Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Christmas cookies the Slacker Mom way

I? Am a slacker Mom. And proud of it. If something can be done more easily? Well, that's just smart, not lazy. (Right?) My favorite cook book? The Four Ingredient Cookbook. That's just my style. My skill level.

So I don't "do" Christmas cookies.

Much.

Typically cookies end up on trays in the work break room with little signs next to them saying, "Have some cookies, please, so I don't eat them all!" Everyone makes them. Gatherings of family and friends are overrun with them. They last long into the New Year only to be pitched into the trash when they're stale and no one'll eat them because of their resolution diet.

They're tasty, don't get me wrong.

They're lovely. They're pretty. They're a part of Christmas.

But I'll let someone who doesn't have two very small children make them, thankyouverymuch.

I do want my kids to have memories of making our own, and there's nothing better than a warm yummy-smelling house. So every year I make one kind of cookie that is simple and oh-so-yummilicious. I call them Spiced Sugar Cookies.

cookies2


The recipe goes a lil' sumthin like this:

(1) 17.5 oz. package sugar cookie mix
1/3 c. butter, melted
1 egg
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Mix. Roll to 1/4" thickness on a lightly floured counter top. Cut into shapes and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

See why I like them?

And you know what else? They're great with coffee. Nine out of 10 co-workers agree.

Now, shhh...here's where I tell my deep dark secrets. Promise you won't tell?

I'm such a "non-baker" that I don't really have any cookie cutters to speak of. If I do, they're Valentine hearts that are dusty with un-use and currently reside in the back of some long-forgotten drawer. So, what did I do when this recipe called for cut outs?

I raided the kids' Play-Dough stash of course.

I found a cute little star and a mini tree cutter that made perfect, bite-size cookies. (Yes, I washed them with soap and water first. C'mon now, I'm a slacker Mom, not an "eeew! gross!" Mom.)

Think I'll go have a few right now...

For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, check out Rocks in my Dryer.

7 comments:

Melisa Wells said...

Yum! I haven't baked cookies but I *did* make truffles last night. Yum. Stop by to check em out!

I just may try your recipe this weekend!

Chris said...

They look great and Sugar Cookies are my fav!

Anonymous said...

... and they're so cute! Thanks for the idea of "spicing up" a mix. That's a great idea!
Susan

Kim H. said...

Slacker Moms UNITE!

And Sandra Lee -- you know the perky, semi-homemade cooking show host -- would be proud! :) And then she'd say "now go make yourself a cocktail" - or something like that! :)

Hugs!

DairyQueen said...

looks good! I have some Christmas cookie cutters...they are decorating the garland in my kitchen!

maggie said...

Mmm, those do look so very yummy. Easy, too. I have no cutout thingy. Or Play Doh. Mine could be round if I used a drinking glass, I guess, and then they'd look like ornaments. Or you could just email me some of these somehow instead. :)

Luanne said...

If it taste good and it's easy...it's for me! Thanks!