Ugly Xmas Sweaters and other good things ( for Xmas Fairs)

No, it's not Christmas yet. But it IS time to start getting involved in helping out  and raising money for those in need, or to be part of the big picture and be a  volunteer or donate your time and efforts.

" Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving." B. C. Forbes


 This is the first weekend of many, and I mean  m-a-n-y, Christmas fairs, Christmas markets, Christmas baking rituals  aplenty. To raise money for causes, either Christmas related or not.  It's time to bake. And this weekend, we have our first one . The thing was, I wanted to make things that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg, but were readily available. So, came up with the idea that we could do the traditionals: sugar cookies, Fruitcake ( had tons leftover from last year) and shortbread and photo cards, or which I have oodles.But the sugar cookies had to be something cool.

 Even the cats were in on the act. Smokey watching from the door.

 I found a cookie cutter shaped like one of those ugly Xmas sweaters that your great aunt Doris always knits .I thought it was hilarious. It came in a cookie kit. I thought it was a hoot.

 The kind of Xmas sweaters where you just have to take a picture to show Aunt Doris that you wear it.That the entire family was wearing them. My daughter decorated all of the cookies. Took her about three hours to do a double batch.

 At the same time, I ransacked the freezer for other things. Things that were good. Things that were edible. Like the fruitcakes. I had no idea there were so many.

 Baby fruitcakes. A bakers dozen, white, and dark and medium with a hint of ginger and rum. I thawed them out and washed them with a quick swish of cider.  Still fragrant, still good. Then rewrapped in clean plastic bags.

So now there were two things for the fair: Ugly Xmas Sweaters, and Fruitcake. 

 I also did up a huge pan of shortbread. I like to be lazy  when I want to do shortcuts, so I smoosh the dough  into a cookie sheet, cutting it after its baked. Makes a lot of uniform pieces.
A big treat is for our elderly Ragdoll cat, Bo. She's so beautiful. So patient. She waits for her shortbread treat so she can lick off the sugar.

 When cool  the shortbread  is stacked into little bags.

 So now there were three things for the fair: Ugly Xmas Sweaters, Fruitcakes, and Shortbread.

 UGLY XMAS SWEATER SUGAR COOKIES:
1 1/2 cups butter, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla or couple tablespoons of grated lemon peel  1 tsp lemon extract, 5 cups flour,2 tsp baking powder, pinch salt

 Cream together butter and sugar till smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla and lemon extract. 

 Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and chill overnight.  In morning, preheat oven to 400 degrees.

 Roll out dough on floured surface, to 1/4 o 1/2 inch thick. Cut with Ugly Xmas Sweater Cookie cutter ( check your kitchen stores). 

 Place  1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 6-8 minutes. Cool. 

 Then go crazy with the frosting.......Or you can use Royal icing. We didn't have time to do that, and the ordinary  homemade frosting turns out well,, just add a bit more icing sugar, so it gets more dry. We let them dry for 8 hours before packaging up individually.Ugly Xmas Sweaters, Shortbread, Fruitcake, Photo cards that I always have on hand......and you're set to go.

"Christmas cookies and happy hearts, this is how the holiday starts...." (anon.)