Cookie Monster

We did our annual cookie bake this pat weekend. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, my mom, and I typically spend a full Saturday whipping up batches of cookies and candies. We have a few favorites that we do each year, but we also really like seeking out new and exciting recipes. Elliott and his cousins enjoyed "decorating" gingerbread men (by placing sprinkles, frosting, and cookie directly into their mouths.

This year we made:
-chocolate coconut balls
-gingerbread strips
-gingerbread men
-Nutella and pretzel no bake cookies
-cherry rum balls
-graham cracker candy bites
-browned butter crinkle cookies with salted caramel frosting (my favorite)
-candy cane blossoms
-coconut snowball crisps
-shortbread bites
-Christmas "crack"
-Andes mints chocolate cookies
-buckeyes
-chocolate overload cookies

After baking cookies all day, the family packed into our cars and drove to the St. Louis Zoo's annual Wild Lights display.  Upon seeing the huge lines of cars and people, most of our family (driving separate cars) bailed on the event.  But, my mom and dad, Chris, and Elliott and I stuck it out (the lines went very quickly).  Elliott wasn't incredibly impressed with the light display.  He did, however, absolutely LOVE watching a high school glee club perform holiday songs and dances in the Zoo's cafe.  He would watch them intensely, mesmerized, and then shout "hooray" with his arms in the air at the end of each performance.  It made the whole event worthwhile!

Whew, and if that wasn't enough baking and holiday festiveness for you, I also made peppermint Chex, fruit cake cookies, and Brutti Ma Buoni for a friends cocktails and cookie exchange (pictures below)!