RECIPE: SOUTHERN SNOWBALL COOKIES

SOUTHERN SNOWBALL TEA COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup Confectioners sugar, plus extra for dusting

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg *optional

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Additional powdered sugar for dusting

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Stir in the vanilla extract.

In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually blend this into the butter mixture. Fold in the pecans, making sure they are distributed throughout the dough.

Roll the dough into one-inch balls and place each ball on the baking sheet with space between each one.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottom of the cookies are lightly golden; the tops will be pale. Cool slightly. While the cookies are still warm, roll each cookie in the Confectioners sugar. Place on a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container. Before serving, dust again with Confectioners sugar.

DECORATING: EASY TO MAKE PUMPKIN PEOPLE FOR HALLOWEEN

Cool weather, football games, leaves just beginning to change--- it's finally fall. Fall is my favorite time of the year and while I don’t decorate as much as I once did, I love these pumpkin people my brother makes. They are absolutely one of my favorite Halloween decorations and you can craft them to look like any number of things. My friend loves cats so she makes hers look like little trick or treating kitties.

How to Make Pumpkin People for Halloween Decorating

You'll need three pumpkins in graduated sizes and a dowel, broomstick, stake, or piece of pipe or PVC for each pumpklin person plus "accessories" to dress them up. First, carve your favorite pumpkin face. Next, stack up your pumpkins to see how they fit together naturally. Next, drill a hole in the top of the bottom pumpkin and insert the dowel until it hits the bottom. Drill a hole in the top and bottom of the middle pumpkin and thread it onto the dowel. Last, drill a hole in the bottom of your carved pumpkin (the face) and place it on the top. Decorate with buttons, flowers, a hat, etc. FYI- I just made some of these and cheated a little and used carpet tape to stick the pumpkins together since I didn't have a drill handy and it worked great. 

RECIPE: POMEGRANATE RASPBERRY CHRISTMAS PUNCH

Growing up, we always had a sherbet punch for holidays and birthdays. It was simple. The only ingredients were orange or lime sherbet and chilled ginger ale, but it was served in a punchbowl making it seem so elegant. Here’s an updated, boozy version of that old school holiday favorite, make fresh and new with raspberry and rosemary.

 POMEGRANATE RASPBERRY CHRISTMAS PUNCH

INGREDIENTS

2 cups pomegranate juice

1 quart white cranberry juice

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 cups Chambord liqueur

1 (750 ml) bottle raspberry vodka

3-4 pints raspberry sorbet or sherbet

2-3 quarts ginger ale, chilled

5 sprigs fresh rosemary

2 cups frozen raspberries for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the first five ingredients in a large container. Chill thoroughly, at least 2 hours. Just before serving, pour into a punchbowl. Add 2 bottles ginger ale or add more to your taste. Scoop large scoops of the sorbet until you have enough to fill the surface. Save some sorbet and ginger ale to add in as it melts. Add fresh rosemary and the frozen raspberries for garnish.