Mexican Wedding Cookies made w/ Rum Chata

This holiday season I took part in the 4th Annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, which helps to donate  to Cookies for Kids'Cancer. Not only is this for a great cause. and a great way to network with other Food Bloggers around the country but you bake and receive COOKIES!! Anytime I can help a great cause while cooking I AM definitely all in.

The rules are fairly simple. You're paired up with three other food bloggers at random. You send your trio of food bloggers each a dozen homemade cookies, and then you receive (and eat) another 3 dozen cookies from another round of Food Bloggers. I was so thrilled to participate!

(PS - If you'd like to receive notifications & updates about participating in next year's Cookie Swap you can do so here)

Lucky for me (and B), I've been wanting to make Mexican Wedding cookies (one of my hubby's faves). However, I just knew I needed a little twist in the mix. Especially since the ingredients are fairly basic. (Flour, Sugar, and lots of BUTTER!) = Yum!

Annnnnd, since I wanted to "spruce" them up a bit I consulted my food director, aka my husband, aka B. He sometimes always has the best ideas.

You know what he said?! :
"Add some kinda liquor". (a man after my own heart)
Duh! It was my, ahem,  OUR "AH HA!" moment.
So. Instead of adding vanilla extract, I replaced it with with something I'd like to introduce to y'all: Rum Chata.

Plus, Mexican Wedding cookies would be the perfect cookie to send in the mail. Especially, since I've never really mailed a batch of cookies out before.

Add in the fact that these Christmas Cookies are soooooo easy to make - they were the one.

Man, oh Man! They were so good! I had a to make a few extra batches for ourselves. Husband approved, and I could hardly contain his sneaky little fingers. (See below).

Little dough balls of goodness

Easy packaging for shipping across the country

Sneaking a treat

I had the privilege of receiving some of the most delicious cookies from Jenna of Just J Faye, Linda from Food Huntress and Faith from Pixie Dust Kitchen. PS - I'm so excited to recreated Jenna's Christmas Treasure Drop Cookies (recipe found here). #sogood

Christmas Treasure Drop Cookies // image via Instagram

I also had the pleasure of mailing out a dozen little rum filled balls of joy to Bree from Baked Bree, Alexis of Lexi Bites, and Kelli from The Corner Kitchen Blog. I hope you ladies enjoyed them as much as we did!

Mexican Wedding Cookies with Rum Chata

by Amanda @ Fun In The Oven Blog

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

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Ingredients (24 cookies)

• 1/2 cup butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup powder (confectioner) sugar, divided
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans AND walnuts
• 1 teaspoon Rum Chata

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees and set butter out to soften to room temperature.

Once butter is softened, using an electric mixer (or hand mixer), combine butter and 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, beating at a medium speed until fluffy and peaks begin to form.

Next, sift the flour into the butter and sugar mixture, and to mix thoroughly until dough forms. Gently stir in Rum Chata and chopped nuts until combined within the dough.

Form dough into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake cookies for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.

Cool cookies slightly, then sift the remaining sugar into a shallow bowl or dish.

Next, roll cookies into powdered sugar rolling one cookie at a time while cookies are slightly warm. Once coated, place cookies on a plate until cooled completely. Re-roll powdered cookies into the remaining sugar again until coated completely.

Serve, share, & enjoy!

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#WineWednesday: Wine Glass Swap

The time has finally come! 

Guys & Gals, I give you: the #WineWednesday Wine Glass Swap

I've been waiting & wanting to host a fun swap like this for some time now. But, I had to make sure that everything was just right! I've joined several swaps over the past couple of months and have made some pretty incredible connections... not to mention the nice little package I receive in the mail is simply "the cherry on top". I've been able to connect with other bloggers, (and non-bloggers too) from all over and it has truly been such a FUN experience. So, I decided to host a swap of my own. With a wine theme, no less. 

So, what is a Wine Glass Swap? (you maybe asking)... but let's start by asking yourself this:

Do you like meeting new people?
Do you like to network with like-minded individuals?
Do you like receiving something fun in the mail?
Do you like WINE (and all things that come with drinking and enjoying wine)?

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, then this wine glass swap is for YOU!

The rules/ concept is easy.

You'll first sign-up (by using the form below).
You'll then be paired up with one other wine glass swap participant.
You'll spend the course of a couple of weeks getting to know your partner and sharing a little bit about yourselves with each other.
Lastly, you'll send your partner a fun wine related glass or accessory and they'll do the same for you.
Open your package full of greatness and then enjoy your wine glass (or accessory)!

Sounds amazing, right!? 

Here's what you do: (official rules)

1. When you're ready, sign up by November 12th. 
2. You'll receive your partner's name and email address no later than November 15th. 
3. Spend a couple of weeks getting to know your partner and send their wine glass (or accessory) no later than December 1st. 
4. The maximum budget for the swap item(s) is $15 total. 
5. Share your swap items on social media using the hashtag #WWWineGlassSwap, so we can see and share all FUN Wine Glass Swap packages. 

Note: you do not need to be a blogger to participate, however, the swap is ONLY open to US residents, 21 years of age or older.

Disclaimer: I am hosting this swap as a fun way for people to connect with each other and have fun swapping a wine glass (or wine accessory). Please note, I can not be held responsible for you and your partners actions. I believe that everyone will be fair and only sign up if they intend to swap a wine glass/accessory and participate. However, there is always a chance that someone is dishonest and does not fully participate. If you haven't heard from your partner or do not receive a swap item, please email me to let me know (arhicks0427@gmail.com) and I will do my best to try to remedy the situation. 

I am looking forward to having a great swap and I can't wait to be partnered up with one you.