Test Kitchen and the Gift That Keeps on Giving #16

My sweet mother-in-law got our second daughter a really neat cookbook, The Maiden's Menu, for Christmas. It's published by KBR Ministries and came with a year's subscription to their magazine which I found to be quite lovely and encouraging. It's refreshing to see something available for young teenage girls that is feminine without being saccharine and unrealistic, or glammed up and hussified.

Plus it also has some really good recipes that are totally doable. Because our Emily has a bit of a sweet tooth she naturally tried a cookie recipe first. And these shortbread wonders did not disappoint. (This recipe is adapted from the Brown Sugar Shortbread recipe listed under Delicious Desserts.)

What you'll need:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour

What you'll do:

Cream butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl

Gradually stir in the flour

Knead until smooth on a lightly floured surface

Roll into balls, place on a cookie sheet and flatten with a fork*

Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes or until the bottoms begin to brown.

The first time my husband tried one he said, and I quote, "These are special." Which translates to "Make these often."

And we have. They taste great with a cup of coffee or tea...not to sweet :-)

Sharing the cookie jar with Melt in Your Mouth Monday, This Gal Cooks, Meal Time Monday, Sweet Sharing Monday and Try a New Recipe Tuesday.

*The original recipe calls for shaping the dough into a rectangle shape before cutting into strips and pricking with a fork. Em found it easier to make them into balls.