Butterscotch Thumbprint Cookies (Remixed into Banana Pudding) and Herby Roast Chicken with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

 I woke up too early...so I am in need of a nap. But before I take that nap I wanted to knock at least two posts out. Then when I wake up I'll be ready to do Christmas Eve. Or maybe I'll just grab a cup of coffee. 

Not sure yet. But this is what I made in the past week:

First up-my disaster shortbread cookies turned banana pudding. It wasn't really a disaster-just felt that way when I was making it. So I intended to make the shortbread cookies for a Tamale Party. I always like to bring something- usually a dessert. I was a bit wary of making a cookie recipe I had never made before but I decided to do it anyway. I like the Walker's shortbread cookies and I have made shortbread before- I think. It's a bit different because there aren't any eggs or vanilla extract either. Usually I will add some vanilla but I decided to just do it true to shortbread. The issue was that the cookies would not bake in anywhere close to the instructed time. I was getting tired of watching them. Eventually they were done and I made the butterscotch. They were good- not sweet and very buttery. But the butterscotch would not stay in the middle when I traveled with them so I decided to remix it into Banana pudding. I made some pudding. I spiked it with my Baileys Salted Caramel. Then I ran out to buy bananas which weren't ripe enough and I didn't have enough of the more ripe ons....I decided to top with the Butterscotch. The result was good, just wish I had more ripe bananas. I am saving the Butterscotch recipe to make again and again because it was so easy and took only a few minutes. It would be so good on so many things! 

And then I roasted a chicken per Mrs. Weasley. I did use a whole  chicken. I followed the instructions mostly. I butterflied the chicken. And season the chicken with the same seasonings in the herb butter that you rub under the skin. I would roast the chicken the same way again. Now for the mashed potatoes, I couldn't bring myself to do it as written. I just do not want onions in mashed potatoes so I skipped that. The most I could do is a little onion powder. I also never peel my potatoes because I use the ones with thin skin. IDK what type they are. I used butter- because putting vegetable oil in mashed potatoes sounds gross to me. I also did a bit of cheese, lots of creme fresh, and garlic powder. I did add the chicken stock (I don't think I have ever done that) and I would do it again. Overall, my mashed potatoes were good- but they always are! This was a solid Sunday dinner. 

And that's all!