Nothing Tops Cookie Day, Nothing Stops Cookie Day!

Look! A bluebird and a woodpecker at my bird feeders.

Yes, this weeked was Cookie Day for me, my Amazing Dad, and my Sisters By Choice. If you have been following the Food It Yourself blog, you know all about Cookie Day. If you are new here-in the lead-up to Christmas we gather together, bake cookies, exchange small gifts, and enjoy each other’s company.

This year was slightly different. Usually, we meet at Dad’s house as he lives in a central location and has a large kitchen. However, this year one of my chosen sisters, Sammy, is recovering from surgery and can not yet drive. So, we all met at her house for an afternoon of fun and treat-making!

We made Dad’s favorite- classic shortbread*. This is the most minimalist cookie possible, being made with only flour, sugar, and butter. Somehow, the combination is absolutely sublime. We made lemon-almond biscotti. Biscotti are definitely all about the technique. First, you bake the dough to a cake-like consistency. After cooling, you slice the cake/loaf and toast the slices until crunchy. We made oatmeal cookies with maple flavoring in place of vanilla and without raisins. Raisins are always and only optional. Quality control is important, so we tried a few of each and they were spectacular.

Now I am sure you are all wondering- did you make and decorate Moravian Spice Cookies? Did you name the gingerbread folk? Does Krampus smack naughty children with a birch rod? Yes, Dad and Sammy and Karen (another chosen sister) and I made some new gingerbread folk friends. Here they are, enjoy.

Karen got us started with Christina Aguilera. Yes, Xtina is BACK! She is Beautiful and ready to get Dirrty.

While we’re talking about musicians, Dad brought us Prince, from the Purple Rain era. Timeless.

And would you believe a third musician showed up? It is the one and only Dolly Parton.

After a few years away, Alonzo Garbanzo the famous arealist acrobat has returned. (This one is mine)

According to Sammy, this is Clarissa. She is a stay-at-home mom. Today she is heading to Nordstrom with her husband’s credit card to buy something nice for herself for a change. Treat yo’self, Clarissa!

This is your yearly reminder to never ever toss out a broken cookie. Karen wants everyone to know about Allen (on the left) Allen is really stupid and went swimming at The Cape even though there were warnings about great white sharks in the water. Look what happened to Allen. I want to add that Allen’s equally stupid friend Brett tried to save Allen himself instead of letting the lifeguards do it. His foot got stuck under a rock and was crushed then lobsters ate his eye. Don’t be stupid like Allen and Brett, heed the lifeguards when they give you warnings.

This one is Dad’s. Spock, Bones, and Sulu made it back to the Enterprise just fine. Ensign Abouttodie did not. If only he had a better SAG contract.

Two more from Dad (he was on a roll). These are clones. Their names are A and 2B.

And finally, Sammy wanted to introduce the newest Wurld Wrasling Encorporation star Ethaniel the Electric Slayer! (This is a tribute to her son who kicked butt at his very first high school wrestling meet that day.)

It was such a wonderful day. Sammy’s husband, son (not the one at the wrestling match, the other one) and son’s BFF even got in on the fun! Dad and I left toting a share of the cookies and covered in glitter and just so happy. Do you celebrate any of the End of The Year Holidays? What food traditions are part of your celebration? Share in the comments!

Want to read more about Cookie Day? Click the links!

*I know I have shared this shortbread recipe before, but I’m sharing again because everyone needs this recipe. Use a pastry blender to combine one and a half cups flour, three-quarters cup butter, and one third cup sugar. Press it into a 9×9 pan and bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes. Slice into small squares when cool. That is literally all a shortbread cookie is. Now go make some and share with your friends. Or share with strangers.

Category : Cook it yourself
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