Cookies and Snot

This weekend there was flour and sugar flying everywhere in our kitchen. We had our annual see-how-many-cookies-we-can-bake-in-one-day-without-losing-our-minds bake off. We got 11 dozen in before I had to stash the rest of dough in the fridge for another day! I do love to bake with my kids, but five in the kitchen at once.....whoa!

We went with four varieties this year, you know, 'cause one is just not enough! Oh no! We had oatmeal raisen (Daddy's favorite), Snickerdoodle (at Lizzie's request), Sugar (because they are most fun to decorate, of course) and Ginger (because you are not allowed to make Christmas cookies without Gingerbread. It's a rule, I think).

I made up the oatmeal raisen sans the kiddos and then got several kids involved with the Snickerdoodle. This was the first time I did Snickerdoodle and I have to say, I really liked them a lot! They are surprisingly quite the Christmas treat. I got the recipe out of a magazine I pilfered from my Mother-in-law last year. A whole magazine for baking cookies! Every cookie we have ever made from it has turned out great.....of course that is only three whole recipes. But, we are 3 for 3!

Anyway, just in case the idea of Snickerdoodles thrills you. You know, 'cause maybe you're strange that way.....like me. Here is the recipe I used:

• 1 cup butter (two sticks at room temp)
• 2 2/3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 Tbs. ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350°
2. Grease a cookie sheet with butter or use parchment paper (I used the parchment)
3. In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar
4. Beat the butter and 1 1/2 cups of the sugar until light and fluffy
5. Scrape the bowl and then beat the eggs in one at a time until combined
6. Scrape the bowl again and then add the flour mixture slowly until incorporated
7. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar
8. Form balls from rounded tablespoons of dough and roll in the cinnamon mixture
9. Place the ball on the baking pan and press lightly to flatten slightly.
10. Bake until golden on the edges and slightly soft in the center (about 15 minutes)
11. Cool and eat!

Merry Christmas. No need to thank me!

All the kids helped out with the sugar cookies and gingerbread men (and ladies). But, I was less than pleased with the recipe I used for gingerbread. I don't like to use shortening, so I found a new gingerbread recipe online and tried it. Not good. The kids had fun making the men (and ladies), we just are less than enthusiastic about eating them. So, if you've got a knock-your-socks-off gingerbread recipe, I'd love to have it! Feel free to comment!

Why yes, since you asked, this is the part about the snot. Lizzie was also here during the baking fray. However, poor thing, she's come down with a nasty cold. You know the kind. Coughing, sniffling, lost her voice, head full of snot. That kind. Oh, you lost your appetite you say?

I went in to check on her after she'd taken a little rest yesterday afternoon and came back to the kitchen. Paul asked how she was doing. I told him that she had a head full 'o snot and was going to take a hot shower to clear it. A minute later, I assume after trying to process that information, Claire started running up and down the kitchen hollaring at the top of her lungs "my sister's head is full of snot! My sister's head is full! Of! Snot! Daddy! My sister's head is full of snot!".

That kid cracks me up!

Lizzie was overwhelmed.

Yeah, so she wouldn't let me take her picture. You know, because of the head full of snot and all that. She figured you didn't really want to see it. Did you?