Doug's Christmas Cookies (with his photos.. not X rated)

These are cookies from Doug's childhood...he has fond memories of eating these..they are his mom's recipes...and now HE makes them for his family and friends..its wonderful to have a man that bakes.. These are strictly for CHRISTMAS.. he told me so... and he never lies..

Doug's Balls

nice pics...huh??

Doug took them!!

Doug's Chocolate Balls  (no bake cookies)... mind of the gutter

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
finely shredded coconut

Melt chocolate, add in milk and graham crumbs and cool until easy to work with.

Roll into small balls and roll in coconut.

Swedish Tea Rings

nice pic again!!

isn't he wonderful???

Swedish Tea Rings (also known as Thimble Cookies)

½ cup butter
¼ cup brown sugar, tightly packed
1 egg yolk, (save egg white)
1 cup sifted flour
½ tsp vanilla
chopped walnuts
red current jelly (jelly of your choice)

Combine butter, sugar, egg yolk, flour and vanilla and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll into small balls, dip in egg white and roll in walnuts.
Bake in oven for 5 minutes at 300º

Take out, dent with the handle of a wooden spoon, add red current jelly and put back into oven for 10-12 minutes.

(not sure if these are Swedish or not...but to Canadian they are..)



Shortbread

4 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 lb butter
Cream butter and sugar
Add flour

Roll out dough and cut   or   roll into small balls and flatten on cookie sheet

Prick with fork or garnish with dried fruit or coloured sugar
Bake for 15 minutes @ 300º

Almond Shortbread

awesome cookies...ohhh

and his baked goods are bad

Almond Shortbread

1 cup butter
2 cups flour
½ cup white sugar
½ cup chopped almonds (very fine – almost powder)

Combine and either form into crescents and bake for 7 –10
minutes at 350º

Or flatten dough in a cookie pan, cut into squares and garnish with sliced almonds and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees

Roll in fruit sugar or superfine white sugar

Strawberries Cookies

these make your tongue red...

and SWEET!!!!!!

 

Strawberries

1 can sweetened condensed milk
¾ - 1 lb shredded coconut
2 strawberry Jell-O’s (put ½ of 1 aside)
1 tbsp fruit sugar
10 drops red food colouring
1 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients together and form into a strawberry shape.
Roll in Jell-O powder

Add leaves made from butter icing (pipe the leaves on..time to use the pastry bag and a leaf tip)..

Butter Icing

Combine butter and icing sugar and green food colouring until the right consistency
(1 tbsp of butter and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
couple drops of vanilla)

These are more like candy!!!

I can only guarantee these will be delicious!!!  (well he is pretty delicious)

 

Hope your Holidays...are Delicious!!

 

from Doug and June

 

Candy Making..Homemade Caramels.. and more

Caramels can be very tricky..well, all of candy making is tricky!!
You have to be very patient when making caramels. The caramel has to be cooked slowly, so be sure to set aside about two hours. While you are stirring, grab some friends and family to chat with, watch a Christmas movie or listen to some holiday tunes!

Homemade Caramels

1 pound of butter

2 pounds of brown sugar (1 bag)

16 ounces of Karo syrup

2 14 oz. cans of sweet and condensed milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Melt butter in a heavy, 6 quart pot on medium low heat. Stir in the brown sugar.
2. Stir in the Karo syrup. The caramel will come to a gentle boil.
3. Gradually add the sweet and condensed milk and continue to stir over heat.
4. Using a candy thermometer, heat until the caramel is at softball stage, approximately 240 degrees.
5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. The caramel will bubble up, keep stirring.
6. Pour caramel into a generously buttered jelly roll pan. Cool completely.
7. Cut caramel into 1×2 inch squares with a sharp knife. (Or whatever size you prefer!)
8. Cut wax paper or decorative foil into 3×5 inch pieces. Wrap caramel squares into wax paper or foil and twist ends. Or simply serve like shown below (but don’t keep unwrapped for too long or they will harden!)

This recipe makes about 150 caramels, so you’ll have plenty to gift to friends and fam, bring to the office, or save for yourself ;) Package these caramel treats into cellophane bags or holiday take out boxes for gifts.

Homemade Caramel Corn

2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. karo syrup
2 sticks butter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 c. uncooked popcorn

Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil; boil 5 minutes. Add baking soda and vanilla extract. Pour over popped corn.Bake at 225°F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Caramel Nut Delights

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 lg. pot
Water

Put unopened can into pot, fill pot with water. Make sure water covers over can. Let boil for 3 hours. Make sure water covers can at all times. Let cool. Open can. Enjoy.

 

Make Turtles...

Boil the condensed milk as stated. when the cans are cool, open them. Have a bowl of ground pecans ready. Drop small scoops of caramel from spoon into ground pecans, put onto waxed paper. Melt a good quality chocolate and dip each pecan caramel into melted chocolate. This makes a candy similar to turtles.



 

Holiday Stress??

The holidays are supposed to be fun, right? But with holiday stress from all the extra work of preparing for the holiday season, dealing with temperments, and crazy family members we forget to have fun.

Childhood holiday memories stay with us our whole lives. I am sure you have some that MAKE the holiday for you.  So as parents, we want to be sure our children remember happy times, not ones filled with holiday stress.

Multitask to the Max

Multitasking isn't always a good thing, but during the holiday season efficiency at home and at work is essential. Try to think of ways big and small to combine functions. It really depends on your line of work, but some ideas include:

• If you're buying a Christmas gift for several clients, buy one for a family member who might also appreciate the item.
• Make trips outside the house count. Visiting a client? Stop at the mall on the way back. Purchasing stamps? Send your Christmas cards.
• Pop out of your office every so often to stir the pot. Cooking some holiday dishes in advance can make the season so much less frantic, reducing holiday stress.

Lists, Lists and More List

If your kids have a Christmas list, why shouldn't you? Though the Mom's Christmas list I'm talking about is less fun because it is a "to do" list.  Sit down with your calendar and make a list of big upcoming events for both work and home. Then tag each entry with a things to do list. For example if you're having a holiday party, list the things to do for the party separately.  Keep in mind that the earlier you do this, the more likely it is to change (probably expand). But that's OK because the earlier you get a handle on your schedule, the better you will be able to deal with new events as they come in.  Then put together a master to do list organized by date. This will help you keep an eye on which work and home-related tasks could conflict or could be combined.

Shop at Off-Hours or Shop Online

Shopping at off-hours is one of the most obvious holiday advantages that many work-at-home moms enjoy. During the holiday season, if you have outside child care it might be more efficient to shop on a weekday when your sitter is there and work later. If your schedule is flexible, you might work on the weekend or at night.

Because you are home to receive packages, shopping online is easier for the work-at-home mom. But remember if your kids are home too you may have some tricky explaining to do. When my kids couldn't read, I always said the packages were for the neighbors.

Don't be Afraid to Pare Back

Contrary to what people may think, being a work-at-home mom doesn't mean you have loads of extra time for home projects. You, or others in your life, may have unrealistic expectations about what holiday-related tasks you can accomplish. So, the master "to do" list can help put it in perspective and reduce holiday stress.

Think twice before you promise to make that gingerbread house for the family Christmas celebration or to host dinner. Self-employed moms, in particular, have to be careful about what we promise. Money or time can easily evaporate. If you've bitten off more than you can chew, pull back. This may mean skipping a favorite tradition for a year, but the reduction of holiday stress can be worth it. Traditions don't die, if you skip them just once. In one particularly hectic year, I canceled our annual Christmas party. The relief of taking it off my task list far outweighed the sadness I felt about skipping it. And the next year our party was as big as ever.

Or Add New Traditions

In the ebb and flow of life, some things become easier over time. And that's especially true with kids. So try to recognize when your kids are ready for more or different holiday activities.
 
Cutting your own Christmas tree might have been out questions when your kids were toddlers, but by elementary school it can be a great family outing. Capturing that moment when they are the right age is important because they might be less interested when they are teenagers.  If you do have to cut out a favorite activity, like a party or travel, try making up a new, less time-consuming holiday activity for the family. And eventually it could become part of your annual holiday traditions.

Enjoy! 

Life is about the journey as much as the destination. Enjoy the holiday season, but also just enjoy life. Life doesn't come to a stop during the holidays. Make time for exercise or being with friends or a date with your spouse. These things will reduce your holiday stress.

Christmas Cookies Day 7: Lemon Ricotta Cookies

 

Christmas Cookies: Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Mine did not turn out as pretty as Giada’s but they were delicious! So moist from the *whole* container of ricotta cheese. And, such great lemon flavor from the zest in the cookie and the very lemony glaze.

Just a couple of notes:
The glaze recipe made just enough to cover all the cookies. So be generous but not overly so when coating the cookies.
I have started to always line my cookie sheets with parchment paper. The cookies bake more evenly and are easy to remove from the cookie sheet. And, clean up is a breeze — just throw out the paper or wipe down the mat!
Lastly, if you don’t own a Microplane zester, it really is an amazing tool to zest citrus. You can use it to grate parmesan cheese, and I’ve even seen people use it on garlic cloves and ginger.

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

by Giada de Laurentiis

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 lemon, zested

Glaze:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 lemon, zested

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cookies: In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.
Glaze: Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours. Pack the cookies into a decorative container.

Christmas Tree Allergies!!

Christmas Trees and Allergies!!

The Christmas tree is a classic staple in many American homes over the holiday season, but some people find that as soon as the tree comes home, they start sniffling and sneezing. There are a number of causes for this type of reaction, which will be discussed along with everything else you need to know about Christmas tree allergies.

Trying to decide which type of tree to get can be difficult, and it will vary based on personal preference. Each type of tree, both real and fake can aggravate allergies; it just depends upon what the individual person is allergic to.

To many people, there is nothing better than a real Christmas tree. It just captures the essence of Christmas, right down to the very scent that fills the home. However, real Christmas trees are full of different allergens. The species of tree that are used for Christmas trees contain terpenes, which have been shown to cause allergic reactions in some people. These are the compounds that give the pine trees their smell, and because of their chemical characteristics, they are often used in perfumes, cleaning supplies and solvents. These terpenes occur naturally in the tree and people are exposed to them when brought into an enclosed space, or if they touch the tree.

Even if terpenes aren't the culprit for allergies on a real Christmas tree, mold or pollen might be. Since Christmas trees grow outside, they are exposed to all the allergens found outdoors. When people bring trees inside, they also bring in things like mold and pollen, which are extremely common allergens. According to an article in U.S. News and World Report, when people brought Christmas trees indoors, the mold spore count in the home increased fivefold.
Unfortunately, artificial trees also contain their share of allergens. They too can harbor mold and dust after being stored in attics or damp basements all year long. They can also contain bugs and their droppings, which are also a common source of allergy irritation. In addition to this, the material that the tree is made from can be a source of the allergens. Certain plastics release chemicals into the air that can cause allergy symptoms. Any tree that has been flocked will cause allergy symptoms as well because the material used can irritate allergies.

Reducing Allergens

There are some ways to reduce the allergens associated with Christmas trees. If a real tree is chosen, the tree should be cleaned thoroughly before bringing it into the home. There are a number of ways to do this.

• First, the tree should be shaken out outdoors to remove any loose debris.
• Next a leaf blower or shop vacuum can be used to remove as many of the spores and particles.
• The tree can also be washed in a solution of water and a small amount of bleach. The bleach will kill any mold present without hurting the tree and the water will wash away any dust and debris.
• Artificial trees can be vacuumed and washed as well, but since the trees usually contain metal parts they should be dried well to prevent rust.
• When storing artificial trees, they should be sealed inside a plastic bag and then placed in a plastic storage box. Cardboard boxes or bags let dust and bugs get into the tree.
• Artificial trees should always be opened outside after being stored all year.

Treatment Options

The most important thing that people can do to reduce allergy symptoms during Christmas is to make sure their tree is free from as many allergens as possible. Here is a list of treatment options that can be implemented to alleviate Christmas tree allergies:

• Treatment will vary based upon individual symptoms. Most of the time, an antihistamine allergy medication will do the best job, but they can cause drowsiness. There are some non-drowsy allergy medications that could help as well.
• If over-the-counter medications are not effective, there are a number of prescription medications that can help.
• If Christmas tree allergies are also an asthma trigger, it's important that the asthmatic person consult with their doctor to be sure that they have the medication that they need to keep asthma symptoms under control. This will often include daily maintenance medication such as steroid inhalers as well as acute asthma treatments like rescue inhalers.

Warning Signs

While most allergy symptoms are less than pleasant, they are typically not life threatening. If someone experiences a severe reaction, medical attention must be sought immediately. Signs of a life threatening reaction include swelling of the throat or tongue, difficulty breathing or a rash.

Christmas trees can be a source of allergy irritation, but they don't have to be. While it's impossible to remove all allergens, you can follow the tips provided here to reduce the amount of allergens that need to be dealt with meaning that people can keep the Christmas tree without having to worry too much about allergy symptoms.

7 Days till Christmas..Eat This..Thai Chicken Stir-Fry

 

 

Want something fast, easy and delcicious...and nice enough for company???  THIS is IT!!!

 

 

Looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen..ready in less than 30 min!!

 

 

 

Thai Chicken Stir-Fry With Spicy Peanut Sauce


4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
4 cups sliced broccoli or spinach

In a small bowl, blend peanut butter, water, soy sauce and sugar; set aside. In a wok or large skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add garlic and pepper; stir-fry 30 seconds. Add chicken, stir-fry until firm and white, about 5 minutes. Add broccoli or spinach, stir-fry until bright green, about 3 minutes. Stir in peanut butter mixture. Cook, stirring constantly until sauce is smooth, about 3 minutes.

serve with white rice

wine? Off-Dry Riesling Pairings
A slight hint of sweetness makes this crisp apple- and lime-accented Riesling a terrific choice for spicy foods.

you dont need dessert with this...but.... christmas cookies always work!!!

CHRISTMAS COOKIES NOT MANY TILL CHRISTMAS

WOW!!! HOLY COW!!!

 

 

 

7 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!! 

 

 

 

Believe it or not, I have been busy...well it is Christmas after all, so I will make it up to you.... my bad!!

We can blame Doug... sure.. that works...

Christmas Cookies Parts 14 to 7

 

 

 

Easy Shortbread (Part 14)

 

 

1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups sifted flour

 

 

Cream the butter with sugar. Add flour until well combined. Chill. Pat into two 7 inch circles.
Place on baking sheet and mark 16 wedges in each. Bake at 300 degrees F for 30 minutes.

 

Sometimes I sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top of it, or I reduce the flour to 2 1/3 cups and mix in a packet of instant oatmeal - I've used various flavors. It makes a great and buttery oatmeal cookie.

 

You can not form them into circles but instead form them into small squares and baked (then dipped into chocolate). (to dip into chocolate, microwave good quality chocolate chips and some shortening, then mix and dip cookies! leave cookies on wax paper to set)

 

 

 

Pretzel Kisses (part 13)

 

1 package pretzels
1 package milk chocolate kisses
1 package candy coated plain chocolate candy

 

Place pretzels on cookie sheet. Put 1 milk chocolate kiss in center of each pretzel. Warm in 200 degrees F oven for 2-5 minutes or until soft enough to press candies into kiss and flatten into pretzel.

 

These little things are great and you can change them up in so many ways.   You can use the Cookies & Cream Hershey Kisses and top the melted kiss with another pretzel -- White Chocolate Pretzel Sandwich Cookie!  I like to sprinkle mine with Christmas sprinkles to make a holiday candy treat!

 

 

 

Meringue Snowflakes (part 12)

 

2 large egg whites, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1/4 teaspoon lemon, peppermint, orange, or almond extract
2 tablespoons colored sugar or edible glitter

 

Heat the oven to 200 degrees F.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy, about 3 minutes. Set the mixer speed to high and beat another 3 minutes or so until the eggs whites are fluffy.

Add the confectioner's sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and continue beating until the egg whites are stiff and glossy, about 5 minutes. Then beat in the extract.

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a pencil to draw snowflake patterns on the paper. The meringues will not spread, so they can be drawn fairly close together. Turn the papers printed-side down and stick them to the baking sheets by dabbing a little meringue in each corner.

Spoon the meringue into a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip and pipe it, erring on the thick side so the snowflakes will be less fragile, onto the paper-lined sheets following the patterns. Sprinkle the meringues with colored sugar or edible glitter.

Bake the snowflakes until dry but not browned, about 1 hour. Carefully slide the parchment paper from the baking sheets to wire racks and let the meringues cool completely.

Using scissors, cut the paper between the meringues to separate them. Then gently peel away the paper from each one, keeping one hand under the snowflake to support the edges. The meringues will stay crisp for up to 2 weeks if stored in an airtight container at room temperature (do not refrigerate them).

 

 

 

 

 

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies with Butter Icing (part 11)

 

***Cookies***
1 1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter or margarine (butter will taste better)
1 egg
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon real almond flavoring
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

***Butter Icing***
2 1/2 tablespoons softened butter
1 1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon cream
3/4 teaspoon real vanilla extract

 

For Cookies: Mix sugar and butter. Add egg and vanilla/almond flavorings; mix thoroughly.

In a separate bowl, add the dry ingredients, and mix them well. Then, add dry ingredients to wet mixture, and blend well. Refrigerate 2-3 hours.

Once dough has been chilled for the proper amount of time, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Divide the dough in half (place the other half of dough in refrigerator to stay cold until ready to use), and roll about 3/16" thick on lightly floured pastry cloth or clean counter-top. Cut with cookie cutters.

If you do not plan to decorate with icing, you can then sprinkle with sugar, and place on lightly greased baking sheet. If you want to decorate with the icing (recipe following), omit the sprinkling of sugar, and simply place on the sheet.

Bake 7-8 minutes - do not let them become brown, just lightly golden at most. Remove and cool on racks or paper.

For Icing: Blend butter and sugar together. Stir in cream and vanilla until smooth. That's it! You can separate amounts of icing in bowls, color with food coloring, and you can then thin it with extra cream if it becomes too stiff.

If you do not have an icing bag, try putting small amounts of the colored icing into Ziploc baggies, seal, and then cut a tiny hole in the corner to squeeze icing out of. Just don't squeeze too hard, or you'll have an explosion.

After icing the cookies, use sprinkles, jimmies, and any other candies to decorate your little delicacies.

 

 

 

Chocolate Snickerdoodles (part 10)

 

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Stir in flour, cocoa, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Blend well.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Combine 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.

Roll dough in sugar/cinnamon mixture and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheets.

 

(add the flour with the dry ingredients)

 

 

 

 

Christmas Brownies With Candy Cane-Cream Cheese Frosting (part 9)

1 package super moist brownie mix (plus ingredients called for on box)

***Cream Cheese Frosting***
8 ounces softened cream cheese (room temp.)
1 stick butter or margarine
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
red food coloring
5 candy canes

 

Bake brownies using your favorite mix or recipe. Since these are VERY rich, bake medium to thin. Either split into two and spread over bottom of two 8x8 pans, or spread thin over a 9x12 pan. Allow to cool.

For Frosting: Mix together cream cheese, butter, peppermint extract and powdered sugar until creamy. Pour a few drops of red food coloring into mixture and stir lightly with a spoon or knife, just enough to get streaks but not thoroughly blend the color. Spread thickly over brownies.

Put candy canes into a sandwich bag and crush by hammering lightly. (If you have a lot of pent up frustrations, go easy. You don't want candy cane powder!)

Sprinkle crushed candy cane over the top and press the pieces down lightly into the frosting. Chill to allow the frosting to set up.

Serve to your favorite elves.

NOTE: If you love the combo of chocolate and peppermint like I do, add some crushed candy canes to the brownie batter and bake the flavor right in. It adds a nice little crunch, too.

 

 

 

Christmas Butter Cookies (part 8)

 

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Cream butter, gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Chill for ease in handling. Roll out dough to 1/8" thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut with floured cookie cutters into desired shapes.

Bake on a cookie sheet in preheated 350 F oven 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

 

One of my fave treats are danish butter cookies packaged in those cute tin containers. However I wished the cookies were richer and more butter-y in taste and would match the cuteness of the tin containers they were in. So I searched the Internet for a butter cookie recipes to kitchen test. This recipe turns out great every time (although I can't anymore remember where I got it from) and is so lovely to use with those whimsical Christmas cookie stampers and presses. This recipe would make a delightful gift. Just be in the lookout for cute cookie tins and containers to put them in

 

 

Frosted Anise Cookies (part 7)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3 1/2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon anise extract
2/3 cup light cream or half-and-half

***Frosting***
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon anise extract
colored sprinkles, to decorate, as needed

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cream butter, shortening, and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and beat well. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt with a whisk

Add flour mixture to butter mixture along with anise extract and cream and, using a wooden spoon, mix well. Form dough into small balls and place onto ungreased cookie sheets several inches apart. Flatten slightly (using a sugared glass or the palm of your hand) and bake approximately 12 minutes. Remove to racks to cool then frost. For frosting, melt butter over low heat in a small pot. Add sugar, milk, and anise extract, stir until smooth. Dunk tops or sides of cooled cookies into the icing, then dunk into a dish of sprinkles to decorate. Frosting will harden once it dries.

 

 

Whew!!! OK we are all caught up.  How is your Christmas baking going?? Let us all know...