A cookie a Day - Chocolate Drop Cookies

Still in a rush - but can't NOT do the Cookie-A-Day recipe  :)

Chocolate Drop Cookies
1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2/3 c. Crisco shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. sour milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tbsp. cocoa

Mix all ingredients together.  Drop by spoonful onto baking sheet.  Bake @ 350 for about 10 minutes or until set.  Cool.  Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting!

Oatmeal Cake!

I need to be quick because I need to shower for the day, hit Walgreens, to pick up medication for hubby and get to work all within 1 hour.

Oatmeal Cake
1 1/4 c. boiling water
1 c. quick cooking oatmeal
Boil water and stir the oats in.  Set aside.

In a bowl mix together:
1/2 c. margarine (or butter) softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix all together.  Mix in the oatmeal.  Pour into greased 9 x 13 or bundt cake pan.  Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes.  We like it warm with Cool-Whip on top!

A cookie a day ~Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies

I had a busy weekend - doing a bunch of driving to see some great people!  Saturday I drove to Fargo to see and shop with some friends and on Sunday, hubby and I hopped in the car and drove up to Bemidji to see my family, including my new niece, Peyton.  I held her for hours  :) and she slept for hours, oh well, she did open her eyes a few times, to the delight of all. 
Here are some yummy cookies you can whip up for Super Bowl this wekend to share with yoru family and friends, and the best part, you can choose what flavor of ice cream to sandwich these with.  ENJOY!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Big Cookies
3/4 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 c. regular rolled oats
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips or raisins (you choose)
Favorite flavors of Ice cream!~

Preheat your oven to 375. 
Mix together all ingredients, stir in chocolate chips or raisins.  Use 1/4 c. of cookie dough for each cookie, and drop them 3" apart on greased cookie sheets.  Press into 4 inch circles.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden.  Cool.  Sandwich up with your ice cream!

A cookie a day ~German Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Today, it is beautiful outside, (other than a bit of a breeze) we have SUNSHINE!  Which in January in Minnesota is a great thing.  Keeps everyone smiling and happy.  So will these cookies, so get in your kitchens, crank up the oven and get baking!

German Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. butter, softened
2/3 c. unsweetened cocoa
3/4 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. chopped pecans (optional)
Canned Coconut/pecan frosting (or you can make your own!)

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour, sugar, butter, cocoa, baking soda, eggs, milk and vanilla.  Blend well.  Stir in pecans.
Roll dough into 1" balls.  Place on cookie sheet and flatten slightly. 
Bake 9-11 minutes or until almost set. Cool. Spread about 1 tbsp. of frosting onto the bottom of a cookie - top with another cookie!  EAT!

A cookie a day - Layer Bar Cookies :)

Ok, this is the first time I am kind of cheating on the cookie a day thing, but hey this recipe is straight from my cookie-a-day calendar!  Last night my hubby said, I think I am getting a cold and my daughter said, oh I feel like throwing up~  ugh, can you say Lysol wipes?  I am using them fast and furious on everything because these 2 housemates of mine, better not make me sick!  Whip these bars up and have some for dessert for your family tonight!

Layer Bar Cookies
6 tbsp. butter
2 c. graham cracker (or vanilla wafer) crumbs
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips
1 c. white chocolate chips
1 c. butterscotch chips
1 c. flaked coconut
1 c. chopped pecans (if desired)
1 c. sweetened condensed milk (I use the fat-free kind!)

Preat your oven to 325.  Line a 8" pan with parchment paper.  Melt the butter in a saucepan.  Remove from heat and stir in the crumbs.  Press into the pan.  Layer on the rest of the ingredients.  Pour the condensed milk over the top.  Bake 30 to 35 minutes!  Cool at least 1 hour before cutting.

A cookie a day -Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches~!

Here it is the Peanut butter (since it's National Peanut Butter Day) related cookie recipe, I almost posted a cupcake recipe but remembered, I MUST do a Cookie-A-Day~!

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches
1/2 c. Peanut Butter chips
3 tbsp. + 1/2 c. butter, softened and divided
1 1/4 c. sugar divided
1/4 c. corn syrup
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour, divided
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. cocoa
5 tbsp. butter, melted
additional sugar
about 2 dozen large marshmellows

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.  Melt peanut butter chips and 3 tbsp. butter over very low heat.  Remove and cool slightly.
Beat remaining 1/2 c. butter, 1 c. sugar until fluffy.  Add corn syrup, egg and vanilla and blend well.  Stir together your 2 c. flour and baking soda, add to butter mixture, blend well.  Remove 1 1/4 c. batter and place in a small bowl, with a spoon stir remaining 1/4 c. flour and melted peanut butter mixture into the batter. 
In the batter you put in a seperate small bowl add 1/4 c. sugar and the 5 tbsp. butter melted.  Add the cocoa powder to this as well. 
Shape each flavor of dough into 1 " balls, roll in sugar.  Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until set.  Cool.  Place a marshmellow on the flat side of a chocolate cookie.  Microwave at medium for 10 seconds or until it is softened, top with a peanut butter cookie.  Repeat & EAT!

Slow Cooker Beef & Tomato Stew

My lovely, thoughtful daughter, gave me a gift subscription to the little magazine called, "Everyday Food", I found this recipe in it and I have it going in the crock pot tomorrow as a meal for tomorrow.  Since, no one will be home for supper tonight.  Everyone is working  :)  Which is a good thing ( I guess!)  I modified the recipe a bit to fit what I had here in the house, so I didn't have to run out to the store!

Beef & Tomato Stew
1 small onion, diced
3 medium carrots, diced
1/4 c. chopped celery
2 pounds of beef chuck or tenderized beef steak, cut into small pieces
1 can diced tomatoes (I used the italian style)
1 c. water
salt & pepper

Place all ingredients in the crock pot - cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Serve over cooked rice!  Top with a dollop of yogurt if desired. 

A cookie a day ~S'more Sandwich Cookies

Since summer is a long ways off, at least if you live near where I do, this cookie will bring the feel of summer to your day!  Yesterday Minnesota experienced rain and snow in various parts of the state and a lot of people did NOT have a fun time driving in to work this morning.  Just remember, January is almost over and that means we are closer to SPRING!

S'more Sandwich Cookies
3/4 c. butter, softened
1/3 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. chocolate chips
24 to 28 large marshmellows

In a mixing bowl combine your ingredients as you are making chocolate chip cookies.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Leave marshmellows aside.  Drop your dough onto cookie sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes in 350 degree oven.  Let cool.  Turn 4 cookies upside down on a microwave safe plate.  Top each with a marshmellow.  Microwave on high for 15 seconds, or just until the marshmellow begins to puff.  Remove and top with another cookie.  Repeat until you are done. 
Now pretend its summer outside and ENJOY!

A cookie a day ~ Twice the Chocolate Cookies

Well, I must say say it's a very good thing that there is a treadmill here!  This cookie a day thing . . . .

Twice the Chocolate Cookies
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. crisco shortening
1 c. sugar
2/3 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. white chocolate

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Cream butter and crisco together.  Add both sugars and mix.  Mix in eggs and vanilla.  Add the flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa.  Mix well.  Stir in your white chocolate chips.  Scoop onto your baking sheet or baking stone.  Bake for 12-14 minutes. 

A Cookie a day ~Swedish Cream Wafers

Well, I woke up this morning, clicked on my computer and it told me it was -18 degrees outside.  Glad I didn't have to get up and out of the house, that's all I can say about that.  I have Cheesy Potato/Ham soup in the crock pot and its smelling good.  Here is today's cookie recipe for you, please share with your friends and family! Yummy cookies and a pic of my Yummy Niece, born 1 week ago, today - Ms. Peyton!

Swedish Cream Wafers
1 c. butter, softened
1/3 c. half & half
2 c. flour
granulated sugar
powdered sugar frosting

With a mixer beat butter for 30 seconds.  Beat in the 1/2 & 1/2 and the flour.  Cover and chill dough for 2 hours.  On a lightly floured surface, roll 1/3 of the dough at a time to a 1/8" thickness.  Keep remaining dough refrigerated until ready to use.  With a 1 1/2" round cookie cutter, cut into rounds.  Dip each round into granulated sugar.  Place on cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 for 7-9 minutes or until edges begin to brown.  Remove and cool. 
FROSTING:
With a mixer beat 1/4 c. softened butter, gradually add one cup of powdered sugar, beat well.  Slowly beat in 1 tbsp. milk and 1/2 tsp. vanilla.  Then beat in another cup of powdered sugar.  Add milk if necessary for spreading consistency.  Tint the color you desire.  Spread about 1 tsp. of frosting on the unsugared side of your cookie, top with another to make a sandwich!

A cookie a day~Layered Birthday Cookie :)

Well, mother nature, who has been toying with us Minnesotans all winter, decided to remind us exactly who she is and what she is capable of.  Brrr for cold, and it is supposed to get colder and colder as the day goes on - so this girl here is headed off to run to Target and the grocery store before the temps drop any more - then I can hole myself up here and bake.  I am making cookies today as well as this recipe of the day and homemade pizza for supper - all that oven time will keep me warm & toasty!

Layered Birthday Cookie
For the cookie:
1 c. butter, softened
2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. all-purpose flour
6 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda

Preheat your oven to 350.  Line 2 spring form pans with parchment paper.  (or grease 2 round cake pans well).    Beat together the butter, sugar.  Add the eggs, and vanilla.  Stir in your dry ingredients.  Divide the dough in two and press into your prepared pans.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven, and allow to cool.  Remove from pans and place on wire racks. 

Topping:
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 c. powdered sugar
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
8 oz. chocolate melted, either semisweet or bittersweet
1/2 c. m & m's (or reese's pieces!)
1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

To prepare the topping, beat the butter and powedered sugar together, beat in the cream cheese and melted chocolate.  Spread over the cooled cookies, place on on top of the other, decorate and top with chocolate chips and the candies!  In this picture we added peanut butter to the topping- instead of the melted chocolate for the top layer!

Cookie A day - (trying to catch up) Lemon Pie Cookie Tarts!

Here was a good little treat, however, make them and eat them within 24 hours, the crust gets soggy if you don't.

They were tasty!

Lemon Pie Cookie Tarts
1 tube of regrigerated sugar cookie dough, or make your own sugar cookie recipe - this is what I did!
2 egg whites
1 box Jell0 Cook Lemon Pudding (make according to directions on the box)
Take a small ball of your cookie dough and place into a greased spot on a mini muffin pan.  Fill all 24 spots.  Use a tart shaper (if you have one) or pinch up each side.  Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes unitl golden brown.  Cool.  Spoon cooled pudding into each tart.  Whip your egg whites and add a bit of sugar and cream of tartar as you would for meringue.  Spoon a dollop onto each tart.  Return to the oven and bake until the meringue gets a bit golden.

Cookie a Day ~ Chocolate-drizzled Ginger Cookies

My life the past several days has been a busy one, that has kept me away from home and my cookbooks!  On January 12, my dad had surgery to have his cancer laden prostate removed, 5 hours away at a hospital in northern Minnesota at almost exactly the same time, my brand new niece was born, Peyton Vivian Osmundson is here!  It was a long day for all involved, but the outcomes on both ends have been positive and good.

Here is a recipe that I found worthy, off of the cookie-a-day calendar:

Chocolate-Drizzled Ginger Cookies
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, melted
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. salt
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted

Mix together the egg, egg yolk, sugar and then stir in the melted butter.  Stir together the dry ingredients and add them to the egg mixture, until combined.  Chill until firm.
Preheat the oven to 375.  Roull out the dough and cut into 2" rounds.  Bake for 15 minutes, until golden.  Cool.  Dip a fork in the melted chocolate, and drizzle over each cookie on the rack.

A cookie a day - Chocolate Coins

I planned ahead and put a recipe in my computer (and pic) to share with you.  I sit in the hospital with my dad today who had surgery to remove his prostate, as he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November.  He is out of surgery and recovery and in his room now.  Also today, my brother and his wife had a baby girl, in a hospital 5 hours from the hospital I am sitting in - (too bad it couldn't have been the same hospital)!  My new niece's name is Peyton and we couldn't be happier to have her in our family!

Chocolate Coins

1 c. semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. + 2tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
zest of 1 orange

Melt chocolate chips and butter in a bowl in the microwave.  Set aside to cool for about 5 minutes.  Stir together your dry ingredients and set aside.  Beat together the eggs and orange zest for 1 minute.  Pour in the melted chocolate and mix for 1 minute.  Add the flur mixture and mix until well mixed.  Roll out your dough, use a round or scallop edged cookie cutter.  Sprinkle tops with granulated sugar.  Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.

A cookie a day - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cloud Cookies~!

This recipe is brought to us by our friend, Betty Crocker, she is definately a friend of mine, and I am sure yours as well.  These cookies are super simple and some days that is what we are all looking for, not a lot of things to measure and not hours in the kitchen, but YUMMY cookies in the end, who doesn't want that?  Yesterday, I told you of our fabulous weather, well, mother nature woke up in a BAD mood today.  It has been super windy all day, as well as drizzly and some snow, and BRRRRRRRRRR for cold.  I will take yesterday back, please?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cloud Cookies
1 box Betty Crocker Super Moist chocolate fudge cake mix
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1/3 c. water
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

Frosting:
1 1/2 containers Betty Crocker Whipped fluffy white frosting
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
2 tsp. milk

Heat your oven to 375 degrees.  Spray your cookie sheets with cooking spray.
In a bowl all of the cookie ingredients together until blended.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Drop dough onto cookies sheets.  Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until set.  Cool completely.
Stir together your frosting ingredients and frost your cookies - IMPRESS your family and friends  :)

A cookie a day, Chocolate Mint Sandwich Cookies :)

Another beautiful, sunny day, here in Minnesota.  We here in this state, all fear what is possibly to come as this winter has been anything but normal and when it does hit hard we are so not going to be ready for it. 
In keeping my promise to do a cookie a day on this blog - here we are on January 10 and so far, so good.  You must know I am not the BEST with resolutions - last year my resolution was to floss everyday.  Well, thanks to my husband handing me the floss most nights I do get it done.  Cookies I am thinking I will be able to do, because they are one of my favorite things.

Chocolate Mint Sandwich Cookies
4 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. espresso powder (or instant coffee granules)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
Peppermint Cream filling

In a bowl stir together your dry ingredients, set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and add sugar.  Beat until combined.  Beat in the eggs until combined.  Beat in the flour mixture slowly.  Divide dough in half.  If necessary, cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours, or until it is easty to handle.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Roll out your dough to 1/4" thick.  Using a 2 1/2" round cookie cutter cut out dough.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are firm.  Cool.  Fill cookies with filling.  Chill at least 1 hour before serving.  Makes about 24 sandwich cookies.

Peppermint Cream filling:  IN a large bowl beat 1 c. softened butter until fluffy.  Add 2 tsp. vannil and 2 tsp. peppermint extract.  Beat in 2 1/2 c. powder sugar and 2 tbsp. milk.  Then add another 2 1/2 c. powdered sugar, until smooth.  Tint with green food coloring (if desired).  Add in small amounts of milk if needed for spreading consistency.

A cookie a day for a year :) No-Bake Cookies~!

It is currently 52 beautiful degrees outside, in Minnesota, on January 9.  This is so unheard of, but I will take everyday of it  :)  My cookie a day calendar has yet another variation of the turnover cookie - it is to omit the original filling and add Lemon Curd.  Sounds pretty good right?  So there is that and then I decided may as well post the No-Bake cookie that I whipped up today - and who doesn't love them, quick, easy, and chocolately!

No-Bake Cookies
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter
5 tbsp. cocoa powder
Stir together in a saucepan, over medium heat.  Stir until boiling.  Let boil for almost 3 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 3 c. quick cooking oats and 1/2 c. peanut butter and 1 tsp. vanilla!  Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper!

A cookie a day!

Ok - apparently my fabulous cookie-a-day calendar thinks that it is !ok to post one recipe for both days of the weekend??????????  Ummmmmmmmmm no, this is not ok - so I decided I would just give you a cookie recipe of mine to fill the lull in the calendar!

This recipe is very versatile and yummy too.  Oh and by the way - the hubby and I went to Granite City Brewery today for BRUNCH and they have a buffet that was FABULOUS - I usually don't love the buffet deal but this was very good and worth it - we did not get one bad thing to eat.

Powder Sugar Cookies
1 c. crisco shortening
1 c. powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond flavoring
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

Mix all together.  Roll into balls.  Flatten on the cookie sheet with a glass dipped in sugar.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  You can eat them plain or you can frost them!  I love them plain.  This recipe also works very well for cutout cookies, so think ahead to Valentines Day and make some heart cookies for your family and friends  :)

Cookie A day Calendar - Day 7

Okay - I am trying to show this calendar the love - but they keep doing variations of the cookies, which I guess is OK . . .today's variation is the Turnover cookie, previously posted, except today they are Apple turnover cookies.  For the dough:  add 1 tsp. cinnamon and the zest of 1 lemon.  For the filling:  1/4 c. apple butter and 1/2 c. raisins.

Not sure about this one - but its worth a try  :) I hope you are all having a great weekend  :)

Cookie Calendar, Day 6!

Today is a variation of the turnover cookies recipe posted yesterday - today DELETE the raisins and insert BLUEBERRIES!  Use the same 1 c. of blueberries that was 1c. of raisins yesterday.  Now we are talking  :)  and eating (of course!)

A cookie a day ~Day 5~Turnover Cookies

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies, I could be great friends with Cookie Monster, because Cookies are my favorite food group.  This is not a lie, a gal that was dating my brother, once told us, that "dessert" is NOT actually a food group.  However, in our family, it IS!  Silly girl.

TURNOVER COOKIES
Dough:
2 1/4 c. flour
3/4 c. self-rising flour
1/4 c. shortening
3/4 c. butter, diced
1/4 c. sugar
2 egg yolks

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Grease 2 baking sheets.  Sift the flours and cut in the fats until your mix resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Add half the sugar.  Mix in egg yolks and 1 to 2 tbsp. of water.  Mix until you have a smooth dough.  Wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Filling:
Mix 15 oz. cream cheese with the remaining sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1 c. raisins.  Roll out the pastry anto 1/4" thick and cut into rounds using a 2" cutter.  Fill each round with a small amount of filling.  Dampen the edges iwth water and fold in half to give the half-moon shape.  Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Cook.  Keep leftovers in the refrigerator.

A bonus Recipe for today :) Fantasy Chocolate Pie

This recipe came FREE with my latest edition of Midwest Living magazine.  It looks super yummy so I am going to give this one a try.  I need to get this done in a hurry to get back to my "real" paying job!

Fantasy Chocolate Pie
3 eggs
1 c. light corn syrup
1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter,  melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk chocolate chips
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. flaked coconut
1/2 c. pecan pieces
1/2 c. slivered almonds

Prepare pastry (see my previous pie crust recipe blog).   Place pastry and pan and crimp your edges.  Set aside.
In a medium bowl combine:  eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, vanilla and salt. 
In the bottom of the unbaked pie shell layer your chocolate pieses and coconut and pecans and almonds.  Pour egg mixture over this.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until the pie appears set when gently shaken.  Cool.  Refrigerate!  Eat!

Cookie Calendar, Day 4 ~ More Snickerdoodles!

Today's variation on the basic snickerdoodle recipe is to add 3 tbsp. of chopped candied ginger before you roll and dip in the cinnamon sugar!  Then bake as previously directed  :)  These sound good too, so give them a try and let me know what you think!  Make it a great day!

Cookie Calendar, Day 3

Another variation on the Snickerdoodle, so again, mix up the same batter.  This time stir in 2 tsp. of vanilla extract and 1/2 c. chocolate chips.  Bake as directed.  Now, Chocolate & Vanilla, that is a variation I CAN get on board with  :) 

Cookie Calendar, Day 2

Day two on my Cookie Calendar is a variation of the snickerdoodle that I just posted.  So you prepare the same dough as you did for the regular snickerdoodles and you stirl in 1/2 c. raisins.  Wa La (ha).  A new cookie - RAISIN SNICKERDOODLES! 
Now I am sharing this with you as it is ON my calendar, but let it be noted here, I DO NOT put raisins in any of my cookies  :)  (Just a personal preference!)

A cookie a day for a year :)

A good friend of mine, who is also an aspiring Betty Crocker, such as myself.  Sent me a Cookie-A-Day calendar for the year 2012. So I decided to share this with you, and therefore there are going to be lots of blog posts and updates and its a big goal for me to get this done.  A cookie a day recipe for you, by sharing what is on the calendar.  Of course I will disperse some other receipes along the way.  I think it will be fun - so let's get started  :)
Recipe #1 is:

SNICKER DOODLES
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. butter
3/4 c. + 2 tbsp. sugar
1 egg

Preheat your oven to 400.  Stir together your flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and half the cinnamon together.  In a separate bowl beat your butter and sugar (less 2 tbsp.) together.  Add the egg and mix well.  Combine your dry ingredents with the butter mixture.  Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.  Stir together remaining sugar and cinnamon.  Roll your dough into small balls and roll in the cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Place about 2" apart on your baking sheet as they do thin out and spread.  Bake for 1o to 12 minutes.  ENJOY!

Mexico for Christmas

To finish out the year 2011 my family went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to spend a week together in the sun and relaxing.  I brought Scrabble, Yahtzee and some decks of cards, we had a great time, and none of us were all running around trying to find a perfect gift for each other.  The best thing is to spend quality time together and we did just that.  We saved up for 3 years (since our last Mexico Christmas trip) so it was paid for up front.  I recommend this sort of option to everyone  :)