I plan to do some baking over the next few days, mostly to give as small gifts to friends and family. This afternoon I made a few batches of the following cookies from the M & M’s web site:

Red’s Ultimate M & M Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 12-ounce package M&M'S® Chocolate Mini Baking Bits

3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt; blend into creamed mixture. Stir in M&M'S Chocolate Mini Baking Bits and nuts. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto un-greased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and centers are still soft. Do not over-bake. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks. Store in tightly covered container (makes about 3 dozen cookies).

I cut the sugars in half, but also added another tablespoon of butter because I softened the original amount of butter too much, making it almost liquid. The cookies turned out well, though. My husband plans to take some to his co-workers, and I’m wrapping a half-dozen each in colored paper with a red bow and the printed recipe on a decorative mini-index sheet.

 

Tomorrow we’re whipping up a double batch of Apple Bread, and come Monday we’re going to make more Irish Shortbread. There are definitely some nice cooking aromas coming from my kitchen of late.