To Be Grateful...

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” 

                             ~Thomas Merton

52.  Valentine sugar cookies

53.  Chai tea

 You can find the recipe for these wonderful sugar cookies here 

Cherry Delight Cookies

I was in the mood for baking today and so, decided to make my third batch of these cookies of the season.  They are a family favorite and we make them every year.  They make a great tea cookie.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we have over the years. 

Cherry Delight Cookies

1 cup of butter

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup white Caro Syrup

2 eggs yolks (save whites)

2 1/2 cups self-rising flour

7 oz. fine ground walnuts

1 carton of candied cherries

 

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg yolks and syrup.  Keep beating, slowly add in flour.  Chill 2 hours.  Roll into small balls. Beat egg whites.  Dip rolled balls into egg whites.  Roll in walnuts.  Place on greased cookie sheet or non-stick cookie sheet.  Press in 1/2 cherry.  Bake 20 minutes at 325 degrees.

 One very used recipe card!!

 

 

Fall Cookies

One of my favorite holiday traditions is making Christmas, cut out sugar cookies.  Well, occasionally I get to craving them early and, thus, Fall cut out cookies!  When I was a little girl, my mom would help us make these cookies every year...no fail!  After my girl's were born, I started the same tradition.  Here's Ari at 2 helping to cut them out.  She's now 21!  

 

It's going to be a little different this year making them without at least one of the girls here to help. 

There is something about these cookies, everybody loves them.  I guess it's the perfect combination of tart, crunchy cookie and crispy frosting that makes us all crave for more.  I don't believe in "secret family recipes."  If it's that good, it should be shared!

 

Holiday Sugar Cookies

 

4 cups self rising flour

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs ( 1 seperated )

1 tsp. clear vanilla

3 Tbsp. lemon juice

 

Cream butter and sugar until light.  Add 1 whole egg and beat well.  Add egg yolk of second and beat.  Beat in vanilla and lemon juice.  Add flour little at a time.  May not take all the flour, make like pie crust.  Lightly flour table.  Divide into 4 parts.  Chill probably overnight.  Let dough become room temp. before rolling.  Roll with rolling pin on floured counter to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.  Cut with metal or plastic cookie cutters. 

Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees on greased cookie sheet or non-stick cookie sheet.

 

Frosting for Sugar Cookies

 

1 egg white

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 tsp. clear vanilla

Dash of salt

 

In electric mixer bowl, add all ingredients and whip until fluffy and frosting peaks.  If too thin add more powdered sugar.  Spread on with small knife.  Immediately sprinkle with favorite sugar and candy toppings as frosting will quickly set and harden.  May add food coloring to frosting.  Covers at least 3 dozen cookies. 

I always make a double batch of frosting.  I roll my cookies pretty thin getting about 7 dozen cookies out of one batch of dough. 

 

 

 Now this is the fun part!

    

 

...and this is when you get to be creative!