A cookie recipe to share

[almostamom]

My husband's grandmother passed away on Friday. Today would have been her 100th birthday. The last trip she ever took was to our wedding three years ago. One of my favorite memories is of everyone at the reception singing "Happy Birthday" to her. She was turning 97 the next week. I had only known her for a few years, but this darling woman meant a great deal to me.

As a surprise when we were getting married, my sister contacted everyone on our wedding list and asked them to send in a favorite recipe. She then turned them into the most wonderful cookbook for me. What follows is DH's grandmother's Christmas Sugar Cookie recipe and the note she included with it:

CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

"The following recipe has been my favorite Christmas recipe since 1929 when Grandpa and I were married. What fun it was to decorate the cookie Christmas tree, the star, and expecially Santa and the Reindeer. I have made not hundreds but thousands during my lifetime. Your Uncle Rick still reaches for the cookie container when he visits during the holidays."

2/3 cup Crisco
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
Grated rind of 1 orange
1 tablespoon orange juice

Cream Crisco and sugar together. Add well-beaten eggs and mix well. Mix and sift flour, salt, and baking powder and add to the first mixture. Add orange rind and juice and mix to a smooth dough. Chill. Roll out thin on slightly floured board and cut with cookie cutter. Sprinkle with sugar and bake in a moderate over (325 degrees F) 12 to 15 minutes. The recipe makes about 60 cookies.

NOTE: I would add a teaspoon of orange juice if the batter seemed to be too dry.

To my BBB friends, thanks for allowing me to share. The rest of the family is at the memorial service today (out of state). DS and I were not able to go. I just wanted to do something to honor/remember her.



~Linda~
DS 11/9/04

[kedss]

I'm sorry for your loss, Linda.

In my family we have Chicken Dumpling Soup every year for Christmas Eve dinner, and we drag out the letter my great grandmother wrote to my mom that has the recipe. We are so blessed to have these keepsakes so these amazing women stay alive in our memories, and our food! :)

Big hugs

[Corie]

Linda,

I am so sorry for your loss. I think it is wonderful
that you have such a treasured Christmas cookie recipe
that your husband's grandma passed to you.

I think that is why I am always on the BBB asking for
everyone's family recipes. My Mom passed away over
11 years ago and she never wrote any of her awesome
recipes down. She just kept them in her head.

You are lucky to have such a wonderful sister who
collected all those fantastic keepsake recipes! :)

[octmom]

Linda,

I'm sorry for your loss. Your GMIL sounds like a very special woman. How wonderful that you have this keepsake of family recipes that your sister put together! I hope that your DS enjoys many of these cookies as he grows up.

Jerilyn
DS, Sean 10/03
expecting #2! EDD April 1, 2006, but anticipating a C/S in March
Just found out-- IT'S A GIRL!!! :)

"Baby makes days shorter, nights longer, home happier, and love stronger."

[DebbieJ]

Wow, I am all teary-eyed. That is so sweet. Definitely a recipe to cherish.

My own grandmother is fading fast, so I have been asking for all her signature recipes while she can still remember. She types them out for me on recipe cards--it is so sweet.

That looks like a very yummy recipe!

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/sty...onths-bfar.jpg

[mudder17]

Oh, Linda, I am so sorry for your loss. She sounds like she was a wonderful lady!! What a wonderful tribute you gave to her by sharing this recipe with us all! Your little post made me a bit teary-eyed.

I am honored that you chose to share a glimpse of this wonderful woman with us. Big hugs. :)


Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[buddyleebaby]

I was actually planning to bake some cookies later today.
I will make some using this recipe.
Thank you for sharing.

ETA: They're delicious. ; )

[almostamom]

Thank you, mamas, for your kind, thoughtful words and thank you for your understanding. I spoke with DH yesterday after the memorial service. There were over 150 people there and they all sang "Happy Birthday" to her during the service. It was truly a celebration of a wonderful life.

With gratitude,
~Linda~
DS 11/9/04

[almostamom]

Corie,
I'm so sorry for your loss as well. My mother, too, keeps all of her recipes in her head. I know that if my sister hadn't done the recipe book, we would have never known what some of the recipes were. Amidst all the crystal, china, etc., this was truly my favorite and most memorable wedding gift.

~Linda~
DS 11/9/04

[mudder17]

That sounds like a beautiful service! My MIL's service was pretty similar and we all celebrated who she was and what she loved. A year later, DH and I took Kaya and we joined her sister and husband (FIL) at a beautiful spot in a Zuni Reservation and scattered her ashes. One of her Zuni friends said a few verses in Zuni and we said the 23rd Psalm. It was such a beautiful setting and I will forever remember it.


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ies/candle.gif for Leah
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbo...merald_18m.gif

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catca..._4_Kaya+is.png
Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz