Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/
Dear Reader,
I've asked the folks on my staff to write about one of their favorite Christmas memories during this holiday week. Today, Jean, shares one of her favorite Christmas memories and a recipe for Good Sugar Cut Out Cookies.
MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MEMORY by Jean
One of my favorite memories of Christmas happened when I was about six or seven years old. Every year my family would spend Christmas Eve at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Verona, Wisconsin. It was always a great time, good food and lots of laughs.
This particular Christmas, my oldest brother, Mike, who is ten years older than me, had to work so he didn't join us. We had just finished dinner and the adults were sitting around the table chatting when the phone rang. It was my brother Mike. He was all excited, and told us that when he came home from work Santa had already visited our house! Well, I was ecstatic! We couldn't leave my aunt and uncle's house fast enough!
We went home and got to open a few packages that evening and saved the rest until Christmas morning. Of course, years later I realized that Mike had come home and put all the packages under the tree to surprise us (still not sure if Mom and Dad were in on it). It was one of my most magical memories of Christmas.
My recipe is for cut-out cookies. I got the recipe from a woman I worked with years ago and I make them every year with my kids. They turn out delicious every time. My kids have been doing all the decorating from the time they were 3 and 5, and now they're 17 and 19 (yes, they still love to bake together!). I guess that's probably why I love this recipe so much, because it's fun to see my son and daughter working together and having fun (except when they fight over the red sprinkles!).
GOOD SUGAR COOKIES (cut outs)
1 cup shortening
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix like pie crust.
Beat and add:
2 eggs
4 Tbsp. milk (1/4 cup)
1 tsp. vanilla or nutmeg
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. soda
Mix and chill two or more hours. Roll and cut out. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes. Cool before decorating and no fighting over the red sprinkles!
(Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.)
Happy Holidays,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com
SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Sandra Brown then read about great thrillers from: Carole Nelson Douglas, Lee Goldberg, Charles Kipps, C. E. Lawrence, Michael A. Black, Carla Neggers, Brad Parks, Jonathan Hayes, Richard Belzer & Michael Black and David Morrell. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org
I think it is a part of being a child to feel the spirit of Christmas because of Santa Clause and his gifts. That's a simple and nice story full of love. Also, I think that is a great recipe to. Thanks for sharing. More power on this blog! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Posted by: Healthy Foods Blog | December 29, 2009 at 10:23 AM