Let's Talk Sugar Cookies!!!

I love a good sugar cookie! I have had good ones over the years and always get the recipe when I can. I had these one of my most favorite people, Sweet Wendy, years ago when we were both working with the Young Women at church. It has stayed my favorite ever since. I call them:

Wendy's Soft Sugar Cookies

Cream together:

• 1 lb. butter
• 2 C. sugar
• 3 eggs

Blend in:

• 2 t. vanilla
• 2 t. lemon extract

Sift together and add:

• 1t. soda
• 1 1/4 t. salt
• 6 C. flour ( I add just use 5 C. flour to start with and then add the last cup if it is too soft.

Mix the dry mix in and chill. They can be made without the chilling, but if you make shapes, they hold better while baking because the dough is so soft. Bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees.

Now for the variations!

I just can't leave anything alone, it's against my nature.

If you are making some cute cutter cookies, you can use color and flavors to go with the shapes.

• I use red coloring and strawberry, cherry, or raspberry extract when making hearts, flower, or candy cane shapes.
• Trees, wreaths, holly, I go green and use mint extract.
• Bears, deer, gingerbread men, gingerbread houses, if you aren't making them ginger bread cookies, substitute some cocoa powder for some of the flour and make chocolate cookies. You can also just add brown food coloring. You get to decide how much cocoa, according to how chocolaty you want them to be.

When making gold, orange, brownish autumn leaves, I have been known to sneak in a little mapeleine. You know, as in maple leaves.

Now let's talk about cute detailed cookie cutters.

I used to collect the darling ones that came from all the Hallmark Stores, back in the 60's and 70's. I got so tired of the cute little lines disappearing while the cookies were baking. I tried cutting the baking soda or baking powder in half and the lines stay in the cookie!

I'm not making any promises of when I will have pictures of these because I am hitting up on some deadlines in the sewing dept. I WILL make some before Christmas with my grand darlings, if it is the last thing I do . . . If you would like to try some of these and I haven't been clear enough, just ask in the comments. My editor, terribly honest daughter, is busy making up finals for her students, writing a paper for her class, and just life in general with three wild little boys doesn't have time to read and "critique" my writings these days.

These cookies really do turn out darling with the candies, sprinkles, etc. available these days, think about it for some wonderful memories for you and yours!