Birthday cookies have no age limit...from 1 to a hundred and one. Some are elegant, some are secret messages, and some are for wonderful friends. Cookies say what is in my heart for family and friends on their special day. Let the celebration begin!
What’s the best way to celebrate the birthday of someone special? Cookies, of course! Presents wrapped in bright colors are also welcome, but first come cookies, followed by singing off-key and finally come the presents. This order must be maintained because something sweet always shows the way to something spectacular.
My goddaughter loves Peanut Blossom Cookies. In fact, it’s her favorite cookie and I make them for her every year. I wondered if I could add a bit more flavor to this classic cookie and I found the solution in The Perfect Cookie from America’s Test Kitchen. The original recipe on the Hershey’s package of Kisses calls for shortening. While this ensures that the cookies don’t spread all over the baking sheet, shortening doesn’t bring a lot of flavor to the party....
These soft, chewy, and spicy cookies are my nephew’s favorite cookies. He likes them so much that he asks for them on his birthday. And I happily grant his birthday wish.
Cake is a birthday must-have, right? It has been at our house, but several family members have chosen other desserts, too, like chocolate-pineapple pie or a huge chocolate chip cookie. So although cake may not be the only dessert we have for birthdays, it is still one of the most popular.
When Marie celebrated her 90th birthday, she had to have something elegant and delicious to mark the occasion. Her favorite color is mauve, so the cookies, of course, had to be mauve! And Marie is a truly great lady, so they also had to be elegant. Each of these wedge-shaped cookies says “You are special.” I am so fortunate to have this wonderful and wise woman as a friend. Her tastes leans toward something less sweet so the cookie itself is my buttery melt-in-your-mouth shortbread recipe. This is Marie’s favorite cookie.
My friendship with Nick has has been a pleasant surprise. Our short conversations are sometimes profound and sometimes light and humorous. I’ve come to treasure this remarkable man.
Because I really loved my job, I never thought I’d retire. But the day came and I decided to “follow my bliss” — as soon as I decided what that was. I bid a fond farewell to colleagues who had become friends and the next day, I embraced a life of leisure ... NOT! I’m actually busier now than I ever was and I’ve heard the same thing from other people who’ve retired.
“Snips and snails and puppy dog tails...” Popular 19th Century Nursery Rhyme
These adorable little bird cookies marked the arrival of a friend’s first grandson. The bird cookies were made for my friend, who had given me the cookie cutters for my birthday the month before. She knows me so well and I wanted the arrival of her grandchild to be the first occasion for using these perfect shapes.
Birthdays are time for celebrations. And that means cookies, as far as I’m concerned. Big-letter cookie cutters say “You’re the main attraction today!” These letters are 4-inches high so they definitely get your attention. And just in case someone isn’t sure what the occasion is, the cupcake cookie and the Happy Birthday plaque will let you know.
