Becoming Grateful Day 6: Share Homemade Cookies

I love cookies and I really enjoying making a good cookie.  But even better than all of that is when someone brings you a plate of cookies for no reason at all.

About a month ago, I decided to let the kids help me make cookies.  I had an instant craving for snickerdoodles.  We had a great time doing it.  They love to mix and stir, and mix and stir.  I think in Sam's mind cookies are instant, so he struggled while they were in the oven baking.

While we were making cookies, the name of a neighbor came to mind.  I decided that I would set aside a plate of the cookies and bring it to her and her family.  When I brought the plate over later that evening I learned that the husband happens to love snickerdoodles, and earlier in the day they had been craving cookies.  It sounds simple and maybe a bit silly to some, but I think the Spirit brought that woman's name to my mind for a reason--if only for them to feel a little extra special.

"One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay in kind somewhere else in life."  Ann Morrow Lindbergh

Today's idea for becoming grateful is to bake a plate of cookies and give it to someone else as a way to say thank you for something.  You might know the exact person you want to say thank you to which is great.  However, as I recognized when I made those snickerdoodles that God directs us to others, I challenge you to listen carefully while you make that plate of cookies (or brownies) to the Spirit of God.  Listen for His prompting of someone who would be grateful for a plate of cookies.

You will feel more gratitude in your heart by expressing thanks to someone else.  But as you listen for and respond to God's voice, you will feel more gratitude to Him.  He then will bless you with increased awareness of others and you will fill closer to Him.  This is Becoming Grateful.

 "To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." 

Psalms 30:12

I asked Rachael to give me two of her favorite cookie recipes to share.  "Just two?" she asked.  I agree.  It reminds me that a little boy at church on Sunday said something he was grateful for was "COOKIES!"  I have more favorite cookie recipes than two, but I didn't want to overwhelm you (or myself trying to share them all).  Instead you get four of our favorites.  Have fun with this one!

Marina's (our sister) Rolled Sugar Cookies -- Rachael and I both LOVE these.

1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
3 1/2 cups flour, plus extra for rolling
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees.  Cream together sugar, egg, vanilla, butter, and sour cream. Mix in flour, soda, and salt. Roll out dough to 1/3" thick. Cut into desired shapes. Baked on lightly greased cookie sheet for 5-6 minutes. Keep on cookie sheet for a few minutes after removing from oven to finish baking. Cool completely before frosting. Can freeze cookies and defrost and freeze later. 


Thumbprint Cookies

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature,
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup jam (any flavor you want)

Preheat Oven to 350.  Place wax paper on cookie sheet and put nuts on sheet.  Toast for 10 minutes, then remove and cool.  In a bowl, mix butter and sugar together until creamy.  Separate egg and add yolk to sugar and butter.  Save the egg white in a separate bowl.  Add vanilla to the sugar, butter, egg mix.  Mix in salt and flour until it's just combined.  Divide into 12-15 equal pieces  and roll each piece into a ball.  Use a little extra flour if the dough is sticky.  Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.  Whisk the egg whit until frothy.  Dip the dough balls into egg whites then roll in the toasted nuts.  Place on a cookie sheet 1" apart.  Press down with you thumb to make an imprint in each cookie.  Fill the imprint with jam.  Bake for 13-15 minutes.  Or bake cookies and fill with flavored frosting after the cookies have cooled.  Makes 12-15 cookies.

Chocolate Chip Cookies -- fondly known as Crack Cookies by everyone we share them with, because they are SOOO good!

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups BREAD flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup white sugar
1 1/4 cup brown sugar (I prefer dark brown sugar)
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 Tbsp milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt butter in a saucepan.  Cream melted butter and sugars in a large bowl or mixer.  Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla to the bowl and continue mixing.  In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt.  Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.  Fold in the chocolate chips.
Cover the dough and chill in the fridge for a few hours--overnight is best.  (the glutens break down in the cold giving it a sweeter taste).
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Using a small ice cream scoop/cookie scoop, form cookies and bake for approximately 14 minutes.  Check on them after 10 minutes just incase they are done a little early.

Cake Box Cookies

Any cake box mix you have
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix ingredients and scoop onto a cookie tray.  Bake for 9-11 minutes.  Makes about 2 dozen cookies.  Lemon cake mix is so yummy!