Christmas Cookies

Today Brian is studying for finals and working on projects.  I love that he plugged in the Christmas lights early this morning before I woke up --- because he knew I would like that!  Now we will enjoy the warm glow of our Christmas tree all day.  On my to do list at the Crain casa: laundry, dishes, and Christmas shopping,  but after lunch I baked some chocolate chip cookies.  These cookies are buttery, subtly sweet and yummy.  They bake up soft and golden and pair well with a glass of milk.  After they cool, they are more crisp than chewy, but a few seconds in the microwave can bring them back to gooey chocolate goodness.

Start off with butter and sugar.

Cream until smooth then add an egg.

 Add a teaspoonful of sweet delicious vanilla.

 Dissolve a teaspoonful of baking soda in a teaspoonful of H20.

 Turn off the mixer.  Add flour. Resume mixing.

 Hello chocolate chips or try smashing up Reese peanut butter cups - that was a delicious experiment.

Now place by the tablespoonful onto the cookie sheet.

And here's some extra cookie dough for later. 

Brian's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies 
Makes about a two and half dozen 
1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved into 1 tsp hot water
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. milk chocolate chips (I love Ghirardelli)

Cream butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in egg.  Stir in vanilla.  Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt.  Stir in flour.  Last add chocolate chips.  Form into small balls on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

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I had this old post that I thought I'd share from a fun night of making Christmas cookies with the Strain family. 


from the archives (December 2009)
Baking cookies with Megan and Jolie was too much fun not to share. Megan faithfully bakes delicious sugar cookies each year for our BCM events, especially the Christmas Finals Week Bonfire (today) and (yesterday) I was invited to share in the cookie baking/decorating. Side note: Megan is a great friend, mom, and wife to Todd.  I am hoping that she will publish a book about parenting/crafting one of these days!

Megan and the best little helper, Jolie (I am sure Sarah would have helped but it was past her bedtime)
Just a few varieties of the 100+ cookies! :) We made Christmas trees, stars, gingerbread boys/girls, santa hats, candy canes...(And one reindeer per Jolie's request)
I am excited about incorporating sugar cookies in the future Crain family Christmas traditions. :)
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{Happy Birthday Week Jolie!}