MacGourmet News

"YES, the Holiday Season is just around the corner. NO, it's not too early to be planning which cookies and candies you're going to make. Da ol' mon knows how time flies, especially when you get older than the paving on the dead end road.

So, this Fortnight it's the sweet treats you bake and make. Next Fortnight will be the time for recipes other than turkey. Ya gots da ol' mon's word on it."

Snowball Cookies
1 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
Powdered confectioner's sugar

Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Add water and vanilla. Mix well. Gradually blend in flour, then blend in nuts.
Cover tightly and chill for 4 hours. Roll chilled dough into 1/2 inch balls and place 1/2 inch apart on cookie sheet.

Bake at 325°F for 20 minutes. Cool slightly and roll each cookie in powdered sugar.

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Spritz Cookies
1 1/2 cups butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar together in medium bowl. Add egg, milk, vanilla and almond extract. Mix well. Add flour and baking powder gradually. Mix well.

Use cookie press to press dough shapes onto cookie sheet. Decorate pressed cookies with sugar sprinkles, dragees, or what-have-you. Bake at 400°F for 8 minutes. Baking time is approximate--it will vary depending on your oven. Do not brown these cookies. There will be only a slight color change when done.

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Cherry Winks
3/4 cups softened butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup finely chopped dates
1/3 cup chopped maraschino cherries
Approximately 15 - 20 maraschino cherries, quartered
1 1/3 cups crushed corn flakes

Stir together flour, baking powder and salt--set aside. Cream butter and sugar, beat until fluffy. Add eggs, beat well. Stir in milk and vanilla extract. Gradually add flour mixture. Blend well. Stir in chopped cherries, dates and walnuts. Shape into 3/4 inch balls, roll in crushed corn flakes, and place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Press a cherry quarter into the top of each to make the "wink". 

Bake at 350°F about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

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Christmas Divinity
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1 egg white stiffly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup broken nut meats (optional)
Pinch of salt
Food coloring (optional)

Beat the egg white in a large bowl and set aside. In a saucepan, boil the sugar, water and syrup while stirring gently. The mixture is done at 235 degrees or if it forms a soft ball when a tablespoon full is dropped into cold water. Pour the mixture over the beaten egg white, beating continually. Add vanilla, nuts and a pinch of salt. Add a few drops of red or green food coloring if desired. Beat this mixture until it is almost hard, then drop by the teaspoonful onto waxed paper.

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Read Cajun Clark's latest Fortnight Recipe.