Swedish Tea Balls

Holiday Cookie Blog Hop!!

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Welcome to the Holiday Delights Cookie Blog Hop, in honor of National Cookie Day and the wonderful books you can read while you’re eating them!  I didn’t know there even was a National Cookie Day, but you can bet I’m going to celebrate it from now on.

And what better way to eat cookies than while reading holiday-themed romances!  Thirty or so romance authors, led by the fabulous Jessa Slade, are sharing their favorite recipes and dishing about their latest holiday-themed books.  The list of authors is at the end of this blog, so make sure you check them out after you’ve spent a little time drooling over my recipe.  I guarantee that by the end of the day you’ll have some great recipes, and maybe even walk away with a few new books to read.

My contribution to Cookie Day comes from my mother’s vault of recipes.  Mom was a wonderful baker, and she spent weeks before the holidays putting up tins and tins of cookies in the freezer.  The following recipe was always my favorite – Swedish Tea Balls.  Easy to make, and oh-so-good!

Swedish Tea Balls

1 cup butter

1/4 cup sifted powdered or confectioner’s sugar (10X)

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 tablespoon water

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped pecans

Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla.  Stir in the water.  Add flour and mix.  Stir in nuts.  Roll into one inch balls and baked on an ungreased cookie sheet for twenty minutes at 300 degrees.  Cool before removing from pan, then roll in frosting.

Frosting

4 cups icing sugar (4X)

1/2 cup milk

Blend sugar with milk to achieve a smooth consistency.  When cookies are cool, roll in frosting then set on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry.

Easy peasy, and delicious!

And what will go wonderfully with my cookies and perhaps a cup of tea?  My latest Regency-set historical romance, that’s what!  Here’s the blurb for His Mistletoe Bride:

BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE…

When Major Lucas Stanton inherited his earldom, he never dreamed his property would include the previous earl’s granddaughter. Phoebe Linville is a sparkling American beauty, yes, but with a talent for getting into trouble. Witness the compromising position that forced them into wedlock. Whisked away to Mistletoe Manor, his country estate, it isn’t long before she is challenging his rules—and surprising him in and out of bed…

Phoebe has no intention of bowing to Lucas’s stubbornness even though he offers all that she wants. His kisses and unexpected warmth are enticing, but Phoebe is determined to show the Earl of Merritt what real love is all about. And if that takes twelve nights of delicious seduction by a roaring fire, she’s more than willing to reveal her gifts very slowly…

I’m happy to say that His Mistletoe Bride has gotten great reviews, and spent one month on the Amazon bestseller list for historical romance.  To read an excerpt and for buy links, check out my books page.

I’m giving away a copy of His Mistletoe Bride to one person who comments today.  Just tell me what your favorite cookie recipe is for a chance to win.  Then check out the links to the authors below, and start hopping away!

 

 

Christmas Cookies & Books!

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My mom used to spend the weeks before Christmas baking cookies by the dozen.  She’d then store them in tins in our basement freezer, taking them out for holiday meals or when friends stopped by for a cup of coffee.  I have so many wonderful memories of our house smelling like a baker’s dream, and I loved spending time in the kitchen helping my mom and liberally sampling the results of our work.

Here are two of my mom’s best cookie recipes.

Swedish Tea Balls

  • 1 cup of butter, softened
  • ¼ cup sifted confectioner’s sugar (icing sugar)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla together.  Stir in the water and then add the flour.  Mix till blended then stir in the pecans.  Roll into one inch balls.  Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes, at 300 degrees F.  Cool before removing from sheet, then roll the balls in the frosting.  Refrigerate or freeze until just ready to serve.

Frosting:  4 cups of confectioner’s sugar mixed with ½ cup of milk.  Adjust with sugar or milk to get the consistency that is best for icing.

 Oatmeal Macaroons

  • ½ cup Spry or Crisco
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg, unbeaten
  • 1 cup sifted flour
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • ½ cup nuts

Combine first seven ingredients and mix.  Add the sifted flour and baking soda to mix.  Add remaining ingredients and blend well.  Drop by teaspoons on greased baking sheet.  Press slightly with a fork coated in sugar, or the bottom of a small glass coated in sugar (just press the glass in a dish of sugar – enough will stick to do the trick).  Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-13 minutes, checking to make sure the cookies don’t scorch on the bottom.

And what goes better with tea and cookies then a nice book to read?  As it’s the holiday season, I’d like to give away some books to celebrate Christmas.  The first of two is Countess of Scandal, a lovely historical romance by Laurel McKee.  The second book is Lord of the Isles, a fab Scottish paranormal romance by Debbie Mazzuca.  Just tell me what your favorite cookie recipe is to be eligible.  Two people will each win a book!

Note!!!  I’ve had to disable the comments temporarily because my blog is getting flooded with spam.  My webmistress is working to correct the problem, and we should have comments back up shortly.  Check back tonight or tomorrow, and thanks for your patience!  And I WILL be awarding those two books by tomorrow evening!

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