Rasberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

Raspberry and Almond Shortbread Thumbprints


INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon milk



DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.



Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.



In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar, 3/4 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth.


Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.

I also made these for the cookie party on 12/16, very yummy. I didn't make the glaze, but one of my girlfriends did and she said it was very good with the glaze - next time!

Grammy's Chocolate Cookies (from Martha Stewart)

Grammy's Chocolate Cookies


Yield: About 3 dozen
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Dutch cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups (2 sticks plus 4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar, plus more for dipping
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, 2 cups sugar, and eggs on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla, and mix to combine. Gradually add dry ingredients, and combine with mixer on low speed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and chill until dough is firm, about 1 hour.

3. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with Silpat baking mats. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Dip top of each ball into sugar. Place on prepared baking sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until set, about 8 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.



These are the BEST chocolate cookies I've tasted, I made them for a Cookie Exchange Party on 12/16/07 and got rave reviews. They sparkle from the rolled sugar.

New Year

Ready for a New Year already...I am so tired of 2007. When this year began, it was supposed to be a magical year - I was getting married & my best friend announced she was expecting her first baby. So far so good... In February my mom was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (www.ibcresearch.org), in November my grandma had a "mini stoke". My grandma is doing good, no lingering problems, her medication was adjusted. My mom just finished radiation on Friday 12/21. In a matter of minutes my life and my family's life was turned upside down.

I dreaded the holidays, and I thankfully survived without any major meltdowns. I am relieved that the holidays are over. I love Christmas, but this year it was just too hard to be happy. I am hoping and praying with all my heart to have a better 2008. All of our family needs a better 2008. My mom has yet another round of chemo to battle the cancer - it's slated to start in Januray. I pray that it won't be too hard on my mom's body. I am starting to really think that Denny and I should move in with my mom to help her more around the house, especially when the chemo starts getting to her body.

Missing my dear friend

It's been a little over 3 years since my dear friend David's life was taken. I remember that day like yesterday.

5/23/04. I just was talking with him and joking around how we were going to start getting together more often. I was going to give him a ride to his friend's house where he was staying in town. I come back from the bathroom and he's laying on the grass outside, bleeding, from multiple stab wounds. The paramedics arrive and pronounce him dead right there.

I can't belive what I'm seeing, I can't believe it's really happened. He did not deserve to die this young - he was 25 for God's Sake!

I know his hopes and dreams and he hadn't quite reached it - he wanted to be married and have children of his own.

I went to visit his mom, aunt and sister on Sunday. When I laid eyes on his mom, we both welled up with tears - it had been too long since I had visited there. I saw the urn where his ashes rest. I miss him so much. I have so many things going on in my life and I wish that I could share with him, get some feedback. I've never forgotten about him and I will always cherish the memories that we shared during our 10+ years of friendship.