Christmas Sugar Cookies

I make these every year. They are a mess and probably are way more trouble than they are worth, but it is a tradition!

You must let the dough sit in the refrigerator for a long time. It's annoying, but it will make your life so much easier.

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Prep:

2 sticks butter
2 small eggs or 1 large egg
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 or 3 cups flour
scant teaspoon salt
scant teaspoon baking soda
teaspoon pure vanilla

After cooked:

1 cup confectioner's sugar
milk or orange juice

Mix butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg(s) and mix again. Add vanilla, salt, and baking soda and mix again. Finally, carefully mix in flour until well blended and sticky dough results. Let dough sit in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Take dough out of fridge and use flour very generously to spread it 1/4 of an inch and cut it into desired cookie shapes. Place cookies on greased bake sheet about 1/2 inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 heat.

Take cookies out and let cool on wax paper. Mix a little no pulp orange juice or milk with confectioners sugar until a thick, smooth, white mixture results. Spread over cookies and place festive sprinkles on wet icing. Let icing harden for an hour, then place cookies in tins, separated in layers by wax paper. Keep refrigerated or frozen.

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Southern Sweet Iced Tea

Nothing is better than some southern sweet tea on a hot day (or any day for that matter)! I know how to make tea, but I thought I would just write it down in case someone wanted to know or just to jog my own memory...

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2 large Lipton "yellow-label" tea bags (black or orange Peko tea)
3/4 cups sugar
1 beverage container
2-3 cups water

Boil water on highest setting of stove. While waiting for water to boil, sugar in beverage container. Use a clothespin to secure tea bags to side of container. When water is ready, pour into beverage container (watch out for the steam!).

Stir water for 1 minute until sugar is dissolved and bob tea bags in water for additional 1 minute to release more antioxidants. Let steep for 1 hour, then remove tea bags.

Add cool water from sink until beverage fills the container and place in fridge until you're ready to drink!
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