Monday, December 21, 2009

Cut Cookies

Cookies
 Today's recipe is almost the same like our last week's post. We decided to post another recipe on cookies especially because of its antique nature. This recipe was passed on by Angela to her family. Angela was born in 1911, so you can imagine how old the recipe is. It gives me goose bumps as I write about this old treasure.
  
Since my coming to the US, I have been fortunate to befriend a lot of people. They opened their doors to me and shared their lives and stories.  Some stories old, as they heard from their grandparents and parents. Over a board game of cribbage or scrabble we would discuss how games, family time, recipes all kinds of golden memories.  For me it has been a class on history of sorts. Life in America as it was then and its transformation into the commercial hub it is today are all lovingly reminisced. I was fascinated to know how deep rooted family values are, which Hollywood movies have ignored in my opinion, in this country. More than the shrinks, which the movies crack up to be the source to fix peoples problems, I am witnessing how communities, friends and families play a vital role in peoples lives.

      My friend J (I am not going to give the names for privacy sake) whose mothers recipe I am sharing today was second generation American. Her mother was German and a single parent who brought up her daughters during the great depression. Hers is a story of how self confidence and strength of character helped her survive in this country in the early 1900’s. The strength and will power which helped people who migrated here to make America their home. They did not know English or the ways of this country but they strived hard and brought up children who are doing extremely well today. Its an honor for me to share this time tested recipe which even today graces this families Christmas table.

Angela started this family custom (probably borrowed it from her forefathers) to bake cookies, breads and cakes for family and friends during Christmas. Now, her daughter J does the same every Christmas. It has been a wonderful experience for me to be part of this age old traditions. And so here I am sharing this jewel of a recipe to all our blogger friends.

We remember all our near and dear ones during this season of love. And here is a friendship cookie shared for you taken out from a very dear old ladies recipe. Hope you will be inspired to start a tradition at home which will be carried on for generations to come.

Ingredients:
Flour                - 3 cups
Baking Powder - 1 1/2 t
Salt                   - 1/2 t
Sugar                - 1 cup
Butter                - 1 Cup (soften)
Beaten Egg        - 1
Milk                  - 3 tbspn
Vanilla               - 1 tspn
Cookies
Method:
     Mix all the ingredients in the order given above incorporating each step by step to form a ball.  Wrap this in wax paper and chill.  We had this mix refrigerated overnight and had to leave it outside the refrigerator for a while in the morning before the dough was soft enough to roll out. 
     Roll the dough into the thickness you prefer for your cookie and cut them into the desired shapes using cookie cutter and bake at 400 F for 9 - 10 minutes on a fat lines cookie sheet.  Alternatively, bake till the cookies turn a golden hue.
Cut cookies collage

Contributor: Sunitha

47 comments:

  1. christams time... I can feel it too in your blog and cookies looks GREAT!!! awesome picture...great work... Happy Holidays to you all!!!

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  2. oh my! the cookies are so damn cute. i love the way they r lined up.

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  3. wow they look so cute..love the shape and must be great to have as well

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  4. They look so cute... lovely stack of yummy cookies.

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  5. It was very nice reading your intro...to know about Angela & J...their family bonding...

    Cookies look really superb....Awesome clicks.

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  6. So cuteee cookies..looks perfect and damn beautiful.

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  7. wow...........cute cookies dear.

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  8. Lovely cute flower cookies....nice presentation as usual....happy baking...

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  9. Awesome Cookies...and it is very sweet of u and ur friend to share a family recipe with us..Thanks!!

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  10. Excellent pics as always dear...Lovely post too..Cookies look fabulously yummy..

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  11. Ooohh, lovely sunitha that looks so cute. This is a perfect anytime of the day for lil one...she will finish off within seconds..:)as usual great presentation!!

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  12. Cookie looks pretty and perfectly baked!

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  13. hey nice recipe...simple yet super cookies...thnx for sharing such old n nice recipe

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  14. What spectacular looking cookies! And by reading through the recipe, I know they are delicious.

    Cookie sharing is one of the best things about the holidays... especially when they come from friends. Thanks...

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  15. Awesome cute cookies ...gr8 presentation

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  16. Absolutely lovely, your photos are too good. Wanna take a tutorial.

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  17. The cookies look fabulous and the photos are beautiful.

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  18. wonderful cookies and beautiful pictures too!

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  19. Awesome cookies. Coming to ur blog always inspires me to bake. Loved ur friend J's mom's story and her tradition. Angela must be quite a remarkable woman and I'm sure quite loved in her community and very popular amongst family and friends. Thanks for sharin their story. This is the true essence of holidays (Christmas)... My little Cookie monster(my 2 yr old) will love all ur cookies...

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  20. cute cookies.. beautiful pics as well.

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  21. Your cookies are absolutely beautiful! Wonderful pictures!

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  22. Love the shape of those cute cookies and beautiful presentation...thanks for sharing such a traditional recipe with us :)

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  23. wow more yummy cookies, the look very pretty

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  24. adorable cookies! they almost look too perfect to eat! :)

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  25. adorable cookies! they almost look too perfect to eat! :)

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  26. Hey Thanks for sharing Angela's story..convey regards to J...these cookies look great and cute!!

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  27. I like family stories and this one touched me. Well, cookies are great and I feel like having some!

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  28. wow gr8 looking cookies dear....perfect for christmas....

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  29. wow..we never think but I guess there is history to every recipe we write, might not be related to us but whoever reads it might get connected to it in some or the other way..I love your write up!! great clicks!! Merry Christmas to you and your friend J. Cheers to Angela!!

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  30. Wow Cute flower cookies .I love your photos very much. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! Enjoy

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  31. these cookies are best for christmas time.

    They look really nice.

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  32. absolutely divine..perfect for the season

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  33. wow!!! wonderful cookies....looks perfect and crispy

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  34. I m loving ur presentation.... Cookies are soo beautifully done!

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  35. Excellent excellent excellent pictures and cookies looks absolutely cute!!!!!!!

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  36. Fabulous and tempting dear....

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  37. Da, beautiful and cute cookies.Thoroughly enjoyed Angela's story :-)Regards and season's greetings to J !

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  38. Cookies look so perfect......so good pics...I too made eggless version few days back....but my pice are not even 1% close to yours...

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  39. Beautiful cookies,perfect Xmas gift

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  40. Awwww so cute! Who wouldn't love a bag of these as a Christmas gift??!!!

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  41. these are amazing am going to give them a try. Your photos are awesome.Seems not only are you a good cook but a brilliant photgrapher too.

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