Holiday baking

I always laugh when someone asks me if I have started my "holiday baking." I do like to cook, but don't usually send out goodies far and wide at the holiday season. I have (admittedly fond) memories of mixing up a big batch of sugar cookie dough, the kind you roll out, cut into shapes with the cookie cutters, bake, and then ice, with Max and Emily. Usually it was all fun until they had each cut out, then decorated about 3 or 4 cookies apiece. This meant I was cutting and decorating the remaining 50+ cookies. One year I even doubled the batch, and was so exhausted by the time the cookies were finished that I wrote in big letters with red ink on my recipe: DO NOT DOUBLE.



This morning I had the luxury of being at home. One cookie that I do usually make at Christmas time is my Little Mimi's gumdrop cookies. Nothing easier! They may not be everybody's idea of a fantastic cookie, but I love their chewiness and not so sweetness. There are only 4 ingredients: spice gumdrops, flour, sugar and eggs. You mix them all up together, spread into a 13x9 pan and bake for 20 minutes. Then you can either sprinkle powdered sugar on the top, or what I like to do is make a thin glaze of powdered sugar and lemon juice and spread very thinly on the top.

OK, my advent calendar is up , my tree is decorated and my gumdrop cookies are made. Let the festivities begin!

In case you would like to try Little Mimi's Gumdrop Cookies, here's the recipe:

4 eggs
2 1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
20 spice gumdrops, each cut in half

Beat eggs thoroughly. Add sugar and continue beating. Add flour and stir until mixture is smooth, then fold in gumdrops. Spread evenly in a 13x9" greased and floured pan. Bake at 350˚ for 25 minutes, or until done. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or ice thinly.