The Bird is the word!

One of my 1st cookbooks

Okay, now I'm dating myself, but when I was a kid, Big Bird and Sesame Street were a REALLY big deal!  My little brothers and I would try to watch it daily. Such clever lessons delivered by interesting characters in an engaging format. So when my Mom bought my brothers and I a Sesame Street Busy Book, we were ALL in! She had us at Big Bird. The bird is the word!

Our tried and true Sugar Cookie Dough Recipe

This Sugar Cookie Recipe doesn't require adult supervision (technically) or any power tools. My brothers and I made TONS of these throughout our childhood; having fun doing a project together & decorating them together also.

Now, it is my turn to share THE Sugar Cookie Recipe and the experience with my son again this Christmas holiday season. We're a really social family, so we invited some friends from school to join us in decorating Christmas cookies! 

The cast of characters

It was our assignment to make the sugar cookies, so my son and I made them the night before to be cooled but still fresh.

My son rolling out dough

Squeezing everyone in each roll out

Someone taught me how to not overwork the dough. Get as many cut on each roll as physically possible! Overworking would cause a tougher cookie and we have enough of those in this world, huh?!

cooled and ready for decoration

The next morning my friend Lori came over with her kids and brought her arsenal of decorating gear. She began apologizing as to her "craziness" towards decorating, I was just stuck in wonder, taking it all in!

Icing ready to roll-check!

Sprinkles, and tips and icing-Oh, my!

She is taking our decorating knowledge to a whole new level! She is an adult decorator and I think my skills peaked out at a kid but I forge on. It's just fun to get in there and watch the kids work their magic.

"I know, let's eat something WITHOUT sugar in it?!" Oops that was an "out-loud" Mom thought huh?!

All this decorating was EXHAUSTING for the kids-LOL! They needed a little picnic break on my front porch.   It was a break for us all by then.

With the kids out of the kitchen, Lori and I got our creative juices flowing. Just GUESS which ones were hers and mine. HINT: I'm a kid in a big girl body.

My son called this "Lori's Target star"

Two sassy little snow divas

Yes, NOT mine. Again.

I loved this "spaghetti" tip for the tree she used

A few of MY silly masterpieces

We made trays and trays of these holiday cookies and wrapped them to deliver to the staff at our kids' school the next day.

I'm not sure who was more excited, the kids to show them off and share them or the adults to choose their decorated indulgences. What a fun way to start the day and the holiday week off with!

My cheery snowman

Here's to sharing your holiday traditions with friends and family! The warmth of the holidays is the smile on a person's face and the act of giving your thoughts and prayers to others.  I show my love in the creation of food I share but that's just me. Show your love however you want but you ALWAYS get more back from the act of giving than receiving.

Thanks for sharing your support of my blog this year! I'm deeply moved and grateful to you all who take the time to visit. Many blessings to you this season!

Chow for now!