Tag: holiday aprons

Such good luck, making my cookie delivery run on a day so unseasonably warm, bundling up wasn’t necessary. Coatless, I could show off my newest holiday apron, a gift from from my talented friend, Grace. Her selection of a non-traditional color scheme was the perfect choice,

as I have no religious connection to Christmas. Rather, I love the holiday because my neighbors go all out, their yard decorations lighting up otherwise dreary winter evenings. Their curtains, normally drawn against the night’s air, are open and framed in front windows are Christmas trees brilliant with colored bulbs, twinkling strands and ornaments. From the sidewalk, their homes have taken on the look of independent art scapes within a common theme.

As a thank you to neighbors for making our evening walk such a joyful stroll, I delivered cookies in bags a-jingle with ornaments.

I bake only one cookie recipe, but a lot of that one! This year’s cookie is a buttery shortbread.

Almond Shortbread Cookies Dipped in Chocolate

1 cup butter, softened 2/3 cup sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 t vanilla extract

2 cups sifted flour, 1/4 t salt, 1 1/3 cups finely chopped blanched almonds

6 oz dark chocolate, 3 T unsalted butter, 1 T hot water

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolk & vanilla and blend in. Add flour, salt and almonds. Stir until ingredients are combined well. Divide dough into 2-4 pieces. Shape each into a 1 1/2-2 inch roll. Wrap rolls in plastic wrap and chill until firm.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets w/ parchment paper. Cut dough into thin slices. Place 1-2 inches apart on the sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from pans and cool in racks.

In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter over simmering water. Add T of hot water and stir mixture until smooth. Remove from heat. Dip edge of each cookie into the chocolate. Cool on racks or the parchment paper until the chocolate hardens.

Makes 6 dozen. Freezes very well.

Not all cookies make it into giveaway bags – those that crumble before packaging are quickly eaten…by the baker, of course.

The day after cookie delivery brought gray skies and snow. Here’s the view from the front porch, which is as far as I ventured. I am not a cold weather, snow person. However, I do

enjoy a nip in the air now and again, especially at Christmas, so I might wear this – my very vintage, very traditional holiday sweater

xxea

Tie One On…an apron, of course!