Quicky this morning. Like the rest of you, my task list is overflowing as we near the Christmas chaos. I’m a cookie fanatic, which means I have to add an extra hour (or six) of exercise during December. (Et tu?)
GEAR
A couple of good links to help in you daily life. First, a truly fantastic bit of winter gear for those who hate to be stuck inside even when the sidewalks are icy, Get A Grip Traction Aides:
I know. Like something you’d find on late night television, right? But I was aggravated that I couldn’t go to certain trails in the winter, and bought them for that. And then realized how great they would be for walking the dogs (who have their own built-in spikes) on icy days. Slip on and off running shoes or boots. Great stuff and a steal for $10, and keeps you safe on winter streets.
You wouldn’t want your dog to pull you down and break your elbow, like poor Susan Wiggs. (Not that she did it on ice, but she does blame the traction on her shoes.)
COOKIES
On a completely different note, get thee hence to Gourmet Magazine’s website, where they have the best cookie recipe of the year 1940-2008. Many, many wonderful cookies, but it’s also intriguing from a food history angle. Warning, I spent quite a long time here, printing recipes to try. If you try some of them, come back and tell us how they are.
So, make the cookes, then slap on your boots and get out for a brisk winter walk. Then come back and post a recipe you love in the comments. My favorite Christmas cookie is Angel Slices from The Joy of Cooking. What’s yours?
My kids protest loudly if we don’t do peanut butter kisses (easiest recipe ever, three ingredients!) and magic cookie bars. And yes, I love them, too, unfortunately.
Magic cookie bars are my favorite too. I could eat the whole pan myself.
What are magic cookie bars?
Mmmm…Little lemon tea cookies and thumbprint cookies with pink icing…yum…gotta start baking soon! 🙂
Magic cookie bars are the (also very simple) recipe with melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans, in that order. I don’t even like coconut (not a bit) and I like these–it bakes down into the milk, changing the texture and taste a bit. I leave the nuts off one end, too, as I don’t eat nuts. You can usually find the recipe on the side of the Eagle brand container. I think I’ve also seen them called Hello Dollies.
You Barbaras need to give yourself an initial or something–it looks like a Barbara with split personality. LOL
Oh, Melissa, I love those little lemon cookies.
Thanks for the recipe, Julie. That sounds like something my grandmother used to make.
I’ll change my name to “Barb”. And, by the way, I made those magic cookie bars over the week-end and they were yummy! For those, like my step-daughter, who don’t like coconut, you can substitute the coconut in the recipe for butterscotch chips or peanut butter chips. Still great!
I am an equal opportunity cookie lover, but by far my favorite from the first hint of coolness in the air in September through until Spring are Cooking Light’s Spicy Oatmeal Crisps. The only cookie I have experienced with black pepper and so, so, SO good! (I go a little heavier with the spices personally)
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional)
1 cup packed brown sugar
5 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup regular oats
Cooking spray
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 7 ingredients (flour through pepper) in a medium bowl. Beat sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg; beat well. Stir in flour mixture and oats.
Drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until crisp. Cool on pan 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pan; cool on wire racks.
Nutritional Information
Calories:81 (34% from fat)
Fat:3.1g (sat 1.7g,mono 0.9g,poly 0.3g)
Protein:1.5g
Carbohydrate:12.2g
Fiber:0.7g
Cholesterol:15mg
Iron:0.6mg
Sodium:71mg
Calcium:12mg