What are you been cooking today

[DizzyGirl]

You could be right there johnro. Will have to put my thinking (santa) hat on 

[cookie1]

Have made some rum and raisin icecream. Trying to do some house cleaning today.  It needs it.

Here are the photos of our Gingerbread house. I'm really pleased with it. I'm sure it could be more professional but I'm proud of it. DD decided she didn't want it to be a surprise, she wanted in on the decoration. I must admit 4 hands were very useful.
/Christmas%20Gingerbread%20house/P1020223.jpg[/IMG]



A couple of photos don't want to work but you get the general idea.

[mcmich]

Johnro, I love the Santa hats and your photography is amazing too.

[achookwoman]

You girls have been so busy and it is great to see the photos.  Thanks.  Today i made Coconut Macaroons.  Will post recipe.

[fundj&e]

i have made ILB chocolate cake topped with a chocolate ganache /dip sauce and strawberry



Coconut Macaroons yum

[judydawn]

Cookie, your gingerbread house is lovely.  I imagine you are quite proud of yourself.  Which recipe did you use for the gingerbread?

[johnro]

Mcmich the Santa Hats do look lovely but they are not mine - form the site from where I got the idea of using Cookie's mini Christmas pudds - mixture just in the fridge.   

[Wonder]

I'm going to make the Santa hats but am not sure which brownie recipe would work the best. I don't make a lot of brownies and am worried my recipe would be a bit fudgy for this. It looks more like a dense cake. Anyone have a tried and true recipe which would give this crumb shown in Johnros picture?

[judydawn]

I was thinking the same thing Wonder (my family don't like Christmas pudding/fruit cake like Robyn is going to use ) and I wondered if a rich, dense chocolate cake either made in mini muffin pans or in a square tin with round shapes cut from it would be suitable.

[Wonder]

Judy I'm going to make them for a group of kids so pudding won't really be welcome. The recipe calls for brownie mixture but it looks more like a dense cake, but not as dense as a mud cake - more like inbetween a mud and normal chocolate cake.

[Wonder]

I meant to add that I was thinking carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and strawberry topper might also be a nice combination.

[judydawn]

Wonder I am about to go into the kitchen even if it is 9.30pm and try the Ultimate Chocolate Cake, the link was posted here.  I will only do half the recipe and cook them in mini muffin tins I think for this experiment.

[CreamPuff63]

I am in awe of you girls - so busy making lovely Chrissy stuff!

[Halex]

Ho ho ho, all this lovely chrissy food.

Love the gingerbread house cookie

Crown prince wants to try one, please pm the recipe

H

[judydawn]

Wonder, half a batch made 24 mini muffins (probably could have made more but I tend to overfill) plus 6 mini loaf cakes.
I used cacao powder for a richer colour (not as much of it though as I would have used if it was ordinary cocoa powder) and the little cakes are quite rich looking.  I have cut off the domed top and that is where I would decorate with the cream and sit the strawberry for the hat.  For little ones I think it would be quite acceptable so if you are interested in the recipe quantities for half a batch, just let me know and I'll post it.