Two Favorites

Christmastime brings out a ton of emotions and desires in me.  One of those is the nostalgia of baking all kinds of yummy-ness.  My mom makes such great baked creations and I have some wonderful memories of baking christmassy treats and sharing them with others when we were growing up.

I wanted to share 2 of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes with you.

*Gingersnaps - from the “Joy of Cooking” cookbook. (I like this recipe because these “spice-y” cookies are so soft and chewy when they come out).

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Cream together: ¾ cup butter and 2 cups sugar

Stir in: 2 well-beaten eggs, ½ cup molasses, 2 tsp. vinegar

Sift and add: 3 ¾  cups flour, 1 ½  tsp. baking soda, 2-3 tsp. ginger, ½ tsp. cinnamon, ¼ tsp. cloves (or nutmeg)

Mix ingredients until blended.  Form dough into ¾ – inch balls and bake on greased cookie sheets.  Bake about 12 minutes or until the cookies develop the characteristic crinkled top. You can melt ½ marshmallows on top in the last 4 minutes of baking, or cool and ice with frosting.  OR, you can just eat them plain, which is how we like them best.

*Sugar Cookies – this recipe has been in the family since the year my Grandma got married.  I have yet to find a sugar cookie recipe I like as much.

Cream together: 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup sugar

Add: 2 eggs, 1 tbsp. milk, 1/2 tsp. lemon extract

Sift in: 2 1/2 cups four, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Chill dough in fridge at least 2 hours (I always make it at night and shill it overnight).

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out dough onto slightly floured surface with floured rolling pin. Cut out into cute shapes and place on ungreased cookie cheets.  Bake about 8 minutes.  Remove from tray immediately to cool on rack.  Frost with your favorite icing – I suggest a buttercream icing as it makes the cookies so soft the longer is sits on them… YUM! Sprinkles make for added fun.
Along with these two favorites, I have ton more two favorite categories in my life right now.  So, lest you think that everything in my life comes in threes these days – like little girls, carseats, matching clothes, etc. – here are some of my favorites in twos:

My 2 favorite big sisters in the whole world:

who are also my 2 favorite cookie bakers:

My 2 favorite little mini-mamas:

And my 2 favorite forward-facing sleeping beauties in the car:

These are my 2 favorite “Sound of Music” fanatics who ran over to the ipod when the soundtrack came on, hoping to see Maria and the children.

Check out these, my 2 favorite sets of piggytails:

I had my 2 favorite elves decorating my tree this year:

Oh, and there are these 2 favorite recent family photos:

I know they’re not perfect, but I’ve become less picky with every new face we’ve added

And here’s my 2 favorite recent Glo photos:

Well, maybe I have 3 favorites …

this was Gloria's birthday gift, made so lovingly by Grammy. Isn't it beautiful?!?!

… or 4 …

Ah, nevermind.  So much for a themed post…

Now go try one of my favorite cookie recipes!

Tags: Gloria, Martha, Noa, sister-sweetness