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Want To Bake A Cookie Forest?

December 29, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

On Christmas Eve I decided I wanted to bake an old family favorite, Lemon Holiday Cookies. Now the only way I touch anything with lemon is with lots of sugar added, so these little treats fit the bill. We made these growing up using the manual turn cookie press and I love the scent of lemon in the air when they bake.

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Original recipe being held by Baking Bear. I always use my beat up Sunbeam Mixmaster I bought at the Army PX. It’s vintage, but it works. 

 

Its been several years since I’ve made them, but I’d been given the cookie press by my Mom and using it always brings back great memories. So to pass on this gem of a recipe, here goes.

Lemon Holiday Cookies

Combine thoroughly in large bowl:

1 1/3 Cup soft shortening (half butter may be used, I do)

2 Cups sugar. (Was not kidding about the sugar)

Food coloring of your choice for color. (Green for trees!)

Add:

2 eggs, unbeaten

1/4 Cup Cream (or milk)

2 tsp vanilla

2 tsp lemon extract

Sift together:

4 Cups sifted enriched flour

2 tsp double-acting baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt. Add to blended mixture; mix well.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Flatten slightly with spatula or fork. (Or use cookie press)

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The cookie press and fabulous accessories.

 

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Cookie Press loaded and almost locked for action.

 

 

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A fabulous forest of naked Christmas trees.

 

Add colored sugar sprinkles for decoration. I like green and red.

Bake at 400 degrees F. for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool and store in tight containers. Makes about 12 1/2 dozen small cookies.

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Decorated cookies. Obviously I need more practice, the edges are a little brown; Smokey the Bear would not be happy with me. But the cookies still taste great! 

 

What family holiday recipes do you cherish? Bake on!

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: baking, cookie press, cookies, holiday baking, Kimberly A Cook, Lemon Holiday Cookies, Mirro Cooky and Pastry Press, treats, Warrior Tales

Rolling Into The Holidays

December 25, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Today is Christmas to many people around the world and maybe other bloggers are being very profound and insightful; not me. Because today I am eating every holiday goodie in sight; including lasagna, garlic bread, fruit salad, coleslaw, and tons of cookies. Plus chocolate. And eggnog. And hot chocolate. With whip cream. (No calories on Christmas! Santa says so!) Accompanied by family all around to help me snack away the day.

So when I finish all my happy noshing, I’m going to move like this little(?) pet raccoon to get around the house. So here’s hoping everyone enjoys the holiday of their choice, with friends and family who bring you joy today and all year. Plus all our feathered, furred, finned and four-legged critters who are our best pals all year long.

Merry Christmas to all, Happy Holidays to all, have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Christmas Friday!

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: animals, Christmas, food, holidays, humor, Kimberly A Cook, pets, raccoon, rolling raccoon, snacks, somersaults, treats, Warrior Tales

Got Gifts This Year?

December 22, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 6 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook                    (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Fighting the mall traffic, the crazy weather and the to do list as long as a roll of toilet paper, we can forget the real gifts we’ve already gotten. So this time of year I like to reflect on what I’ve already received and am thankful for all year long.

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Spec Ops Cat shows off his pre-cuddle exercises.
  • Kitty cuddles from Spec Ops Cat complete with free purrs
  • Laughter with family, friends and co-workers
  • Hugs from family and friends
  • Listening ears when I’m cranky and tired
  • Sleeping in my own bed
  • Heat
  • Hot showers
  • Massages
  • Good health
  • The colors pink, purple and teal
  • Books and reading
  • Digging for thundereggs
  • My Subaru getting me through the December monsoons
  • Faux fur blankets
  • Imagination
  • Tea pot collection
  • Fuzzy socks
  • Heating pad with timer
  • Elvis
  • Classis Christmas songs
  • The Minions
  • Taking photos
  • Daffodils
  • My writer friends
  • Oatmeal with peanut butter
  • Alpaca socks
  • Yarn
  • Home
  • Flannel sheets
  • Roses
  • Red sparkly nail polish
  • Daydreaming
  • YouTube animal videos
  • Cartoons
  • Raspberries
  • Garfield
  • Beads and jewelry pieces
  • Writing
  • Warm summer night breezes
  • Blog readers
  • Naked toes in sandals
  • Carnations
  • Purple glasses
  • The calls of frogs and crickets
  • The ocean
  • Bunnies
  • Hummingbirds
  • Hot tubs
  • Rainbows
  • Creative minds
  • People who do good things
  • USA
  • Squirrels
  • Sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing
  • Chocolate
  • Support

That’s the short list. This month I’m finishing my nineteenth year of keeping a daily Gratitude Journal. Because besides the tinsel, wrapping paper, gift cards and crazy, the true gifts we receive all year long are the most important.

Here’s wishing you all happy holidays and gifts all year long on your very own all ready gotten gifts list. We are all more rich than we realize. What’s on your 2015 gifts gotten list?

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Filed Under: Motivation Tagged With: calm, gift giving, gifts, gratitude, holiday gifts, holiday stress, holidays, Kimberly A Cook, peace, simple pleasures, simplicity, thankful, Warrior Tales

And The Farce Awakens!

December 18, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

I love Star Wars. So with the opening of the latest installment in the series, of course I want to drag out my favorite Star Wars video reenactments. It’s two-fer Friday! Go hug a droid. Isn’t BB-8 adorable?

Have a great weekend and may the Force be with us all! Happy Quirky Friday!

And not to be out done by kittens!

 

 

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: cats, humor, Jedi, Jedi Kittens, Kimberly A Cook, kittens, movies, Star Wars, The Force Awakens, veggies, Warrior Tales

Is It Time For A Swim?

December 15, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook 4 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

It’s been wet and windy here in Oregon and the last thing I’ve thought about is taking a dive in the pool. But the folks at the Oregon Zoo thought yesterday was the perfect time to open the new elephant pool!

And guess who is acting like a little submarine? Baby Lily! With the rest of us human creatures running around getting ready for the holidays and trying to finish our to do lists, Lily shows us what is really important; play time!

The Oregon Zoo’s new pachyderm pool is 12 feet deep and 80 feet wide and the water level can be adjusted to be deep enough for big boy Packy or make it shallow for baby Lily. Amazing stuff.

So while we humans are thinking about gray days and rain, the Portland pachyderms are having a blast on the beach at their new swimming hole. Maybe that’s a good lesson for all of us these days. Take time out to play in the puddles.

Know a good place to swim in December?

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Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: elephants, holiday fun, Kimberly A Cook, Lily, Oregon Zoo, pachyderms, play, playtime, swim, swimming, Warrior Tales, zoo

Ready For Cozy Cuddles?

December 11, 2015 By Kimberly A. Cook Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Since we’ve been having dark and stormy nights and days here in Oregon, what better time to stay in and cuddle for those of us who can? And if cats and dogs can get along, I think the rest of us can too. How relaxed are these furry guys and gals?

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

https://youtu.be/eBZFMGQziCQ

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: animals, cat, cats, cats and dogs, cuddles, dog, dogs, hugs, humor, Kimberly A Cook, naps, Oregon, pets, Warrior Tales, weather

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