For Mindy (and You, Too!)

My friend Mindy asked if I'd share my hot cocoa & sugar cookie recipes. So, if you're looking for something fun & yummy to create in the kitchen this weekend, here are the two things I enjoyed making this season. One new tradition, one old tradition:

+ Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe

+ Aunt Augusta's Sugar Cookies: Family recipe--Augusta was my grandma Vivian's aunt.
(Makes a whole lotta cookies. I've halved the recipe before & it still makes plenty.)

1 lb of butter--yes, 4 sticks (if you use unsalted butter, add a teaspoon or so of salt)
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
5 c. flour

Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add in flour til blended. 325 degrees. 15 minutes or til just golden brown around edges.
You can make the cookies in two ways:
1*Make small balls of dough, roll in sugar and flatten on cookie sheet with the bottom of a drinking glass. (This is the traditional, Aunt Augusta way.)
2*Roll dough into round or squared off logs. Roll entire log in sugar (colored or plain). Wrap in plastic wrap and chill. Slice thinly and bake. (This is what I did this year to mix things up a bit.)

Grandma Viv flattening the cookies, 2001

Grandma feeding me a cookie. Oh, we got silly in the kitchen!