. . .
On Sunday, we had our first snow flurries here. Not many – just enough to make me feel like running around the yard with my tongue hanging out. But since I only run when being chased, I sat on the couch with my coffee, surveying the neighbourhood and watching for possible crime. It was positively festive, and I thought about how lovely it would be to hang the Christmas wreath on our front door, which in turn, made me remember a conversation 2.0 and I had during our first Christmas together in the house…
2.0: Our neighbours have been asking if we’re Jewish.
movita: What?
2.0: OUR NEIGHBOURS ASKED IF WE ARE JEWISH.
movita: Yah, I heard you, I’m just… surprised. I mean, who asks that? Wait. Which neighbours? Those ones? (pointing out the window)
2.0: (nodding)
movita: They just came over and asked?
2.0: Yup. When you were at work.
movita: What the heck?! It’s not politically correct to ask about someone’s religion, is it? Are we doing that now? I mean, we didn’t ask if they were gay… even though we know they are. We just figured it out – WE DIDN’T ASK. Besides, gay people are way cooler than we are. Of course, we’re not supposed to say that gay people are cooler than straight people – it’s not politically correct. Whatever. The point is… what was my point? Right! The point is that even though we aren’t Jewish, we could be Jewish, and it’s weird to walk across the street to ask if we’re Jewish. That’s the point! Didn’t they see the wreath on the front door? Couldn’t they just figure it out? Arg! It doesn’t even matter. Wreath or no wreath, it’s a weird question to ask. Unless… Oh. My. God. Did it seem like they have a problem with us being Jewish? TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID.
2.0: They asked if we were going to put up Christmas lights this year.
movita:
2.0: I said, THEY ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO…
movita: Please stop talking.
That’s the thing with 2.0 – you can never jump to conclusions. Like, ever. It’s taken a few years to adjust – those less high-strung and neurotic would probably have adapted sooner, but that’s not how I roll. So, because I don’t know what holidays you might or might not be celebrating in the near future, I give you some non-denominational cookies. A soft, chewy cookie, lightly flavoured with citrus. Over-baking these babies will make them overly crisp, and I’d like to suggest that you don’t want this, for the beauty of this cookie lies in its tender centre and the sugary topping. That’s my second suggestion: be generous with the sugary topping at the end. It will lend a melt-in-your-mouthedness to the situation. But I’m sure you would have figured that out…
. . .
Orange Sugar Cookies – adapted from an Emily Lewis recipe - print and bake
Yields about 2.5 dozen.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup butter (I use salted butter)
- 1 1/2 cups sifted icing (confectioner’s) sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
- 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup icing sugar for topping cookies (more or less to taste)
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar, and set aside.
In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or with a hand mixer), cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy – about 3-5 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl. Add the vanilla, orange rind and the egg, and mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl. Add the flour mixture, and mix until well blended.
Use a small ice cream scoop (mine holds about 1.5 tablespoons) to drop the batter into mounds on the baking sheets. Leave lots of room for spreading – about 1.5 inches on each side of the cookie. Flatten the mounds just slightly with your fingers.
Bake for about 8-10 minutes – until the edges are golden brown. Sprinkle top of cookies generously with icing sugar immediately after removing from oven, while still on baking sheets. Then remove the cookies from the baking sheets and allow them to cool completely on wire racks.
These are getting added to my Christmas To-Bake list!
Yay! They will make your house smell way awesome…
I celebrate Frugalismass… or something like that… Maybe I should create my own religion like in Family Guy… hmm. Anyway, gorgeous non-denominational cookies… though they’re definitely not Catholic because they’re not coated in the gold of the poor or anything (that isn’t my view)…
Or like George on Seinfeld with is “Festivis” Holiday!!
On non non non. These look good. And not religiously related in the slightest.
Yay! New movita post! These cookies look dreamy. Like, I want to eat them, then curl up in a ball, then dream about them.
This sounds like a perfect idea. In fact, I will plan to curl up in a ball every time I eat something awesome from now on.
I love citrus/orange cookies and have a similar recipe. I have never used cream of tartar for cooking or baking! I don’t even really know what it is. Mmmmhhhh, something to look into perhaps???
Cream of tartar stabilizes ingredients such as egg whites, helps to activate ingredients such as baking soda, and helps dry certain products out. You often see it in royal icing!
Who goes to baking school?!?
These look really cute and easy!
Thanks, Movita. My mom makes some cookies similar to these and flavors some with orange, some with lemon. Oh, yum. Only three weeks until our holiday break! Yippee! Cookies!
Haha, oh 2.0. It’s amazing what assuming can do!
You know, I’m Jewish but my mom still let us put up stockings…I’m not sure why. But there was no christmas tree or lights, unfortunately. But luckily I married a non-jew so now I get to have a tree!!!! You know that every Jewish kid wishes they celebrated christmas..
We also always made christmas cookies…although I suppose they were really holiday cookies. These look like the perfect one to add into my list
I nominated you for the inspiring blogger award:)
You can check out the link here: http://therunique.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Well, this is very, very flattering! Thanks so much for the nomination!
YOUR WELCOME:))
I celebrate all religions because that way I get to eat all the snacks all the time. It basically means I’m celebrating something on a bi-daily basis. Always thinking my friend.
I love your interchanges with 2.0. They’re always freaking hilarious. The one where he wanted to get the cats smaller pets to chase and eat was just a piece of legend.
So, I take it you’re not Jewish, lol! But my real question is.. are you putting up Christmas lights:D I love, love your cookies.. they’re pretty color and their sugary coat.. like a skiff of snow!! xx
All that comes to mind is the unbearable lightness of being. Not that it’s my favorite movie, (and not because it poorly portrays the novel). both film and novel are above my pay grade. But these cookies look light as a feather. I’d have them with Lady Grey in the afternoons.
Lady Grey would be perfect! Perhaps I should start eating this cookies on fine china…
Nothing beats Festivus in my book. Back when I worked in a “real” job, my department mates and I decided that’s what we would do. We decorated our area with a Festivus pole and did feats of strength. Everybody else in the office thought we were weird… but that’s what happens when you work in IT. You kind of are weird (which is also probably not politicially correct to say but… people figured it out on their own)
Anyway… I digress. All I really wanted to say was, I want these cookies. That’s all
“We decorated our area with a Festivus pole and did feats of strength.”
Best sentence I’ve read all week.
hi guys! i’m into baking as well if you won’t mind visiting me at http://www.bakeitallup.com please do drop your comments for suggestions or questions. Thank you !
my bad. its http://bakeitallup.wordpress.com/
You consistently crack me up, lady! And I love orange in cookies – trying this! xx
These cookies look like they would simply melt in your mouth – absolutely gorgeous and the perfect flavour for Christmas.
Love the idea of orange sugar cookies … can’t go wrong with sugar and citrus!
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Good Lord, you and 2.0 are hilarious. I’ve missed your posts…I’m a little behind, but catching up!
So are you going to put up lights? And I dare you to take menorah shaped cookies with blue icing to the cool gay neighbors.
Your orange cookies are going on my to-do list and I’ll be baking them as soon as we’re settled into our new house!
I gotta tell ya, I like the sound of non-denominational cookies. They say, “Can’t we all just get along- be friends.” These look wonderful. Perfect, really. I may have to try these cookies. You know what? I think I’m gonna make these cookies. Pinned.
Hmmm, but I only like denominational cookies…. wahhh!
THESE LOOK REALLY GOOD I need cookies nowowowowowow. Now.
Too funny…thanks for the giggle this AM. And for the marvelous cookies…
ooooo, YUM!! I love anything dessert-y and orange-flavored!! and just to let you know, we never put Christmas lights up either. The most we do for outside decorations is a little wreath on the door! lol
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