We are getting ready for Valentine’s Day-but it’s always so busy this time of year.  These quick cookies were a great fix.  They are very easy, very yummy and the pink and red M & M’s and sprinkles leave no question about what holiday we are celebrating!

You can use your regular chocolate chip cookie for this recipe and just substitute the chocolate chips with Holiday M & M’s in pink, white and red.  Before the cookie bakes, sprinkle the pink and red sprinkles across the top and lightly press down onto the top of the cookie dough.  I wanted to use a more “cake-like” cookie for this recipe and tried out Martha Stewart’s Cakey Chocolate  Chip Cookies recipe for the first time.  With a few adaptions for my m & m’s and sprinkles, I declare that  it was delicious!

I took them to a sporting event at the school, and they disappeared in minutes!  I think the adults enjoyed them as much, if not more than the children.  Must have been the sprinkles.

RECIPE

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large bag of Holiday M & M’s (for Valentine’s Day use pink/white/red)
• 1 bottle of holiday sprinkles or nonpareils in appropriate colors

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the M & M’s.
2. Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
3. Sprinkle the sprinkles or nonpareils across the top of each cookie and gently press into the top to make sure they adhere.  Don’t press them below the dough, or they will dissolve and disappear into the cookie.
4. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges and set in the center, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

It’s a very cold morning in Georgia. 19 degrees is practically unheard of in this part of the country. All of the schools are closed…expect for ours. Can you hear the crying and wailing of my fourth grader? I have been told that her screams can be heard all the way across Atlanta. That is the disappointment of a homeschooler who attends a University Model School. The assignments were handed out ages ago and the schedule must be kept, or so we’ve been told. Being a mother, that used to be a child, that lived for snow days, I decided to offer a delay in the schooling portion of our day. We started our morning with a movie, hot chocolate and chocolate chip scones. Why scones? Because they are very, very, very easy and quick. I didn’t want to spend one more minute away from the comfort of my chair with the BIG blanket than necessary. So, here are my instructions on how to have a F aux Day or a pretend Snow Day of your own. Unless of course you actually are at home because of a Snow Day.  Dont’ worry, these instructions will apply to you as well!

1. If you have a fireplace, get it started!
2. Remove the comforters and quilts from all of the beds in the house and pile them on the sofa.
3. Tuck your children in and turn on a favorite movie.
4. Quickly whip up the scone recipe below and get the hot chocolate started. You can see my recipe for Christmas cocoa, if you really want to make it a special occasion. But, we just went for the non-indulgent version today.
5. Serve the scones and cocoa to your children at the kitchen table, but take yours, along with a pile of magazines and books and bury yourself deep into the recesses of your blankets.
6. Don’t come out until lunch time.

If you are really having a snow day, then repeat steps 1-6 for lunch and then again for dinner. If your day must go on, like ours, untangle yourself from the covers, put on a double pair of socks and make grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. I move to hot tea in the afternoon, but no one will know if you sneak in a second cup of cocoa.

Enjoy your Faux Day or your Snow Day!  Stay warm, drink cocoa and read good books!

January books I have finished.  This is what I am reading today.

Chocolate Chip Scones

Ingredients:

2/3 cup cream (no cream in the house?  see the note below)

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla-the real thing please!  No imitations!

2 cups flour

2 T. sugar

1 T. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

5 T. cold butter, cut into 10 small pieces

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 400°

If you have a silpat or parchment paper, line your baking sheet.

In a small bowl, whisk your egg, vanilla and cream.

In a larger bowl, gently mix the dry ingredients together.

Add in your cut butter and with your hands rub the cold, cut up butter into the dry ingredients.  Don’t be scared!  It will all wash off with a little soap and water. You are barely going to work the butter into the flour.  It will feel like little pebbles or peas and you should be able to see a few flaky pieces.  This is where most people make a mistake and overwork the butter into the flour.  Just stop!  Underworked will taste far better than overworked-I promise.

Add in your cream/egg mixture.  You can use your hands and just mix together until it starts to stick.  Or give it a couple of turns with a wooden spoon or spatula.  No more than 10 turns!  It will be very sticky.

Shape the dough on your lined baking sheet into a big circle-maybe about 12″ across. With a sharp knife, slice into 6 wedges, but don’t seperate them!  Bake for 18-22 minutes.  Don’t overbake! As soon as the tops are firm and light, golden brown, they are done.  Remove from the oven and cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

Fabulous!

***No cream?  You can substitute milk or even better would be buttermilk.  Another option would be sour cream or plain yogurt. The results won’t be exactly the same, but still delicious!

Dear Santa, we loved everything!  These little Santa pancakes are a tribute to all of mommy’s your hardwork last night.  We appreciate everything you do for us, and we vow to keep Christmas in our hearts, all the year long! 

Merry Christmas!  Enjoy your day!