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Dear Reader,
It's Summer Fun Recipes at the book club this week. Be sure to check out today's fun giveaway and this month's Penguin Classic.
Years ago I was in charge of a baking class for seniors in a nursing home. The ladies in the class all had different baking skills. Some could do their own measuring and follow the directions on the recipe card, and for others, it might take five minutes to fill a one-cup measuring cup with flour. But that was okay with me.
I decided we'd bake cookies in our class, because they were easy to make, but more importantly they brought back memories for the women. I contacted family members and encouraged them to give me mom's favorite cookie recipe, which meant there was always a story to go along with the recipe of the day. "I remember when I used to make these cookies..." and we'd listen to someone tell their story while we baked.
Our cookies were popular. Baking class started at 9:30 in the morning, so a little after 10:00 the nursing home employees would start showing up in our kitchen, wondering if we needed a "taste tester." Soon we started getting special requests, "What are you baking next week? Can I buy some to take home? How about baking chocolate, chocolate chip cookies?" And before you knew it the ladies and I were in the cookie-baking business.
Simple, old favorites like peanut butter, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, and oatmeal were good sellers, but so was our Apple Cutout Sugar Cookie. They're the kind of cookie that looks like it takes a lot of skill to make them, because they look impressive, but they're really very easy and quick to make.
You could use any cookie cutter, but I like the apple. Tint the frosting any color to match the cookie design you decide to use. They're a lot of fun to bake; give them a try.
Apple Cutout Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Frosting:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
Red and green food coloring
In a large mixing bowl, combine the first seven ingredients in order given and mix well. Chill dough 2-3 hours or until easy to handle. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with an apple-shaped cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.
For frosting, combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a small bowl. Transfer three-fourths of the frosting into another bowl; add red food coloring for apples. Add green food coloring to remaining frosting for stems. Frost cookies. Allow to sit overnight for frosting to harden.
So the giveaway today? An apple-shaped cookie cutter, of course. Two lucky readers will win. To enter, click here.
* Every other month I feature a Penguin Classics. I love sampling the Classic because it gives me the chance to read a book I may have missed. I have a copy of this month's Penguin Classics book up for grabs for one lucky reader, so be sure to enter the drawing and sample this month's title, RETURN OF THE SPIRIT, by Tawfiq al-Hakim. Start reading today and enter for your chance to win, click here.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
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