I always look forward to this time of year, sharing a post from my dearest friend and co-author of four of my cookbooks. I've enjoyed many days with laughter with Marie and her husband Frank's great espresso. A tradition in my book for the Christmas season, I hope you make Marie's Hootycreeks a holiday tradition too.
Guest holiday post + recipe today by Marie Bianco, my dear friend, food writer, and author.
Edible holiday gifts always make a hit, and this one is about as easy as it can get. Even school-age children can get into the act.
The cookie ingredients are layered in a wide-mouth canning jar, which you can buy for about a buck each. Make sure you get the wide-mouth ones because it’s easier to get the ingredients into those jars rather than the narrow-neck ones. If you’re planning on making a large quantity of mix for all those people on your list who you want to give “a little something,” invest in a wide-mouth funnel.
Tap each layer down in the order given. Once the lid is in place, cut a circle of gingham or holiday fabric and fasten it with a rubber band. Then tie a ribbon around the jar and include the recipe directions printed out on the computer or written in your best handwriting.
Cranberry Hootycreeks
1 jar Cranberry Hootycreek Mix
½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter, egg, and vanilla. Add the Cranberry Hootycreek Mix by hand until the mixture is well blended. Drop by tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges just begin to brown. Transfer to a wire rack and cook. Makes 18 to 24 cookies.
Cranberry Hootycreeks Mix
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ cup old-fashioned oats
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup chopped pecans
Layer the ingredients in the order given into a 1-quart, wide-mouth canning jar. Pack each layer into place before adding the next ingredient.
Attach a gift tag with the mixing and baking directions.
A Cookie Legend
A long-time friend who assisted me during a TV marathon passed along his connection to Hooty Creeks. Now, David related to me that the name of these cookies originated in the mountains of North Carolina. An uncle of his named Bubba “Hooty” Gibson operated a still way back up in the hollows near a creek where they got water for the still. To pass the time in the fall, they would pick wild blueberries and black walnuts to make cookies. These cookies became well known in the area as “Hooty’s Creek” cookies. Well, as fate would have it, some Yankee Revenues found the still and the recipe for the cookies. They took it back up north, where they changed the recipe to cranberry “Hootycreek” cookies, and they have been famous ever since.
Thank you, David, for passing along the legend of Hootycreeks.
This easy to live with lifestyle plan; with more than 165 of George's easy-to-prepare gourmet recipes, you can lose weight, maintain energy, look better, and enjoy a longer active life, by eating great food!
M.Evans and Company, Inc.
George Starts your year off right!
George Hirsch Living it UP
Recipes for a Healthy Active Life
Product Details
Hardcover: 240 pages; $24.95
Publisher: M. Evans and Company, Inc.; 2000
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871319241
ISBN-13: 978-0871319241
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
Creative Cooking tips
Fast Easy recipes that allow for an active lifestyle
A 30-Day Menu Plan you can adapt throughout the year
Support and motivation for staying on a healthy eating & exercise routine
Tips for easy food shopping & eating healthy on the run
Each book is personally autographed by George Hirsch.
LIMITED OFFER, LIMITED EDITION, signed by Chef George.
From the original Grilling TV Series host, 200 Fabulous Recipe—Celebrating the joyous rituals of sharing food at year-round festivities, the star of PBS's Grilling with Chef George Hirsch provides a wealth of recipes and ideas for great party foods, plus advance preparation tips to ease the strain of last minute chores.
Hardcover: 310 pages
Publisher: Hearst Books-HarperCollins; 1St edition (June 12, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0688142257
ISBN-13: 978-0688142254
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
AS SEEN ON PUBLIC TELEVISION & CREATE TV- SEASON ONE
FEATURING CHEF GEORGE HIRSCH DEMONSTRATING HIS SAVORY COOKING, BAKING AND GRILLING RECIPES; WITH HIS EXPERT CULINARY TIPS & TECHNIQUES, ALONG WITH VISITS TO HIS INSPIRING HAMPTON LOCATIONS.