Stuck in snow-man's land

It started snowing again Tuesday night, and we’re expecting another 4 to 8 inches — on top of the 20 we got last weekend.

Great for the skiers and good for next summer’s fire danger, but bad for me. I don’t like driving in it … or shoveling it … or even wearing big, clunky snow boots that make my feet hot.

Oh well. If I’m stuck in the house, it should make this morning a perfect time to do Wednesday’s Elf4Health challenge: Bake cookies.

I got a head start on that Tuesday, when I finally made this year’s batch of my mom’s butter cookies. The batter is kind of a pain to mix, and they’re in no way healthy (read full of butter and flour), but Christmas just isn’t the same without them.

Besides, I added a new cookie cutter to my collection this year. Anyone who follows me on Twitter or Instagram already saw:

Yes, it’s a leg lamp, a la the best Christmas movie ever! And yes, it really is “fra-gee-lay.” The cutter is a bear to work with. I ended up with more than one “shattered major award.”

Even though it was hard to get the cutter to give up its goods, I laughed every time I looked at one of these cookies. They really did make me giddy.

I had to whip up a batch so I could shoot pictures for this week’s Chicklets in the Kitchen  post. It’s cookie week, with each of us talking about one of our favorite recipes. My contribution will be live Thursday.

When I was growing up, cookies (and homemade Chex Party Mix) were a huge part of the holiday season. Mom baked a ton — everything from Mexican Wedding Cakes to Peanut Butter Blossoms and Santa’s Whiskers (which I never liked because they contain that nasty fruitcake fruit. Ugh.)

Seems as if Christmas is more Christmas-y when I spend time baking. Of course, that can be dangerous for my waistline.

Maybe I’ll make them and give most of them away. The butter cookies are destined for the Boyfriend and my brother. I can whip up a few more varieties and take a platter to work, saving just a few for my own enjoyment.

Other cookies I’m contemplating making:

Low-Carb Peanut Butter Cookies from Your Lighter Side (These I can keep to myself!)

No-bake Dark Chocolate Cashew Balls from GreenLiteBites

Holiday Spice Balls from Mark’s Daily Apple

And I’m still mulling another attempt at baking in the dreaded mini muffin tin. Those Pumpkin Spice Mini Muffins from Clean Food, Creative Fitness look mighty tempting.

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