Holidays are often realized through time with family that is focused on food, with many families repeating the same recipes year after year, generation to generation. This year I thought I'd share some "cookie" recipes from our family.
To inspire our selection this year, I searched through my grandmother's recipe box for the holiday treats I cherished as a child. I also spent some time thinking about my favorites from my Mom's Christmas cookie repertoire. Finally, I added a few recent finds. Here's what we made:
- Fudge (recipe pictured above)
- Peanut Brittle (recipe pictured below)
- Snickerdoodles
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Iced Sugar Cookies
- White Chocolate-covered Pretzel Clusters
- Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies with Walnuts and Orange
- Pine Nut Rosemary Shortbreads
~ makes life *much* easier. 
Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies with Walnuts and OrangeWhile researching I found a few good sites worth passing along:
Makes 4 1/2 dozen
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon orange extract
zest of one orange
2 large eggs
2 cups dark chocolate chips (60% cacao or higher)
1 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Mix the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, orange zest and orange extract in a larger bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture slowly, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto a parchment-covered baking sheets.
Bake for 11 minutes or until golden brown.
Another family favorite, this time an appetizer, is "pink dip", posted last Thanksgiving. Sounds unusual, but it is well worth a try! Great with anything salty, like pretzels or potato chips.
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