Oreo Balls: A No-Fail, Crowd-Pleasing Holiday Treat

When it comes to holiday baking, I love treats that are simple to make, delicious, and a hit with all ages. One of my go-to recipes that checks all the boxes is Oreo Balls. These little bites are rich, creamy, and let’s be honest — anything dipped in almond bark is a holiday winner! Plus, they’re great for making ahead, and the kids love helping roll and dip them. It's a fun family tradition we do every year.

Easiest Christmas Cookie EVER

Want to make some Christmas cookies this week but just don't have the energy or time? Then make the easiest Christmas cookies ever that uses just two ingredients - Peanut Butter Cup Cookies!

O Christmas Tree

For me and my family, it doesn't feel like Christmas until we get our Christmas Tree up in our living room.  The Christmas tree is one of those Christmas traditions we hold dear to our hearts and have even developed a set of rules for...

Classic No Bake Cookies

*This post is sponsored by Christmas Cookies Week.  

All views and opinions shared are my own.*,

If you are a chocolate and peanut butter fan and looking for a quick sweet, then look no further than the Classic No Bake Cookie.  My family loves these cookies all year long and they are always a must for Christmas Cookie Trays every December.

Holiday Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

*This post is sponsored by Christmas Cookies Week and sponsors 
Sprinkle Pop and YumGoogle.  All views and opinions shared are my own.*

Christmas isn't complete without making the iconic cut-out sugar cookie.  You won't need another recipe after trying these simple and soft cookies, perfect for decorating.

Delicious Cookies: A Family Classic

*This post is sponsored by Christmas Cookies Week and sponsor Silpat.  All views and opinions shared are my own.*

Delicious Cookies are not only delicious, they are a buttery shortbread cookie with a little extra added crunch that brings back memories for my husband's family, perfect to add to your Christmas Cookie platter or to make just because.

Bake to your Heart's Desire with Christmas Cookies Week

*This post is sponsored by Christmas Cookies Week and our generous sponsors 

Adams Extract, Sprinkle Pop, YumGoogle and Silpat.  All views and opinions shared are my own.*

Tis the season for snow flurries, caroling and of course, Christmas Cookies!  This week I'm joining forces with 33 other bloggers to bring you over 100 festive cookie recipes, perfect for your holiday cookie platter.  I'm excited to be sharing my husband grandmother's Delicious Cookies with you tomorrow, my go-to Holiday Cut-Out Sugar Cookies on Wednesday and my classic No Bake Cookies on Friday.  All three of my cookies are tried and true recipes that have been favorites of my family for years, decades and even generations!

22 Family Favorites for Your Christmas Cookie Tray

With Christmas just a week away it is time to make sure I have enough goodies to fill Christmas plates for our neighbors and Christmas Cookie Trays for all of our family gatherings.  Thankfully, with over 130 recipes shared on the #Celebrate365 Cookie Exchange I have no short of inspiration of how to fill the trays.  Here are 22 recipes that were linked up that have been family favorites for generations!

Gram's Classic Thumbprint Cookies, Savory Moments

Almond Roca, Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats

Grandma's Peanut Butter Cookies, Vickie's Kitchen and Garden

Grandma's Gingersnap Cookies, The Tip Garden

Grandma Joan's Gooey Wonders, Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids

Fudge Dipped Crescent Cookies, Cooking with Carlee

Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Butterscotch Frosting, Living on Cloud Nine

Chocolate Crinkles, Oak Hill Homestead

Marlene's Sour Cream Cookies, Cooking with Carleee

Peanut Butter Balls, Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids

Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies, Savory Moments

Cut-Out Butter Cookies, Canning and Cooking at Home

White Chocolate Dipped Snickerdoodles, Living on Cloud Nine

Homemade Caramels, Flint & Co.

Muddy Snowballs, Family Around the Table

Old-Fashioned Hermit Bar Cookies, Happily Homegrown

Sour Cream Cookies, Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Easy No-Bake Cathedral Cookies, 2 Cookin' Mamas

Rum Logs, Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids

Tender Italian Sugar Cookies, Jolene's Recipe Journal

Butterball Cookies, My Fearless Kitchen

Cherry Chews, Red Cottage Chronicles

I love how many of these recipes have been handed down from generation to generation through the years.  What is your family's favorite Christmas Cookie?  Remember to Comment for a Cause.

Holiday Survival Guide from a Mom of 4

Anyone else feeling like it's crunch time with only 10 days to go before Christmas?  With Christmas programs at school & church, holiday gatherings & parties filling up the calendar, and the need to still wrap all 22 of my gifts, it can be a little overwhelming.  And when Mom is overwhelmed, the whole house becomes chaotic.  So to help everyone out during this crazy, I mean wonderful, time of year, here is my Holiday Survival Guide:

Organize and Make A Plan

It's not too late to start making a plan for the holiday season.  With places to be, food to make, and all while trying to keep a clean house, you need a plan.  A couple years ago on my blog I created Holiday Check Lists starting the week before Thanksgiving.

This week make sure you have a menu in place for all of your Christmas gatherings and then buy all of your groceries.  The grocery store is a busy place the week of a holiday, so do your big shopping trip now, so if and when you need to go back, it can be for a quick trip!  Also, if you are like me and haven't wrapped any gifts, start wrapping!  No one likes wrapping gifts the day of a party to only find out you don't have enough wrapping paper.  So start now, wrap a few every night and before you know it you'll be done.  Be sure to check out the full check lists for 1 Week Before Christmas and Christmas Week to help you get organized.

Become a Minimalist

The minimalist lifestyle is a big trend these days, and part of the reason why is so you can declutter your life and live simply and happily.  You can take these principals when it comes to the holiday season too:

• Make a budget for Christmas gifts, and scale-back on gift giving.  This might be the year to talk with family members about gift giving during the year.  Last year my sisters and I decided that we wouldn't give birthday gifts anymore for our generation and instead plan a birthday supper with the whole family.  We knew none of us needed stuff just because it was our birthday, and that getting together was more rewarding.
• Don't buy holiday decorations.  Use what you have and if you want something new, make something with your kids.
• Don't feel like you have to go to every holiday party you are invited to.  It is easy to say yes to every dinner and get together, but sometimes being away from home a lot, especially over the holidays, can be exhausting.  
• Enjoy and evening at home.  Throw in a Christmas movie, pop some popcorn, and snuggle up on the couch with your family and simply enjoy a night a home with the Christmas Tree lights on.

Do those Extra-Special Things

So I know I just said, don't feel like you have to go to every holiday party you are invited to, but at the same time, make time to do those extra-special things and make memories with your family.  As my six year old son told me before we decided to go see the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train come through town, "this doesn't happen every day."  Go see Santa.  Go to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick out your tree.  Go on a drive to check out Christmas lights.  And always, go see the Holiday Train if it comes through your area.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train in Mason City, Iowa

Bake Cookies

Baking Christmas Cookies isn't only delicious, but it can be a fun tradition to do with your family.  Now at the same time, there is no need to get overwhelmed by cookie baking, so make your favorites, or try some simple cookies.  Here are some of my family's favorites:

Remember the Reason for the Season

Lastly, always remember the reason for the the season.  Like I have said, Christmas can be a busy time of year, but take time to reflect with your loved ones about Jesus's birth.  Do simple things every day like family Advent devotions.  Make Christmas gifts simple by giving three gifts to represent the three gifts Jesus received.  Also, think about ways your family can give back or pay it forward during the holiday season to share God's love.  And incorporate your birthday traditions on Christmas Day to remind everyone why we are celebrating during the holidays.

What are your tips for surviving the holiday?  Be sure to share and Comment for a Cause.

Peppermint Sandies #ChristmasCookies

*This post has been sponsored by Christmas Cookies contributor,

Nielsen-Massey Flavors.  All views and opinions shared are my own.*

I can't believe it is already Friday of Christmas Cookies Week!  I hope you have been following #ChristmasCookies on social media to see all of the delicious cookie recipes from over 30 bloggers.  When I first found out that Nielsen-Massey was sponsoring Christmas Cookies Week I was excited to try their different vanillas and extract flavors and was drawn to their Peppermint Extract.  Afterall, how much more festive can you get than peppermint!

These buttery, crispy, Peppermint Sandies have just the right balance of flavor and are the perfect refrigerated cookie to add to your Christmas Cookie platter.

Peppermint Sandies

1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Butter

1/2 cup Shortening

2 eggs

1/2 tsp Nielsen-Massey Peppermint Extract

3 cups Flour

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1 cup Peppermint Baking Chips

In a large mixing bowl, combine sugars, butter and shortening.  Add eggs and peppermint extract and combine till light and fluffy.  Mix in flour and baking soda well.  Stir in peppermint baking chips.

Divide cookie dough in half.  Shape each half into 2 inch diameter log.  Wrap in plastic wrap.  Chill 2 to 3 hours, or until firm.

Cut logs into slices. Bake cookies at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges are light golden brown.  Cool completely before storing.

Now it is your turn to make these cookies by winning the Nielsen-Massey Flavor Extracts Package!  Be sure to enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What Nielsen-Massey flavor extract would you like to try?  Be sure to Comment for a Cause and check out the rest of today's Christmas Cookies Week recipes:

• Almond Spice Christmas Wreath Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Black Forest Brownies by Palatable Pastime
• Chewy M&M Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
• Chocolate Orange Blossoms by Family Around the Table
• Chocolate Marshmallow Meltaways by Jolene's Recipe Journal
• Gingerbread Madeleines by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
• Greek Baklava by House of Nash Eats
• Honningkagehjerter by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Lemon Ginger Crinkle Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Lemon Pizzelle Della Sondra by Girl Abroad
• Grandmas Lily’s Thumbprints by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Mocha Biscotti by Books n’ Cooks
• No Bake Christmas Tree Cookies by Cooking with Carlee
• No-Bake Eggless Chocolate Salami by All That’s Jas
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies by Simple and Savory
• Peppermint Meltaway Cookies by Making Miracles
• Peppermint Sandies by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
• Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies by Soulfully Made
• The Old Fashioned Cookie by Making the Most of Naptime
• White Chocolate Oatmeal Raisin Cookies by The Bitter Side of Sweet

Rum Logs #ChristmasCookies

♫ It's the most, wonderful time, of the year🎝 

otherwise known as Christmas Cookies Week!  

All this week I'm joining with other bloggers 

to share 130 Christmas Cookie recipes.

I love making Christmas Cookies throughout the month of December and I love sharing Christmas Cookies at family gatherings, with neighbors, and with friends.  Besides Christmas Cookies being delicious, festive, sweet treats, they are also a favorite family tradition of mine.  Every year the first Christmas Cookies I make are Peanut Butter Balls.  I love making these with my mom and sisters after Black Friday shopping.  Another cookie I love making with my family are my Great Grandma Mae's Rum Logs.  Not only do these cookies make me smile because they were one of my Great Grandma's recipes, a woman who I loved and cherished very much (in fact our oldest daughter's middle name is Mae in honor of her).  But these cookies are also one of my Mom's favorites and always makes me think of her.  For the longest time I felt like she was the only one that could make them right, but after a little tinkering with the recipe, I feel like I can make a pretty good batch of Rum Logs and now you can too!

Rum Logs are a light and slightly sweet cookie that are a perfect addition to any Christmas Cookie Platter.  I love how they are soft and will melt in your mouth, especially if you pair them with a glass of egg nog.  Plus, the kids love decorating them with sprinkles!

Miss L and Miss R had a lot of fun decorating
the Rum Logs with sprinkles

Rum Logs

1 cup Butter
3/4 cup Sugar
1 Egg
1/4 cup Milk
2 tsp Vanilla extract
2 tsp Rum extract flavoring
1 tsp Nutmeg, ground
3 cups Flour

Cream butter and sugar together.  Then mix in egg, milk, vanilla, rum, nutmeg and flour.  The dough will be stiff.  Roll dough into 2 inch long "logs".  You can place them fairly close together on the cookie sheet as they won't raise much.  Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies appear dry and bottoms are just golden.  Do not let the bottoms of the cookies brown.

Then to make the glaze for the top of the Rum Logs whisk together:

1 cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp Rum extract flavoring
1/4 tsp Vanilla extract
1 Tbsp Milk

Dip the top of each cookie in the glaze and decorate with colored sugar or nutmeg.

I hope you try a batch of these festive cookies soon!  And I hope you check out all of these other great cookies shared today as part of Christmas Cookie Week:

• Alfajores (dulce de leche sandwich cookies) by Caroline’s Cooking
• Candy Cane Tassies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies by The Bitter Side of Sweet
• Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Dutch Speculaas Cookies by Palatable Pastime
• Easy Sugar Cookies by Bear & Bug Eats
• Empire Cookies by Red Cottage Chronicles
• Gingerbread Gooey Butter Cookies by Making Miracles
• Gingerbread Men Cookies by The Freshman Cook
• Graham Cracker Chocolate Chip Cookies by Books n Cooks
• Holiday Sugar Sprinkle Butter Cookies by Family Around the Table
• Italian Rainbow Cookies by Everyday Eileen
• Loaded Festive Chocolate Chip Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
• Makrut Macaroons by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Mocha filled Sandwich Cookies by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Oatmeal Raisin Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Pecan Caramel Turtle Bars by Tip Garden
• Pepparkakor (Swedish Ginger Cookies) by The Redhead Baker
• Peppermint Candy Canes by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Peppermint Crinkle Cookies by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
• Peppermint Macarons by House of Nash Eats
• Peppermint Mocha Shortbread Cookies by Cooking with Carlee
• Peppermint Shortbreads by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pistachio Wedding Cookies by Soulfully Made
• Raspberry Filled Coconut Snowflakes by Making The Most of Naptime
• Raspberry Thumbprint cookies by Simple And Savory
• Rum Logs by Corn, Beans Pigs and Kids
• Vanilla Bean Pizzelles by Love and Confections
• White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box

What Christmas Cookie sparks your interest?  Do you have any Christmas Cookie traditions?  Be sure to Comment for a Cause!

#Celebrate365 Cookie Exchange Blog Party

Peanut Butter Balls.  No Bake Cookies.  Sugar Cookies.  Gooey Wonders.  Peanut Butter Blossoms.  I really could go on and on, but I think you get the picture... It's Christmas Cookie Week!  And to get things started I am partnering with my Celebrate 365 co-hosts (Carlee from Cooking with Carlee, Jan from Tip Garden, and Nicole from Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom) to host a Cookie Exchange Link-Up Party.

All bloggers are welcomed and encouraged to link up their favorite Christmas Cookie recipes.  I can't wait to see what everyone shares, as I love making a few different cookies each week in December leading up to Christmas, that way I have well rounded Christmas Cookie platters with lots of favorites and variety.  

Also, be sure to stay tuned for Christmas Cookie Week by following #ChristmasCookies on social media.  I'm excited to be sharing a family favorite recipe tomorrow as part of the week long festivities, and a new recipe I created that is full of holiday flavor on Thursday!  Be sure to follow along and check out the 130 recipes!

What is your favorite Christmas Cookie?  Be sure to link-up the recipe and Comment for a Cause!

An InLinkz Link-up

Festive Egg Nog Cookies with Rum Frosting

* This post has been compensated through the AE Dairy Blog Ambassador program.  All views and opinions shared are my own. *

Those that know me, know that I'm quite the eggnogaholic this time of year.  I mean, I even Instagram and Tweet about it. 😉 To be specific, I like just a simple glass of AE Dairy's Classic Egg Nog in a festive glass or even straight from the carton.  Nothing added or spiked, just straight.  I mean why mess with a good thing.

A little #AEdairy #EggNog + my #Cyclones = Perfect Thursday Night ☺💛❤🌙 Go Cyclones! #cyclONEnation

A photo posted by Val Plagge (@plaggeval) on Dec 1, 2016 at 6:06pm PST

So, since I am such a big fan of Egg Nog it was mandatory that I develop an Egg Nog Cookie recipe.  This easy Egg Nog cookie brings out the natural flavors of the egg nog into a light and pillowy cookie.

I also decided that this recipe needed something to top it off, so I added a Rum Frosting that you can dip the top of the cookie into, drizzle on top, or I have even piped it into the cookie as a fun surprise for the middle of the cookie.  The Rum Frosting reminds me of my Mom because one of her favorite cookies has a similar frosting. 😊

Egg Nog Cookies with Rum Frosting

Cookie:
2 cups Flour
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1 Tbsp Sugar
1/2 tsp ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Salt
4 Tbsp Butter
1 cup AE Dairy Egg Nog

Frosting:
1 Tbsp Butter
1/4 tsp Rum extract
1/4 tsp Vanilla extract
1 cup Powdered Sugar
1-2 Tbsp AE Dairy Egg Nog

Stir the flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together.  To the dry ingredients, mix in butter with a hand mixer til it forms small crumbles.  Then add the Egg Nog and mix til it forms into one large dough ball.

You can roll out the dough or take scoops of the dough.  Make sure you roll out or flatten your cookies because they will rise (and become pillowy soft 😉) in the oven.  Bake the cookies at 375ᐤ F for 10 minutes.  Recipe yields 2 dozen cookies.

While the cookies are baking, make your Rum Frosting.  With your hand mixer mix the butter, rum and vanilla.  Then mix in the powdered sugar til it forms crumbles.  Add 1 tablespoon of Egg Nog at a time until you reach the consistency desired.  I like to dip the top of the cookies into the frosting.  You can also drizzle the frosting or use a piping bag to fill the frosting in the inside of the cookie.

With the frosting, I recommend keeping these cookies in cold storage.

Doesn't this look like the perfect combination for Santa!

These cookies are a winner for all the egg nog fans in your life, and will make those that think they aren't fans reconsider. 😉 Do you love Egg Nog?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!  And since last month I only had a couple blog posts, I'm continuing this month's Comments for a Cause dollars to go to Iowa Cookie Crumbs.  And what better post to comment on and help support their efforts then a Christmas Cookie post!  Be sure to check out my other Christmas Cookie recipes too:

• Homemade Chocolate Mint Oreos
• Peanut Butter Balls
• Grandma Joan's Gooey Wonders
• 16 Iowa Christmas Cookie Exchange

Comments for a Cause - Iowa Cookie Crumbs

It's November 1st and time to talk Comments for a Cause!  In the month of October I had 28 comments, equaling a $14 donation to My Stuff Bags Foundation!  This money will go to helping children in crisis centers and foster care have their own personal items.

In the month of November I'm looking forward to helping some Iowa bakers and their efforts to send cookies to troops overseas by donating $0.50 for every comment made on my blog to Iowa Cookie Crumbs.

Last December I read an article about a group of Iowa bakers that sent more than 30,000 cookies to U.S. military personnel stationed overseas during the holidays and I knew I needed to highlight them as a future Comments for a Cause recipient.  If you've been reading my blog for awhile you know that I have a sister in the Army National Guard and a brother-in-law who was in the Marines and Marine Reserves.  Needless to say, anything to support the troops means a lot to me, because I know how much it means to our soldiers, especially when they are deployed.  And since Veterans Day is celebrated during November, and I knew there would be a lot of cookie baking in preparation for Iowa Cookie Crumbs's holiday shipment, I thought this month would be the perfect time to showcase their compassion and appreciation for our military.

The Iowa Cookie Crumbs was formed by Abbie Crawford, of Southwest Iowa, nearly ten years ago and they not only send cookies to our troops during the holidays, but each month all year long.  In fact, last month the group hit the milestone of baking and sending over a million cookies!

All of the boxes of cookies are shipped to individual service men and women.  Names are collected through Treat the Troops, a larger network that the Iowa Cookie Crumbs works through.  The Iowa bakers do send boxes to local soldiers, based off of requests, but a majority of their cookies are sent to soldiers not directly from the area.

So help me, help this group of dedicated bakers by commenting all month long so we can help cover some of the shipping costs of all of these cookies!  ***If you live in the Council Bluffs area, you can personally help by attending their holiday cookie packing day on November 15th at Emanuel Lutheran Church.***  What is your favorite cookie?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

2 Weeks Before Christmas - Grandma Joan's Gooey Wonders & Holiday Check List

I don't know about you, but it started feeling like two weeks before Christmas for me when I was telling the youth of church yesterday that we had to have a couple things finalized this week so I could finish the Children's Christmas Program bulletin!  It seems just like the other week the kids were getting their parts for the first time and now I have just two weeks to make sure everything falls into place before the big night!  I know we'll be good and the kids have been great at practices, it is just crazy to think that the program is already that close!

Throughout the holiday season I've been sharing a holiday recipe and my weekly holiday check list each Monday.  In honor of my Mom's side of the family's Christmas this weekend (and with the help of my Facebook fans helping me decide), I thought I'd share my Grandma Joan's Gooey Wonders recipe!

My Grandma Joan's Gooey Wonders are a staple food group at all of my Mom's family functions, especially at Christmas.  My Grandma Joan brings these each Christmas and has enjoyed passing along the tradition and recipe to her grandchildren.  I love to make a batch of these indulgent little squares of chocolate, gooey caramel and a delicious butter and oatmeal crumble each Christmas to add a little variety to my Christmas Cookie platters.

Grandma Joan's Gooey Wonders

Melt:
6 Tbsp Milk
43 Caramel (Not 42 or 44, but 43.  I don't know the reason behind 43 but the caramel sauce turns out perfect with each of those 43 caramel squares, so why mess with something that works!)

***Chef's note: Take your time melting the caramels and milk at a medium to medium low heat, constantly stirring.  Once they have creamed together into a smooth caramel sauce, take it off the heat and set aside.  You don't want to overcook your caramel; otherwise the caramel will be hard rather than gooey.

Mix til crumbly:
1 1/3 cup Flour
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 1/3 cup Oatmeal
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 cup Butter, softened

Press 2/3 of the crumb mixture in a greased and floured 9x13 pan.  Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Remove from oven.

Sprinkle 1 bag of chocolate chips over the top of the crust.  Then spread the caramel sauce over the chocolate chips.  Lastly, sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top of the bars.  Bake an additional 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Now while this may be the hardest part, let the bars cool and then cut into squares.  If you can't resist waiting, the bars will be extremely gooey!

And a special note to all of my Iowa readers that receive Iowa Farmer Today in the mail.  Check the paper this week as the kids and I are being featured in a Holiday Sweets Farm Kitchen section, where I share this Gooey Wonders recipe and a few others!

Now that you can add this recipe to your holiday baking for the week, it is time to check out what else you should be doing on my weekly Holiday Check List.

Besides continuing to bake a couple Christmas cookies each week, I really need to finish everything that is involved in getting our Christmas letter out for this year.  Also, this week is a great time to plan what you're making for family get-togethers and to start your grocery shopping.  Be sure to see the complete Holiday Check List here.

And, you can get caught up on my previous week's Holiday Check Lists and Holiday Recipes by clicking on the links below:

Horchata Pumpkin Waffles and 1 Week Before Thanksgiving Check List

Pecan Pie and Thanksgiving Week Check List

Peanut Butter Balls and 3 Weeks Before Christmas Check List

What are some of your family's Christmas dinner traditions?  Do you go traditional like My Farmer's extended family complete with a Christmas Duck, or more hands-free and simple like my family with soups and appetizers?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

3 Weeks Before Christmas - Peanut Butter Balls & Holiday Check List

Family photo with our tree
we picked out from
Meyer Family Trees, rural Hampton, Iowa

It's the last day of November and it officially feels like the Christmas season.  We picked out and put up our Christmas Tree yesterday and the only gifts I still need to finish are the ones I'm personally making.  Black Friday was very successful for me - But I personally always aim for getting as much, if not all, of my shopping done that day because it is a chance to shop without kids!  Now is the time that I start to make Christmas cookies each week, so I will have a variety of goodies for Christmas plates for all of our holiday gatherings.  So I thought for this week's holiday recipe I had to share my family's favorite Christmas cookie, Peanut Butter Balls.

Peanut Butter Balls are a simple and delicious holiday treat that you can get your whole family involved in.  We eat these so much that I've adapted the recipe based on a whole jar of peanut butter ;)  (Peanut butter is one of the hardest and messiest things to measure so why not just use a whole jar!)  These are always the first Christmas cookie we make and usually the last too, because one batch just doesn't last us all month.  And, if you're looking for some more Christmas Cookie ideas, check out my Iowa Christmas Cookie Exchange for 16 delicious treats from Iowa bloggers.

This week's Holiday Check List includes a lot of items, and I'm hoping to gradually check items off each day.  I need to finish my Christmas sewing projects, I'd really like to start wrapping gifts, and I need to start on everything involved in making our Christmas letter.  To see my complete check list for this week be sure to check it out here.

And, you can get caught up on my previous week's Holiday Check Lists and Holiday Recipes by clicking on the links below:

Horchata Pumpkin Waffles and 1 Week Before Thanksgiving Check List

Pecan Pie and Thanksgiving Week Check List

What is your favorite Christmas cookie?  Do you have a family favorite where one batch is never enough.  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Wordless Wednesday - Cookie Thief

I asked my Facebook fans and Instagram followers how'd they caption this photo from earlier today.  How would you caption it?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!