Friday, October 31, 2008

#6, Haystacks,& A Birthday!

Okay, here is #6. They are really simple to make and the caramel topping on top is my favorite part. For you pecan lovers this is another cookie for you. On a side note, the fall weather we are having here is so gorgeous! Have a great weekend!
"Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints"
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, separated
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans
FILLING:
12 to 14 caramels
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening
DIRECTIONS:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk, milk and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and salt; add to the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Roll into 1-in. balls. Beat egg white. Dip balls into egg white and coat with nuts. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make a 3/8-to 1/2-in. indentation in the center of each ball. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool. Meanwhile, in a large heavy saucepan, melt caramels with cream over low heat; stir until smooth. Using about 1/2 teaspoon caramel mixture, fill each cookie. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Drizzle over cookies. Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.

These are so good and really easy to make, the M&M's are so cute on top!
"Haystacks"
3/4 cup Butterscotch chips
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
3 cup Chow Mein Noodles
Blue M&M's (optional for nests)*
DIRECTIONS:
Melt buttterscotch chips and peanut butter. (Microwave works fabulous for this)! Add noodles. Mix. Drop with a fork on waxed paper to form haystacks. *Double size of haystacks to form nests and top with blue m&m's.*

Bridgett over at La Bella Cook gave me this award. Thank you so much Bridgett, I was so excited to get this! Bridgett always has delicious looking food/desserts and I can't wait to try her "Enchilada Chicken" - yummo! I am going to pass this on to:

  1. Jessica at Turkey Cookies
  2. Rae over at Made By Rae
  3. Rebekah over at Don't Call Me Becky
  4. Allie over at Finding Inspiration In Food
  5. Tina over at Mommy's Kitchen

Okay, so yesterday was my brothers 19th birthday. It is rare that we get pics of all 6 of us together. It is actually only 5 of us, since my little sister Anna doesn't like to get in pictures - *if you are a friend or family reading this - tell Anna to let us post pics of her.!*

L to R: Lisa, me, Joe, Steven, & Andrew

Steven obviously thinks there is something so much more interesting to look at over there....

13 comments:

Tina Butler said...

Awee thank you so much Priscilla that was so nice of you to think of my site. (((hugs))) That camamel on the pecan thumbprints looks so good. I will add it to my list of the rest of the goodies i need to bake for the holidays. The M&M are a nice touch to the haystacks. I love your site as well its such a nice treat to come see what you have baked.

nicole said...

Ohh I wish I lived next to you. All these goodies make me want to go bake something. I will be trying some of these good treats soon.

Allie said...

You're the sweetest! This is a perfect ending to a long week! I'm drooling for a thumbprint cookie. You wanna come over and do all my holiday baking for me? :) Thanks again!!

Rachelle S said...

You are so awesome that I also handed out an award to you!
http://ldylvbgr.blogspot.com/2008/10/roasted-pumpkin-seeds-and-award.html

enjoy!

I have never had haystacks before.

Barbara Bakes said...

You can't go wrong with chocolate, caramel and nuts!

Pam said...

The haystacks are so cute with the m&m's. The chocolate caramel thumbprints are calling my name. They look divine!

Jodi said...

The haystacks look great! This is definitely something my husband would love if I made for him. His grandma (from IA) used to make these, so he has fond memories of these cookies!

Cristine said...

More wonderful recipes, as always! :)

Neesie said...

I love the idea of the haystack. Very cool! And, Happy Birthday to your brother.

PS. So, we (Philadelphia) pulled off the win. Couldn't be more happy over here! :-D

Rebekah said...

Thanks for the blogging award! Your holiday desserts do keep getting better...these thumbprints look delicious!

Jessica said...

Oh thank you, Priscilla! You rock...and without all of your yummy inspiration, I would be much more boring in the kitchen!

priscilla joy said...

Tina - sure. glad you enjoy my blog!:)

Nicole - hope you enjoy what you make! living next door? i don't know, with all these desserts you might be bigger than you wish.:)

Allie - sure! getting awards are great. i don't think my family would allow me to ever miss our holiday baking!:)

Rachelle - thanks! i didn't know i was "awesome"?!:)

Barbara - i know, you can't!

Pam - i think so too! thumbprint cookis are so good!

Jodi - your husband was from iowa? wow. hope you enjoy them!

Cristine - thank you!:)

Neesie - i know, when your team wins ballgames - it is a happy time!:)

Rebekah - sure! now that we are in the top 5, they should get even better!:)

Jessica - i rock and i am awesome? wow, i never knew that!:) so glad to inspire you!

Katrina said...

All the treats look so good, but yum especially to the caramel chocolate thumbprints. Haven't seen that version of the thumbprints and they look YUMMY!