I love the cookie exchanges that often accompany the holidays. The only bad thing about this type of event is that in order to get cookies, you have to make cookies. I just want to show up, socialize a little, gather my cookies, and scamper home with my edible treasures. Maybe my gourmet friends are on to my crummy cookie attitude because it's been a few years since I've been invited to such a gathering. Hmm, I wonder?
The last cookie exchange I attended found me scrambling for a recipe...imagine that. I couldn't just go buy ready-made cookie dough at the store, slice it up, throw it in the oven, and feel comfortable amongst all the cookie queens in my circle of friends. So, I sat down with some recipe cards from "Great American Recipes" that came via the United States Postal Service and, viola, I found a recipe that was actually stamped "Easy and Tasty!" Just what I needed. It wasn't really a Christmas cookie, but it did call for cinnamon which is kind of popular around the holidays. That was good enough for me and the cookies were a big hit. If you are cookie challenged, I encourage you to try this recipe. If I can do it, so can you.
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp salt
cinnamon sugar
In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt. Add to butter mixture. Blend well and cover. Refrigerate 2 hours until firm. Shape into small balls about 3/4-inch in diameter. Roll in cinnamon sugar to coat. Set cookies, 1-inch apart, on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets, then remove to racks to cool completely.
I get tired just thinking about making these cookies but they really aren't difficult...I just prefer fewer steps. I follow the instructions until it talks about shaping the 3/4-inch balls. I like bigger cookies, so I make bigger balls. I don't cook them according to the time mentioned in the recipe (can't remember the time I use), but I aim for soft and chewy timing which will vary according to individual ovens. Supposedly the recipe makes 6 dozen cookies, but I've never gotten that many even when I rolled them according to the instructions.
Just in case you need to know how to make cinnamon sugar, stir 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon together. Or if you are like me, mix them together until you like the color.
Spiritual Seasoning
"Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, NRSV)
"All shall give as they are able according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given to you." (Deuteronomy 16:17, NRSV)
Whenever we hear Bible verses that have to do with giving, many of our thoughts immediately enter the material realm of money. No matter what a "giving" verse is specifically speaking of, I think all of them have something to do with the giving condition of one's heart; even if the giving involves, yes, cookies.
The giving condition of my heart was terrible when it came to the cookie exchange. I wanted to horde cookies and run home with them...plus I was grumbling about having to make a couple dozen. Give me a break! I certainly wasn't a cheerful giver or giving according to the "blessing of the Lord". What a lousy attitude.
No matter what we are giving, our heart should be in the right place. I had dear friend in college who lived on a very tight budget. One day she bought a beautiful photograph of a baby kit fox laying in a bed of wild daisies; she happened to know the local photographer who had captured the scene. Whenever I was in her dorm room I admired the innocent creature among the flowers. One Christmas my friend unselfishly presented the precious photo to me as a gift.
More than twenty years later I still have that photograph. Although I still love the photo, the thing that still touches me the most is the heart transaction that took place when my friend decided to give me her treasured possession.
During this Christmas season remember that the cheerful art of giving isn't necessarily what you give that touches people...it's the condition of your heart that truly matters the most. That will be the gift that keeps on giving with the passage of time.
Merry Christmas to you and Happy Birthday Dear Jesus!
(c)2008 Shona Neff
The last cookie exchange I attended found me scrambling for a recipe...imagine that. I couldn't just go buy ready-made cookie dough at the store, slice it up, throw it in the oven, and feel comfortable amongst all the cookie queens in my circle of friends. So, I sat down with some recipe cards from "Great American Recipes" that came via the United States Postal Service and, viola, I found a recipe that was actually stamped "Easy and Tasty!" Just what I needed. It wasn't really a Christmas cookie, but it did call for cinnamon which is kind of popular around the holidays. That was good enough for me and the cookies were a big hit. If you are cookie challenged, I encourage you to try this recipe. If I can do it, so can you.
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp salt
cinnamon sugar
In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt. Add to butter mixture. Blend well and cover. Refrigerate 2 hours until firm. Shape into small balls about 3/4-inch in diameter. Roll in cinnamon sugar to coat. Set cookies, 1-inch apart, on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets, then remove to racks to cool completely.
I get tired just thinking about making these cookies but they really aren't difficult...I just prefer fewer steps. I follow the instructions until it talks about shaping the 3/4-inch balls. I like bigger cookies, so I make bigger balls. I don't cook them according to the time mentioned in the recipe (can't remember the time I use), but I aim for soft and chewy timing which will vary according to individual ovens. Supposedly the recipe makes 6 dozen cookies, but I've never gotten that many even when I rolled them according to the instructions.
Just in case you need to know how to make cinnamon sugar, stir 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon together. Or if you are like me, mix them together until you like the color.
Spiritual Seasoning
"Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, NRSV)
"All shall give as they are able according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given to you." (Deuteronomy 16:17, NRSV)
Whenever we hear Bible verses that have to do with giving, many of our thoughts immediately enter the material realm of money. No matter what a "giving" verse is specifically speaking of, I think all of them have something to do with the giving condition of one's heart; even if the giving involves, yes, cookies.
The giving condition of my heart was terrible when it came to the cookie exchange. I wanted to horde cookies and run home with them...plus I was grumbling about having to make a couple dozen. Give me a break! I certainly wasn't a cheerful giver or giving according to the "blessing of the Lord". What a lousy attitude.
No matter what we are giving, our heart should be in the right place. I had dear friend in college who lived on a very tight budget. One day she bought a beautiful photograph of a baby kit fox laying in a bed of wild daisies; she happened to know the local photographer who had captured the scene. Whenever I was in her dorm room I admired the innocent creature among the flowers. One Christmas my friend unselfishly presented the precious photo to me as a gift.
More than twenty years later I still have that photograph. Although I still love the photo, the thing that still touches me the most is the heart transaction that took place when my friend decided to give me her treasured possession.
During this Christmas season remember that the cheerful art of giving isn't necessarily what you give that touches people...it's the condition of your heart that truly matters the most. That will be the gift that keeps on giving with the passage of time.
Merry Christmas to you and Happy Birthday Dear Jesus!
(c)2008 Shona Neff