Monday, December 20, 2010

Christmas Cookies

For years I made plates full of cookies to give to our neighbors and a very few friends. Several years ago I didn't have time to make the cookies and then Mom died in December one year and I felt like Christmas had passed us by, and then I just wasn't making the cookies anymore. Well, this year I thought I really should make the cookies again and I am so glad that I did. People really seem to enjoy them. I tried 2 new recipes, rich chocolate cookies from Tartine Bakery and lemon sablés from Dorie Greenspan's "Paris Sweets". The old recipes I used were the molasses crinkles, lemon bars, and Brandon bars. I have had two recipe requests and they are for the cookies that always have seemed to be the most popular. Both came from a co-worker at Stanford, Helen Okuda. She always brought the best things to potlucks. I have lost touch with Helen and the recipes only exist on note cards, time to back them up on the blog.

Lemon Bars
Crust: Blend together-1 cup butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Press into lightly butter 9"x13" pan; bake @ 350 for 25 minutes.
Filling: Blend together-2 Cups sugar
4 beaten eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tblsps lemon zest, grated (from about 3 lemons)
1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup lemon juice
Pour filling over baked crust and bake @ 350 for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown (top will crack). When cool, cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar (through sifter).

Brandon's Chocolate Bars
Crust: 1 cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
Cream butter & sugar. Add flour & vanilla. Pat into 9"x13" pan; bake @ 350 degrees 15 to 20 minutes.
Topping: 3 eggs
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 tblsps flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
12 oz. pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla. Mix in flour and baking powder; add chocolate chips and nuts. Sread topping over baked crust; return to oven for 25-30 minutes. Cut while still warm.