Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop And Giveaway

Are you a cookie lover?
If you are, you are in the right place! 

I am tickled to be among one of the quilting bloggers on this hop
hosted by Carol S. at Just Let Me Quilt.

Follow along and collect some yummy new recipes to add to your collection!
Many of the bloggers are offering prizes too!

Nothing better than cookies and prizes, right?

Today, I am sharing one of the oldest recipes that is traditionally

made every Christmas in my home.

The recipe for Swedish Jam Shortbread was published

in our local newspaper back in 1987.

(Somehow that doesn't seem so long ago.)

They are easy, chewy, sweet and IF you call raspberry jam a fruit serving,
they are healthy to boot! 

This photo does not give justice to these flavorful nibbles!

Hop along to visit the other bloggers listed below!

December 5 

Creatin’ in the Sticks

Creative Latitude

Gray Barn Designs

Domestic Felicity

Pieced Brain

Quiltscapes

Ms P Designs USA

Cynthia’s Creating Ark

December 6

 Sew Incredibly Crazy

Freemotion by the River

Moosestash Quilting

One Old Goat And Her Little Farm

A Little Bit of Everything, from Mike & Alisa

Hazel’s Daughter

Patchouli Moon Studio

Bumbleberry Stitches

Selina Quilts

Brenda’s Blog

December 7

 Quilt Doodle Doodles

Kris Loves Fabric

Life in the Scrapatch

Home Sewn By Us

For The Love Of Geese

Stitch Days

Val’s Quilting Studio

Tu-Na Quilts

It’s A T-Sweet Day!

Just Let Me Quilt

I think I mentioned a prize, didn't I?
Yep!

Orange Peel Template Set and a Windham Fabrics charm pack!!!

To be entered to win the above items.
leave a comment telling me about the one cookie that you just have to have every Christmas!

If you are a Bloglovin' follower of this blog and your name is randomly chosen,
you will find some extra goodies in your package!

*Just click the link along the right side bar that says [Follow me on bloglovin']

Contest closes at midnight (CST) Friday, Dec. 8th.

UPDATED: Contest closed! The winner has been emailed!

Charlotte M.December 7, 2017 at 9:30 AM

Peanut blossoms...they became the "family favorite" when my children were small. Now the grandchildren help make them too

Charlotte M. has 48 hours to reply! Lucky Charlotte is a new Bloglovin' follower, so will find some extra goodies in her package! Woohoo!

Be sure to include your email if you are a no-reply commenter!

The Esssential Instant Pot Cookbook

Fact: I truly love my Instant Pot. 

Fact: Using my Instant Pot has completely refreshed my interest in cooking.

When I saw The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook by Coco Morante, I knew I had to have it.

I needed some hands-on, hard-copy recipes to try that included step-by-step directions to help me use my new machine correctly.

Yep, that blowing-up-the-house image was stuck in my head.

This was a pressure cooker after all!

The first recipe I made was Brown Butter Steel Cut Oatmeal. I love steel cut oatmeal and if I could make it faster and simpler than my usual stove-top method, this would be a seller for me! With the simple step-by-step directions telling me what buttons to push and when to add ingredients, I was completely impressed. In truth, I have made this recipe several times since I got this cookbook. It makes enough to last me a whole week. I scoop out what I need and warm it in the microwave, add a teaspoon of brown sugar with some walnuts, spill on some almond milk and I'm set!

Brown Butter Steel Cut Oatmeal

*used the Porridge setting

(Oatmeal doesn't make such a pretty picture, but don't let that fool ya!)

Next I  made a side dish called Barley With Mushrooms and Sage. I served this along side a roast chicken, then the next day added some of the shredded chicken to the dish for my work lunch. Delicious!

Barley With Mushrooms and Sage

*used the Beans & Grains setting

Once the weather cools down here in Iowa, it's Soup Time! This Minestrone did not disappoint at all! Full of fresh vegetables and seasonings, it is hearty and warming. I added the optional pasta which was cooked separately. 

Minestrone

*used the Soups/Broth setting

My husband is a rhubarb lover, so I had to make the Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote! Even though the recipe calls for fresh rhubarb, I used the frozen kind I had cut up from the garden earlier this year. Never fear, it came out perfect! My husband loves to eat this straight from a bowl, but I prefer it over vanilla ice cream. Yummy!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote

*used the Low Pressure setting

There are still so many recipes in this cookbook that I will try.

Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cake

Spicy Beef and Bean Chili

Classic Meatloaf

Salisbury Steak

Also included in the book are ways to convert recipes for the Instant Pot; must-have tools; how to use the operation keys and lots of awesome, mouth-watering photos!

If you are considering buying an Instant Pot, or already have one, I would highly recommend this cookbook! The recipes and directions are outstanding! 

More info about this cookbook can be found here: The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook

Read more about the cookbook's author here: Coco Morante

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.