Do you feel wanted?

[saffronhare]

Wanted: six dozen cookies
Princess Boredom and I have been invited to Cookie Exchange this Saturday morning (December 11th, 10:30 a.m., brunch to be served) at the home of one of her friends from school. This girl is in gymnastics with her and we carpool with the mom, who seems pretty cool. We'd really like to go.

I've called on the grandparent contingent to provide babysitting for the younger princesses (who are not invited; cool mom is exporting her two younger girls for the party as well), so I'm hoping child care is taken care of.

What I need help with is a nifty cookie recipe. See, we're supposed to bring six dozen of our favorite Christmas cookies. Um. My cookie repertoirs is quite thin -- but I'd still like to bring something yummy and unusual. Any ideas? (Rum is probably right out...unless I bring a few just for the moms.)

Possible bonus: I am hoping that attendance will get me in touch with the mothers of some neighborhood families who have babysitters on staff.


Wanted: one babysitter
Princess Boredom's first gymnastics meet of the season is on Saturday, December 18th (aptly called the Snowflake Meet). I don't have a solid time yet, but her group usually goes early in the day -- needing to be at the gym for 8 a.m. or so, then finishing up by 11:30 a.m.

The grandparents are invited to this extravaganza of sparkling, bouncing girls, so it would not work to ask them to babysit. It's also important to her that one of the parental units be present for the meet, but agrnmn will be working; zylch will be at work and is therefore unavailable for tike patrol. Are there any volunteers to keep Princesses !Kaboom and Sticky entertained/alive for a few hours? I am willing to barter some favors in exchange for this service.

Have your people call my people if you can help. Smooches,
me

Comments

LEBKUCHEN

[kittenpants.livejournal.com]

Not as easy as Feathery's trashy teacakes, but I thought you'd appreciate it:

LEBKUCHEN (Spice Cookies)

Rice paper is traditionally used in this recipe, but is not essential. You can bake these cookies on buttered baking sheets instead.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 2 3/4 hr

For nut flour
3/4 cup hazelnuts (3 1/2 oz)
3/4 cup sliced almonds (2 1/2 oz)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

For cookies
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup mild honey
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped fine-quality mixed candied fruit such as citron, orange, and lemon*
4 (11 1/2- by 8 1/4-inch) sheets edible rice paper, cut with scissors into 32 (2 1/2-inch) rounds

For icing
2 cups confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons water

Make nut flour:
Finely grind nuts with remaining nut flour ingredients in a food processor.

Make dough:
Beat together brown sugar, honey, and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until creamy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in nut flour at low speed until just blended, then stir in candied fruit.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Arrange rice-paper rounds, shiny sides down, on 2 large baking sheets. Roll level 2-tablespoon amounts of dough into balls with dampened hands, then put 1 on each paper round and flatten slightly (dough will spread to cover paper during baking).

Bake cookies in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until surface no longer appears wet, about 15 minutes total. Transfer to racks to cool.

Ice cookies:
Sift confectioners sugar into a bowl, then stir in water until smooth. Evenly brush tops of cooled cookies with icing. Let icing set, about 1 hour.

Cooks' note:
• These cookies improve with age but icing will darken. If making ahead, do not ice until day of serving. Cookies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper, in an airtight container 1 month.

* Available at Fauchon (212-308-5919) or The Baker's Catalogue (800-827-6836).

Makes about 32 cookies.
Gourmet
December 2002