SNOW GLOBE COOKIES

Tis the season to be busy. Wait! That's not how the song goes. But it sure would work as the theme song for my life. When it comes right down to it, though, that's how I like to live. It's been a busy and fun couple of months with a movie to celebrate, a new book (THE SNOW GLOBE) to talk about, and great friends and family to enjoy.  This weekend we had back to back parties - my definition of a perfect weekend! In between the parties I had a signing at my local Costco, so thought it would be fun to take some cookies to the hard-working people who keep that place humming. I decided to try making Martha Stewart's snow globe cookies. This was the second time around - the first was, well, let's just say not good. I couldn't find the requisite ginger bread boys and had to try and paint a scene on my snow globe using frosting gel... which never sets up. Ick! But this month I was able to find the cute little gingerbread icing decorations (at my Michael's store, in with the cake decorating supplies - they're made by Wilton). And, the template provided on Martha's site (Google "Snow Globe Cookies" and you'll find it!) was actually pretty big so the first time I made these I put in a lot of work and wound up with very few cookies to show for it. This time I printed out the template and then made it smaller by about an eighth of an inch all the way around and I got a lot more cookies out of the deal. (the site says to transfer the template to cardboard - I used tin foil. It somehow felt more sanitary.) As you can see by the picture, they didn't turn out half bad. No, as perfect as the ones Martha's cookie expert created because I didn't take time to outline before frosting. That meant I didn't stay within the lines when coloring with my frosting. But they still looked cute. I even had enough left over to add to the cookie plate for my dinner party, so that was a nice bonus. Now this week it will be serious cookie baking time. I've held off for most of the month because those melt-in-your-mouth goodies just melt right onto my hips and I figured the longer I kept temptation out of the house the better it would be. But now my son is home and is not going to let me off the hook on making such goodies as fudge melt-aways. So I'll be making those along with my infamous Andes mint cookies, my special brownies with the mint frosting (you can find the recipe for those in ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS) and, of course, cut-out sugar cookies (got to have those frosted green Christmas trees). Oh, man, I can feel the fat cells multiplying even as talk. But, tis the season! Tis also the season to reflect on how blessed we are, and that is my goal for this Christmas when I sit by the tree with my family. With each present I open I'm going to think about the bigger things I've been gifted with: health, family, friends, a great church, a great husband, a warm house, hope for the future. Those are the presents that count. Wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas filled with the lasting presents of hope, joy,

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