Friday, December 26, 2014

Holiday Card Recipe Exchange


Per Nana~
Since I did not read the information about the cookie exchange correctly, I did not include a recipe with my cards.  However I would like to share this with you now. 

About 19 years ago, before I retired, a co-worker gave me this recipe for Italian Ricotta cookies. I have made them every Christmas since then and passed the recipe to my granddaughters. (My own Tricia is not interested because she knows I will be making them, so why bother.) 

The four grandchildren have renamed them "Nana Cookies" and when I mention that I might skip them each year, they all have something to say about that. 

Italian Ricotta Cookies

  1. Cream together 1/2 lb butter and 2 cups of sugar. Add 2 eggs, one 15 oz container of Ricotta Cheese, 1 tsp vanilla and mix well.
  2. Sift together 4 1/2 cups of flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt. 
  3. Combine the two mixtures and drop by a teaspoonful onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. (Do not use a cookie scoop)
  4. Bake 8-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven, until set. Bottom of cookie should be lightly browned. 
  5. Frost with mixture of confectioner's sugar, milk and almond flavoring  (see below)
Frosting
  •  1 1/2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar. Very important to SIFT.
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
Drizzle over the cookies and then tope with colored sugar sprinkles.
 I used red and green for the holiday. Enjoy !

Per Tricia~
I will admit that I wasn't sure how this recipe exchange was going to work,
 or that I would have time for another "to do" during the busy holiday season- 
but I knew how fun the card exchange had been in prior years so there 
was no way I was going to sit this one out.
Dorista cards proudly displayed on my pantry door in the kitchen ~
As each holiday card came through with a shared recipe I found that it 
was even more special than I could have anticipated.The reality that tried 
and true (or family recipes, or both) recipes were being exchanged by a 
group of folks that are clearly dedicated to finding only the best recipes 
...hit home. The "street cred" of the Doristas is quite high, so when they
 have shared something to make in the kitchen it carries some value. 
 I can easily and honestly say I plan to make every single recipe.
These do not get "mixed in" the general population of holiday cards !
                         
I also shared with my family that I was surprisingly touched by the sentiment
 that was mailed along with these recipes and now when I plan to make a dish
 it will be because these are "Cher's Peanut Butter Cookies" or "Teresa's 
Whipped Shortbread" or "Guyla's  special cocktail- the Apple Cider Sidecar".  
Yup- this already much enjoyed card tradition actually became even more 
special this year. Thanks to all that shared ~whether it was a card, a recipe
 or simply joining in our French Friday adventures at some point this year !

I ultimately selected Tammy Circeo's Lemon Sugar Cookies
 because frankly, they had me at their name. I LOVE lemon and
 the sugary lemony combo for a cookie sealed the decision. 
They did not disappoint. Crazy easy and so, so yummy.
 My entire family enjoyed them and I took a container to Nana's for 
Christmas Eve, where she and my Dad both gave rave reviews too. The 
subtle lemon flavor has a great balance to the original sugar cookie recipe. 
This is a keeper for sure. 
Thanks Tammy !

12 comments:

  1. Oh, I love both of these recipes! Nana, so fun to have your treasured ricotta cookie recipe! And Tricia, Tammy's cookies look so soft and wonderful! Happy New Year to you both!

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  2. Nana, thank you for sharing that recipe for Nana's Cookies--I'll definitely be trying those! And, Tricia, those lemon cookies look and sound so wonderful! I love lemon, too, and I agree about wanting to try all the recipes. Happy New Year, both of you!

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  3. Thank you for making my recipe! It is one of my favorites too and I've been making them for many, many years! Happy New Year!

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  4. Thanks for sharing the ricotta cookie recipe, Nana. I remember Tricia has mentioned them in past years. Now I can try them myself. And, Tricia, Tammy's cookies look great. I want to try them too. (And your snickerdoodles, which are now the rage in Australia)! Happy New Year to you both!

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  5. Nana's cookies are now on my "to make" list - cookie making is not my thing, but these just look like they HAVE to be made.
    Tricia - those lemon cookies look mighty delightful. I can see how you couldn't resist them.
    I hope that you all had a lovely holiday and have a wonderful New Year.
    XO

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  6. Oooh Nana - I'm going to be trying these sometime soon! They look wonderful, thanks for sharing! Wishing you ladies a wonderful 2015 XOXO

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  7. Nana, I love your recipe for ricotta cookies - they sound devine. Tricia, your lemon sugar cookies look perfect - I'd love to try them.

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  8. I haven't done much baking with ricotta - other than the odd pancake here or there if there's any cheese leftover from lasagna/pasta baking. I think Nana got me with the almond flavored syrup. Tammy's lemon sugar cookies remind me so much of the Soft Batch sugar cookies from the eighties. They had a faint lemony flavor in them. I need to bake a batch and share with my family.

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  9. Nana, those ricotta cookies sound amazing! And Tricia, Tammy's lemon cookies turned out beautifully. I agree with you, too, Tricia - the sentiments of everyone in the group make the recipes even more special.

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  10. Both of those cookies look fantastic!!! Nana, I can see why yours are required baking!! and Tricia, lemon is always wonderful, Tammy's cookies look great! I'm sure they were all a big hit!

    Happy New Year!

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  11. Nana, Your cookies look beautiful! I think I will also call them nana cookies! I had a co-worker that used to make ricotta cookies and she brought them in to work every Christmas. Thanks for the recipe! I can’t wait to give yours a try! Tricia, Your cookies also look beautiful! You picked a great recipe to try! Looking forward to preparing each of the recipes I received! Tricia, I keep my FF cards away from the general population too! Happy New Year ladies! Here’s to more fun projects in the coming months!

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  12. Happy New Year ladies!
    Love both of these cookie recipes, so many good recipes, so little time, ha ha...will have to get around to making these keepers ;-)

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