THE SUGAR COOKIES....SIMPLE, SWEET, COMFORTING AND FAMILIAR

I can probably bet that all of you have a favorite sugar cookie recipe! You bring out this time treasured family favorite every year in December, to bake up a batch for all the cookie lovers in your home. I have one too! Miss Mimi, who lived next door to us in Jackson and was the organist at our wedding, presented me with her sugar cookie recipe, when we married. What a wonderful gift for a new bride, I thought! Well, needless to say, I have baked her recipe every single year, for the last 42 years!


Now, when the calender turned to 2014, I wanted to try to improve old family favorites.....and I am so glad I did. I have improved on old southern favorites such as grits, pimento cheese, hoe cakes, corn pudding, strawberry pie and homemade biscuits. When I was searching for a really good sugar cookie, I came across this particular one from my treasured collection of vintage recipes

So, after reading all the hundreds of reviews, I decided to give it a try. Many stated they had found THE recipe they had been searching for. I loved the fact that you did not have to roll them out, as you could just roll them into balls, flatten them, bake and decorate. However, the recipe stated you could chill the dough, then cut into shapes if you so desired.  I was intrigued that a bit of cream cheese was added, which would make them soft in the middle and a bit crispy on the edges. Viola! Here we go! Now, the true test of a good recipe is the darling's taste test! He came home, and said, :Hey! You made cookies!!! I held my breath as he took his first bite..."Mmmmm. these are good!" Success! Kisses darling's!

Oh, the magic of Christmas and children......

Luke and Caden..

Love the reindeer antlers Luke! 

Luke's tree

The family tree

THE SUGAR COOKIES

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

4 T cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 large egg

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease two baking sheets.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

 In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and cream cheese (if you're using it) until light and fluffy.  Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts, and the egg; scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.

 Add the flour mixture, and mix at low to medium speed until the mixture is evenly moistened. Roll cookie batter into balls and roll in sugar.

 Place on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2" between them. Using a flat-bottomed glass, flatten the cookies to about 1/4" thick.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes — 10 minutes for softer cookies, 12 minutes for crunchier. The edges of the cookies will just barely begin to brown.

Remove from the oven and cool on the pan for 5 minutes, before transferring to a rack to finish cooling completely.

Our new Christmas Tree!

I really love this tree. It alternates from white lights to multi-colored lights!

That's the best of both holiday worlds isn't it!

Snowy decided to surprise his little Luke the Duke

 by lighting the way home from Kindergarten