience to make them, but if I ever need some, I know who to ask
We have a long weekend in Ontario called Family Day on Monday, hope you guys get one too.
Drat, it just started snowing again. I’m ready for spring.
These are very pretty! I think I’d have to eat them in secret
I’m overwhelmed with all of the loveliness!
Gorgeous!
Just beautiful! I can’t wait to try this
Barbara, you are just unbelievable – what planet does you really come from ??? *smile – those cookie … are …. lost for words really. You better open that cafe … soon! I’m going to borrow somebody else word – those are pure loveliness. *smile – they are like lace .. I don’t like lavender in cooking, but this I could have decoration. And when you open up that cafe … don’t ask me to do any embroidery .. I will be happy in the washing up area. Barbara, I just love this.
They look too beautiful to eat!
You are sweet… as always and ever:) They aren’t lavender flavored, just colored. I think I’ll have to change the title, it’s a little misleading, especially without the recipe enclosed:) xx
Absolutely beautiful.
I would not have the patience to make those decorations. If I was served one of those cookies I probably could not bite into it as I would not want to ruin the patterns. Love the video, glad to see an artist at work.
These cookies are almost too pretty to eat. I am sure that the guests will get over that fear soon. Beautiful. Take Care, BAM
What beautiful decorations!
Absolutely exquisite! And your beautiful cookies are, too!! xoxo
These are absolutely beautiful, I am in awe!!! The colours are just so pretty too I would love to try it myself but I just don’t know if I have the ability or the patience :0!
WOW, you are brilliant Smidge, don’t think I would ever have known how to do anything like this – loved watching your video. Your cookies are absolutely exquisite!
Mandy xo
These cookies took my breath away – so lovely! And thank you for the introduction to SweetAmbs; her site is lovely & so educational. It s so true that even though we may lose touch with a good friend, we can pick up anew when we reconnect. Years and even decades can melt away in a heartbeat.
They are little works of eatable art !
These cookies are so lovely! Perfect for celebrating a baby shower or a special tea, just so sweetly decorated. <3 them.
Little works of art!
Ok…I thought I’d already seen the planet’s prettiest cookie, right here at Smidge’s kitchen. But I must have been mistaken, because These are truly the prettiest little cookies my eyes have ever in their lives set upon! When I first saw them, I kind of had to gasp (little and lady-like of course, but unmistakably a gasp) and then I thought you must have overlaid edible lace on those little lavender hearts, but no, you Made that edible lace!!! (Well, of COURSE you did! Smidge does Nothing half-way.) And after watching your video set to some of my favorite music, I came away believing fully that I could do this! Not nearly as well, of course, but I too could make a pretty cookie! What a thoroughly delightful post Smidge!!! xxx
Had to pin this, and then sent along to several loved ones.
Beauty would be in the belly of this beholder.
How delicate and lace-y! Wonderful, Smidge.
These looks SO beautiful and delicate, perfect for a baby shower celebration!
I wish I had more time to hang out here; you post the best stuff! And you always satisfy my sweet tooth…
They are literally ‘pieces of art’….Diane
Too pretty to eat…Almost!
What a beautiful gesture!
I have been following Sweet Ambs for a while now and I tried making the brush embroidery a few months back. They are not as easy as it looks. Takes a lot of practise to get them right. Have you seen her bees? They are cute too. You have done such an artist. Enjoyed your video and your tips. I’m inspired to give it a go again.
There’s nothing like reconnecting with old friends – and making new ones in the blogging community! These cookies are amazing, can’t get over the detail in them. I’ll have to watch you videos when I have some headphones.
Your posts never cease to amaze, Barb, each a thing of beauty. Hard to believe that these are handmade edible cookie. They are so pretty and you are a marvel! I just had to watch the video to see how each was made and I’ve come to the conclusion there is no way I would even attempt this. I’ll stick with pasta and when we meet, we’ll trade.
Love the lilac colour of this cookie! love the details on it.. what a clever way to decorate them. Am going to try this brush embroidery method next!
Wow, very nice! youre a cook and an artist at the same time
You’re just amazing .. I would have a nervous breakdown it I had to do cookies like that – nothing for me. Has to be done in less than 20 min. *smile – otherwise I lose interest.
LOVE. Also, I’ve watched the video twice. It has basically hypnotized me with it’s loveliness.
Exquisite cookies, Barbara; and so glad you caught up with old friends.
They’re so beautiful and isn’t it wonderful that blogging brings so many other wonderful things to us…like reconnecting with old friends!
I love your blog! Everything is so pretty. You make baking seem so effortless. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. I can’t wait to come back and see more of your blog.
These cookies are gorgeous! What a great addition to a baby shower!
Those cookies are beautiful!! You are a true artist!!
Beautiful looking cookies Barbara!
Oh Smidge, Thank you! I just watched your wonderful video and learned so much. I can’t believe how gorgeous these cookies are, and you’ve made it look like something I could actually do…without the video I wouldn’t have believed it! This post was a gift! And I’m delighted you reconnected with your friends–I must visit Teri, too! oxo
Heavenly. How amazing you are Barbara and how nice that you got to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. Your piping skills blow me away. Seriously.
These cookies are beautiful! It definitely is not easy, having to decorate so many cookies! You’re really talented and amazing!
How lovely to meet up with old friends. These cookies are amazing! I wonder if I have the patience to even try doing one?
I saw these on instagram Barbara and they really do look so beautiful. I’ll bet your friends loved them.
So so pretty, Smidge! And what a wonderful week.
These cookies mush have been the talk of that baby shower Barb! I’m simply speechless at how beautiful they are. I can always count on something beautiful to brighten my day when I read one of your posts. Thanks for the ongoing inspiration.
Well, these are just about the prettiest cookies ever! I think they would make the most thoughtful, little gifts (you’ve got my wheels turning this morning). Also, how completely wonderful to have reconnected with your maid of honor. Old friends are just the best, aren’t they?
These are exquisite! And to reconnect with dear friends.., perfect!! Your expertise and creativity are wonderful!
Those are beyond gorgeous!!
Your cookies are beautiful, as your food often is: a treat to look at.
[...] inspiration for these brush embroidery cookies came from Smidge. You can check out her post and short video detailing how to achieve this effect. The second method I use was feathering. I find feathering a [...]
grace “I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” { Anne Lamott } grace is a true connection with { the maker } whether it be at the top of a mountain, gazing skyward and…
WOW! They all fascinated me, made me hungry too “Grace” is amazing dear Barbara, what a great touches! Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love, nia
Those cookies look delicious!
I love your touch of wisdom with delicious recipe
Barbara, you’re some domestic diva !!! Those nibbles to die for as usual and so pretty too.
Grace – really touching … words.
Reblogged this on My story to you.. and commented:
We all need bit of peace and grace in our life
Happy Christmas, and happy baking!
The cookies of your hands (and your daughter’s), of course, are beautiful, Smidge. (Everything that comes from your hands IS, always IS.) But even more beautiful than that, the beauty that flows (through your words) from the warmth of your heart. To lose a friend so young, so soon, will be a hurt slow to heal. I’m so sorry for your family in this, Barb. May Grace surround and blanket you, and above all, may it be a gentle and Peaceful Christmas!! xxx
Amen! Thank you for your grace-ful thoughts and Happy Holidays to you. I am going to start with your butter tarts…
those snowy cookies look AMAZING.
I am so sorry for your loss.
What a lovely round up of Christmas baking, Barbara, and it’s so nice that your daughter helped you bake. I have very fond memories of my Mom helping me bake even after she became ill (I set up the dining room table as her work station). Such a lovely bonding time too. The butter tarts look unbelievable, you’ve captured them perfectly, I can almost taste the crisp crust and the delicious centre, and I don’t mind at all if it runs down my chin.
Oh Barb, “Grace” is beautiful. I love these words. No one could write anything as beautiful as your words. I’m so sorry about the loss you’re enduring right now, so painful.
I’m so glad you and daughter got to spend time together baking. It sounds like the perfect thing to do right now. We wish you the happiest, merriest Christmas my dear. And, a wonderful 2013. Thank you for everything!
Yum, Yum and more Yum! What beautiful photos and delicious recipes! I love the sound of those buttery tarts, and even though I’ve been in Germany for so long I’ve yet to make Pfeffernussen…. they do look good. Thanks for such a lovely post!
What tasty looking bites! Such a variety!
Ohhh yum. Your house is the place to be right now!!
Grace, unmerited favor we so desperately need. Beautiful sentiment, Barb, so timely and true. Even one day in the kitchen baking is better than none and even better when shared with someone. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year!
Very touching post, so sorry for your loss.
Loving your cookie collection, how wonderful to be baking and bonding with your daughter..
Can I please come over to your house to play in the kitchen? I promise to be neat and I will give lots of hugs while I help tidy up.
What lovely words about grace. I love the new look of your blog. What a great selection of Christmas baking. That’s so lovely your daughter was with you to help. I love the look of the crackle cookies xx
May you too have grace this holiday season. We’ve been baking cookies a batch at a time. I love the array you’ve done, but I never quite pull that off. I may mix up chocolate crinkles tonight (I love your crackle top snowy mountain name for them!).
Beautiful Post – I enjoyed the cookies without all the calories – YUM! Have a Great One:)
Smidge, you are full of grace. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and a joyful 2013.
Merry Christmas Barb! This post full of gentleness and love! XO
Happy holidays, Barb! Lovely words, and beautiful cookies – I can’t believe you made them all in one day! I’m with your friend Jane – lots of gooey filling in my butter tarts, please
Love your gracefulness! All the cookies look absolutely over the top delectable! And I adore the tart! Both fillings would be perfect for me!
The quote you shared about grace is beautiful. I felt a little peace as I read it.
Seems like you had a lot of Christmas baking done. They all look beautiful and delicious! So festive! happy holidays Barbara!
May grace be yours and in the hearts and minds of those close to you . . .may the year end in peace and the new one begin with hope and happiness . . ,. and let there be smiles when we meet agin in the year to come! God Bless . . .
These are some of my favorites. I made up a recipe this morning and ate a dozen cookies before going to my last cookie exchange!
Merry Christmas Barb!
Merry Christmas Babara, the food looks ‘very rich’ in calories to me, I always prefer soup, fish and vegetables!
Beautiful post Barbara and so many delicious looking treats.
What beautiful words for something so sad! I’m sorry for your loss Barbara {hugs}
I enjoyed your thoughts on “grace”. A group of us were just discussing grace a few weeks ago. Awesome selection of Christmas baking, too. Merry Christmas, Barb.
Merry Christmas to you.. Will you be celebrating with family at your home this year?? xx
Me too.. those are my every day foods. These Christmas treats are.. well, treats:D Merry Christmas to you!
What a wonderful blessing… thank you so much, this is so meaningful. God bless you and your loved ones. xxx
Fantastic array of cakes and biscuits. Christmas at your place seems like a Marathon! Have a great Christmas:)
Wow, Smidge, your Christmas cookie spread is incredible… I better not show it to my family, lest they have expectations that I simply cannot fulfill! haha…:).
Love Anne Lamott and “Grace” is the perfect title for this post.
I love that candle! and those cookies look so delish!
Grace, something we can all use more of. Beautiful words, spectacular cookies. Merry Christmas!
This is a wonderful post and “Grace” a beautiful tribute to you departed friend. So sorry to read of your loss, Barb.
This is a fantastic collection of cookies! You and your daughter obviously work well together or, at the very least, you’re both are willing to set aside your differences for the good of the cookies. One must always put the welfare of the cookies above all else.
thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. A very beautiful tribute to your friend. Of course spending a little time with your daughter baking is a very treasured event as well. Love all the cookies but the crackle cookies are my favorite. Take care, BAM
Your blog is fantastic…I love the look and feel of it…and those cookies? How do I choose? (I’ll just have to settle on ALL of them) =)
What beautiful and thoughtful words to proceed a wish for peace and grace for the holiday season. Happy Holiday to you and your family. xoxo
Making holiday sweets is a tradition in my family and I’m so jealous right now. All our stuff is in storage and I’m unable to bake anything!!
Happy Holidays Barb!!
Have a wonderful Christmas as well.. I hope you have just the best holiday ever!! xx
Certainly looks like you had a bit of baking going on. Merry Christmas Smidge! Your words, as always, are beautiful and leave me feeling warm.
What a touching poem and lovely round up of cookies! I normally take a whole day off to devote to cookie baking but could not this year. Seeing yours makes me wish I did! I will have to note these for next year! Happy holidays Barb!
Lovely. Grace-ful. Thank you. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Beautiful Smidge. Very sorry for your loss…
Your cookies look divine. I’ve always wanted to learn how to make Pfeffernussen ( and wondered even more how to spell it…) Don’t you just love the Contessa? xx
Amazing grace – how sweet the sound! A most joyous message to hear especially at this time of year…
Happy holidays to you and your family, Smidge! As always a beautiful post.
A touching tribute; thank you for sharing your lovely words. Your cookies look so festive. How sweet that you and your daughter made them together.
i’m so touched by your words on grace, Smidge. It’s one of my favorite words, and I try to absorb the meanings more and more into my life, and spread the same to others. I think this may be one of my favorite from among the many lovely selections you offer us. You have such a beautiful talent with your words.
As a quick aside, I’m a huge Anne Lamott fan, and enjoyed seeing you used one of her quotes. And what lovely recipes. Thank you! If I don’t have another chance to say it before Tuesday, I certainly wish you a wonderful grace-filled Christmas, my friend. Blessings to you and your family through the entire Christmas season, and much love and peace into the new year. oxo
The cookies are as lovely as your words. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
They all sound new to me, except the Pfeffernüsse cookie, but I haven’t had it in a long time. The best part of making Christmas cookies are sometimes the spices. That’s the only time when you get the chance to use them in sweets and the European will love it. Thank you for the cookie introduction +Recipes.
I adore Nanaimo bars. I had to buy Bird’s custard just for that!
Aren’t they just the best? Sadly.. I dropped the bag as I was transporting them to the freezer.. funny how I still manage to salvage a few bites by putting the appropriate pieces in my hand before scarfing them down, lol! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Gretchen! I can’t wait to visit your blog and see your latest news! xx
Oh, so sad!!!! Do you follow HotlySpiced in Australia? Charlie’s gingerbread house colapsed. So sad when you work hard on something and then it gets ruined before being enjoyed. 
Happy New Year to you!
We were in Red Deer with Paul’s family this year. Have to say I missed my own. How about you? Were you at home?
It started out as a totally normal week.. Seriously, who hasn’t had days like these? Still, I wonder, can we really “have it all” and is it really worth it? And often I think, something’s gotta’ give. So… anyhooo… After an intense four 8 hour days straight of house shopping with awesome clients, I’m finally…
They look and sound delicious… anything with white chocolate in it catches my eye. And the cranberries are so festive.
Hope the party was a raging success! I bet it was with your cooking. That’s a wonderful ad. It’s so true that young women think they couldn’t possibly have a heart attack. I don’t think I’d consider it if I started to feel not so good.
It’s great when a family morphs into elves and help get the cleaning done. I keep hoping Max will morph into something other than a problem. No luck so far but hope springs eternal.
I made cookies similar to these a number of years ago, using dried cherries instead of cranberries. I like your recipe better — and not just because I long ago lost the other recipe. Dried cranberries have more flavor and I like the bit of sour they’d bring to a sweet cookie.
Thanks for sharing your recipe with us, Barb. Speaking of sharing, if those elves of yours are looking for work, send ‘em my way.
I loved the video is important to take care of ourselves, even if is just because our family will be a mess without us…
Your Christmas deco is marvelous and those cookies deserve a A+ Congratulations!
Like a film set – looks great. Have a great party:)
No walnuts for me, please, and I bet your house is the prettiest in the neighbourhood. Merry Christmas, Smidge!
Beautiful decorations and absolutely lovely cookies Barb’! I’m getting my xmas cookie baking on very soon
I hope this week calms down so you can enjoy your decorated house. I love your wreath and mercury glass decorations. Our tree is still festooned in the motley arrangements of things a 10 year old picks to hang, but I’ve gone with the vintage glass ornaments elsewhere in the house. Lovely.
Good luck with the party – great cookies
Type A personalities…. they come with a heavy toll, but I honestly don’t think the type can be changed…. Maybe toned down a little for a day or two. (sigh)
Glad you are handling it all well, take care, and ENJOY!
Love your decorations and fabulous cookies!
Is bread flour like cake flour or am I missing the mark here! Love the photos, decorations, and recipe!
Love these beautiful festive cookies – lovely photos too!
I’m sure everyone had a fantastic time. Your home is beautifully decorated with the white and silver…love mercury glass.
Oooooh, how festive! Love your décor, Barbara, just beautiful! I have similar star ornaments but they aren’t vintage like yours 
And a beautiful, holiday inspired cookie. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Bread flour is not cake flour.. It’s much higher in protein I believe. It’s a “sturdier” flour than cake flour which is more delicate of that makes sense? xx
Sent from my iPhone
The ornaments tossed around the candles, so simple yet so elegant, you have such creative ideas. I am sure your party was a smashing success.
I think your neighbors are quite lucky to have you hosting, Smidge! Have fun:)
Love the video! Just like a woman to think about how dirty her house is while having a heart attack (or gall bladder, or kidney stones, etc.) Thanks for sharing the video and raising awareness — so important. Your cookies are so festive with the red and cranberry is at its seasonal best.
Chocolate Chunk Cookie … who care, when the post is stunningly beautiful into ever little detail.
Barbara, you are some indulgence cookie – yourself.
Great video – scary that so many women get heart attacks today – before it was something that only happens to men and rarely women.
You take it easy, Girlfriend – we don’t have time for any heart attacks.
The cookies I love everything about, maybe one day I will do them. This week the feedback on you CousCous will be posted. Have done it 3 times now. That dressing is to die for.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. So glad you have some help to make things a teeny bit easier on you. Have fun and enjoy! It sounds like a fun party. Thank you for the recipe, Barb. Cookies with cranberries always win around here, no matter the season. I’ll be trying these very soon!
Yum! Loving your photos – just getting me more in the holiday spirit:) Have a Great One!
I want to come over!! Your decorations look beautiful, as do these CHUNKY cookies. Chunks are WAY better than chips for sure.
I love the video entertaining and yet delivering such and important message. I felt your stress when I read about four intense eight-hour days and then coming home to host the neighborhood Christmas party!
These are wonderful Christmas cookies!
Yum, the cookies look fantastic!
Once again, wonderful post, lovely photographs and a wonderful recipe. I really do enjoy your blog.
We’ll get to your cookies later. For starters lets talk about how pretty your halls are decked, from your front door to your chandeliers! Let’s talk about what a generous soul you are to have the whole neighborhood to your house for a Christmas party, not once, but again next year! Let’s talk about how you manage a marathon house hunt for clients, take swimming lessons, write a drop-dead gorgeous blog, deck your halls, write poetry, paint, bake, play cello, walk the dog…and then, on top of all that, provide a public service announcement just in case there’re any young active healthy type A’s out here! (hmmmmmmmmmm! Know any?)
Now…to your cookies…they sound Just Perfect…and of course – they would! xx spree
Great looking cookie! And fun video. Definitely something to try. Good stuff – thanks.
Smidge, does your whole home look like this? Seriously, it’s better than visiting the spa when I come to your page… so relaxing and darn inspiring. I definitely recognized parts of myself in that video… although that woman seemed a bit more organized in her disorder than me . Your cookies look de.lightful! And, the fact that they are your new favourites makes me think I should maybe add them to our Christmas cookie list – I’ve barely had time to make any yet this season so these might make up for the lack – go with a big bang, you know.
I have got to try these! Everything so magical in your photographs. I know your house looks like a winter fairyland with the addition of the baking smells. Yum. Looking forward to the school break and baking and cooking with the family, too.
There are parts of that video that ring very true — except for the heart attack! I am sitting here now reading because I literally can’t move from the day’s activities. I’ll bet those cookies are as delicious as they are festive! Lovely post! (wish I was your neighbour!)
Yum!
These will be on the menu for my Christmas Open House this Sunday – thank you for the inspiration and of course the recipe. (I’ve already made Nell’s sugar cookies, and my, they’re so good, all the better because of the loving story of your grandmother that accompanied the recipe). I love your decorations; your home must look so festive! Apart from the tree, my decorating approach is quite, shall we say, minimalist, but I would love to create a beautiful atmosphere like you do. There’s always next year!
These look like Christmas Barbara
Your decorations are beautiful! Paperwhites are my favorite holiday flower and scent as well. I have two groups of them blooming right now and the house smells wonderful! The only thing that would overpower them would be the smell of these cookies baking! What a wonderful smell that would be! Great cookie recipe!
Everything is beautiful. Love your cookies with cranberries and white chocolate. Delicious!
Such pretty pictures! Sets the mood perfectly!
A serious but very funny video. Thanks for sharing and hope you’re having a good week!
a very serious video indeed – thanks for the reminder. heart attacks are a cause of concern for ALL women regardless of being type A or type B or type whatever – ALL women – and do tend to be overlooked/mis-diagnosed.
sorry my type A being just had to remind people of that least someone feel she can’t be having a heart attack simply because she is not type A ….
You are the great multi-tasker, Smidge! I’m so impressed that you could host a neighborhood holiday party after having such an intense work schedule. You do all things with a lot of style. The cookies are really beautiful for Christmas, with the red and white as standouts! I also love the silver and glitter and polish! I am sure that your guests felt very special!
Just a little heart attack…! Thanks for putting the reminder out there as do you know this time of the year we have a peak in incidence in the ER. I am sure that everyone in the neighborhood had a lovely time enjoying your beautiful decorations and cranberry white chocolate cookies- my favorite. Please do take care of yourself this holiday season. BAM
You have “totally normal weeks”?
Kidding! Seriously, great post and recipe! My mouth is watering. I think I better get looked at…
Oh Barbara, these cookies look absolutely amazing and delicious! If only I can get my hand inside that cookie jar!
Oh Smidge, I feel like that’s been my whole year. So I can relate. I have no doubt you threw a delightful party – beautiful in fact! And I’m sure these cookies were a hit. I hope you’re having a fabulous holiday season.
[...] Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies* [...]
I just got a bucket of this from Mrs Higgins (cookie shop here), If I just know you will be posting this I would never had bought it. Love this cooking flavour
Oh my I’d be popping one of these cookies in my mouth every few minutes ! Love the white chocolate and cranberry combination.
So glad you had wonderful party, Smidge! A good time well deserved after all that hard work!
Smidge… I had to drop in again to tell you how you and this post inspired me to buy paper whites and an amaryllis to decorate our Christmas home… (something I rarely splurge on) but your sense of style and mostly peace/serenity work wonders for me! Thank you and have a beautiful holiday.
Love the video! Don’t we all have days like that! Your photography is stunning! Thank you so much for linking up! These cookies look delicious! The recipe looks easy and fun….the perfect combination!
Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas!
karianne
For all the frantic feelings during this time you may have it’s interesting that your posts always have a calming effect on me. Maybe it’s the place where you feel this too.
Enjoy these last few days till the 25th. Peace….x wt
PS – Am out to stock up on white chocolate for these lovely cookies. Might throw in some oats for that little natural mood booster
Just wanted to follow up and tell you I made these cookies and love, love, LOVE them! I didn’t have bread flour so used all purpose. Mine were not as high as yours, but oh my goodness, the flavour! These will be part of my repertoire now. So good!
Aren’t they just the best? I’m so glad you liked them.. and I’m so glad I didn’t mess up the recipe! I’ve had two different mistakes pointed out this past week.. so now I’m checking 3-4 times when I type:D xx
It’s so busy these days, I think we’re all making more typos and the like. Thank goodness we can go back and edit any time!
by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
These look like spring on a plate! I will have to try both.
Smidge, there are perfect for my gluten intolerant nephew!
Mandy xo
Fabulous, thank you.
Mandy – The Complete Cook Book recently posted…Peach Cobbler
I’m sure they would cheer you up. We call those sprinkles, ‘Hundreds and Thousands’. The weather here hasn’t been the best either. It’s been the wettest start to April in years and we’ve had nothing but rain, rain and more rain. April is usually very beautiful in Sydney with warm days, blue skies and plenty of sunshine xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted…Nasi Goreng and…the Police
This is spring pretty …
Viveka recently posted…f stands for filippa k
Either version looks good to me! They’re beautiful Barbara.
I remember these from my childhood, though Mom never baked them. Rather than waste time trying to remember where or how I came to know these tasty cookies, I’ll just bookmark your recipe and make them instead. All things considered, I think this a much more rewarding way to go. Thanks, Barb, for both the recipe and this touch of nostalgia.
ChgoJohn recently posted…Bourbon & Cola Sauced Ham
How delicious and delicate looking!
yummychunklet recently posted…ffwD: Pierre Herme’s Olive Sables
Thanks, Viveka!
The more lemony the better!
Tandy recently posted…Sunshine Award
These cookies look delicious! I love anything with lemon flavor. Lovely post.
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker recently posted…Buttermilk Banana Bread
Happy funfetti day to you… I think I can see some sunshine and daylight coming into you kitchen. Just like John, my auntie used to make these as well- mile high piles of these cookies for our family reunion. Sometimes she would make them lemon flavored but many time she would make them anise flavored and she would dunk the whole Italian cookie into the icing. I love these cookies and they are quite nice with an espresso or a limencello. Thanks for the memories. Chow, BAM
Bam’s Kitchen recently posted…Veggie Crisps with Chestnut Hummus Dip
Mmmm these cookies are so springy
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted…Guest Post #8: Diabetic Friendly Taco Pizza
Had never heard of these so it was exciting to find a new Italian sweet! And although I’m not gluten intolerant, I love the sound of using almond flour
Chica Andaluza recently posted…Chinese Spiced Aubergines & Cast Iron Excitement
How totally Smidge that you made both versions and that both were delectable. Totally loving both of these recipes and the food writing (pillowy lemon clouds sound pretty awesome!)
I LOVE the gluten-free versions Smidge !
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I love baking with ground almonds – and so I would plump for the second one for sure, love the colour of the blue glass and the hundreds and thousands all together. You take the most beautiful photos Smidge ! xx
I’ve had these before – wonderful cookie! Never made them, though – I should do that (or rather beg my wife, who’s really the baker in the family). I’m totally in love with lemon, so this is one of those cookies that really speaks to me. Great job – thanks so much.
john@kitchenriffs recently posted…Caesar Salad
How pretty your cookies are! I am always taken by your photos! B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!
And I just bought one of those cooling racks the other day too! This just looks tooooooooooo nummy!
I really love the flavor of ground almond flour, much nicer than white rice as a substitute, I think. xx
They’re so easy, especially for a talented chef like you, John!
They come in handy.. I have one even larger, lol!
I love the looks of both of this cookies and the fact that they are lemon cookies make me want to eat every one of them! I bet the house smelled good while these were baking. Gorgeous job in the decoration of them. They are definitely irresistible!
mjskit recently posted…Roasted Bell Pepper Cheese Spread
Thats a really nice looking cookie, I want some
Raymund recently posted…Menudo
Oh I cute do they look! Mr Chocolate is doing some insane fitness SAS sort of thing on the weekend with a bunch other fellas. I’ve threatened to send him with the girliest looking cupcakes I can muster…perhaps these cookies should be added?
cityhippyfarmgirl recently posted…Rocky Road birthday cake
Making these once the lemons come in on our tree – we’re just in the bud stage now.
I laughed out loud over the pronunciation of these cookies…wasn’t just the wine that made that funny! But these cookies are no laughing matter. Fun, yes, but seriously delicious looking. And more lemon just couldn’t hurt!
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Barb, I love coming to your blog, it’s like a breath of fresh air! It’s fun, funny, and beautiful. The cookies look amazing, too. From your descriptions, I can’t decide which I would like better, so I’d better make both! Have a great day!
Debbie
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You’re so lucky! I’d love to have a lemon tree!!
I actually tried to pronounce it the same.. but couldn’t:D
Haha.. but they weren’t too pretty to eat;D
They were both great.. I’d love to find out if there’s a way to make gluten-free cookies rise a bit more? Off to do some research now:D
Gawd. Even your cookies are pretty.
Aww, those really do make you happier just looking at them. I can only imagine what eating them must do!
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What an absolutely beautiful cookie, and relatively simple too. Thank you for the gluten free version, we all have friends/family who are gluten intolerant so it’s lovely to have them both in one post, so clever. I was just looking at my sprinkles in my pantry…what to do with them? Well, Smidge, you definitely gave me something to do with them, thanks! My brother’s family is coming for “Easter” dinner on Sunday and I know the kids and adults alike will love these pretty, festive cookies.
We’re being beaten down with gallons of rain, I guess it’s better than the alternative — snow! I just wish it would warm up already. The bulbs are really trying to come up, but they keep retreating for the cold. We had to put the heat up last night, my feet were so chilled. URGH!
They were so yummy.. I wish I still had a few:)
These look so fun and festive! And I bet they’re delicious as well. I love the taste of lemon.
Wow!
Your work is delicious enough to provoke a response from WP Support!
Good for you!
Haha.. no, it’s a goofy system, where my comments look like that if I respond using that little box on the top of the screen. Very annoying, Hook, it also doesn’t “nest” comments.. so you’ll have to scroll through to see this likely:D
Ooh. These look so good… I love lemon this time of year. (thanks for sharing on Project Inspire{d} this week!)
Shannon at MadiganMade recently posted…Crafty nerves and excitement
Thanks, Shannon, they were so yummy and not difficult at all like I thought they’d be:) xx