Christmas Cookies

Sorry - wrong account - use this one instead.

--Freeda

In article <[email hidden]>,

Randy said:

Hi,

I am an Indian who recently moved to the states and am looking
for some recipes for American Christmas cookies. Can someone
please help?

--Freeda

Allrecipes.com has lots of selections for special holiday cookies.
Cut-out and decorated sugar cookies are common. A basic cookbook should
have a recipe; I've posted mine here within the last two weeks. Spiced
cookies are common at Christmas. Spritz cookies are very common.
Good luck. It's a good thing the 12 Days of Christmas do not end on
December 25; that's when they begin. You still have time.
--
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 12-22-05

In article <[email hidden]>,

Freeda said:

Sorry - wrong account - use this one instead.

--Freeda

You need to check back here for replies. Most people do not commonly
email responses. They post.
--
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 12-22-05

Melba's Jammin said:

Allrecipes.com has lots of selections for special holiday cookies.
Cut-out and decorated sugar cookies are common. A basic cookbook should
have a recipe; I've posted mine here within the last two weeks. Spiced
cookies are common at Christmas. Spritz cookies are very common.
Good luck. It's a good thing the 12 Days of Christmas do not end on
December 25; that's when they begin. You still have time.

I was going to say that any cookie could be a Christmas cookie. As long
as it is rich and special (butter, sugar, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate,
jam, somewhere in the recipe), it works for Christmas. But then, I've
never celebrated Christmas so what do I know. What if we phrased the
question the other way and asked if there's any cookie or baked good
that's NOT appropriate for Christmas? If you made hamentaschen
(triangular shaped filled cookies traditionally made for Purim), and no
one knew they were hamentaschen, couldn't they be brought to a Christmas
celebration and wouldn't they fit right in?

--Lia

"Julia Altshuler" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I was going to say that any cookie could be a Christmas cookie. As long
as it is rich and special (butter, sugar, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate,
jam, somewhere in the recipe), it works for Christmas. But then, I've
never celebrated Christmas so what do I know. What if we phrased the
question the other way and asked if there's any cookie or baked good
that's NOT appropriate for Christmas?

There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
Christmas to me.

Quoted message said:

If you made hamentaschen (triangular shaped filled cookies traditionally
made for Purim), and no one knew they were hamentaschen, couldn't they be
brought to a Christmas celebration and wouldn't they fit right in?

Sure, and rugelagh (sp), lots of cookies say Christmas to me. To me
a good rule of thumb is lots of butter and maybe nuts. Oh, and I like
those pecan tassies? I have a cookie cookbook that has a section for
Christmas cookies and the other half is everyday cookies. The Christmas
section is heavy on butter cookies.

nancy

On Fri 23 Dec 2005 07:55:42a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Nancy
Young?

Quoted message said:

"Julia Altshuler" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I was going to say that any cookie could be a Christmas cookie. As
long as it is rich and special (butter, sugar, nuts, dried fruit,
chocolate, jam, somewhere in the recipe), it works for Christmas. But
then, I've never celebrated Christmas so what do I know. What if we
phrased the question the other way and asked if there's any cookie or
baked good that's NOT appropriate for Christmas?

There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
Christmas to me.

I agree with that, but it's the only cookie that David really likes and
asks for, so I always bake chocolate chip cookies for him on holidays.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If you made hamentaschen (triangular shaped filled cookies
traditionally made for Purim), and no one knew they were hamentaschen,
couldn't they be brought to a Christmas celebration and wouldn't they
fit right in?

Sure, and rugelagh (sp), lots of cookies say Christmas to me. To me
a good rule of thumb is lots of butter and maybe nuts. Oh, and I like
those pecan tassies? I have a cookie cookbook that has a section for
Christmas cookies and the other half is everyday cookies. The Christmas
section is heavy on butter cookies.

nancy

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
__________________________________________________________________
And if we enter a room full of manure, may we believe in the pony.

Nancy Young said:

There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
Christmas to me.

That's because chocolate chip cookies aren't sufficiently special.
They're the first cookie every kid learns to make, and they're what
people who don't particularly like cooking or baking bring to potlucks
(when they can't get away with bringing the paper plates). Also, have
you noticed that they taste good (the recipe from the Nestles' bag) even
if you get something wrong? I've had them come out so flat and
shapeless that I had to break them apart to call them cookies-- but they
were edible and tasty.

--Lia

Julia Altshuler said:

Nancy Young said:

There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
Christmas to me.

That's because chocolate chip cookies aren't sufficiently special.
They're the first cookie every kid learns to make, and they're what
people who don't particularly like cooking or baking bring to potlucks
(when they can't get away with bringing the paper plates). Also, have
you noticed that they taste good (the recipe from the Nestles' bag) even
if you get something wrong? I've had them come out so flat and
shapeless that I had to break them apart to call them cookies-- but they
were edible and tasty.

--Lia

I made some as part of some cookie tins that I made as gifts. But what
should I know from Christmas cookies? I'm Jewish 🙂

--

saerah

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

In article <[email hidden]>,

Nancy Young said:

"Julia Altshuler" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I was going to say that any cookie could be a Christmas cookie. As long
as it is rich and special (butter, sugar, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate,
jam, somewhere in the recipe), it works for Christmas. But then, I've
never celebrated Christmas so what do I know. What if we phrased the
question the other way and asked if there's any cookie or baked good
that's NOT appropriate for Christmas?

There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
Christmas to me.

Quoted message said:

If you made hamentaschen (triangular shaped filled cookies traditionally
made for Purim), and no one knew they were hamentaschen, couldn't they be
brought to a Christmas celebration and wouldn't they fit right in?

Sure, and rugelagh (sp), lots of cookies say Christmas to me. To me
a good rule of thumb is lots of butter and maybe nuts. Oh, and I like
those pecan tassies? I have a cookie cookbook that has a section for
Christmas cookies and the other half is everyday cookies. The Christmas
section is heavy on butter cookies.

nancy

In my mind, a Christmas cookie is one you don't make any other time of
the year, likely not because of the xpense of ingredients or degree of
difficulty. Holidays are often the times when folks on a budget pull
out the stops and do 'extra.' For some, it's any cookie if they don't
bake them year 'round; for others, it's the degree of difficulty or
putziness. Or, if the recipe makes a boatload and you've only got an
innertube's worth of eaters year 'round but a boatload during the
holiday season, that would be a factor, too. My favorite
cookie/pastry for Christmas are rozhky -- yeast in the dough that is
prepared like pie dough (cutting in fat), resting the dough, rolling,
cutting the shape (trapezoidal), filling, and baking. Filling must be
prepared -- apricot and pineapple and nut filling. Makes a boatload.
Mine are as good as mom's. Sister Julie's fill the need for The
Desperate.
--
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 12-22-05

In article <[email hidden]>,

Julia Altshuler said:

That's because chocolate chip cookies aren't sufficiently special.
They're the first cookie every kid learns to make,

Snickerdoodles.
--
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 12-22-05

"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

On Fri 23 Dec 2005 07:55:42a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Nancy
Young?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
Christmas to me.

I agree with that, but it's the only cookie that David really likes and
asks for, so I always bake chocolate chip cookies for him on holidays.

Oh, nothing wrong with that ... I never turn down a chocolate chip
cookie unless it has coconut in it, I hate that. Commercial brands do
that to annoy me; as you know, it's all about me. (smile)

nancy

In article <[email hidden]>,

sarah bennett said:

Julia Altshuler said:

Nancy Young said:

There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
Christmas to me.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's because chocolate chip cookies aren't sufficiently special.

Quoted message said:

I made some as part of some cookie tins that I made as gifts. But what
should I know from Christmas cookies? I'm Jewish 🙂

<cough> I quit going to neighborhood cookie exchanges after coming
home from one with chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, and peanut
butter cookies; and my contribution to the exchange (a dozen for each
participant) had been highly decorated cut-outs. The ones that jazz up
a cookie plate. I want CC, PB, and oatmeal, I'll make my own, thanks.
Allow me to suggest that you deep six the CCs unless you know the
recipient never turns the oven on. No offense intended. Just my humble
opinion.
--
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 12-22-05

Melba's Jammin said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

sarah bennett said:

Julia Altshuler said:

Nancy Young wrote:

>There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
>Christmas to me.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's because chocolate chip cookies aren't sufficiently special.

Quoted message said:

I made some as part of some cookie tins that I made as gifts. But what
should I know from Christmas cookies? I'm Jewish 🙂

<cough> I quit going to neighborhood cookie exchanges after coming
home from one with chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, and peanut
butter cookies; and my contribution to the exchange (a dozen for each
participant) had been highly decorated cut-outs. The ones that jazz up
a cookie plate. I want CC, PB, and oatmeal, I'll make my own, thanks.
Allow me to suggest that you deep six the CCs unless you know the
recipient never turns the oven on. No offense intended. Just my humble
opinion.

They don't bake unless it comes pre-mixed in a package. There are 7
different kinds of cookies- almond flavored butter cutouts, orange
flaopred butter cut-outs, vanilla cut-outs, chocolate chip, oatmeal
raisin, gingerbread thin rounds, and chewy gingerbread hearts with
candied ginger. I think two of them being 'common' is ok. 🙂 It makes me
kind of sad that they are impressed by simple drop cookies, but whatever
🙂 I couldn't afford to make 'fancy' cookies this year, so I made those
that I had the ingredients for already (I did have to buy butter, vegan
margarine and extra bags of flour and sugar, though).

--

saerah

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

Melba's Jammin said:

<cough> I quit going to neighborhood cookie exchanges after coming
home from one with chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, and peanut
butter cookies; and my contribution to the exchange (a dozen for each
participant) had been highly decorated cut-outs. The ones that jazz up
a cookie plate. I want CC, PB, and oatmeal, I'll make my own, thanks.
Allow me to suggest that you deep six the CCs unless you know the
recipient never turns the oven on. No offense intended. Just my humble
opinion.

I feel the exact same way. Chocolate chip cookies are every day
cookies. Nothing special about them, to me. Crash's favorite
Christmas cookie? Chocolate chip.

But ya know what? We've gotten away from posting recipes. I'm gonna
go do that now.

Carol

Nancy Young said:

"Julia Altshuler" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I was going to say that any cookie could be a Christmas cookie. As long
as it is rich and special (butter, sugar, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate,
jam, somewhere in the recipe), it works for Christmas. But then, I've
never celebrated Christmas so what do I know. What if we phrased the
question the other way and asked if there's any cookie or baked good
that's NOT appropriate for Christmas?

There's something about chocolate chip cookies that doesn't say
Christmas to me.

I make at least one batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies at
Christmas. Our elderly neighbour loves them so they are a perfect gift.
One DS asks me to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies as well and
other one wants peanut butter cookies. A plate of peanut butter cookies
can look feastive. I like making spritz and spicey cookies for the
Christmas cookie tray. To me though, they don't say Christmas any more
than any other cookie since I make all kinds of cookies throughout the
year. My mom always made date swirl cookies at Christmas. I should go
dig out her recipe and make a batch.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If you made hamentaschen (triangular shaped filled cookies traditionally
made for Purim), and no one knew they were hamentaschen, couldn't they be
brought to a Christmas celebration and wouldn't they fit right in?

Sure, and rugelagh (sp), lots of cookies say Christmas to me. To me
a good rule of thumb is lots of butter and maybe nuts. Oh, and I like
those pecan tassies? I have a cookie cookbook that has a section for
Christmas cookies and the other half is everyday cookies. The Christmas
section is heavy on butter cookies.

nancy

One time on Usenet said:

Melba's Jammin said:

<cough> I quit going to neighborhood cookie exchanges after coming
home from one with chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, and peanut
butter cookies; and my contribution to the exchange (a dozen for each
participant) had been highly decorated cut-outs. The ones that jazz up
a cookie plate. I want CC, PB, and oatmeal, I'll make my own, thanks.
Allow me to suggest that you deep six the CCs unless you know the
recipient never turns the oven on. No offense intended. Just my humble
opinion.

I feel the exact same way. Chocolate chip cookies are every day
cookies. Nothing special about them, to me. Crash's favorite
Christmas cookie? Chocolate chip.

But ya know what? We've gotten away from posting recipes. I'm gonna
go do that now.

I'll beat ya to it -- I think I got a lot of the notes here in RFC:

Shortbread Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar, granulated or powdered
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter. Add sugar gradually and mix well.
Combine flour and salt; add to creamed mixture. Shape into 2 rolls, 1
1/2 inch in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and chill for at least 4
hours. Cut into 3/4 inch slices. Place on greased cookie sheet or baking
parchment. Bake at 300°F for 20 minutes or until slightly browned on
edges. Cool for 5 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Some nice ways to make shortbread:

* Knead some miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips into the dough before
making a log and slicing.
* Roll log in coarse sugar before baking.
* Press a pecan or walnut half into the cookie before baking.

--
Jani in WA (S'mee)
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~

Julia Altshuler said:

If you made hamentaschen
(triangular shaped filled cookies traditionally made for Purim), and no
one knew they were hamentaschen, couldn't they be brought to a Christmas
celebration and wouldn't they fit right in?

My former aunt-in-law (RIP) used to make those for Christmas every
year. Part of her Jewish heritage, although her segment of the family
became Lutherans at some point. I've made the cookies, too, but
they're never as pretty as Marion's. I make mine with almond filling.

* Exported from MasterCook *

Hamantaschen

Recipe By :Solo
Serving Size : 32 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks soft butter
2 eggs -- beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1 can Solo filling
1 egg yolk -- beaten with ...
1 tablespoon milk -- for brushing

Stir flour, sugar, baking powder, orange peel, and salt in large bowl.
Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add eggs and milk
and mix until dough binds together. Knead dough in bowl 5 to 8 strokes
or until smooth. Divide dough in half and wrap each piece separately
in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 2 baking sheets and set aside.

Roll out 1 piece of dough on lightly floured surface 1/4-inch
thickness. Cut dough with floured 3-inch round plain cookie cutter.
Spoon 1 teaspoonful poppy filling onto center of each circle. Bring 3
edges of circle together into middle of circle to form triangle. Pinch
edges upward to make slight ridge, leaving small hole in center. Place
on prepared baking sheets about 11/2 inches apart and brush with
beaten egg yolk mixture. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheets
and cool completely on wire racks.

Source:
"http://www.solofoods.com/"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

On 23 Dec 2005 05:32:03 -0800, "Freeda" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Sorry - wrong account - use this one instead.

Oh yeah. Shows me not to read from the bottom up.

Carry on,
Carol

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:32:41 GMT, [email hidden]

(S'mee) said:

Shortbread Cookies

Thanks! Good last-minute cookies that I can make for Crash. He loves
shortbread cookies, and I don't believe I've ever made them.

Carol