Hi all ... this goes out to the people who are single parenting for this holiday season. These are cookies that are easy to make and fun to share with the kids ... I know, I used to love to help my mom make them when I was a kid (ooooh, sooooo many years ago )<P>**The dough for these cookies needs to be refrigerated, so make it up at least a day before you want to decorate and bake them.**<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Easy-Do Butter Cookies</B><BR><I>Yields about 2 dozen cookies.</I><P>2 1/3 cup flour<BR>1 cup confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)<BR>1 cup soft butter or margarine (no low-fat stuff, won't work)<BR>1 egg<BR>1 teaspoon vanilla extract (real or imitation)<BR>1/2 teaspoon salt<P><I>For the fun part - decoration:</I><BR>Colored sugars, chocolate and/or multi-colored sprinkles and non-pareils<P>In large bowl, mix ingredients on low setting of mixer until thoroughly blended. Form dough into ball, wrap in wax paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours - best to chill overnight.<P>When you're ready to decorate and bake the cookies, pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.<P>Using a teaspoon, scoop out a small amount of dough for each cookie and form a ball or even a cube with it. Dip in or sprinkle with colored sugar(s) or any of the other items listed as decoration above. As you finish each cookie, place onto ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. If desired, criss-cross tops of cookies with tines of fork (like peanut-butter cookies). Each cookie should be no more than 1/2 inch thick and 1 1/2 inches across to ensure even baking.<P>When cookie sheet has been filled, bake for 10-12 minutes in pre-heated 375 degree oven. Cookies should be golden on bottom when done. For chewier cookies, bake for minimum time or less - use your own judgement.<P>When done, remove cookie sheet from oven and wait about a minute or so before carefully lifting each cookie with a spatula. Place baked cookies on wire racks to cool.<P><B>These are yummy and as much fun to eat as they are to make!</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P> <P>Love and hugs to all!!!<P>------------------<BR>terri<BR>I believe in miracles...<P><p>[This message has been edited by terri (edited November 30, 1999).]

Terri, I love the recipe! <P>I love to cook and am do great as long as there are no cookies involved. If there is I'm a disaster. See When I was a kid, we made a lot of big cakes, and puddings, and soufles, and flambees, and all that sort of stuff but no cookies. I never learned how to make them.<BR>But they are so great to do with kids.<BR>I'm going to try it next weekend.<P>Hugs to you<BR>and thanks , I won't be "cookie impaired" again. <BR>Kat

Thanks Terri<BR>I'm going to try that. Since we're sharing I'm gonna give you Mrs. Claus' Fudge recipe.<BR>I used to make this Xmas eve after the kids went to bed. They had seen me try to make fudge the traditional way several times so they were absolutely positive I wasn't the one who made the fudge they woke up to on Xmas morning.<P>Mrs. Claus' Fudge<BR>1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips<BR>1 can Sweetened condensed milk<BR>1 1/4 cups icing sugar<BR>pinch salt<BR>1 tsp vanilla<BR>1/2 cup chopped nuts<P>Melt the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. ( I do it in the microwave.)<BR>Add the rest of the ingredients. Put into 8 inch square pan (lined with wax paper) and chill.<P>It's for those of us who are candy making impaired. <p>[This message has been edited by wasstubborn (edited November 28, 1999).]

Thank you for the receipes! I love to cook and bake but I haven't done much lately. This inspires me to enjoy the holidays. wasstubborn, is icing sugar the same as powdered sugar? <P>------------------<BR>joanne<BR>

joanne<BR>You know I wondered about that when I typed it. In Canada it's labelled "Icing Sugar".<BR>so I guess it's probably powdered sugar.<BR>The finest ground sugar you can get (Whatever you use to make icing). I usually sift it too.

Thanks for the recipes. I can't wait to try them.