Here is a recipe that I created this weekend (well, I drastically changed one that I already had so I call this one my own) and it's great because there is really a minimal amount of effort for a LOT of cookies:

Chocolate Walnut Glazed Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar Cookies
1 1/4 cups walnuts, finely chopped
1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter
10 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg white
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Glaze
2 sticks butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 T. Cocoa powder
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease one 12 x 16-inch jellyroll baking pan, or cover pan with parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray.
In small bowl, whisk together chopped walnuts, flour, cocoa powder and salt. In medium bowl, cream together 6 T. butter, vegetable shortening and sugar. Beat in egg white and vanilla. Then blend in the dry ingredients.
Place dough in prepared pan, cover with plastic wrap and roll out to fill pan evenly. Bake until lightly browned on the edges, about 15 minutes.
Remove from oven; do not turn off oven. Let sugar cookie pan cool 5 minutes; cut into 1 x 2-inch bars. Let cool 5 minutes more.
While cookies are cooling, prepare glaze by melting butter in small saucepan over low heat. Stir in brown sugar and cocoa powder, bring mixture to a boil and boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts.
Pour glaze over sugar cookie sheet, spreading to cover well. Return sugar cookie sheet to oven. Bake 8 minutes more. While they are still hot, re-cut the cookies. Let cool completely in pan.
Makes about 8 dozen bars

Ok, I need a recipe for an Italian cookie that has a filling made with cream cheese. Please and thank you.

Can you describe them a little bit...are they sandwiched with the filling or more like a cannoli?

The bf asked if I made them, I think they are more of a sandwich-like cookie. Any recipe would be of great help as I have never made Italian cookies.

I'll look through my books and recipe files and let you know what I find. I'm sure I have something!

Who knew the "cookie maker" (me) would come up empty for a request!
I tried to look online but found nothing that I trusted, I like references coming from my cookies...lol.

It happens to the best of us!

Can you give me a day? I am at work (just opening up shop, so to speak) and will look through my recipes when I get home.

No rush, I don't start baking for Christmas until the first week in December.

HMmmmmmmmmmmm, I seem to remember the half-moons I was maybe going to get????

I did bring some to a benefit in July that was at the Legion in Ovid.

If you need help with quality control I would be more than happy to donate my time and sample them all for you.

I seem to have an overabundance of "QC" people this year. i just hope I have enough left to fill my traditional Christmas cookie plates I give to my friends, neighbors and family.

I seem to have an overabundance of "QC" people this year. i just hope I have enough left to fill my traditional Christmas cookie plates I give to my friends, neighbors and family.
_________________________

And your forum Buddy!!!

I know that Pignollis are italian cookies that are gooy on the inside like macaroons.I have a recipe for them. It calls for almond paste.

For SBJ:

ITALIAN KNOT COOKIES (CREAM CHEESE)

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
5 teaspoons baking powder
5 cups flour (approx)

Icing:

powdered sugar
water
anisette extract (or whatever flavoring you prefer)
food coloring, if desired
sprinkles

Sift flour and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl combine cream cheese and butter with mixer. Add sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and continue beating until fluffy. Add flour mixture. You will have to stir by hand at the end because it will be too stiff to beat with the mixer.

Form dough into a large ball and let set for a few minutes. If dough is too soft, you can add more flour, a little at a time. Shape small pieces of dough into knot shape by rolling between hands into a rope and twisting into knot shape.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350°F until lightly browned on bottom. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cookies will not be brown on top when done. Only the bottom.

Cool on wire racks and dip into icing. Dust with sprinkles. Let dry on sheets of waxed paper.

Whare did you find that RedGreen? Is it your recipe? Looks good.

SBJ, I've looked through pretty much everything I've got and I'm not sure I'm finding an Italian sandwich-type cookie with a cream cheese filling. It's possible that it was sort of a family variation on an Italian cookie (honestly that happens so much!) and your guess may be just as good as anyone else's.

However I have one last resource, my good friend Virginia, who is as good an Italian cook as any I know. If there is a recipe out there for such a cookie she'll have it. I'll ask her later today.

Oh, there were several that were made with ricotta cheese but they were filled with chocolate. Could this be it? Also, do you think your BF could give us a few more details??? Now I'm intrigued and on a mission!

I talked to the bf last night and he said it isn't really a sandwich type cookie but it is made with some kind of cheese so the ricotta may be correct. I will try to get some more information.

Here's the one I have which is an Italian cookie made with Ricotta.


ITALIAN CHEESE COOKIES

1/2 lb butter
2 cups granulated sugar
1 lb ricotta cheese
2 teaspoons of vanilla
3 eggs
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda

Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla, eggs, and ricotta cheese. Beat well.

Add flour and baking soda. Slowly drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 13-15 minutes at 350°F.

Clearly....that wasn't the recipe you were looking for......

I, on the other hand, would crawl over 40 miles of broken glass for one of those cookies.

Bring me one,please

Sfingi di Ricotta


Ingredients:

1 lb. ricotta
1 Tbsp. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
Oil for frying
3 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup flour
2 Tbsp. orange rind (finely chopped, optional)
3 Tbsp. rum or brandy (optional)


Preparation:

Combine ricotta, eggs and sugar. Add baking powder and salt to flour. Gradually add flour mixture to ricotta and beat well. Add vanilla, orange rind and rum. Cover and let rest a half hour. Heat oil. Drop batter by the teaspoonful into hot oil. Do NOT crowd. If needed, turn Sfingi with a slotted spoon. When golden in color, remove and place on paper towels to drain. Serve, dusted with confectioner's sugar.

Not sure, Yetta. The bf was busy this weekend cleaning out his garage and cellar while I made the Thanksgiving list and shopped. Then it was lasagna dinner yesterday, so we haven't really talked about cookies.

I will show him these recipes later after he gets out of work and see if he thinks any of them sound right.

LOL....awww thanks VM.

Did you say Lasagna????? Yummy.

Yep, two big pans. One with ricotta and one without for the picky eaters, garlic bread and a large tossed salad. Homemade chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting for dessert. The bf made his first batch of frosting...and learned cocoa without the powdered sugar added to the mix tastes very nasty!
He learned to wait until AFTER you add the powdered sugar to sample your creation!

Turkey first then I'll think about lasagna. lol.
I saw a recipe for cookies making them with a cake mix. I kept it so when I find it again I will post it. It sounded easy and hopefully good.

Every Sunday we have a big meal with our combined families. Lasagna at least once a month, or stuffed shells. Also will be making it for Christmas along with a ham.

Quick and Easy PB Cookies

1 C. PB
1 1/2 C. Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg

Mix all above. Roll into 1" balls and gently flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern on ungreased pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 10-12 mins (they will be soft), let cool on pan then to wire rack.

A double recipe usually yields me 5-6 doz small sized cookies.

I absolutely hate making sugar cookies! Especially the kind you have to refrigerate and then roll and cut out. But this recipe is easy and you do not have refrigerate, roll or cut out! Absolutely yummy!

Stir and Drop Sugar Cookies:

2 Eggs
2/3rd C. oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp grated lemon rind (I substituted a 1/4 tsp cinnamon and they came out yummy!)
3/4th C. sugar
2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Beat eggs, then add oil, vanilla and lemon (or cinnamon), mix well. Blend in sugar, beating until thick. Mix in remaining dry ingredients. Drop 2" apart on ungreased pan. Flatten with bottom of glass that has been dipped in oil and sugar.

bake in 400 degree oven for 8-10 mins (golden brown on bottoms). I cannot remember how many tis yields...sorry.

You can also frost these, my bf did with leftover frosting from half moons I had also made that day.

You know that's nice that you get your family together every week and if on lasagna day you find yourself with an empty chair I can be there in oh....couple hours. lol.

Ok found my cake/cookie recipe.

Easy Holiday Rush Cookies

1 box yellow cake mix
1/4 c. butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
powdered sugar

In large microwave safe bowl, microwave the butter and cream
cheese until very soft. Mix in the cake mix. Roll into 1/2" balls and put on baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 7-10 mins.
Sprinkle warm cookies with powdered sugar. (I'm thinking maybe you can frost them or whatever). Store in frig.
Makes 4 dozen.

This recipe is really good with lemon or orange cake mix.

I am gonna try the lemon tomorrow. Thanks

Definitely going to give this recipe a try.

I use cake mix as a "cheat" for banana cake as well. Just use yellow or white cake mix, follow recipe on box (you can reduce the oil and eggsif your wish, and add in about three over ripe bananas. Mix in about a half a bag of chocolate chips. Then, sprinkle on a mix of brown sugar and butter (or margarine) on top before baking. When cake is almost done sprinkle on more brown sugar mix and the rest of the chocolate chips.

I don't measure for this recipe. I would say probably 1/2 stick of butter and about a half to a cup of brown sugar.

Yummy and quick!

I made the lemon cookies, they were ok, but it yielded about 5 dozen.

I switched to a chocolate cake mix, with semi sweet chips. Much better, I used a ice cream scoop about an 1 1/4 and made the balls about an inch Cookies had a nice flavor. It made about 1 1/2 doz 3" cookies.

I'm just curious Buddy did you put powdered sugar on them or frost them?

I didn't do either, they were quite good. I liked them much better than the lemon.

heres a great site for holday cookies familyrecipesandmore.com

sorry, that web address again is http://www.familyrecipesandmore.com

Did anyone save the holiday oatmeal cookie recipe in the D&C this morning?

Swedish Oatmeal Cookies

This is the first oatmeal cookie we've had in the holiday cookie series. Given its incredibly delicate texture, we think it's a special one. Be sure to use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour. From the Culinary Institute of America Cookbook (Lebhar Friedman, $39.95).

Ingredients

1¾ cups cake flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1¼ cups (2½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1¾ cups rolled oats

½ cup raisins

½ cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, and place rack in the middle of the oven. Sift together cake flour and baking soda.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed (if you are using a stand-up mixer, use the paddle attachment), scraping down the sides of the bowl periodically, until mixture is smooth and light in color, about 5 minutes.

On low speed, mix in sifted dry ingredients and oats until just combined. Mix in the raisins until they are just incorporated.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake one tray at a time for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Remove sheet from oven and let cool on rack for a couple of minutes, then transfer cookies to cooling rack and allow them to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Makes about three dozen cookies.

That's it.... Thanks!

I was all over it until RAISINS!

The cookie and recipe look wonderful...but I'm with Della, minus the raisins...For us, Della, I think we can substitute chocolate chips and make them Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies!

How about dried cranberries? They would substitute also...

It's a dried fruit thing I believe...though I could handle dried cranberries with white chocolate chips....and either pecans or macadamias. I've also made them with chopped dried apricots which is amazing!

I made oatmeal cookies the other day and used white chocolate chips and craisins. I must say they were excellent.

I made the yellow one today. I put butterscotch chips in it and then powdered sugar on top and also red and green sprinkles.
They are good. I have to try the chocolate one soon.

Try the orange. I'm pretty sure we got the lemon weren't good I'm not fond of chocolate so maybe it's me

Not fond of chocolate, unheard of.

Sorry not my favorite I got the yellow and chocolate mix

You're not the only one, Della. I'm not crazy about chocolate either. Blech...

If you need "healthier" versions of cookies this year don't forget to check out http://www.eatbetteramerica.com. I swear by this website!

I'm thinking that a spice cake with the cream cheese would be good too. I will have to try it after the chocolate. I LOVE chocolate.

I bet spice would be great!

Aren't you spicy enough already?

PT, I checked this site out and did have good recipes. I also need recipes that might be a cardiac diet and also help me "gain weight". Got any other suggestions?

I have a recipe that should help you gain weight. Or, great for PMS. Death by Chocolate Cookie

2 pkg. (16 squares) Baker's Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate divided
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanila
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup Baking Powder
2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 F. Coarsely chop 8 squares (1 pkg.) of the chocolate; set aside. Microwave remaining 8 squares chocolate in large microwavable bowl on high 1-2 minutes. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder. Stir in reserved chopped chocolate and nuts. Drop by 1/4 cupfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. (I covered mine with parchment paper). Bake 12 to 13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and feel set to the touch. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies. Note: I've added dried cherries to these and makes them even better.

That's my favorite website but I also use http://www.allrecipes.com alot. Not sure about gaining weight - never been on my goal list

Ya, I am definitely different! The drug store has lots of weight loss stuff, but no weight gain! I emailed the foodnetwork and all I got for a response was laughter.Thanks for the cookie recipe.

Christmas Cookie Rules


1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you are making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free rule #1 is yours also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone, and being the friend that you are makes your cookie calorie free.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have 3 and green ones have 5 - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!

7. Cookies eaten while watching Miracle on 34th Street have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate has no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!

And finally...

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories.

It's a rule!

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate has no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!
Where can I buy these "Clinging" plates?

Any one who shares their cookies with you, their plate will have the clinging effect, thus no caloris

I will share my cookies with you

Thank You! Can I have your calories to? HaHa......... Dr. wants me to gain 30 lbs. Its just as hard to gain as it is to loose weight.I'm eating lots of homemade bread and pasta. This month I've gained 3 whole lbs!!

I wish

I have known a few people who found it hard to keep weight on, one ended up having hyperthyroidism. Once she was put on meds and it leveled out she put on some weight and looks great Another is my brother, he no longer has that problem, no idea why it changed. Hopefully you get it figured out sooner rather then later, in the mean time enjoy all the yummy foods and lots and lots of cookies and fudge for the holidays

Thank you, I will, and you enjoy the holidays also.I've always had a problem with weight. I'm 6'4" and 145 ( with bricks in my pocket). Thanks again for the list of cookies and calories, It was very good.

When I was trying to gain weight, and had a hard time swallowing also, I was told to drink lots of milk shakes, and puddings. IT WORKED.

They told my Mom the same sassyone. Maybe like ensure or boost as a snack.

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories.



I LOVE that one!

Thanks for the pointers. I also make homemade bread everyday. I eat that a lot. It seems to have helped a little.The last time I was in Strong I dropped to 130lbs.They gave me 2 plates of everything I ordered to eat.

Ensure Plus

I've used that and Carnation. Ensure has a bad aftertaste but I drink it anyway!

Estelle, they are very soft. They have cream cheese in them so they are moist and soft. Try them.

I`ll test them all if you need help.
Merry Christmas Tiger.

My son is 1/2 way home from Myrtle Beach...got the butterscoth haystacks in the fridge, peanut butter cookies are done, and waiting for sugar cookies to cool to frost. *Sigh*

You have my address, use lot`s of bubble wrap....

I'm now snapping my bubble wrap waiting for my son to get home safely from SC.

I love bubblewrap. The little ones though the big ones aren't fun.

The big ones are fun if you have a big enough piece to jump all over.

If anyone has surplus cookies please PM me for my address.
I never met a cookie I didn`t like.

< apologies to Will Rogers >

goes like you never met a skirt you didn't chase, LMAO

That`s where the cookies are.

Ha Ha, is that why that big one walked funny???

was just wondering about this recipe is that right 1/4 cup of baking powder? jsut never heard of that much in a recipe>

i just googled this recipe and it is in fact 1/4teaspoon of baking powder..thanks for the idea on a great cookie

Laugh for all the cooks .... I did a run to the grocery store Wednesday to pick up spice, I grabbed sage by accident, looked at it and asked the guy standing their if I needed sage or cloves for Ginger Snaps, he looked at me in disbelief, some people have no sense of humor.

Almost December again.

....and I will be making my usual Christmas cookies to send to my kids. I always send them a Christmas bulb too.

Hmmmmm some cookies for the Christmas party would be so cool!! WINKERS!!!!

time to put up the decorations.

What happened to Thanksgiving? It's like Halloween then Christmas!

I usually start doing everything after Thanksgiving.....tree...cookies....etc.
My kids look forward to their boxes of goodies....and it's the only time I make the famous chocolate covered potato chips they love.

I bet they look forward to it!

Like to get the outside decorations before the snow arrives. The inside decorations can wait.

I understand putting them out in nice weather but they don't have to be lit up quite yet.

normally do not turn them on until the first week of december
have you tried the new LED lights?

Well, we do have a sense of humor about some things. Unfortunately, those seem to be JUST those things that you ladies have no sense of humor about. But, if you've got any good spice jokes, I promise to laugh....

Wal Mart has some on sale Black Fri so I may try some.

the bulbs are supposed to last longer.