Martha's Tuile Leaves

Ever since I saw Martha Stewart's tuile leaves in her cookie book I wanted to make them for Thanksgiving. Last year, I did just that! Unfortunately, I did not have a leaf stencil so I used a cookie cutter which worked out fine though the process probably would've went quicker and more smoothly with a stencil!

I added them to a plate of chocolate spritz cookies that I made trying out my cookie press for the first time. Here's how it looked:

Check out the recipe: here.

Half Moons

Okay, so do you call these Black and White cookies or Half Moons?

I've called these delicious little guys Half Moons my whole life and I get really annoyed when I see them labeled as Black and White cookies. So, I did a little research. Apparently, they go by a few other names as well, Half and half cookie and drop cake. These cookies are particular popular in Manhattan and Northeastern New Jersey where they are known as Black and White Cookies. It is in New England and Upstate New York that they are commonly known as Half Moons. So, I guess that's why I've always known them as Half Moons. Mystery solved. (Wikipedia)

Anyway, these delightful treats have always been my Italian bakery favorite. I'm usually a 100% chocolate girl but there is just something about the cakey cookie and the not one, but two frosting flavors. There is a recipe mini versions Martha Stewart's cookie book and it's also online here. I was thrilled to try to make them myself and they came out with the perfect consistency. I was very satisfied!

The only tricky part is frosting them because you do it on the underside which isn't smooth. You have to be careful to not get pieces of cookie in the frosting - especially the white. Trying brushing them off a bit before you start frosting.

I'll leave you with this YouTube clip from the Dinner Party episode of Seinfeld in which Jerry discusses the black and white cookie and says "Look to the cookie!" Check it out here.

Heath Bar Fudge

Who doesn't love fudge, right? How 'bout adding some Heath Bar? Yum, right? After we discovered that Hershey makes HEATH Toffee Bits (in the supermarket with the chocolate chips), we decided to alter our favorite fudge recipe adding them in.

Ingredients:
12 ounce package + 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips (the Hershey's milk chocolate chips are also good!)
14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
HEATH Toffee Bits (add as much as you like)
Softened butter to grease the pan

1. Grease pan with softened butter. Pour the chocolate chips, condensed milk, and vanilla into a medium saucepan. Put the pan on the stove and turn the heat to low.
2. Stir the chips and milk until they melt together, about 3 minutes. Stir in Toffee bits.
3. Pour out fudge mixture into plan and put it in the fridge and chill until firm. Cut the fudge into pieces to serve.


Do you have any other ideas of how to use HEATH Toffee Bits?

Cookies Inspired by Barbie!

Have you heard!?! Barbie and Ken are back together! If you've been following their story, you're just as excited about this as I am. I've been a huge fan of Barbie since I was a kid, so I was incredibly excited for the chance to make these Barbie-inspired sugar cookies for a friend's party!

For additional posts about our sugar cookies see:
Purple, Purple, Purple
Sugar Cookie Recipe
Holiday Baking