There are so many things to be thankful for this holiday season. I meet with a group of moms each week, and this morning the question was asked: “What are you grateful for?” One of the first things that popped into my head was you.
I am so grateful that you choose to spend your time with me here on my blog. It means a lot to me when you leave fun and thoughtful comments, chat with me on Twitter, write me e-mails, add me to your blogrolls, and participate in my blog parties. I don’t take any of you or any of your acts of kindness toward me and my blog for granted.
For me, Thanksgiving is a time to pause and reflect on what I’m most thankful for, and this year you top my list. So Lily and I made you some cookies.
These butter cookies are a tradition in our household. They’re Dave’s mom’s recipe. We usually make them for Christmas, but this year we started early and made some in the shapes of turkeys and leaves. It takes the better part of a day to make and decorate them all, but the kids love it.
Normally, we watch our favorite Christmas movies while we work on them, but since it’s still November, we watched old “Dick Van Dyke” episodes instead (a family favorite–we own every season of the show and have probably seen all of the episodes a hundred times).
Butter Cookie Recipe
Oven 400 degrees.
Mix thoroughly: 1 cup soft margarine/butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 egg.
Stir in: 3 tsp. vanilla (or lemon or almond)
Sift together and stir in: 3 cups sifted flour and 1/2 tsp baking powder.
Chill dough. Roll very thin (1/16″ or 1/8″).
Place on ungreased baking sheet.
Bake until delicately browned, 5-7 minutes. Makes about 7 dozen 2″ cookies.
We used Angela’s buttercream frosting recipe, and it was delicious. You can find it at Cottage Magpie.
We tried to get the food coloring to make some orange, some yellow, and some rusty red, but the colors didn’t turn out quite like we hoped. Didn’t really matter, though. The point isn’t to make them Martha Stewart pretty, but to spend the day together making them and then eating them until we feel slightly sick from all the sugar.
My son Jake got creative and made a house cookie, just for you! Isn’t it cute?
You can see that the “rusty red” frosting turned out a little too pink. But we gobbled it up anyway! (Half the fun is eating cookies that–oops!–break when you’re frosting them.)
Lily made herself an “L” cookie. She also made a “J” for Jake, a “D” for Dad, and an “M” for Mom. We were given strict instructions to not eat anyone else’s initial!
Like I said, they’re not the prettiest cookies you’ve ever seen, but they taste delicious! We froze half the batch to take with us to our Thanksgiving gathering in Indiana this week. They freeze really well, which is why we like to make double batches and save them for later.
When I get back, we’ll start talking about Christmas! I already have some fun posts planned. And I think we should have a Hooked on Holiday House Tours blog party in December, don’t you? Stay tuned for details!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
{ 30 comments }
The cookies look delicious and I love Lily’s enthusiasm.
Awww I love your cookies and the cooks(and that little house is precious!!)! So cute.
We used to all make cookies like that…we’d invite all the neighbor kids over and go to town!Maybe we’ll do it this year again!
Have a wonderful thanksgiving, Julia!
Happy Thanksgiving, Julia! Thanks for the yummy cookies. I know it hasn’t been that long, but I am glad I found you here and made a new blog friend. You and your blog are something I am grateful for too. Anything that focuses on the good and the happy and the wonderful that we have in life is welcome in my life. I try not to be envious of things, but girl seeing that red kitchenaid mixer (been on my christmas list for 3 years now!) made me swoon a little
I know I like you when you picked red! Enjoy your day with family tomorrow!
I am thankful for being invited to spend thanksgiving with friends so i don’t have to cook. Your cookies look great, thanks for posting the recipe! I think they would be a great thing to take with us tomorrow. Have a wonderful thanksgiving–and bring some snow back for me!!
One of the things I’m thankful for are bloggers like you, who devote their precious time and energy to writing interesting, informative and entertaining posts. I love Hooked on Houses…it takes me beyond my usual “hooked on horses” reading. Have a safe trip to Indiana…if you do get stuck in the snow, at least you’ll have some scrumptious cookies to sustain you.
Oh, those kind of cookies with frosting are my absolute favorite. Your look delicious! Do they ship to GA well?
Have a fun and safe trip!
And I’m thankful for you, too, Julia!
ADORABLE!
those turkeys look devine, what makes them taste so good is all the love they were made with, right?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Lisa
coastal nest
I think they turned out great – just adorable! And I haven’t thought of Dick Van Dyke for years – how fun. :0) Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Thank you for making the blog cookies for us! I have enjoyed the recent posts featuring Lily. She seems like such a happy little girl.
I have gone to several Holiday Home Tours recently but none have allowed pictures. URG! I have seen some really fabulously decorated holiday homes that I would have loved to shared on your upcoming Open House. I’ll keep touring and will have camera on hand just in case.
I love the cookies tradition! They look delicious. Your kids are beautiful!
p.s. I covet your message boards…I need a ribbon message board and I may just have to buy myself one on Etsy!
I’m thankful to you, Julia, and Hooked on Houses. You have such a fun blog, and I appreciate your letting me be a part of the house tours. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
It is wonderful to see your creativity and the ways you pass it down to the kids. Kudo for the great blog as well.
The cookies look so yummy and what a fun family tradition! We do the same thing but for Christmas. Love those old TV shows too-they don’t make them like they used to! I will be thinking snow for you! LOL! Be safe and have a wonderful time-thanks for your bloggy friendship!
~Tam
I’ve only ever seen pictures of you but it’s amazing how much Lily looks like you!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank YOU for your blog, and kind words on mine.
p.s. Ocean Grove is having a holiday house tour — tent included! — on Dec 13 so sign me for the holiday Hooked On tour.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The cookies look delicious.
Julia,
The cookies look yummy! I wanted to say that I’m thankful for you too. I visit almost everyday although I don’t comment every time. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Brandee
How fun–love Lily. Is she ever not cute?
And I would like to know how the house in the background stayed so clean during the cookie producing. Maybe it’s because your youngest isn’t 1 1/2 with a 3-year-old partner in crime, who both usually forgo cookie decorating altogether to pursuit their own “goals”.
Do your in-laws get their turkeys fresh-killed from the Amish?
What cute cookies, and you know I’m going to try that recipe, too. I love cookies! And thank you so much for mentioning my frosting. I’m so glad you liked it! I love it… a little too much!
You should definitely add this post link to my Thanksgiving Food Mr. Linky!! I know others would love to see it too.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Angela
Lovely Thanksgiving cookies and because they are over the interwebs they are calorie free!
Yay for Hooked on Holiday House Tour! Can’t wait!
What a fun family activity! Thanks for sharing your recipe. Your cookies look delish! Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Robyn
Fabulous Cookies! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving
Aw, what a sweet tradition for your family. Thanks for sharing these fun little photos. Hope you had a wonderful and very blessed Thanksgiving!
Got any milk to go with those cookies? :p
The cookies look great! Thanks for sharing – I may have to try this one! Happy Thanksgiving (belated)!
Those cookies look so yummy!
Okay so I missed Thanksgiving when will you be doing Christmas cookies? Any low carb recipes? Would love to add that to my slimming shakes recipes.
The cuteness meter is off the chart !!!! Lily you look like a chef on the Foodnetwork channel and I bet those are yummy cookies, I am definitely going to try them
!!! Jake you’re a good sport !!!
I hope you made it back from your trip safe and sound !!! Did you experience much snow ??
Kathy
isn’t the fun in the whole thing the enthusiasium shown by the kids … we are halfway thru making monte carlos today – cooling now and waiting impatiently to ice …. I feel so connected to the boys at this time – my best to your family – le
Julia, those cookies are insanely good-looking. And your kids are delicious, too! Happy Late Thanksgiving.
Your kids are so cute! And those cookies look perfect!
Bella
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