Recipes for cookies

Heartwings Love Notes 1072 Sweet Treats for Happy Smiles

Heartwings says, “Baking for loved ones is a special way of giving to them.”

I have always loved to feed people–not literally with a spoon of course, but by the spoonful. Some of my favorite recipes are sweet treats. I know we all need to be careful not to consume too much sugar, however it’s important to have things we enjoy to look forward to, and dessert is one of them.

Brownies were the first thing I was permitted to make. My mother never trusted me to fix any significant food, but she figured I could be trusted to bake something simple. These blond bars are simpler even than chocolate ones, being made all in one pan, and they are very true to their name: Disappearing Caramel Brownies. The recipe can easily be doubled for a crowd.

Disappearing Caramel Brownies

Bake at 350 in a metal pan or 325 in a glass one, 20 mins till firm to touch. Do not over bake or though still tasty, they will become like rocks!

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup butter

1 egg

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp vanilla

¼ cup chopped nuts

1 cup flour

Method:

Heat butter, sugar in saucepan. Stir slowly till sugar is dissolved, then a little longer to have it somewhat liquid. Do not boil. Cool slightly. Add beaten egg, salt, vanilla, baking powder, nuts and flour. Stir well to incorporate all the flour. Spread in 8 or 9 inch pan. Bake for 20 Minutes. Press lightly with finger. Ovens may vary. If it makes a slight dent, remove, otherwise bake one or two more minutes. Rest for 10 minutes then cut into 16 squares cool in pan and remove when ready. These bake up well with alternative or gluten free flours also.

If you make a double batch bake a wee bit longer, perhaps 10 minutes more in a 9X12 pan. Do not over bake or they will be difficult to cut, let alone chew.

These cookies are very quick to make and very tasty. You can use a low sugar or fruit sweetened jam to reduce sugar. I call them Jiffy Jam Delights. Unexpected company coming? No problem! You can mix and bake these simple cookies in a half hour total.

Jiffy Jam Delights

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter (no substitutes, please)

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. salt

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

2/3 cup jam (raspberry preferred by us).

Method: Beat butter, sugar well. Add egg, vanilla salt. Blend in flour.

Drop from a teaspoon onto greased sheets. Make a dent in the tops of the cookies and fill with a half teaspoon or so of jam. Bake only until firm and dry to the touch.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes on a well greased cookie sheet. Makes 30 to 36 delicious cookies in a half hour from start to finish. Cool before eating. Jam is very hot.

May you enjoy these or other home baked treats, even perhaps making them with a child’s help.

Blessings and best regards, Tasha Halpert

By Tasha Halpert

Twinkles 3 (best) When I was growing up no one around me thought much about Christmas until after Thanksgiving, and even then mid December was when we would begin shopping. Once I knew the reality of Santa, I was eager to participate. I was taken to the Five and Dime in Beverly. There I would purchase stocking presents for my parents with my saved up allowance. My gifts were always practical: Pond’s Cold Cream for my mother, pencils for my dad. I usually made their presents for under the tree–Santa only brought the stocking gifts.

We didn’t put up the Christmas tree until the day of Christmas Eve. It stayed up until January 6. Elaborate house decorations were not part of our tradition, however we had lovely ornaments saved from year to year along with the real metallic tinsel that made the branches bow nicely. I do not remember much stress associated with the holiday, We had a few friends over on Christmas eve with simple snacks and went to a relative’s for Christmas dinner.

How nice it would be if today’s Holidays were as simple and lacking in stress as they used to be. I’ve had some thoughts on how to help that happen. For instance, it’s hard when the holidays bring back thoughts of those who are no longer with me. I remind myself to be grateful for the time we had together. Then I tell myself, be thankful for those who are with me still.

Music lifts my spirits. Playing Christmas carols, not to mention the lovely classical music written for this time, brings me back to myself and helps me remember what the holidays are really about. I especially like to play Christmas music while wrapping presents or preparing food. I prepare food ahead during the holidays, and I often combine kitchen tasks. Since I’m already in the kitchen, I chop vegetables for soup while I bake Christmas cookies.

Family traditions can be onerous. It is best not to “should” on yourself during the holidays. Instead, make new traditions of your own, more appropriate to your current life and lifestyle. One of mine is to bake cookies for those who have been helpful to me during the past year: My garage mechanic, the kind folk at the library, the postman, my hair stylist.

Here is one of my easy cookie recipes you might enjoy making and sharing. Jiffy Jam Delights: Bake at 375 for 10 minutes on a well greased cookie sheet. Makes 30 to 36 delicious cookies in a half hour from start to finish. Ingredients: 1/2 cup Butter, (no substitutes please),1/3 cup Sugar, 1 Egg, 1 Tsp. Vanilla, 1/4 tsp Salt, 1 2/3 cups all purpose Flour, 2/3 cup Jam (raspberry preferred by us. Method: Beat butter, sugar well. Add egg, vanilla salt. Blend in flour. Drop from a teaspoon onto greased sheets. Make a dent in the tops of the cookies and fill with a half teaspoon or so of jam. Bake only until firm and dry to the touch. Cool before eating. Jam is very hot.