Irene's Peppermint Butterball Cookies

My mother always made batches of cookies for Christmas. This one is my favorite, and when she and Dad had to move into assisted living, I took some of the old recipe books and cards. I've made these the past two years. As with the chocolate chip cookies, these slide right off if you use parchment paper.

Also, smashing up peppermint candy canes is easier than trying to smash the round peppermints. I usually wrap a batch of candy in freezer paper, put it on the breadboard, and start pounding with the side of the hammer.

1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. peppermint flavor

1 1/2 cups white flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. crushed peppermint stick candy

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.).

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. (Or, be lazy, and melt the butter first.) Add the flavorings and the egg; beat well. Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Mix into the creamed mixture along with the candy. Chill several hours.

Roll into small balls (1/2 - 3/4" diameter) and roll in granulated sugar. Place on a lightly greased and floured cookie sheet (or use parchment paper) 2 inches apart. Bake for ten minutes or until slightly brown.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, My Way

I've made this variation of chocolate-chip cookies for meals both at the Common House and for family get-togethers. They come out nice and crisp, and everyone loves them. One secret? I use parchment paper on double-layered cookie sheets (the 'air' cookie sheets which supposedly never burn.) I love using parchment paper for cookies -- just let the cookies cool a few minutes, and they come right off the paper with no fuss and very little mess.

Special Oatmeal Chocolate-Chip Cookies

1 cup butter
1.5 cups brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1.5 cups whole wheat flour, sifted
2 cups (regular) oatmeal
2 cups (12 oz) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rack in top position.

Melt butter. Whisk together butter and brown sugar. Let cool a couple of minutes, then whisk in the eggs and vanilla.

Sift together flour, salt and baking powder, and stir into the butter/sugar mixture.

Stir in oatmeal and chips.

Drop small spoonfuls onto parchment paper on cookie sheets. (Allow sufficient space for cookie dough to spread!) Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven, and cool for several minutes before removing from the paper.