A couple of great cookie recipes and a gift idea...

Well my computer is still acting up... so I don't want to stay online too long... but here are a few of my favorite holiday cookie recipes and a gift idea for the holiday season.

Mole-Asses Cookies

This is a Christmas cookie recipe from the K. family. My sister-in-law Elisabeth insists that these cookies most contain genuine mole asses to make them taste the very best. If, however, mole asses are not available at your local grocery or Asian market then molasses can be substituted.

3/4 C. shortening
1 1/2 C. sugar
1/4 C. Brer Rabbit Molasses
1 egg
2 t. baking soda
2 C. sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 t. cloves
1/2 t. ginger
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt

Melt the shortening in a 3-4 qt. Saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Then add the sugar, molasses, and egg. Beat well. Sift together flour, soda, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Add these to the first mixture. Mix well and chill thoroughly. Form into one-inch balls; roll in granulated sugar and place on a greased cookie sheet two inches apart. Bake in moderate oven (370 degrees) for 8-10 minutes. Makes 4 dozen

Chocolate filled bon-bons

My mother makes these every year for Christmas...this is one of my all time favorite cookies and I am a cookie monster. I hope you enjoy!

1/4 C. shortening
1/2 C. sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
1 egg
2 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. almond extract (I like to use a little more)
1 3/4 C. flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 C. finely chopped or ground almonds
3-4 dozen chocolate kisses

Preheat oven to 350 (F). Mix shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and extracts and beat well. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and nuts. Mix until well blended. Form dough into one-inch ball and press around a kiss, completely enclosing. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Makes 3 1/2 to 4 dozen cookies.

Gift Idea--For Christmas gifts for my daughter's kindergarten class I was suppose to send an inexpensive trinket for each kid. I hate all the junk that piles up around the holiday... so instead of sending a bag of bouncy balls or plastic lizards I bought cookie cutters and printed up a Gingerbread man recipe. I used the recipe found here... You can follow the directions to make your own personalized recipe card. Then all you have to do is print it, cut it out, and glue it to card stock or colored construction paper. Then you just tie it to the cookie cutter with a piece of ribbon and you have a great gift for work or class mates.

Cheers,
Jenn