12 Days of Cookies, 2016 - Day 12: Hamantaschen Cookies

“At our home we celebrate and give recognition to many traditions and holidays.  It is a wonderful way to learn about and appreciate other cultures.  A hamantash is a filled-pocket cookie or pastry recognizable for its triangular shape, usually associated with the Jewish holiday of Purim.  There are also recipes for these cookies using oil instead of butter, which would make them appropriate for Hanukah.”

Hamantaschen Cookies: made by Marian Fulton and available today, the 12^th and last day of cookies, at the Windsor library. The recipe is from: Chatelaine Easy Holiday Treats magazine.

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup granulated sugar

4 teaspoons poppy seeds

1 Tablespoon lemon or orange zest

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup cold, unsalted butter, cubed

2 egg yolks

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2/3 cup apricot or raspberry jam

1 Tablespoon milk

1.    Whirl flour, poppy seeds, lemon zest, baking powder and salt in a food processor.  Add butter and pulse until coarse crumbs form.  Whisk yolks, egg and vanilla in a small bowl and pour through feed tube, pulsing until dough starts to come together.  Gently knead into a ball and divide in half.  Wrap in plastic wrap and press into discs.  Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 3 days (bring to room temperature before rolling).

2.    Preheat oven to 350F.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.  Roll dough on lightly floured surface to scant ¼ inch thickness.  Use a 3 inch round crinkle cookie cutter to cut out the dough, rerolling scraps.  Scoop a scant 1 teaspoon jam into centre of each round.  Lightly brush edges of rounds with milk.  Pinch in 3 corners to seal, forming a triangle, leaving jam centre open.  Refrigerate for 15 minutes.  Bake in top and bottom thirds of oven, rotating and switching sheets halfway, until pastry is golden, 17 to 18 minutes.  Let cool slightly.  Transfer to rack to cool completely.  Cookies will keep well in a covered container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Notes from Marian:

These cookies could be made with date filling, fig filling, or your favourite jam.

A food processor is not necessary, just use a hand or stand mixer.

A 3 inch cutter makes for a fairly large cookie; I used a much smaller cutter. 

When baking when during cold weather, I chill my baking sheets outside before placing the cookie dough on them and therefore skipped the 15 minutes of chilling time.  I also disregarded the instructions for doing two sheets of cookies at once and just placed one cookie sheet on the middle rack for baking.

Don't forget -- you can Enter to win a Cookie Gift Bag!! Submit your entry by midnight tonight!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 10, 2015: GREEK HOLIDAY COOKIES

Baked by Barbara of the Berwick Library - The community's living room. Join us for coffee & conversation, music and cookies! Dec 18th, 10 - 12 noon. Everyone is welcome.

I chose these cookies because they were simple to make yet had an old world hint to the name and also a hint of the orient. It makes me think of the Silk Road and the three wise men bringing cloves to the Mediterranean. From ChristmasTraditions: Cooking, Crafts, & Gifts.
 
Makes 4 1/2 dozen cookies
- 1 cup (250 ml) butter or margarine, softened
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon (2ml) vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) brandy extract
- 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) salt
- whole cloves
- powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 350 F/180 C. In a large mixing bowl combine butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and brandy extract. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add flour, baking powder, ground cloves and salt. Beat at low speed until soft dough forms.
2. Shape heaping teaspoon dough into crescent or S shapes. Place shapes 2" (5 cm) apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Press 2 whole cloves until into each shape.
3. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until set. Let cool 1 minute before removing from cookie sheets. Sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar. Cool completely before storing. Remove whole cloves before eating.
Tip: flavour of cookies improves after a few days of storage.

Don't forget-- you too can Enter to win a gift card. Show us YOUR cookies! 

On the 12th Days of Cookies my true love gave to me... MORE COOKIES!!

 It’s that time of year once again.  Along with The Grinch, Frosty, and Santa, comes  the always popular 12 Days of Cookies.  Never mind  stringing popcorn or hanging out those festive lights. Help celebrate our award winning cookie extravaganza.

 Our staff and patrons are busy making cookies for the holiday season and for you! We will feature cookies on our blog for 12 days from December 7^th to the 22^nd  (Monday-Friday). You can see the photos of our cookies, get new recipes, and maybe find a new favourite to add to your baking repertoire.

We invite you to join in-- we'll even award a gift card to one of our lucky patron bakers. We've loved your photos from years past, so we can't wait to see what you create this year. Here’s how you can join the cookie fun!  We've sent extra cookbooks out to all or our branches, so find one at your local library.

The  cookie recipes will be posted here and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram beginning December 7.

Stay tuned each day to see which branch will be sharing their cookies and pop in for a treat.

Let the baking begin! 

Post Holiday Blues

IT’S OVER!!!  This is a statement that is often heard come January.  Whether it was the vacations, the visits, the food or the fun, come January the holiday season has ended.  

It can be a positive statement as not everyone is sad to see the holiday season in their rear view mirror.  Some will feel relief that they are no longer have to see and be seen by family and friends. There will be an end to the expense and expectations.

 For others it will be a lament for the loss of the coming together of family and friends and the celebrations that accompanied that.  The freedom of days off and the indulgence of outings and parties. The hustle and bustle that kept us distracted and entertained.  

It can be an especially hard time for children.  Going back to the routine of school can help but it also spells the end of “fun” for many.  They will miss the extra time and attention that they got over the break.  It’s important to be aware of how they feel and keep an eye on children’s behaviour.  Often the emotions come out in a physical way  (like a stomach ache ).  

Take steps to help yourself if the blues have taken hold.  Make sure that you eat well, up the fruit and vegetables,  and try to get out for a walk.   If you can do it in the sunshine that is better yet as a little Vitamin D never hurts when you are in the shorter daylight hours. Perhaps invest in a sun lamp for a little light therapy.  

It helps to pick a date in the near future and plan something special.  You will have something to look forward to during the winter weeks ahead.  Look at evening classes or indoor activities like the swimming pool or bowling.  You can choose to embrace winter and get involved in some outdoor activities like skating or snowshoeing.  

Recently my 3 year old grandson and I got ready to go down the water slide at the pool and he looked up at me with this big smile and said “Let’s Do This”.   I often get a little bit of the blues this time of year so I am going to try and apply that attitude to the coming weeks and hopefully give them the boot. 

The main thing is that the holiday blues should be temporary.  If you find that no matter what you try you aren’t coming out of the slump then speak to a professional. 

 
Here’s to a New Year – 2015 

---Patrica Milner, Head of Reference Services