Christmas Cookies

My Dad has this thing about Christmas Cookies. No mere cookie will do. It's Grandma's Spritz Cookies, or you might as well not even preheat the oven. I made 18+ dozen of these babies yesterday. That's a lot of cookies. I made 12 dozen at Thanksgiving and I'll try to make more later this week, if I have time. These are made with one of those cookie presses. Having tried several, I recommend the Williams-Sonoma Cookie Press over the rest. It may be a bit more expensive, but when you make as many as we do each year, it's worth it to avoid the hassle.

So that the rest of us have cookies to eat and Dad does not like to share, I also made a double batch of Ginger Bear Cookies, just as circles, not bears this time. I've also got a batch of sugar cookie dough softening on the counter. I will roll, cut and bake them tonight. I'm babysitting tomorrow afternoon and thought I'd have them help decorate the cookies if they'd like. Sweetheart is requesting more fudge as the batch from the Tea is but a memory. I'll also try to whip up some Schoolhouse Hot Chocolate tonight, if I have enough cocoa.

Spritz Cookies

1 cup shortening

3/4 sugar

1 egg

2 1/4 cups sifted flour

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

Cream shortening, adding the sugar gradually. Add unbeaten egg, difted dry ingredients, vanilla. Mix well. Form cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with candies/sprinkles. Makes 6 dozen.