The Call-Leader from Elwood, Indiana • Page 3

Th Bwood(MUadtr Wednwday, November 21, 2012 PAGE 3 Recipes for a 'cookie plate' for Santa What's doing WEDNESDAY Nov. 21 3 'j I. 1 '1 Christmas Wreath Cookies I I i Candy Cane Cookies Purpose Flour 1 12 teaspoons baking powder 12 teaspoon salt Decorations Granulated sugar, colored sugar crystals, frosting or assorted candies Directions Beat shortening and sugar in large bowl, with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla until well blended. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl.

Gradually add flour mixture to shortening mixture at low speed until well blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling. Heat oven to 375F. Roll 13 of dough at a time on lightly floured surface to 18-inch thickness. Cut dough with 2 to 3-inch floured cookie cutters.

Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Bake 5 to 9 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Transfer cookies to cooling rack.

Frost and decorate as desired. Variation Drop Cookie: Do not refrigerate dough. Drop by rounded measuring table-spoonsful of dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375F for 7 to 8 minutes. Classic Thumbprint Cookies 4 dozen cookies Ingredients Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray 12 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 Crisco Butter Shortening Sticks, cut into slices or 1 cup Crisco Butter Shortening 3 large eggs, separated 2 tablespoons water 1 12 teaspoons vanilla extract 14 teaspoon salt 2 cups Pillsbury Best All Purpose Flour 2 cups finely chopped pecans 1 cup Smucker's Strawberry Preserves, or any Smucker's Preserves, Jam or Jelly of your choice Directions Heat oven to 350F.

Adjust rack to middle position. Coat two cookie sheets lightly with no-stick cooking spray. Beat brown sugar and shortening in medium bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add egg yolks, water, vanilla and salt.

Beat until well combined. Add flour on low speed until well blended. Beat egg whites in a shallow bowl until foamy. Place pecans in a separate shallow bowl. Measure about 2 teaspoons dough for each cookie.

Form into balls by rolling between your palms. Dip each dough ball into egg whites, then roll into pecans. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Using the back of a teaspoon or your thumb, make a rounded indentation in the top of each cookie. Bake 10 minutes.

Remove from oven. It may be necessary to create the indentation once again with a spoon. Place about 1 teaspoon preserves into the indentation of each cookie. Bake an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven.

Cool on baking sheet for several minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely. Frosted Holiday Cut-Outs 6 dozen 2-inch cookies Ingredients for cookies 1 14 cups sugar 1 cup Crisco Butter Shortening or 1 stick Crisco Butter Shortening Sticks 2 large eggs 14 cup light com syrup 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 3 cups Pillsbury Best All Purpose Flour, divided 34 teaspoon baking powder 12 teaspoon baking soda 12 teaspoon salt Frosting 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons milk Food coloring (optional) Decorator Frosting Directions Combine sugar and shortening in bowl of electric mixer; beat at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, com syrup and vanilla; beat until well blended and fluffy. Combine 3 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl; gradually add to shortening mixture, beating at low speed until well blended.

Divide dough into 4 equal pieces; shape each into disk. Wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Heat oven to 375F. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon flour on large sheet of waxed paper.

Place disk of dough on floured paper; flatten slightly with hands. Turn dough over cover with another large wfeet of waxed paper. Roll dough to 14-inch thickness. Remove top sheet of waxed paper. Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutter.

Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or nr iiAl A sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and almond extract Gradually beat in the flour until blended. Remove half of the dough to a sheet of waxed paper.

Wrap and chill for about 1 hour Add the green food coloring to the remaining dough; mix on low speed until blended Wrap in waxed paper and chill for about 1 hout Preheat oven to 350' On a lightly floured surface, using a rounded tablespoon for each portion, shape one plain and one green rope about 15 inches long. Hold each by ends and twist together, then shape into a wreath Pinch ends to seal and place on a baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between cookies Decoiate with small pieces or slivers or candied cherries colored sugr-M. ir "i rations. i-ieptva' v. lemining dt.i'yli have any v.

dough, you "in in.it.!. ropes without twisting, then decorate or sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or a little nutmeg. Bake wreath cook ies for 8 to 12 minutes, or until bottoms are lightly browned. Let cool on bak ing sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a 'ack to cool completely Store in tightly covered containers with waxed paper between See Cookies on Page 6 Try some of these recipes for a cookie plate that will make Santa reluctant to go back up the chimney. Cookies and Christmas are a natural combination the difficulty is in deciding what wonderful recipes to make.

Here are some traditional favorites, plus a few new ideas to try for your cookie-baking, giving, and eating enjoyment. Are Your Cookies Out of Shape? Nothing is more frustrating when making beautiful cut-out cookies than having the cookies spread and lose their shapes in the oven. Spreading can be caused by a number of factors: too much shortening or liquid in the dough, too large eggs, too little flour, or a too hot cookie sheet. Avoid spreading by using standard measuring cups for accurate measure, using a liquid measuring cup, using large (not extra-large) eggs, and allowing cookie sheets to cool completely between bakings. For more tips on baking spectacular holiday cookies, look at our Cookie Baking Tips.

Presentation Is Everything Here are some suggestions for packaging edible gifts in appealing and unusual ways: Colored cellophane or plastic wrap with ribbons and bows in complementary colors is a festive, easy, and inexpensive way to make food gifts even more special. Instead of paper gift-wrap, use pretty holiday-themed dish towels or napkins to wrap your edibles. Baskets always make for a lovely gift presentation. Offer "go-with" ingredients to your food gifts. For example, pair muffins, coffee cake, or sweet bread with gourmet coffees or teas, plastic gold spoons dipped in melted chocolate, jam or jelly, etc.

Pair savory breads with chili or soup mix; there are many delicious packaged mixes to choose from at almost any grocery or specialty food store. Instead of baking quick bread or muffins yourself, package the Homemade Crisco Quick Bread mix in a pretty jar or container, and attach recipe suggestions. Ultimate Sugar Cookie 6 dozen cookies Ingredients 1 stick Crisco Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening or 1 cup Crisco Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening 1 cup sugar 1 large egg 2 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 3 cups Pillsbury Best All TVs Walters visits with 'Fascinating' Christie TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Veteran TV newswoman Barbara Walters paid a visit Tuesday to the New Jersey Statehouse to talk with a man she finds "pleasant smart, funny" and even "good-natured." Gov. Chris Christie is on her list this year of the "10 Most Fascinating People." Her 90-minute special will air Dec.

12 on ABC. Walters said the Republican governor made the list because of his handling of Superstorm Sandy and because "he's probably now the best-known governor in America." Frankton Wood Carving Club 7 p.m., home of Larry Fox. THURSDAY Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Dinner 11 a.m., St.

John Lutheran Church. Call 552-6125 to have the meal delivered. SUNDAY Nov. 25 AA 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church. MONDAY Nov.

26 AA 8 to 9 p.m., First United Methodist Church. Kiwanis 5:30 p.m., Pizza Hut Elwood Community Food Pantry 6 to 7:30 p.m., Morrisett Center. TUESDAY Nov. 27 AA 8 p.m., First United Methodist Church. Indiana TOPS 148 5:30 p.m.

weigh-in; 6 p.m. meet ing, St. John Lutheran Church. Guests welcome. WEDNESDAY Nov.

28 Frankton Wood Carving Club 7 p.m., home of Larry Fox. Dear Abby DEAR ABBY: My 24-year-old daughter and 21 -year-old son work as banquet servers at a local country club. Many of the receptions at which they serve include guests consuming large amounts of alcohol. If an intoxicated male guest made suggestive comments to my daughter or touched her, he would be asked to leave Vie facility. But what is my son supposed to do when an intoxicated woman, usually much older than he, pinches his backside and makes inappropriate comments or My son isnl a prude.

His sense of humor allows him to "laugh it off," but it happens often and he is becoming annoyed. In fact, he'll say, "Mom, if pretty gross!" Abby, what are these woman thinking? What should he do to promote self-respect but not cause an uncomfortable atmosphere for himself and the guests? CURIOUS MOM IN NEW JERSEY DEAR MOM: The employee protection rules are no different for males than they are for females. What your son should do first is document the incidents with dates, times and the women involved. He should then report their behavior to the banquet supervisor at the country club. Tm sure the person in charge will want to know, because if the sexual harassment isnt stopped, It could result in a very embarrassing and possibly costly lawsuit against the club.

DEAR ABBY: I recently began dating a widowed coworker. We are both private people and we have kept our personal lives out of the workplace. Only our close friends at work know we are dating. The issue we now face is the office gossip queen has spotted us out and about and is asking all our friends about whether or not we're dating. We barely know this woman and don't care much for her.

How do I politely respond when people start asking me about my boyfriend? I'm concerned that if I tell them we're seeing each other, I'D be treated differently See Abby on Page 6 Wed, NOV. 21 Open jcKe Box Drtsi specials until edges of cookies are lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet; transfer to cooling rack to cool completely. Frosting Combine powdered sugar and milk in small bowl; stir until smooth. Add food coloring, if desired.

Stir until blended. Spread on cookies; let stand until frosting is set. Decorate as desired with decorator frosting. Christmas Wreath Cookies From Diana Rattray, About.com Guide Butter cookie wreaths make wonderful Christmas cookies, dressed up with candied cherry slivers, decorative candies, or colored sugar. Ingredients: 14 tablespoons (34 cup plus 2 spoons) 1 cup sugar 12 teaspoon salt butter table- 1 large egg 1 teaspoon almond extract 2 12 cups all-purpose flour 4 to 6 drops green food coloring candied red cherry slivers, silver decorations, red sugar, multicolored decorative candies, and other decorations Directions In a large bowl with electric mixer, beat butter, 0 STANSBERRY Chad and Pam (Crissman) Stansberry, Noblesville, became parents of a son bom Nov.

16, 2012 in Carmel. Named GABRIEL MICHAEL STANSBERRY he weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and was 21 inches in length. Grandparents are Don and Pat Crissman of Valpo and Debbie Stansberry of Elwood and the late Steven Michael Stansberry. Store wide Including Jim Shore Excludes Single Cards, Food, and Candy 99eJCElla Brosslea wings '10 Beckett 114 South Park St Rd. 9S Alexandria, 724-2722 307 North Harrison Downtown Alexandria UmH 2O0 mi.

ft. pw wmom I Gift Shop 2 miWXiiJiMU 724-9039 i 1.