A Brazen Appeal from the Eagle
By the time many of you receive this, the temperature will have dropped, and so it’s time to get down to the serious business of Cookie Walk, the central ingredient of which is, of course, cookies.
Being firmly anchored here in the front of the sanctuary, I don’t get around much so I have to rely on others for baking advice. Remember, we have a lofty goal (and who knows about “lofty” better than an eagle?) of 1000 pounds of cookies—that’s ten pounds from each parish family.
Last year we had the best selection yet. So, get out your favorite recipes, or try the easy recipe and its variations below. The dough can be made ahead of time and frozen. Similar make-ahead recipes can be found at this King Arthur Flour website.
Refrigerator or Icebox Cookies
1 cup butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
Cream the butter with the sugar until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and eggs. Add flour and salt sifted together and stir until well blended. Divide the dough into three parts and form rolls. Roll each roll in waxed paper and store in the refrigerator or freezer until firm. With a sharp knife, slice 1⁄8 to 3⁄8 inches thick. Place on greased or ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a preheated 375° oven until a delicate beige—the time will depend upon the thickness of the cookies. Remove from oven while warm and cool on a rack. Store in airtight containers. Yields 4 1⁄2 to 6 1/2 dozen cookies.
Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies
Instead of white sugar, use 1 1⁄2 cups brown sugar.
Chocolate Refrigerator Cookies
Add 2 to 3 ounces bitter chocolate melted, to the creamed butter and egg mixture. Use 1⁄4 cup less flour.
Orange or Lemon Refrigerator Cookies
Omit the vanilla and substitute 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind, or 3 or 4 teaspoons finely grated orange rind.
Spice Refrigerator Cookies
Sift 1 tablespoon cocoa, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1⁄2 teaspoon cloves with the flour and salt.
Nut Refrigerator Cookies
Mix 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 cup finely chopped walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, or peanuts into the sifted flour and salt. The nuts must be quite fine or the dough will crumble while being sliced.
You can also help in other areas
Of course, while cookies may be the central ingredient, we also need your help in many other areas in order to make the Cookie Walk the success it has been in years past. We need items for our children’s table and gift table, including ornaments and geegaws suitable to the season.
So please hunt around for that special treasure given to you by Uncle Filbert that you have never used! Our children’s table offers modestly priced items suitable for the whole family, so the children can buy something for everyone on their list! These items can be dropped off now. A table has been set up in the Cadwalader Room with recipes, hints, volunteer sheets and a schedule of Cookie Walk week. Thanks awfully! ISAAC EAGLE
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