Holiday Cookie: Rocky Road Bars

From Denny:  Rocky road is a favorite flavor combination for everything from ice cream to fudge to cake to cookies.  If you like rocky road and shortbread then this bar cookie is for you!  This is a rich little cookie that is just perfect for the holidays or birthday celebrations.

The beauty of this cookie is that you can make ahead and store in the fridge or even freeze it.  A good recipe for taking to holiday gatherings but one you can make at your convenience when you have the time.  Included are some reviews of the recipe from home bakers.  I always like to see what other people think about a recipe and check out any fresh ideas for different twists of ingredients or presentation.  This King Arthur Flour recipe database has been fun to explore!

Calligraphy Bird Thank You Greeting Cards (10 pack)

Elegant calligraphy scroll design decorates this awesome card! Great for sending out those treasured personal snail mail notes people love to receive after the holiday season.

Prize Winner: Peppermint-Hot Chocolate Cake, Fudge Filling, Marshmallow Frosting

Note the cookies dressing up the holiday glam, garnishing the cake.

From Denny:  Love hot chocolate?  Thought of making it into a cake?  Britainy Shaw, 25, of Louisiana (before that she lived in Texas and before that in Montana) decided it was a brilliant idea.  She heard of Southern Living magazine's contest and decided to enter just for fun, taking third for this cake recipe.

She said her thoughts immediately went to her favorite Christmas flavors.  “For some reason, all I could think of were drinks.  I love hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps in it.”

Her cake consists of three layers of buttermilk chocolate cake that is filled with a fudge-mint filling, frosted with peppermint-tinged marshmallow crème frosting.  

Shaw said the very first time she made the cake it came out perfect; what luck for an experiment!  “I’ve just always been watching my mom and grandma cook.  I would love to open a bakery one day.”  Her cake is featured on Pages 140-141 of the Southern Living December double issue.

Talk about funny; Shaw was sitting outside, reading a Southern Living magazine, when the company called to inform her that her cake had won.  She was awarded $500 for her first time effort.  That should pay for a few Christmas gifts this year. :)

Love Light Large Mug

Let your love light shine! Hot chocolate looks great in this mug... I'm just sayin'