Chewy Molasses Cookies

Sparkling Chewy Molasses Cookies

2 c. plain flour

1-1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. sugar

3/4 c. butter (1-1/2 sticks)

1 egg

 1/4 c.molasses, I use blackstrap

 1/2 c. chunky sanding sugar

Add butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer

Add remaining dry ingredients (whisk first)

Beat in the egg, and then the molasses until just combined. 

Put mixer on low and slowly add the flour mixture just until dough forms.

Spoon 1 tablespoon of dough at a time, roll into a ball, then roll in sanding sugar to cover all sides.

Place on cookie sheets spaced three inches apart.

Bake at 350 for around 11 minutes.

Makes 3 dozen.

Spritz Cookies

I have an electric cookie gun, love it.  Spritz work well in it.

1 c. shortening
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
2-1/4 c. plain flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
dash salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Shoot onto ungreashed cookie sheet, add colored sprinkles.
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes

Wedding Cookies

Cathy Kersten's mom's recipe:

1 c. butter
1/4 c. confectioner's sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 c. plain flour
1 c. chopped pecans
Form small balls
Ungreased cookie sheet
Bake 300 for 20 minutes.
Roll in confectioner's sugar while still hot, then again after they've cooled.
Makes 3 doz.

M & M Cookies

I found this very worn recipe in my mother-in-law's recipe file.  She died when Mark was 17, but he remembered how wonderful this recipe was and encouraged me to make them.  These are a Christmas staple for David.

Cream:
1/2 c. Crisco shortening
1/2 c. dark brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar

Mix, then add:
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. water
1 egg

Sift, then add:
1 c. & 2 T. plain flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Stir in 3/4 cup M&M candies by hand (or they'll break)

Drop overflowing tablespoon portions on ungreased cookie sheet for palm-sized cookies.
Bake 375  for 10-12 minutes.

Butter Melt Away Cookies

These very delicate cookies are terrific either rolled in powdered sugar or iced.

Cookie
1/2 lb. butter (2 sticks)
3/4 c. cornstarch
1/3 c. powdered sugar
1 c. plain flour
Beat together, drop by teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.  I shoot for quarter sized dollops.
Bake 350 for 12 minutes.

Gently roll balls in powdered sugar while hot, then again after they've cooled.
If you are planning to icing them, press the cookies flat with a fork (like you would for peanut butter cookies).

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 - 3 oz. pkg cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Beat together until smooth and frost cooled cookies.

These are my son Robert's Christmas cookie requirement.  They are very delicate and will crumble into a puff all over your shirt if you try to bite into one, so be sure to make them in small bite sized portions.  I've made them both ways, but for unknown reasons, I always roll them in powdered sugar.  Maybe I'll do both this year for comparison's sake.  I think these would taste wonderful with lime zest/juice added.

Sausage Chowder

1 pkg smoked sausage

1 small onion, chopped

3 potatoes, peeled, diced large

2 c. half and half

1 c. milk

1 c. chicken broth

1 T butter

1 T olive oil

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

dash cayenne pepper

dash nutmeg

1 T parsley flakes
1 T dried garlic (Penzey's Spices are the BEST)

2 T corn starch

1 drained can crisp yellow corn

Saute sliced smoked sausage with onion in butter/olive oil until clear, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Place potatoes in pot of cold salted water, bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are firm/soft.  Drain.

Blend corn starch into cold chicken broth.

Add the meat/onion to the potatoes, all the liquids (should just cover the potatoes) and spices.

Heat until almost boiling (you don't want to scald the milk) to allow corn starch to thicken a tiny bit.  

Add can of corn.

This was good with grocery store bakery's crusty French bread.

Present: Mark, David and Marty.  We all liked it.  It would have been nice if it was cold outside.