Christmas Cookies Traditions

When I was younger, I got in to making Christmas cookies.  I’m really not sure how it happened, but it did and that’s what matters!  I would make up my list every year on who would get cookies, I would bake them up, divvy them out and my dad would drive me around (until I got of age to drive, then I’d drive him) delivering cookies.  I chose different recipes every year.

Then about 6 years ago or so I got out of doing that, which again I don’t know why and it truly is sad.  People would go to my parents saying, “I missed Nicole’s cookies this year.”

Since I’ve been with my husband I talk about this ritual quite a bit to him and finally this year we decided we’d do this tradition again, however Tbug was going to be involved.  So that’s just what we did.  Saturday morning, she and I set out to make Christmas cookies.

We chose to make Neiman Marcus cookies & Sugar Cookies (recipe follows)

It’s been a long time since I actually decorated sugar cookies, other than Halloween that is :).  It was fun!

This was my grandma’s sugar cookie recipe.  Wow those cookies brought back such memories!

Soft Sugar Cookies
Bake 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes

2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
1 cup sour cream (1 small carton)
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 rounded tsp nutmeg
4 cups flour (can’t add to much)

Mix until well blended & soft.  Roll out on sheet – not to thin – cut

Icing:
Cream 1/4 cup butter
4 cups confection sugar with blender

Until it looks like cornmeal.
Add 2 unbeaten egg whites – 1 tsp vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar.

About 1-2 tsp if needed to spread consistency.

p.s. For some reason my post that posted at 12:01 this morning didn’t hit google reader :(.  Check it out!!  I told you the facts behind Christmas Cookies 🙂