Food Storage Friday: Pinwheel Cookies

This is the perfect recipe for all that leftover pie crust... and now I'm realizing that I'm about a week late posting it, since it would have been great to have this recipe when you all were making your Thanksgiving pies!  So, just make pie crust especially for this one (like I did), or make it next time you make a pie (Christmas?).  It's definitely worth making a crust specially for this, though... I really liked these flaky cookies and will probably be making them again soon.

My mom actually did something similar to this when I was growing up, but she just baked the pie crust on the bottom of a pie pan, and sprinkled the sugar and cinnamon on top, and cut the pieces into wedges.  Perhaps you have your own version of this recipe?

Pinwheel Cookies

(based on this recipe from Allrecipes.com)

The lineup:

 brown sugar, cinnamon, shortening, salt, flour

Make your favorite pie crust (assuming you use flour, salt, and shortening.... that's the food storage friendly way, anyway).

Roll out the crust to about 1/8 inch thick.  Spread about 1-2 tsp of shortening on top (I just did this with a fork, it was really easy).  Sprinkle brown sugar & cinnamon on top.  To be honest, I didn't measure these at all, I just guessed and went by what looked good.

Roll up the crust, then cut into 3/4 inch pieces. 

Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 8-9 minutes at 450 degrees.

Easy, good, & fast.  Good combo, in my opinion.

Pinwheel Cookies

(based on this recipe from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 c shortening

3-4 Tbsp water (or as needed)

1-2 tsp shortening

brown sugar (about 1/3 c)

cinnamon

Make your favorite pie crust.  If you don't have a favorite, just mix the flour & salt (measurements above).  Cut in shortening until mixture is coarse.  Add water, a bit at a time, and mix until it resembles pie crust.

Roll out 1/8 inch thick, and spread shortening on top.  Sprinkle brown sugar and shortening.  Roll into a log and cut into 3/4 inch pieces.  Place pieces on greased cookie sheet and bake at 450 degrees for about 8 minutes, or until golden and sizzling on the bottom.

Enjoy!

Food Storage Holiday Gift: Peanut Brittle

Here's another idea for a gift you can make for your neighbors and friends using food storage items.


Ingredients: oil, vanilla, dry roasted peanuts, corn syrup, baking soda and sugar


Start by spraying your baking sheet with cooking spray. And please tell me that everyone's pans look like this?


Mix the peanuts, sugar and corn syrup in a microwave safe bowl.


Stir to combine. It won't mix completely and that's okay. Pop it in the microwave for 6-7 minutes. I did 6 minutes.


Be SUPER careful when you pull it out of the microwave. The bowl will be very hot.


Stir it up and add the oil.


And the vanilla. Pop it back in the microwave for another two minutes.


When you pull it out this time, add the baking powder.


It will foam and bubble as you mix it up.


Pour it quickly onto the tray and let it cool.


When it's all cool


Break it into buttery pieces with your fingers.


Delicious peanut brittle all from food storage!


It would be cute wrapped in a cellophane bag or in these cute holiday Tupperware you can find in the stores right now.

More holiday gift ideas from food storage here.


Microwave Oven Peanut Brittle
adapted from the Allrecipes.com recipe here

1.5 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 pinch of salt
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

Grease a baking sheet and set aside. In a glass bowl, combine the peanuts, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook in microwave for 6-7 minutes on high (700w); mixture should be bubbly and peanuts browned. Stir in oil and vanilla; cook 2-3 minutes longer.

Quickly stir in baking soda, just until mixture is foamy. Pour immediately onto greased baking sheet. Let cool 15 minutes or until set. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Gifts from Food Storage

It's December!  Many of you may already be finished with your Christmas presents, but for the rest of us slackers, here's a list of some of our holiday gift ideas that we've posted in the past.  All of these gifts can be made from food storage items, and are perfect gifts for neighbors, friends, teachers, or even your favorite food storage bloggers.... let us know if you need our mailing addresses....  Also, stay tuned tomorrow for a new gift post!


 Wheat grass

 Granola

 Hot cocoa mix

 Fudge

 Chocolate cereal snack mix

Give them coal in their stockings! (No picture... but check out the article here!)

Still need more gift-giving ideas?  Check out our Food Storage/Emergency Preparedness gift guide that we put together for this Christmas season.

Also, never hesitate to give actual food storage to people for Christmas, especially if you know they are working on that sort of thing.  My mom once gave a newly married couple a bunch of food storage.  I'll admit, it's definitely not the most exciting gift that you could give, but think about what you are really giving them - peace of mind.  Doesn't get much better than that.