Give a Hoot

  Back in the 70's when I was a young housewife, there was a commercial that my kids all loved with an owl. The message was Give a Hoot don't Polute.  I don't know why but I now have that little tune stuck in my head again.
 Maybe becasue it seems owls are popping up everywhere. Etsy has owls for just about every medium and some of the hats and kids items are just adorable.  From bibs and hats to tote bags and reusable lunch bags. Purses for Moms and teens to the tiny tots. So, I decided to jump in and make a few myself

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71456918/owl-hat-and-handbag-set-for-little-girls

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70783431/owl-bib

and here are some adorable bags that I found in another Etsy shop  http://www.etsy.com/listing/70974795/owls-burp-clothschanging-pads-6-ply-3?ref=sr_gallery_37&ga_search_query=owl+bags&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade
So many really cute items all with an owl motif. From babies to teens they work just great and I love the reusable idea for lunch bags and totes. Plus you can never go wrong buying handmade. As a gift it just says you went that extra mile and shows you cared.

The I thought about baking and found this fun and old cookie recipe

This classic recipe was a Pillsbury Bake-off winner for Natalie R. Riggin of Olympia, Washington in 1956.


Ingredients
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Garnish
80 semisweet chocolate chips (about 1/3 cup)
40 whole cashews (about 2/3 cup
Instructions
Makes 40 Cookies
Prep Time: 1 Hour
Start to Finish: 2 Hours
1. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar and butter with electric mixer on medium speed 1 to 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until light and fluffy. beat in vanilla and egg. On low speed, beat in flour, baking powder and salt until dough forms. In a small bowl, place 1 cup of the dough; stir in melted chocolate and baking soda until well blended.
2. On a 12 X 8-inch sheet of plastic wrap, press half of the light dough to form a 10 X 4-inch strip. Shape half the chocolate dough into a roll 10-inches long; place on strip of light dough. Mold sides of light dough around chocolate dough; wrap in plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining dough. Refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut each roll into 40 (1/8 to 1/4-inch) slices; place 2 slices, sides touching, on ungreased cookie sheets to resemble owl faces. Pinch corner of each slice to form ears. Place chocolate chip in center of each slice for eyes; press whole cashew between slices for beak.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets.
High Altitude: (3500 to 6500 ft.)

Decrease brown sugar to 3/4 cup; increase flour to 2 1/2 cups.

Give a hoot today and check out Etsy and bake a batch. Have a great day!