Christmas Cookies

[New Wine]

These are perfect when you need something to do with your child(ren) but don't want too many cookies. These are perfect for cutting into fun shapes and decorating, as they don't spread in baking. Recipe adapted from A Pinch of This and That.

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 egg yolk
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon lemon extract
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour

Heat oven to 350°F. Cream butter and sugar. Add yolk, salt, and extracts and mix well. Add flour. Roll out between two pieces of waxed paper to about 1/8". Cut out and bake 6-10 minutes, depending on size, until golden-brown on the bottoms.

[Nu Kua]

Yum! maybe we'll make these today but I tell ya, we've been on a cookie baking frenzy and I know I've put on at least 5 pounds since the start of last week!
Rachel Ray has some great filled cookie recipes in this months issue of her magazine. We did this one: make a dark chocolate dough, chill it, then wrap a heaping tablespoon of it around small Peppermint Patties. Bake; then top with melted white chocolate, but I used some leftover Royal icing- then sprinkle this with crushed candy canes.

Oh gosh! I swore last night I'd eat no more! But I just had one with a cup of coffee. My willpower took flight days ago and I fear it will not recognize me upon return.