I’m so glad it’s Friday. That means another RAK Reporting Day! Did you find fun things to do for others this week? Leave your report in the comments today and I’ll pick winners again and will announce them next week. The three randomly-drawn winners from last week are: Lisa in PA, Brigitte in MD, and Sara in TX. Each one has been contacted, and wins two skeins of The Loopy Ewe Solid Series yarn and a pattern, in their choice of colors, plus a tub of my favorite Heel Creme by Soak.
I loved reading the comments on last Friday’s Reporting Day. I think it’s great that so many of you are including your kids in the RAKs that you’ve been doing (like Karla and her baggie of change for the Salvation Army kettles, that her 4 year old hands out, or Elle who is working with her 3 year old to pick out gifts for their church’s gift drive.) What a great way to teach them the spirit of giving and doing for others. Many of you are reaching out and adopting kids or families who have no money for the holidays, and are doing things to provide them with cheer. Others of you have looked for impromptu opportunities to pass something on (like Brigette, who literally gave the coat off of her back, and Megan who passed her daughter’s new coat on to a child that didn’t have one.) And even things as simple as Kathy bringing hot cocoa to her mail lady, or Chris delivering coffee and donuts to the Pharmacy staff that prepares her dad’s medicine, or Sarah F. making homemade chicken noodle soup for sick neighbors. Your acts of kindness are a reminder to all of us that this season is more about giving than getting. Keep up the blessings and keep reporting in on Fridays so that we can all enjoy them and be inspired.
Today’s recipe is one from a blog called Sing For Your Supper. These cookies look so pretty, and taste great, too.
Peppermint Kisses
4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup candy cane powder*
2 sticks plus 4 Tbl. unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 egg yolks
2 tsp. vanilla extract
crushed peppermints (I used about 15 regular-sized candy canes, crushed)
White almond bark (about 12 oz.)
* Candy cane powder is made by crushing candy canes into a fine powder. I crushed these with a hammer and then dumped them into a strainer. The finest pieces went through to the bowl below (and was used for the candy cane powder) and the larger pieces in the top of the strainer were used to garnish the cookies when finished. (Note: when using a hammer to crush candy, keep your fingers out of the way. Why would I mention this? Oh, no reason. No reason at all.)
Mix all dry ingredients together.
In a large bowl, beat the butter at medium speed until smooth (about a minute). Add sugar and beat for about two more minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and yolks, one at a time, then add in the vanilla.
Reduce mixing speed to low and slowly add in the flour mixture, mixing just until it has been fully incorporated.
Drop the dough by rounded spoonful onto baking sheets covered with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-12 minutes. Cool completely.
Melt almond bark and drizzle or spread on top of cookies. Add chopped candy cane pieces for garnish. Makes 40-50 cookies.
Now – back to the RAKs – tell us what you did this week!
Sheri usingleftoverpeppermintpiecestoflavormycoffee,yum!
Thank you for reminding us to think about the people around us.
I took fresh baked cookies and visited an old lady, who has seriously health problems and can´t go out much. The family visits and helps every day, but they don´t have time as they have a shop. So I spend two hours with her and she enjoys a visit like that very much.
Also I sorted out toys and books and took them to our second hand shop.
And of course, since my BIL died at the end of october we help his wife everyday to cope and to organise life alone.
I spent a day volunteering at the company I work for to package up food for the food bank.
My friend who is raising her son alone and had to file bankruptcy a few months ago lost her father last month. She didn’t have enough money to bury him, so I solicited some of my friends to help. My friends donated close to $1,000 to help defer funeral expenses. I hate asking anybody for anything, but I’m happy I was able to aleviate a bit of my friend’s stress.
Yesterday we baked fresh bread. Later that day we found out a friend lost his wife. So we took over a loaf and sat with him for a while last night. This is such a terrible time of year to lose a loved one.