Winter Solstice & Hot Cocoa Cookies
Winter is officially here and we have made it through the shortest day of the year. We begin a new cycle toward light as the days begin to get longer again. I recently read that the winter solstice is a time to celebrate the rebirth of the sun and the self, so that is my mantra in the upcoming weeks. At the beginning of the week I attended a Hanukah celebration at work and have been thinking about how we light candles in our own life and in the lives of others. It is so beautiful to me that Advent, Hanukah and Kwanza all have symbols of candles and light. It makes me feel very unified and connected to others during this time. I love the peaceful energy that the season of winter brings. It's a time for contemplation and centering, and with just one month to go before we welcome our Baby Girl into the world I am certainly feeling mindful and reflective. I wonder what she'll look like, and how the labor will go, and what name will be the best fit for her. I'm hoping that she won't arrive too early, and I'm trying to be mindful about bonding with her in our final few weeks together before sharing her with the world.
The sunrises in Santa Fe have been so beautiful this week, a reminder to pause and be a present observer of short-lived beauty. Sometimes, though, this season feels so counterintuitive. I intend to be relaxed, calm, and reflective, but with so many things to do and places to be, it's easy to lose track of our intentions. We had a really lovely Christmas at home with our little family this year. Ady was so curious and joyful on Christmas morning as she eagerly awaited discovering what Santa brought (and whether or not he ate his cookies!). She is at such a fun age for embracing the spirit of the season and expressing the pure joy of Christmas. It is so fun to live vicariously through a toddler at Christmastime and to experience her awe and wonder.
After Thanksgiving we took Ady on the Polar Express train ride in Durango. It was so magical for her! It was snowing during the train ride and we enjoyed hot cocoa (or "warm chocolate," as Ady would say) on our way to the light show at the North Pole. Santa came aboard the train and greeted all the children. Ady, recalling the plot of the story (and still not really sure how the Santa thing works), asked for a silver bell for Christmas, and was overjoyed to receive one on the train. We got a couple extra bells to share with Ady's cousins too! In addition to our snowy Polar Express trip, we've had a fun and eventful month of holiday parties, making gingerbread houses, admiring Christmas lights in the neighborhood, going sledding for the first time, viewing the Capitol Christmas Tree on its way from New Mexico to Washington D.C., trying new cookie recipes, and visiting the Living Nativity scene, featuring a real camel and baby goats. It is so joyful to see the world through the eyes of a toddler during the holidays.
And speaking of "warm chocolate," I tried a new recipe this week: Hot Cocoa Cookies. They're rich, gooey, chocolatey cookies topped with marshmallows, and best right out of the oven. Happy Winter! And enjoy!
Hot Cocoa Cookies
From The Great Minnesota Cookie Book
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
16 oz semisweet chocolate, divided
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
30 mini marshmallows
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
2. Chop 12 oz semisweet chocolate into small pieces. Melt the butter and chocolate in microwave on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, then cool for 15 minutes.
3. Beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Add the melted chocolate mixture, then the flour mixture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake until the tops of the cookies crack, or about 12 minutes.
5. Remove from oven, top with a piece of semisweet chocolate and 3 mini marshmallows, then return to the oven for 4 more minutes.
The sunrises in Santa Fe have been so beautiful this week, a reminder to pause and be a present observer of short-lived beauty. Sometimes, though, this season feels so counterintuitive. I intend to be relaxed, calm, and reflective, but with so many things to do and places to be, it's easy to lose track of our intentions. We had a really lovely Christmas at home with our little family this year. Ady was so curious and joyful on Christmas morning as she eagerly awaited discovering what Santa brought (and whether or not he ate his cookies!). She is at such a fun age for embracing the spirit of the season and expressing the pure joy of Christmas. It is so fun to live vicariously through a toddler at Christmastime and to experience her awe and wonder.
After Thanksgiving we took Ady on the Polar Express train ride in Durango. It was so magical for her! It was snowing during the train ride and we enjoyed hot cocoa (or "warm chocolate," as Ady would say) on our way to the light show at the North Pole. Santa came aboard the train and greeted all the children. Ady, recalling the plot of the story (and still not really sure how the Santa thing works), asked for a silver bell for Christmas, and was overjoyed to receive one on the train. We got a couple extra bells to share with Ady's cousins too! In addition to our snowy Polar Express trip, we've had a fun and eventful month of holiday parties, making gingerbread houses, admiring Christmas lights in the neighborhood, going sledding for the first time, viewing the Capitol Christmas Tree on its way from New Mexico to Washington D.C., trying new cookie recipes, and visiting the Living Nativity scene, featuring a real camel and baby goats. It is so joyful to see the world through the eyes of a toddler during the holidays.
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| All aboard the Polar Express |
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| Merry Christmas! |
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| "Warm chocolate" on a winter's night |
And speaking of "warm chocolate," I tried a new recipe this week: Hot Cocoa Cookies. They're rich, gooey, chocolatey cookies topped with marshmallows, and best right out of the oven. Happy Winter! And enjoy!
 |
| Hot Cocoa Cookies |
Hot Cocoa Cookies
From The Great Minnesota Cookie Book
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
16 oz semisweet chocolate, divided
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
30 mini marshmallows
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
2. Chop 12 oz semisweet chocolate into small pieces. Melt the butter and chocolate in microwave on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, then cool for 15 minutes.
3. Beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Add the melted chocolate mixture, then the flour mixture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake until the tops of the cookies crack, or about 12 minutes.
5. Remove from oven, top with a piece of semisweet chocolate and 3 mini marshmallows, then return to the oven for 4 more minutes.
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| Chocolatey-marshmallowy goodness |
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