We are almost there. Almost to the summit of the Holiday season. We are so close to Christmas that I can almost taste the eggnog.
Even a walk around the office yields that telltale sign of Christmas, the Holiday potluck. Plus, since I have projects all over our building, I get to do plenty of walking around and today that produced wonderful benefits. As I bumbled from meeting to meeting from office to office, I kept happening upon Holiday potlucks in the various departments. It was like an abundance of Christmas tastiness cascading down on the Daveman. “Hey, I’m Dave the wandering Project Manager. I’m here for my meeting. Oh, it looks like you’re having your Holiday potluck. What’s that? ‘Grab a plate.’ Thanks, don’t mind if I do.” Ah yes, the life of a wandering Project Manager was very good today. I can worry about the calories next year, because today was all about abundance and my project was Holiday cheer. Yes indeed, you can see Christmas from here.
In honor of the lovey view as we approach Christmas Day, enjoy some Snow-Topped Chocolate Mountain Cookies.
Ah, the majesty of the snow-topped chocolate mountains…
but wait! With the appearance of plastic astronaut man, maybe this is some alien landscape. You be the judge.
SNOW-TOPPED CHOCOLATE MOUNTAIN COOKIES
“The Kiss in the middle makes this one a classic!”
1/3 cup Butter
2/3 cup Powdered Sugar
2 ounces Semisweet Chocolate, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1¼ cups Flour
2 Tablespoons Milk
24 Hershey’s Kisses
Frosting Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Shortening
½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
½ cup Powdered Sugar
1 Tablespoon Milk
¾ cup Powdered Sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and gradually mix in powdered sugar.
Mix in melted chocolate and vanilla extract.
Gradually mix in flour.
Mix in milk.
Shape rounded teaspoons of dough around each Hershey’s Kiss.
Place cookies pointed side up onto parchment paper lined baking sheets.
Bake 10 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned.
Cool.
Prepare frosting by mixing shortening and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
Gradually mix in ½ cup powdered sugar.
Mix in 1 tablespoon milk.
Gradually mix in ¾ cup powdered sugar, until frosting is fluffy.
Top cooled cookies with frosting to make the appearance of snow-topped mountains.
Makes about 24 cookies.
Source: page 56 of my cookie cookbook, “Today is a Great Day for a Cookie,” which is available for free download at www.CookiesbyDave.com.