Pass It On

Some cookies are made with so much love that it actually counters all the sugar, butter and white flour it took to create them. My Mother makes those cookies. Each year for my birthday for at least the last 32 years Mom has made me frosted sugar cookies. Anywhere I lived, and no matter what else was going on, I received a perfectly packed box. I looked forward to it more than any other thing. They are delicious and I can stand at the kitchen counter and eat 4 at a time telling myself it’s fine cause they are filled with love and love only.

Last year Mom sent a box and for the first time some cookies were broken and they were NOT frosted. I am going to admit I was angry. I had to check myself. My then 82 year old Mother made cookies and mailed them to me. I was busy, tired, and generally a cranky ass. I found myself mad at the cookies. I don’t even know if I ate that many. I have always known that one day the box would stop coming for one reason or another. I stared at that one incredulous and knowing. We were there… and I didn’t want to feel it end. But it doesn’t have to. This year I made the cookies. This year my parents are getting a beautifully packed box of cookies in the mail.

My daughter came by to help bake and my cousin came the next day to help frost. I got the added bonus of spending time quietly making something for people I love with people I love. Happy Valentines Day.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 c. sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 C. sifted all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. plain salt
sanding or granulated sugar for sprinkling

Directions

Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer. until fluffy, then beat in the eggs and vanilla.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together, and stir into the butter mixture.

Chill the dough for easier handling. Use half the dough at a time for rolling and cutting.

Roll between sheets of wax paper to 1/4 inch.

Peel the paper and flip onto a sugared board.

Peel away the rest of the paper.

Cut the cookies with a sugared cookie cutter.

Lift with a spatula onto a slightly buttered
baking sheet. Allow 1” between each cookie.

Bake at 375 for 8-10 min. or until lightly browned on the edges.

Remove from cookie sheet while still hot. They do stick if they have cooled to much.

Let cool completely before frosting.

Taken from The Essential James Beard Cookbook

Sugar Cookie Icing

Sift 1 c. powder sugar into a bowl. and Add: 2 tsp corn syrup, 1/4 tsp almond extract, and 2 tsp milk.

Stir ingredients vigorously until no lumps remain. If making colored icing, divide into bowls and add food coloring.

To frost cookies, pipe an outline around the edge of the cookie. Fill in outline with icing….or don’t be so neat. The important thing is to have fun.

Sugar cookies are a deceiving amount of work so be creative and don’t be afraid to express yourself.