Finally a recipe that almost screams Christmas.  No Banana Bread or rice dishes or brownies for me this week...it's all Christmas all the time!

Not really.

I just can't drum it all up.  I'm enjoying some time not hustling my ass out of bed to get out the door at 7:30 a.m. and run to work in sub-zero stupid temperatures (that sounds like the infamous 'Dad-getting-to-school' story don't you think?).  However, I'm just not somebody who goes over the moon for the holiday.  I've already told you all that I'm a bit of a 'bah-humbug'.  So, I can in all honesty take or leave most of it.  I had a bit of a meltdown last week in fact, when I tried buying something in the Eaton Centre.  The line up in that particular store was out the door and the rest of the mall was really no better.  This was the middle of the day, during the week!  Nevertheless, the part that I actually enjoy is the food part and if I could make stuff to give all of you as a gift, I would.  That is the truth!


Here's the thing... I had a Cookie exchange party to go to today.  Truth be told, my track pants were calling my name but I had made a commitment and I was going to see it through.  I decided to spread out the stress though by making 3 different cookie doughs last night and then baking them off today.  So, it really wasn't that bad.
Long story short, you're going to be getting a lot of cookies around here for the next while.  Nothing wrong with that, right?


These cranberry, white chocolate babies just kinda threw themselves together.  I got the basic recipe from the King Arthur flour website.  I fiddles a bit here and there but nothing drastic.  Added in an adequate amount of both the white chocolate chunks and the dried cranberries and... voila!  The nice thing about these is that they are easy drop cookies but they manage to look festive with the white and red mixed in.  I liked the texture of the cookie, although I might look for something just a smidge less cakey in future.  I'm all about the 'gooey'.  If you like a cakey cookie then these are for you...


Cranberry, White Chocolate Drops (adapted from King Arthur Flour)
about 3 dozen

1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/3 cup + 1 tbsp sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 lg egg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
2 tbsp milk (optional - didn't use it)
1 cup coarsely chopped or chunked white chocolate
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a cookie sheet (or two if you have) and set aside.
Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl combine the sugar, brown sugar and butter.  Cream everything until it's light and fluffy.  Add in the egg and vanilla and whip together until light and fluffy.
Add the flour to the wet ingredients and combine well.  Add in the white chocolate and the cranberries and Mix until everything is well incorporated.
Drop by lg tbsp's onto the cookie sheet and bake for about 10 min. or until just lightly browned around the edges.
Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and let them cool on baking racks.