2007 - Let It Dough!

I hauled out my nutcracker oven mitt (that Mom gave me one Christmas) and my Christmas tree spatula (that I wheedled out of Mom a few years ago) and all my cookie cutters and cranked out the Sugar Cookies that Charlie requested. There were about 9 1/2 dozen, but 2 1/2 dozen were mini trees, so it's more like 8 dozen.

I made Charlie's trees; and snowmen, bells, candy canes, stars, mini trees, and, as an afterthought, angels. I set these aside (on new trays that I bought last year) to be frosted tomorrow.

My lovely assistant, Charlie, with the Checkerboard Cookies. 

Then I made the dough and "logs" for Checkerboard Cookies. That takes about an hour! It's really fiddly and you have to be dedicated to want to bake these. The doughs — black and white — are rolled to measure, then cut into strips. The strips are then used to build the cookies, using an egg wash to help them stick together. Charlie and I both really like the taste of these light, buttery cookies, and I love the way they look on the tray.

When Charlie got home, he requested Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies, so we made a half-batch (he got some math practice!). We listened to Christmas music while we mixed, just like Lisa and I always did. He always pulls his little stool up to the counter to help. At one point, ihe accidentally lifted the mixer arm and dough and flour flew all over the kitchen! We both froze; then he started singing, "Let it dough, let it dough, let it dough!" We both exploded with laughter! We put the four logs into the fridge (no paper towel tubes — I want them flat on one side like Grandma's always were). We made two logs with pecans (me) and two without (Charlie).

I also mixed up some of Lisa's Snicker Doodles. I'm bored with those Snickerdoodle Pinwheels — they look great, but they don't taste that great. So, I honored Lisa by trying her favorite Snicker Doodle recipe, which she kindly copied into the diary the first year she made them. I refrigerated the dough for tomorrow, when I'll be back at it again.

2007 - Better Late Than Never

I think I set a record for late starts this year. There was no way I could start the day after Thanksgiving, since I had the dinner. I've made a batch of Pumpkin Bread (before Thanksgiving) and I've made two batches of Chex Party Mix, but no cookies until today, Dec. 3.

I had to walk Charlie to school first, before I could start baking. He requested "Tree Cookies" to take to the Pantomime on Thursday, and I need to finish the teachers' cookies for Friday morning.

The snowman cookie jar is filled with Charlie's favorite: Hedgehog Cookies.

Still, I made Hedgehog Cookies first, to fill the Snowman cookie jar. I made a double batch but it sure doesn't look like there will be enough! I wound up with 5 1/2 dozen, so I'll be making more of those for sure. I have only enough chocolate chips for another double batch. I'll have to get more grocery goodies from Skyco next Monday or so. I took four "Hedgehogs" to Charlie to eat on his walk home. I use that recipe every year but I haven't copied it into Our Cookie Journal yet (I still consult "Joy of Cooking"). You'd think I'd have it memorized! I have a compulsive nature to double-check the recipe anyway.

After I knocked out the Hedgehogs, I made a batch of Sugar Cookies from Martha's 2005 Cookie magazine. I'll get those rolled, cut out and baked tomorrow. Charlie I spent the evening making invitations for his Gingerbread Party on Dec. 17. We used a cookie cutter to trace out gingerbread shapes on brown construction paper. He has invited NINE schoolmates! The other parents think I'm crazy but Charlie's really looking forward to it and I know it will be fun.

Go Nuts! It's National Pistachio Day!

I never tried pistachios until I made Brownie Thins for National Brownie Day. I think I tried pistachio ice cream as a kid and didn't like it and that's why I steered clear of the distinctive green nut. The pistachio tree, which is native to the Middle East, produces fruit in bunches similar to grapes; the seed is the "nut" with which we are familiar. And my grown-up palate appreciates their crunchy, buttery flavor, not to mention their benefits. In addition to having more antioxidants than green tea, pistachios are a good source of fiber, copper, manganese, beta carotene and vitamin B6.

Pistachios are delicious alone or added to vegetables, fish, meats, salads, rice and desserts. Which brings me back to Brownie Thins — decadent, flavorful, flat cookies, studded with toasted pistachio nuts.  The rich, dark chocolate complements the pistachio's savory goodness. They are the perfect way to celebrate National Pistachio Day. Any leftovers will be perfect for tomorrow — No Brainer Day! 

Brownie Thins

6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1/2 c sugar

1 large egg

3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract

Pinch of coarse kosher salt

Nonstick vegetable oil spray

1/4 c chopped pistachios

Position rack in lowest third of oven; preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter 2 baking sheets. Place butter and chocolate in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium-high until almost completely melted, about 1 minute. Whisk until smooth. Add sugar and egg; whisk until smooth, about 1 minute. Add flour, both extracts, and salt; stir just to blend. Let batter stand 10 minutes. 

Scoop rounded teaspoonfuls batter onto prepared baking sheets, spacing apart. Spray sheet of plastic wrap lightly with nonstick spray. Place, sprayed side down, over cookies. Using fingers, press each mound into 2 1/2-inch round. Remove plastic wrap. Sprinkle pistachios over rounds. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until slightly darker at edges and firm in center, about 7 minutes. Cool on sheet 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack; cool completely.


I shared this recipe with the Try a New Recipe Tuesdays blog hop at Home to 4 Kiddos. It also appears on Polkadots on Parade in the Wow Me Wednesday blog hop. You can also find it at the popular blog hop at Buns In the Oven and the linky party at My Girlish Whims. 

2007 - Postscript to a Painful 2006

My sister Lisa, co-founder and co-creator of Our Cookie Journal, loved Christmas and family.

I couldn't write anymore last year after Lisa died— too bleary-eyed and heart-broken. I don't even think I baked anything else after Charlie and I got back to England. I was shattered with grief and we both had jet-lag. Christmas was less than a week away and we were scheduled to move into our new house in January. It was a relief that there was so much going on; I didn't have as much time to dwell on my loss.

I'll miss my sister in every way, every day. Since it was close to Christmas and I'd had Our Cookie Journal out, I took it with me to the funeral, with loads of photos. It was nice to have a legacy to remember her and something she loved doing — baking cookies with and for her family. 

Mom said that Lisa, Mike and April made Festive Fudge the weekend before she died. I'm glad I made it too — and that I got to tell her about it. We talked about how good it was and how it reminded us of the fudge we'd buy by the pound at the Kentucky State Fair.

I've already written that she baked Pumpkin Bread in some giant loaf tins that Mike bought for her. And she made April's birthday cake earlier in the week — chocolate frosting on a yellow cake for her youngest of four daughters, a 10-year-old.

She also showcased a new entry in her repertoire: Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls. There's a Rice Krispy version that uses powdered sugar but she used a recipe featured in Taste of Home magazine. More a candy than a cookie, these rich concoctions were the last treats she made. She declared them a success worth repeating and had three fresh off the tray — as did April and Rachel. They were still in the fridge at her house on the day of her funeral, and the girls offered one to me. I took a chocolate-y sphere from the tray, took one bit and, although it was yummy, I just couldn't swallow it. It was too sad and I was too choked up. April said they wound up throwing the rest of them out because they depressed everyone. Bless her. 

Mom had planned to make White Chocolate Cherry Crunchies but said she couldn't remember where she saw the recipe. It was Lisa who had remembered that it was Paula Deen's recipe. That girl's memory was impeccable! I will miss that so much — she knew all the dates and names and details of all our lives. Mom had a batch of Coconut Cream-Filled Macaroons in the fridge that she couldn't ever bring herself to finish after Lisa died. She threw it all out. "I wanted to knock it all on the floor," she said. 

Rachel and April wound up making some slice and bake cookies — snowmen, trees and stars. Danielle and Michelle said they just couldn't because it would be too depressing. April said making cookies, like her mom did, made her happy. We all handle it differently.

Michael honored Lisa with a baking frenzy that included Chocolate Chip Cookies, Whoopie Pies (regular and peanut butter), Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter Fudge and Donya's Coconut Crunch Delight. Lisa definitely would have given him a cookie stamp of approval on such a peanut-buttery array. I'm sure his baking session was cathartic as well.

I will miss her brief but brilliant entries in Our Cookie Journal. As well as collecting and trading recipes with each other. And passing the diary back and forth each year to review Christmases (and kitchens) past and talk about the current year's hits and misses. I'll miss her memory, her sense of humor and her love and comfort. I'll miss her help in the kitchen, even when we weren't baking side-by-side. I'll miss the promise of another session with her. But I'll never forget the fun we shared, the memories we made and the dozens of cookies we ate together. I'll measure every new recipe by her standards and her memory will mingle with the aromas in my kitchen every time I bake cookies. I love you, Dahling! Merry Christmas, always! 

Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls

1 c peanut butter

1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme

1 1/2 c crisp rice cereal

1 1/2 c (9 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

4 tsp vegetable shortening

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and marshmallow creme; add cereal and stir until well coated.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and shortening. Microwave, uncovered, for 1-2 minutes, or until chips are melted; stir until smooth.

Roll cereal mixture into 1-inch balls; dip in chocolate. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until set.

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen.

2006 - The Day the Cookies Cried

My happy, darling sister, Lisa, frosting cookies for Christmas.

Mom called today and told me Lisa died. How, oh how, is that possible?! I refused to believe it. My brain still can't fathom it. My Lisa!! Co-founder and co-author of Our Cookie Journal. Sister. Best friend. Mother. Daughter. Wife. All-around goodnik. How is she gone?!

I talked to her Thursday — she was going to bake cookies with Mom this year. Mom was out at Lisa's house Friday, so they could plan what they were going to bake. They had decided to bake tomorrow but Lisa was tired and her back was hurting, so she wanted to move it to Thursday and Friday. She was supposed to see a specialist on Wednesday. 

How could my dearie be dead? I'm so alone here in England — I wish I was home with Mom and Lisa's girls. I just hope Mike waits with the funeral for me — so I can see her one last time. Oh my God — I'm just sick with grief over her. She was only 44. Her youngest daughter, April, just celebrated her 10th birthday four days ago!! And it's Aunt Catherine's birthday. This is just so wrong.

I'm glad I spoke to her several times over the past few weeks. She was looking forward to Christmas, as always. We talked about stocking stuffers and presents for the kids. And how much we miss each other. She had made Pumpkin Bread with giant loaf pans that Mike had bought for her. And she had told Mom that she wanted to make "Kevin's" Lime Meltaways. And she told me that she wanted to get the Kolacky recipe from me. 

It's Sunday, Dec. 10, and I usually call her on Sundays. I don't know how to go on without her. I wish I had been able to reach her when I called her Friday. How can she be gone?! LISA!!! I need you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Lisa Jo — my only sister. My dearie. My "dahlink". I love you so much!!

Needless to say, I won't be baking any more cookies this Christmas. (Or listening to U2 — our favorite band — ever again.) Charlie and I are booked on a flight to Louisville on Wednesday. Meanwhile, I'm walking around the house like a caged animal, wanting only to be home with my family. Poor Charlie doesn't understand, so I have to keep up appearances for his sake. But I cannot stop crying and wishing with all my heart that this is not real... 

2006 - We Come Bearing Cookies

Cookie Sampler, 2006.

I cranked out a batch of Dunkable Brownies yesterday (Dec. 8), resulting in 5 decadent dozen! I baked them for only 8 1/2 minutes in my fan-assisted oven because they're not nearly as nice if they're overbaked. I want them chewy and moist, not hard and dry.

I also baked the Snickerdoodle Pinwheels that I prepared yesterday and wound up with 10 1/2 dozen. I don't know how I got them all in the freezer! I just kept shifting things; and I tossed a few questionable items. The Snicks were tastier this time, with the extra cinnamon-sugar. And I just love the way they look. 

I made a quick batch of Coconut Cream-Filled Macaroons too. I had a bit of a mis-hap though: the recipe calls for unsweetened coconut and I added sweetened (which I've done in the past) but forgot to adjust the sugar in the recipe! And I even consulted last year's entry in Our Cookie Journal before I began.

I didn't have a chance to finish them yesterday, anyway, so I don't know yet how they'll turn out. I had to get Charlie's supper ready for him after he got home from his school trip to the Cinderella pantomime. And I had tea with Linda and Neil, our next-door neighbors from Winslow Hall. 

I did manage to mix up some Spicy Pumpkin Seeds to put in the cookie gift boxes though. They're so tasty, yet so easy — I made 6 cups' worth.

There were only four cookie boxes to make this year for Charlie's teachers and headmistress. I was very happy with the results (and so were they). Charlie and I delivered them this morning. I enclosed a card, so they'd know it was a perishable gift. On the back of the card, I put a photo of what was inside, as a legend (like chocolate boxes):

Pumpkin Bread; Fudge Two Ways; Overnight Cookies; Snickerdoodle Pinwheels; Spicy Pumpkin Seeds; Nestle's Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies; Dunkable Brownies; and Lime Meltaways.

I'm exhausted! But not finished. I still want to make the Coconut Cookies, even though they're not going in any treat boxes. They'll be great for cookie trays throughout the season. And I want to call Lisa and see what she's making or if she has any new entries for the diary. I've tried her a few times but she's sooo busy with her job at Meijer. She must work 60 hours a week! We talked about stocking stuffers not long ago though! I'm glad we've kept up the tradition even after I moved to England. Anyway, I'll call her tomorrow after I get back with Charlie from Millie's birthday party. 

I packed four boxes with cookies and more for Charlie's teachers & headmistress.

2006 - Slice and Bake — and Freeze Before I Eat Them All!

Since both the doughs I made yesterday went into the fridge overnight as logs, I was a slice-and-bake fiend today (Dec. 6). I baked the Lime Meltaways, a yearly favorite, giving them all a coat of powdered sugar, and broke only ONE. It's a new Christmas baking record! I also ate two; and packed away 15 1/2 dozen. My freezer is bulging!

I also baked Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies today and yielded a whopping 15 dozen. I can't see myself ever doubling this recipe. I wasn't sure if I'd like them but they were scrumptious! "They make a nice lunchbox cookie," as Mom would say! I'm glad I made them — I think they were a hit and they could make a repeat performance in coming Christmases.

While the Overnights were baking, I decided to give the old Snickerdoodle Pinwheels one more shot. I vowed last year that I wouldn't make them again but I love the way they look. So, I decided to give them another bash but this time I'll increase the amount of cinnamon-sugar mixture. I'm hoping that will do the trick and you can finally taste the cinnamon — a problem I have with most Snicker Doodle recipes. We'll see!