Cookie Packaging Ideas {1}: Chinese Take Out Containers

As part of Cookie week, we are going to be sharing some fun packaging ideas.

Beautiful packaging can elevate the most humble gift into something very special.

For the sugar cookies I chose to package and present them in this chinese take out container.

I found this Christmas themed container at Micheals.

It dresses the cookies up to gourmet status, don't you think?

 I love the litte peek-a-boo window where you can see what is inside.

 And when packaging... don't forget those little important details like ribbon and tags.

They are like candles on the birthday cake....they make it special!

And don't forget to hop on over to Grace's blog, Sense & Simplicity, to see what pretty packaging she is sharing!

Meet you back here tomorrow for more cookie sharing!

This post is linked to these parties:













Tatertots and Jello

Just A Girl

Design Dazzle

Christmas Cookie Week: Easy Sugar Cookies

Welcome to Christmas Cookie Week 2011!

This week my friend Grace at Sense & Simplicity and I hope to inspire you to get some Christmas baking done before the busy-ness of December starts.
I am going to showcase easy cookies that can be made in 1 hour...and recipes that anyone can tackle.
And remember it's just me and my little blue mixer in my little kitchen!

***

The first cookie I want to share with you is one of my favourites...the humble

*SUGAR COOKIE*

This cookie is so perfect... it can be mixed up in 10 minutes and because it is a drop cookie recipe, it doesn't need to be rolled out with a rolling pin.

This cookie is tender and buttery and oh-so-good fresh from the oven.

This recipe comes from my Grandmother Ada.

She made these cookies year round and kept them in a glass cookie jar on her kitchen counter.

{You can see the recipe below...published in 1979 in a little country community cookbook}

 I double the recipe as my Grandmother suggests.

And when you make cookies....always use real butter and real vanilla...the taste is so worth it!
*SUGAR COOKIES*
{makes 3 1/2 dozen}

In mixing bowl combine:
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar

2 eggs

4 tbsp milk

2 tsp. vanilla

Beat until light and fluffy.

In another bowl, stir together:

3 1/2 cups flour

4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Add flour mixture to butter mixture gradually. Beat until mixed to form soft dough.

Roll dough into 1.5 inch balls.

Flatten with a fork.

Add Christmas sprinkles as desired.

Bake in 325 oven for 8-10 minutes.

Let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes.

Then transfer to cooling rack.

  Here are the sugar cookies on my Christmas cookie platter last year.

I think every cookie platter could use a tasty sugar cookie!

Please make sure you hop on over to Sense & Simplicity to see what Grace cookie is sharing today!

And check back later this afternoon to see fun packaging inspiration for our little cookie!

Project 9: Giving Christmas Hugs...

Today I thought I would share a fun & easy Christmas gift idea~Pretzel Hugs.
My kids first made these for gifts for their teachers in 2007...and we have made them many times since.

Pretzel Hugs are a simple kitchen project.

Even if you are not a baker, you can handle this easy project!

All you need:

Pretzels like shown.

Hershey's Kisses or Hugs.{we like the striped ones.}

M&M's in Christmas colours.

A cookie sheet and an oven.

Directions:

Have the kids can unwrap the kisses and place the pretzels on the cookie sheets.

Place kiss or hug on each pretzel.

Now place cookie sheet in oven at 250 degrees and let the kisses or hugs melt for about 6-8 minutes..if that long.
Then take the sheet out of the oven. While the kisses or hugs are still soft and melty, press an M&M candy into each one.

After they cool, they will look like this:

To package them for gifts, we placed about 20 in each baggy, and then I went to my computer to make the topper and printed it on white cardstock.

The topper reads, "some Pretzel Hugs made especially for you by..{have your child write their name.}

Merry Christmas!

Then we stapled the topper to the top of the baggy as shown.

We love to give these as little gifts at Christmas!

My daughter is 14 now and she can make cookies on her own, but my son still loves to make these.

I think that we will make some "Christmas Hugs" this year and clip on the clipboards we are going to make for my son's teachers.

I will be sure to share when that project is done!

I took some time this morning to remember our soldiers by watching the Remembrance Day services on TV from Ottawa. I have a sick little guy in bed today with a nasty tummy virus....so on his menu today is Gravol, Tylenol and ginger ale.

Hope your day is going better!

This post is linked to these great parties: