Cookie Time

Good morning, ya'll. Come in the house where it is warm and have a cup of coffee. It is cold and the wind is blowing and I'm going to hibernate and clean house. Now it's not dirty but it sure is cluttered with Christmas projects in most every room. Being a procrastinator gets a little untidy sometimes but today is the day to complete some projects.

The picture above is some of our very own fruit we are growing in our back yard. We have picked about 2 dozen red, grapefruit and a few oranges and tangerines. Hopefully the oranges will do better next year and we are going to plant a satsuma tree to add to our little grove. The grapefruit are delicious and I peel and section them, add peeled and sectioned oranges with a little artificial sweetener and dessert is served. This is also good for snack time and sometimes I add some chopped apple for crunch. Even if you have to buy the fruit it is a little cheaper right now and you have a sugar and fat free healthy snack.

This time of year at our house is about the only time I bake cookies or at least a whole bunch of cookies. They make great gifts for friends and church staff members that you want to remember and those finger food parties keep popping up. The past weekend called for some cookies and I concocted a new recipe using sugar cookie mix. It's amazing what you can do with this mix so I thought I would share it with you. Happy eating.

CHOCOLATE MOCHA DROP SUGAR COOKIES

2 pouches Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
1 cup melted butter
2 eggs
6 Tbsp. cocoa
2 Tbsp. instant Swiss Mocha coffee mix
about 5 drops red cake coloring
2 Tbsp. cold, brewed coffee
1 cup finely chopped pecans - use the food chopper for you want them finely chopped

Heat oven to 375 degrees

Melt butter (I use the microwave). Slightly beat the two eggs in a small bowl and add the red cake coloring, butter,and coffee and blend.
In large bowl mix the cookie mixes, cocoa and coffee mix until blended. Add the egg and butter mixture and stir until a soft dough is formed. To blend in all the dry ingredients I use my hands to knead it.

Refrigerate for about 30 minutes and drop by small balls into the chopped pecans, and roll into small balls. Place about 2 inches apart on parchment lined cookie sheets or lightly sprayed cookie sheets.

Bake for 6-8 minutes until edges are LIGHT golden brown. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet before removing. Store in airtight container.

This makes about 2 dozen cookies.

I stored about 2 cups of the chocolate cookie mixture in the refrigerator and today I am going to make 1 pouch without the chocolate and after chilling the dough roll both doughs into a rectangle, place the chocolate on top the the sugar cookie dough, roll, chill, and slice for a rolled cookie. I will let you know how this tastes but I know it will be good.

CINNAMON DROP SUGAR COOKIES

1 package sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg slightly beaten

Mix all the ingredients until well blended. Drop rounded spoonfuls into cinnamon sugar, roll into small balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. To flatten slightly dip the bottom of a glass in the cinnamon sugar and press gently. Don't make them too thin and bake for 7-9 minutes in 375 degree, preheated oven. Let sit for 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet.

Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice and 1/4 tsp. orange flavoring for a glaze. Put the glaze in small zipper closed plastic bag and cut a small hole in one corner of the bag to drizzle the glaze over the cookies.

These are delicious and the orange glaze adds just enough added flavor to make them tastier. Next time I am going to add a little orange zest to the dough.

I have found that a roll of parchment paper and a small cookie scoop are invaluable in making cookies. You don't have to worry about the cookies sticking and the cleanup is a breeze. The cookie scoop makes all the cookies the same size so they bake evenly. This little scoop is also great for making meatballs which I make in large batches, bake and freeze.

I hope you will enjoy these recipes and have fun baking some cookies with your children or grandchildren. A plate of cookies says Merry Christmas in a delicious way.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach
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