Snowflurries & The Cookie Book

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The Cookie Book, 1971.

     There is a bitter bite to the wind today. Trees stand bare and exposed against a grey sky and landscape as snow flurries scurry about their limbs.  I layered up early as I had errands to run and I wished to get things done so that I could spend the majority of this day pursuing more creative play. First to the grocery store, then the library and finally to the nursery to pick up a Christmas tree.

     Home once again, cheeks red from the cold I set my sights on pre-holiday activities. Making a cup  of steaming cinnamon tea to warm my self I turned to Beans cookbook collection for inspiration. This was the perfect cookie baking day!

     Two things close to my mothers heart were Christmas and baking and in particular, baking cookies.  Growing up my mothers cookie jar was never empty.  She was a connoisseur of cookies and to her they were the perfect snack and always with a cup of black coffee.  She loved to relate the story of how, when she was a little girl, someone asked if she had a sweet tooth. She thought for a moment and then opened her mouth wide and pointed to her teeth. "They are all sweet teeth", she announced with a big smile.

     So it's not surprising that there are many cookbooks in her collection relating to baking and cookies in particular.  The Cookie Book, a small paper cookbook that was an advertisement for Standard Milling Co. Kansas City, Missouri, was edited by the Culinary Arts Institute and published by Consolidated Book Publishers, Chicago, IL, 1971.


   
     I decided on a recipe called Snowdrops. A drop cookie which is later frosted and then dusted in coconut. Little snowballs if you will.

Snowdrops

1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
       (I used light brown)
2 eggs, separated
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup grated coconut

Frosting
1 cup sifted confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
3-4  tsp warm water


Cream butter, vanilla and sugar together until  fluffy.  Beat in egg yolks.  Sift dry ingredients and add to butter mixture, mixing until blended. Stir in 2 tablespoons of coconut. In separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff; blend into mixture gently. Drop by teaspoons on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees 12-15 minutes. Allow to cool.

To make frosting combine sugar and vanilla. Blend in water until its of spreading consistency.

Spread frosting on cookie and then sprinkle and press coconut into frosting. Makes 30 cookies.

Snowdrop cookies.

     This is a simple, subtly spiced cinnamon cookie, not terribly sweet even with the sugar frosting. I'm enjoying mine with a cup of chamomile tea tonight by the glow of multi colored lights on the tree. I think Mom would approve.

Happy Holidays!

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