Chai-Spiced Gingerbread Kiss Cookies

Happy Monday and let us talk about cookies!

You absolutely HAVE to add these cookies to your holiday baking menu. They are soft and pillowy, bursting with warming spices and kissed with chocolate!

That's right. These are Chai-Spiced Gingerbread Kiss Cookies, and trust me when I say that they are here to put your classic peanut butter blossom cookies to shame. If you love gingerbread, you will absolutely devour these beauties.

OH and not only are these part kiss cookies and part gingerbread, but they are also part snickerdoodle. Yes yes yes. Before going into the oven, these cookies are getting rolled in sugar and a mix of chai spices that will truly knock your socks off. That includes cinnamon, nutmeg. and ground ginger. There is no spice combination more warming this time of year than chai. I just love it! It's not just for tea anymore :-)

Now, I know that everyone has their own holiday traditions and cookie recipes that they hold strong to this season. But if you're looking for a new treat to wow the whole family (and Santa, for that matter) I'm quite confident this is it. Happy baking!

Oh, P.S. This recipe is 100% kitty approved!

Crispy Honey Shrimp (PF Chang's Copy Cat Recipe!)

OOH boy, oh boy do I have a fun weekend meal for you to cook up!

This recipe was born out of desperation. A craving, really, that couldn't be resolved easily. I NEEDED Crispy Honey Shrimp from PF Chang's and yet I found myself with no motivation to actually drive however many miles it would have taken to get to my closest restaurant. Whenever that happens, the most logical thing to do is take to the internet to find the recipe and make it myself. That's exactly what I did.

This Crispy Honey Shrimp is the perfect alternative to my usual PF Chang's meal! It is just as irresistibly crunchy, sweet, sour and gooey. Served over white rice and topped with scallions, and you'll be none the wiser that this ISN'T take out but rather some super tasty deliciousness from your own kitchen.

The recipe that follows isn't inherently hard by any means; I truly believe that anyone could whip it up. However, there are a few steps involved, and the main process (that is, frying the shrimp to airy, crispy perfection) can be a little intimidating. To be honest, I still get a little scared when I am dealing with a big pot of hot oil! The best way to combat these fears is to be sure you have a candy thermometer (to monitor oil temperature...keep it at the right temperature=no fire!), use a heavy pot with high sides (like a 6 quart dutch oven), and use your back burner (to protect kids and pets and yourself from any spills or splatters!).

Once the shrimp is cooked and crispy, the real winner of this recipe is that thick and gooey honey sauce. This is what makes this recipe crave-able. Warm, crispy shrimp get a quick toss in that sweet, tangy sauce and poured over a hot bed of white rice. Oh my. I mean just look at that shine!

Make your whole family extra happy...don't wait another minute...make this shrimp!!