The Best Cookies and a Bit of Halloween

Every time I make cookies my kids tell me that the cookie of the moment is their favorite cookie. I think they just like cookies. And I must admit, I do make good cookies. However, I do think these are truly the best of them all.


These are almond flavored, chewy sugar cookies.


Once again, I double this recipe to guarantee there will be enough cookies to feed my own cookie monsters along with their friends and coworkers. I almost got 60 by doubling it.


These are frosted with a butter cream frosting and I usually dust them with sanding sugar. I was out of it so I used these colored sprinkles instead.


These are very dense so they go a long way. Well, not that long of a way considering I made these two days ago and they are gone.

Single Recipe:

1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons of almond extract
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 can or roll of almond paste
2 cups of flour.

Combine wet ingredients until creamy then add dry ingredients. I use a 2-3 tablespoon ice cream scoop and place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet. When it is as hot as it is here, I place them in the refrigerator to chill for about 30 minutes before baking. I like them to stay mounded and not flatten out and chilling them does the trick.

Bake them at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. You don't really want them to brown. They should just be set. Allow them to rest on the cookie sheets for about 5 minutes then transfer them to a wire rack to cool.

While they are cooling make this simple icing:

4 cups confectioner sugar
1/2 stick of butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 tablespoons of milk
I usually tint the icing. This batch was tinted a light yellow.

What can I say? A cookie a day keeps the doctor away? Oops.....it's probably more like a cookie a day makes you fat.



My daughter and her friend asked me to wrap some wedding shower presents for them this past weekend. I LOVE to wrap presents! The friend gave me these salt and pepper shakers as a thank you gift! Wow!!! How perfect! Thank you so much Christine!


Here are some recent Halloween finds.


I got the skeleton, witch and owl for 8.00 on ebay. This shocked me because the tissue paper is in great shape and these usually sell for much more.


I found this cute little pumpkin sign at Michael's.


Along with these which are good for holding Halloween treats. They are also 40% off right now.


Before and After candy? Ok, I am feeling a bit stupid here but I'm guessing these are for before and after kissing?


Caramel apple Sugar Babies, chocolate covered Peep pumpkins, Twilight chocolates, vamp fangs and a candy corn lolly pop.


And of course we all need a black cat that poops jelly beans.


All of the great Martha Stewart stuff is out at Joanne Fabrics now.


Chocolate mousse flavored Peeps cats.


And ghost Dots.....what cute little guys!



And check this out! How cool is this. Dripping plastic stick on blood. It peels right off and leaves no marks.

Well. that is it for Halloween stuff today. I will be out soon searching for more. Target's doesn't have any of their stuff out yet.

Even though the temps today are in the mid to upper 90's, my Fall flowering Clematis is blooming.