Susie’s 4th Annual Blog Cookie Exchange!

I am with others participating in Susie’s 4th Annual Blog Cookie Exchange:

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Every December from the time I was such a wee lad that I had to stand on a chair to reach the table, I made sugar cookies with my aunt Abba. (Her name was “Alma,” but in my toddler speech it came out as Abba and to everyone thereafter that was her name).

We made lots of cookies and after rolling out the dough used Abba’s huge collection of Christmas cookie cutters to shape them into stars and Santa Clauses and reindeer and angels and, oh, so much more.

It’s been about 45 years since Abba and I made these cookies. Of course, I had no idea of the receipe, so I checked the Internet and this one from Alton Brown seems to be it:

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon milk
• Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough

Directions

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack. Serve as is or ice as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week. 

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

I now have all of my Christmas gifts purchased! This is the earliest I have had that accomplished in my life. All of then except for Alex’s gifts were purchased on the Internet, may from the Alex the Kat Shop:

I may find the reaction of some of the recipients of these gifts very interesting: there are a couple of relatives who claim to abhor cats! But… who couldn’t adore Alex!

Alex’s gifts (cat nippie, favorite treats, and 2 new toys) are already in his Christmas stocking:

CHRISTMASES PAST

Below are a few photos from past Christmases:

Me at Christmas a very long time ago

Back row: son Nick, Sibyl (Nick’s significant other), sister Deb

Me, son Rob, and son Nick’s children

Me & my grandchildren 2006

My Mother in 2006, the last Christmas she spent in the house in which she had lived for 50 years

Here is Alex opening the catnip that was in his 2007 stocking

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy ~ David Bowie & Bing Crosby