Santa's Surprises

Ingredients

2 sticks butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

24 Snickers miniature candy bars

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 325°F.

2.) In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.

3.) In a large bowl, mix together butter, peanut butter, and sugars until light and fluffy.

4.) Add eggs and vanilla and combine thoroughly.

5.) Then mix in flour mixture.

6.) Cover and chill dough 2-3 hours.

7.) To form cookie, scoop a tablespoon of chilled dough and flatten.

8.) Place a miniature Snickers in the center and form the dough into a ball around the Snickers.

9.) Place on a greased cookie sheet.

10.) Bake for 10-14 minutes.

11.) Cool cookies on a rack.

12.) Optional: Decorate cookies with powdered sugar or drizzled melted chocolate or both.

Ryan and Corey gave these cookies a GIANT thumbs up!!!

Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole

Though I enjoy burning marshmallows, these are actually my favorite sweet potatoes.

14 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled sweet potato (about 5 pounds)

• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• Cooking spray
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

Place potato in a Dutch oven, and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Combine the half-and-half and next 4 ingredients (half-and-half through egg) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add potato to egg mixture; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Spoon potato mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

Combine flour and sugar in a food processor; pulse to combine. Add chilled butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans; sprinkle over potato mixture.

Cover and bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 25 minutes or until the topping is browned and the potatoes are thoroughly heated.