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Cookies!

© Shawn Price

Is there anything more joyous in the culinary world than baking cookies? You can't beat the smell, especially on cold, winter days. "Whatcha making?" "Cookies!" Smiles all around. (Try getting the same response out of your family when you're cooking brussel sprouts.) It's a great family activity, and it's hard to be too depressed when you've got a good cookie batter. And if you haven't been over to see a neighbor in a while, try taking over a paper plate with a few cookies on it...it might be the start of a great friendship.

Use shiny cookie sheets when you bake cookies and make sure there's enough room around the sheet for air to circulate. If you overpack your oven, the cookies won't brown right. If your cookies are spreading too much, make sure to let the pan cool a little before adding new dough. And watch that oven! Just a minute too much can mean a batch of burnt cookies. (Forget about spilt milk, this *is* something to cry over!)

*Oatmeal Pecan Bars*
Bar cookies are so easy to make and I love oatmeal

1/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. butter (butter is better!)
1/4 c. shortening
1/2 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. vanilla
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 egg
1 1/4 c. oats
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. chopped pecans

Cream together the sugars, butter, shortening, cinnamon, vanilla, and egg. Stir in the baking powder, salt, baking soda, flour, and oats. Stir in pecans. Press into an ungreaded 8X8X2 baking pan. Bake at 375 deg. for 25 minutes. Cut into squares.

Very Chocolate Brownie*
Don't try this unless you are a real choco-holic

2/3 c. butter
5 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 3/4 c. sugar
2 t. vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips
1 c. chopped nuts

Melt the butter and unsweetened chocolate together over low heat. Beat in sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Beat in flour and cocoa. Stir in the chips and nuts. Spread in a greased 9X9X2 pan. Bake 40 minutes at 350 deg. Cut into squares.

*Super-Bright Cookies*
Real kid pleasers. Also great for school/team colors

3 oz fruit-flavored gelatin
1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter
2 1/4 c. flour
1/4 t. salt

Stir all of the ingredients together. Roll into 1 inch balls. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes at 350 deg. Watch these carefully - they should just barely bake. Get them out before they brown.

*Shortbread*
Butter's the only thing that tastes right in this recipe.

3/4 c. butter
1/4 c. sugar