Martha Mondays - Thumbprint Cookies

Thanks so much to Pru for picking Thumbprint Cookies as this week's Martha Monday project.  You can read how her cookies came out at Perfecting Pru or at Martha and Me. 

I chose to use the recipe that was in the December issue of Living.  I was very simple.  And of course, I went with the chocolate.  The recipe on the website and the one in the magazine are different.  The dough in  'Living' can be used for many different types of cookies and this is one variation. 

On a funny note:  Charlie was being Charlie and bought me a present.  A new paddle attachment for my mixer that scrapes the edges of the bowl while it mixes.  It's so cool and I really wanted one.  As soon as he gave it to me I tossed the old paddle.  Guess what.  The new paddle is for a 4.5-5 quart mixer and mine is a 6 quart.  The blade didn't come close to touching the sides or the bottom.  So I guess I get to go exchange it.  But isn't he sweet for at least thinking of it?

And that being said, I got to use my handy-dandy hand mixer on this one.  They are very simple to make but you can't be in a hurry.  Refrigeration is a very important step.  It is a basic cookie recipe.  Cream butter and sugar.  Mix flour, cocoa and salt.  Add egg and vanilla to the creamed butter, then mix in flour.

Roll into balls, make indentation with your thumb and refrigerate.  After a short baking time, redo the indentation with the end of a wooden spoon and complete baking.

 

 When they are completely cooled, make a ganache and spoon into thumbprints.  The ganache will set up and you will have this:

The cookies by themselves are not too sweet.  Charlie said they definitely need the filling.  He wasn't thrilled with them but said they were ok.  And the proof of that is he only ate 3 of them.  The rest will go to the office with me today.

Thanks again Pru for picking this one.  I needed to jump start my holiday baking and this got me going!

Live, Laugh, Love

Karen

Martha Mondays - Turkey Pot Pie

This week's pick for Martha Mondays was chosen by Sarah at Sassy Suppers.  We needed to post how we used Thanksgiving leftovers with a little Martha flair, of course.

This year  Charlie and I scaled it down a bit so we didn't have alot of leftover side dishes, thank goodness.  We did have a decent amount of ham and turkey, even though we only made a turkey breast.  I made turkey club sandwiches, a ham and cheese frittata and turkey pot pies.

I didn't eat a club sandwich that was inspired by some of Martha's Sandwiches and Charlie said it was delicious.  I did eat some of the frittata and it was so, so, so good.  Did you get that...you can get the recipe here.  This is how it looks...

I'm so glad there is some of this left for breakfast tomorrow morning.

Now on to the next best thing. 

I have to tell you a secret first. 

I've never made a potpie before.  Charlie thought it would be the best way to use up a good amount of the turkey.  I looked at several different recipes and most had the same ingredients but I ventured out on my own.  In other words, I used what I had in my fridge and pantry and came up with this.

Turkey Potpie

Taste of Home

1 cup cubed peeled potato

1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots

1/3 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onions

3 tablespoon butter

1 clove garlic, minced

1 1/2 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cup cubed turkey

1/2 cup frozen peas - thawed

3/4 cup canned corn

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon tarragon

1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Store bought pie crust or your favorite

Saute potatoes, carrots, celery and onions in butter.

Add garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute.

Stir in broth, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes.

Combine flour and milk in separate bowl.

Add to veggies slowly, stirring while you are adding.

Bring to a boil.

Cook and stir until thickened.

Add remaining ingredients.

Cook until everything is warmed through.

I used store bought crust.  You can use your favorite but I suck at pie crust.  And isn't the first step of recovery, admitting that you have a problem. 

Prep your bowl, fit crust inside then fill will hot turkey mixture.  Add crust to the top and seal edges.  Cut slits in top crust.

It is luscious.  Thanks Sarah.  I enjoyed trying something new.

Martha Mondays - Thanksgiving Centerpieces

It was my pick for Martha Mondays and I knew that I needed to scratch something off of my to-do list for Thanksgiving.  With that in mind, I picked centerpieces because it was something that I could get taken care of and just put aside until the big day.

This is what is on my table now.  Gold, glass pumpkins purchased at Sam's.  I love them.  I can put them out in September and not worry about changing anything until the day after Thanksgiving.  They are beautiful and give off the fabulous glow.

After going through Martha Stewart's website looking at all of her handmade centerpieces and table settings, I was exhausted and took a small break to get my creative juices flowing.


They didn't flow very far, unfortunately!

This is what I ended up with after my first effort.

Candles in cranberries is what I call this.  And I made a note to buy new candles since these apparently haven't been straight in a very long time.  I couldn't find any ribbon that I liked and I think it is very, very plain.  Maybe I needed to make several and group them.  This presented a problem since I don't have anything that comes close to matching.

On to try something else.



I drug out a box of old decorations that I knew just needed some tender loving care.  Ok, I admit.  I keep stuff.  It's not hoarding, more of a pack rat thing.  I come by it naturally, my Dad was the same way.  But it's all in boxes and one day I'm going to either need it or find a way to use it.  Like today. 

With all of the Martha inspiration and a little of her glitter, I turned the old pumpkins into sparkling jewels.  I even sparkled a real pumpkin too.  And after inserting some glass balls that matched perfectly, I think I've got something here. 

Reminds me of a fairyland.   I had fun and my table will now look beautiful with this in the center.  I can't wait to see what the others came up with.