Hi Everyone!
It’s the first week of December. Our hearts and minds are getting into the swing of the holiday season. I have so many things to share with you. Music, A holiday cookie recipe and my Holiday Gift Ideas List.
How about some music?
To make your days merry and bright, I’ve made a Spotify Playlist! I’ve been listening to it while I’ve been in the bakery working. It’s a collection of my favorites. I’ll be adding more songs throughout the season.
Just go to Spotify and find the playlist:
It’s Cookie Time!
For the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my cookies recipes. Today’s is the first Christmas Cookie/Bar I learned how to make. I’m guessing I was around six or seven years old. It’s way up at the top of our family favorites.
TOFFEE BARS
A cousin to shortbread, these are a family favorite. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Toffee Bars. Each year my job was to make this recipe. It’s very forgiving, and fun for kids.
Makes 1 13x9 pan
Ingredients:
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 pound chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
Cream together the butter and sugar, add the egg, vanilla, and salt. Mix together. Mix in the flour.
Press the dough into the pan with your fingers.
Bake for 20 minutes, until the bars are golden brown.
While still hot, sprinkle with the chips. When the chips have melted, spread across the baked bars, and top with the chopped nuts.
When cool, cut into 2x2 inch squares.
And, how about some gift ideas?
In the spirit of giving, I’ve been thinking about the presents I like to give, and presents I’d suggest. This year I’ve put together a few things I love that you may want to consider giving and/or getting. As you can see, they’re mostly food and culinary related, but I have a few others I’d like to share. No kickbacks, no perks, just products I really like and highly recommend. Let me know how you like these items.
Here’s the list! Enjoy! (and let me know if love these
E. DEHILLERIN, PARIS. For those of you who have taken cooking classes, these are the pieces you’ve used in class.items too!)
Have you ever thought of ordering from Paris? There’s still time to place an order. The deliveries have been arriving usually within one weel.
My suggestions include:
Crepe Pan - Non stick and ready for your delicious batter to make sweet or savory treats.
A copper tarte tatin pan. My all time favorite dessert. Caramelized apples made upside-down in a pan made just for this creation. I bet you can find many other uses for this beauty.
Pequia rolling pin. You or yours will have this beauty forever.
Someone you love needs a tart ring. Just think you’ll have tarts in your future!
If we can’t be in France, let’s bring France to us! Create your own, or order a pre-selected cheese board from this incredible company. No kidding, the cheese leave Charles de Gaule airport and is at your house almost the next day. Mic drop. This is wonderful for special occasions, and for sharing.
My favorites are Comté and Morbier.
Who doesn’t love popcorn? I LOVE popcorn. My very favorite is Rural Route 1 tender white kernels popped in the Whirly Pop Popper. Here’s a coupon code for you! LFB10 will be you 10% I pop it faster and better in the WhirlyPop than any microwave brand. It’s on my stove - always. Right next to the tea kettle.
Drum roll. I love Isely Coffee, and make it decaf. My friends, this is the best decaf I’ve ever had. And guess what? You’ve got a promo code for your order! Use littlefrench and get 10% off. I promise you Santa will be very happy if you leave him a cup on Christmas Eve!
On the website, you’ll find subscription coffee as well as great roasts! Isely Coffee is located in Ephraim, Wisconsin (in Door County).
Let’s shop local!
In Wisconsin, we take our cheese and our cheese equipment seriously! The “yellow cheese knife” is a great gift. It comes to us from Bekah Kates, a local Baraboo culinary shop.
Bekah has a full line of Le Creuset, a favorite line of cookware.
The website is full of cooking equipment!
Mention Little French Bakery, and get your discount.
I love this popcorn popper. I can make stovetop popcorn faster than microwave popcorn. Almost every kernel pops! If you use the promo code SHOUT10, you’ll get 10% off.
Here’s an unusual and thoughtful gift for your favorite Francophile. Oliver Gee’s award winning podcast is fun and so informative. How about adding a Patreon subscription? This will add secret podcasts and sessions only available to subscribers. I think you’ll love listening to Oliver while you’re baking or driving!
Luxury at it’s finest. Paris Perfect Rentals, is a collection of stunning apartments in Paris. These are the linens used on the beautiful beds. Here are some promo codes just for you!
LFB2020BB – Buy one Big Ben Queen or King Sheet set and get 1 set of standard pillow cases free.
LFB2020ET – Buy one Eiffel Tower Full, Queen or King Sheet set and get 1 set of standard pillow cases free.
Note: Be sure to add the sheet set and the set of pillow cases to the cart and apply the code before paying.
I ordered my first pair about one month ago. The merino wool leggings are so soft, not too warm, and have a great fit! I highly recommend them!
Lastly, how about a gift certificate for a Zoom Class. I’m not offering in person classes at the moment, but the Zoom classes have been so fun. Students are having a great time being together. And I always say… you can attend in your sliippers! New classes will be available very soon for 2021.
How about the cookie recipe collection in one spot. Signed Little French Bakery cookbooks are available. Just let me know who you’d like it signed to and they’ll have their own copy1
See you next week for the Cookie #2!
Have a great week, be healthy & kind!
Susan