Cookie Party Pic

Above is a pic from the cookie party I had Tuesday night. One friend had already slipped away before I remembered to take a picture. I invited a great group of ladies over for a make-it-bake-it-take-it cookie party. You can see some of our results in front of the group, on my very messy island. We made three new-to-me recipes.

I had baked round home made sugar cookies that morning. I much prefer the flavor of my home made cookies to store-bought dough. Those were dipped into red, white, or brown chocolate melts and then sprinkled with crushed peppermints (yum, yum) or Christmas color sprinkles. I had already baked and cooled a Devil's food cake for cake balls. We also made a new-to-me recipe from my friend, Rachel. Easy Lemon Crinkle Cookies. They were quite possibly the easiest cookies I've ever made "from scratch". Here is the recipe:

1 lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 teaspoons lemon extract

Preheat oven to 375. Pour dry cake mix into a large bowl. In separate bowl, mix eggs, oil and extract. Add to cake mix. Mix thoroughly. Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls then drop into a bowl of confectioner's sugar. Roll until lightly covered. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 6-9 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

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We had such a great time. I'd do this again next year. The best part? My sweet Susanna cleaned up the big mess after I dropped, exhausted, into bed that night AND she got up early the next AM to empty the clean dishes out of the dishwasher as a surprise. And, BOY was it!

Take time to enjoy having some friends over this holiday season.

~Joan