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Fresh Fridays
2 Comments

Fresh Fridays, December 8

Kathleen

by Kathleen Pope Dec 7, 2023

The Christmas season is in full swing, at least at our house! I hope you invite friends and family over this season, even if just for a glass of eggnog or a hot chocolate. Having people in our home breathes joy, light, and love into our souls. At least it does mine.

In today’s newsletter, I’ve got 3 fabulous new Christmas cookie and treat recipes, featuring one of my favorite Christmas cookies we make every year. I think you will love them too!

Also a snapshot of a week in my life, things I love and on sale, and of course, some inspiration based on a famous Christmas Carole and how readers are using their Delivery Driver Snack signs. Let’s jump in!

Fresh Fridays Logo new 2022.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure & privacy policy.

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Browse the Table of Contents below to navigate this post easily.

  • Delivery Driver Thank You Sign (FREE)
  • What I'm Making' & Bakin' | 3 New Cookie Recipes
  • Cookies for Kids Cancer
  • Have you tried…
  • What Readers Are Saying about…
  • In the here and now | Real-life stories
  • What Caught My Eye | Sales and Deals
  • Browse my Amazon Storefront
  • Christmas Movies We Loved
  • Weekly Inspiration | O Holy Night

Delivery Driver Thank You Sign (FREE)

Thank you to readers Kim and Jenifer for sending me pictures of their Delivery Driver Snack Stations! I love how different and creative people are! Have you made one? Send me your pictures!

Check out the post for tips and tricks, and get the free printable by downloading here!

Delivery driver snack station from reader, Kim.
Kim’s creative delivery driver snack station.
Beautiful porch with delivery driver snack station from Jenifer.
Jenifer’s beautiful delivery driver snack station.

What I’m Making’ & Bakin’ | 3 New Cookie Recipes

This Pizzelle cookie recipe is a family tradition. I have been making these since I was a teenager!

BONUS: All three cookies support Cookies for Kids Cancer; read more!

Everyone raves about these crispy, buttery waffle cookies; you do need a pizzelle iron to make them, though, I’ve had mine for more than 30 years, so they last a long time.

Next, we have one bowl peanut butter cup blondies (stuffed with peanut butter cups), like peanut blossoms but in bar form! EASY, chewy and delicious!

And last but not least, these decadent Snickers Fudge bars — if you are a peanut and chocolate lover, you will LOVE these.

Pizzelles being dusted with powdered sugar.

Best Italian Pizzelle Cookies Recipe (Vanilla Waffle Cookie)

Start a new tradition this year and make these unique and favorite Pizzelle cookies! These vanilla butter waffle cookies will be perfect on your Christmas cookie tray this year.

Italian Pizzelle Cookies are thin, crisp, waffle-like cookies with holiday flavor and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. They make great gifts too!

Read more
Stacked peanut butter cup blondies on a plate.

Best Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Blondies

This one-bowl peanut butter blondie recipe makes drool-worthy, soft, and chewy bars stuffed with peanut butter cups no less – perfect for peanut butter bar lovers! 

Read more
Three pieces of snickers fudge stacked on top of each other.

Easy Snickers Candy Bar Fudge Recipe

Easy step-by-step instructions to make Snickers fudge! Like the classic treat, this fudge has layers of fluffy nougat, gooey caramel, and crunchy peanuts coated with sweet milk chocolate.

Read more

Cookies for Kids Cancer

These recipes are part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate and Susannah of Feast + West. Food bloggers gather to share new holiday cookie recipes to make and give every year.

All of the above recipes are part of a collaboration for the fight against childhood cancers. My brother lost his 5-year-old daughter to cancer, so this is near and dear to my heart.

This year we are raising money for Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer, which is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer.

Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted nearly $18 million to pediatric cancer research in the form of 100+ research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country. From these grants have stemmed 35+ treatments available to kids battling cancer today.

Help us raise money for this important cause! Donate through our fundraising page.

Have you tried…

  1. These Crumbl Oreo Cookies — they are amazing!
  2. How about a Ham Pot pie? Save this for after Christmas for your leftovers.
  3. Or this Turkey Divan recipe (great for leftover turkey or chicken too!)

What Readers Are Saying about…

Authentic Italian Spaghetti Sauce

This is absolutely the best sauce that I have ever made. I do add a small, finely chopped onion. I divide it up into small freezer bags and have enough sauce for my husband and I whenever. Delicious!

Nancy
Bowl filled with easy pasta sauce with pasta and bread nearby.

Authentic Italian Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (Gluten-Free)

Our secret family recipe passed down from my Italian Grandpa Frank. This easy pasta sauce is thick, rich, zesty and so delicious! It will become your favorite as well!

Read more

In the here and now | Real-life stories

This week has been full of Christmas spirit! I attended a lady’s brunch with my sister-in-love and my mom at her church; delicious food, beautifully decorated, and a lovely message encouraging us to enter the Reason for the season.

We also hosted our house church and had some dear friends over for a delicious dinner!

Me, my mom and my sister-in-law at Christmas brunch.
Me, my beautiful mom and sister-in-love – we were laughing about something
Beautiful table centerpieces for Christmas brunch.
Gorgeous tablesettings at Christmas brunch

What Caught My Eye | Sales and Deals

Check out the below items HERE! Plus, previous week’s finds!

What I’m Loving & Sales

A few things caught my eye this week!

  • I am drooling over this long, light-weight puffer vest and this pretty cream puffer vest– on sale with promo code DELIGHT!
  • I just ordered these Norfolk pine wreaths; I have several doors, cupboards and lanterns to hang them on.
  • Obsessing over these darling gingerbread plates!
  • How about this fun Christmas tree charcuterie board.
  • Some day I’m going to splurge on this nativity set.
  • Have you seen these platform Uggs? A friend of mine has a pair; they are cute and cozy too!

Browse my Amazon Storefront

Christmas Movies We Loved

We loved My Christmas Hero and Christmas Keepsake, and I haven’t seen these two, but they look wonderful, I Heard the Bells and The Shepherd.

Weekly Inspiration | O Holy Night

“What do a man who would turn away from faith in Christ, a Jewish opera composer, and a Unitarian minister have in common? They’re all part of the history of the carol “O Holy Night.”

In 1843, Placide Cappeau wrote the lyrics, Adolphe Adam wrote the music, and in 1855 John Sullivan Dwight crafted the English version. An unlikely trio behind the song that declares, “Christ is the Lord . . . His power and glory evermore proclaim.”

It was also unlikely that King Nebuchadnezzar would proclaim God’s power and praise Him—but he did.

The monarch had a problem. Three God-believing men, forced into Babylonian captivity and service, refused to “worship the image of gold [the king] set up” (Daniel 3:12). Though the king threatened to kill the men, they said they didn’t need to “defend” themselves for God would “deliver” them (vv. 16–17).

God did miraculously save the three from the fiery furnace (vv. 26–27). At the sight of the spared trio, the king declared, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego!” (v. 28).

Cappeau and the king both pointed to God’s power and glory. And although they clearly caught a glimpse of the truth, it doesn’t appear that either came to lasting faith in Him.

This Christmas, as people catch sight of Jesus and His story, let’s share the good news so that others might believe and proclaim, “Christ is the Lord!”

Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has resuced his servants. – Daniel 3:28

Tom Felten ~ From Our Daily Bread 10 Day Christmas Devotional

With joy and gratitude,

signature, Love, Kathleen


P.S. If you missed last week’s Fresh Fridays, recipes, sales, tips, ideas, and more!

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Hi, Iโ€™m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

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  1. Wendy

    Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 2:02 pm

    Wish I could have an eggnog latte with you. XOX!!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen Pope

      Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 2:03 pm

      Awe, me tooooo!

      Reply

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Kathleen Pope

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Hey there! I'm Kathleen Pope, a proud wife, mom of two awesome college boys, and recipe nerd. Welcome to my world of easy recipes with a healthy twist! Join thousands who trust The Fresh Cooky as their go-to recipe source. Let's cook up some magic!

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