COOKIE BAKING AND CRAFT TIME

Greetings!

The last few weeks have been very busy around here, making lists, checking them twice.....being a little naughty and nice ,<wink>.  The Christmas tree went up on December 1st thanks to hubby who is always ready to purchase a tree and put it up as soon after Thanksgiving as possible.  The lights were on immediately, several days later the glass balls went on and just yesterday I finished up the decorating (think hubby was just about ready to give up hope)!

 SURPRISE!! It is cooking baking time at Mimi's house this weekend, only I didn't know that was the plan for Saturday morning.  Apparently, Miss Lollipop had plans of her own: "Mimi, I'm coming over to your house on Saturday to bake cookies and to do crafts!"  Now how can I say no to that?  Both Miss Lollipop (4.5 yrs) and Miss Sunshine (2) love to make cookies and crafts, so this will be a fun event.

Today I'm sharing our family Christmas Cookie recipe and Crafting Project with you.  This recipe was given to me by my next door neighbor more than 35 years ago!  We make these cookie without the icing, instead we sprinkle colored sugar* on top before baking. Hope you enjoy them.

3 Cups All Purpose Flour (sifted)
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 Cup Butter (2 sticks) room temperature
2 Eggs slightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp. Almond Extract (or 2 tsp if you love Almond)

Sift flour sugar and baking powder together.   Add butter and mix till crumbly.  Add eggs,extract and blend until smooth.  I do all this by hand.
Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes.  Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/8" thickness and use cookie cutters to cut designs.  Place on pan and sprinkle with colored sugar*.  Bake 10-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

* Colored Sugar
Let your children do this part, it's like magic when the sugar changes color!
In a tea cup or coffee mug mix 1/4 cup white sugar with your choice of food coloring (3-4 small drops) I make one with red and one green. Stir the sugar until the food coloring mixes into the sugar well. You can add more sugar if needed.  Put the sugar on the cookies BEFORE baking.

Icing:

3/4 Cup sugar, 1/3 Cup water, 2 Tbsp. light corn syrup in small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until comes to boil.  Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.  Gradually add 3 Cups Confectioners Sugar, beat until smooth. Spread icing on cookies AFTER baking.

CRAFT PROJECT
A Little Angel

A little angel to decorate your tree top.  My daughter made this Angel when she was 5 yrs. old and we put it on the tree each year.  Yes, she is our official tree topper!  I get a giggle each time I see her!

Supplies:

Toilet paper tube (cut in half)
Acrylic Paint or Tempera Paints (may need to paint under coat of white)
Red glitter
Pink Construction paper (face) or recycle cereal box (wings)
Craft glue

1. Cut Toilet paper tube in half.
2. Paint the tube pink or white or whatever color you fancy. Let dry.
3  Cut out circle for face from pink construction paper.
4. Draw or Paint facial features.
5. Cut out wing shape from cereal box  (we made 2 hearts) paint pink.  Let dry.
6. Use glue to outline wing shape.  Sprinkle with glitter on top of glue. Let dry.
7. Glue face to front of paper tube (body).
8. Glue (or staple) wings to back of paper tube (body) with glitter towards front.

Don't forget to have child sign his/her masterpiece! And put the year date on the inside of the tube, you'll be glad you did!  Hang on tree or use as a tree topper!


Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Suzy