Schools Out!!!!

Hello Everyone, It's been a while! Well, My last class for this quarter was yesterday! Whew!!! Although I enjoyed school very much, it was extremely taxing mentally. Not just the homework... I have learned a lot though, and now I can actually start baking! Hurrah! I probably won't be starting the program till Spring, though. This will give me a little break.

I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite cookies for the season; The Almond Bonbon! a soft butter cookie filled with almond paste, glazed in a sweet almond frosting. These make perfect presents, and a fresh warm plate of home baked cookies is always an excellent way to let someone know you're thinking about them.

Almond Bonbons

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 package almond paste

Almond Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
4 to 5 teaspoons milk

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In large bowl, beat flour, butter, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons, milk and the vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Cut almond paste into 1/2-inch slices; cut each slice into fourths.

2. Shape 1-inch ball of dough around each piece of almond paste. Gently roll to form ball. On un greased cookie sheet, place balls about 1 inch apart.

3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set and bottom is golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

4. In small bowl, mix all glaze ingredients with spoon until smooth. Dip tops of cookies into glaze; sprinkle with sugar crystals.

Snickerdoodles....YUM......

Don't you love the smell of fresh cookies when you wake up in the morning? Snicker doodles are the best, in my opinion, because of the cinnamon! Well, this Saturday, a few friends and I had a little clean-up party and barbecue. So I made snicker doodles. There is nothing like the perfect snicker doodle, made that very morning! Snicker doodles are traditionally a German cookie. They consist of a sugar cookie rolled in cinnamon sugar, and, if baked perfectly, come out slightly crunchy on the outside and very chewy and soft in the middle. Is your mouth watering yet? Well, here is my recipe and a picture of my batch. Enjoy



Snicker doodles

From Marie's Kitchen

1 cube butter(softened)

1 cup gran. sugar

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour



cinnamon and sugar (for rolling)



Preheat oven to 375 degrees. cream butter and sugar together. add tartar and soda. mix together. add egg and vanilla. mix together. add flour and salt. mix till combined. should be soft and hold together well. roll in 1 inch balls and then roll in cinnamon sugar. place on cookie sheet. Bake for about 10-12 min. (till the edges start to fall but the center is puffy.) slam the tray on the top of the oven and let sit there for about 5 mins. Perfect, they're done!! Enjoy!