First Snow of the Season - traditions

In our family we have a tradition to celebrate the first snowfall of the winter season and yesterday we had the first snow of the season - we bring our red and blue snowman cookie jar out from the cupboard storage and fill it with freshly baked cookies. 

Usually our first batch of cookies are Grandma Sue's soft sugar cookies (recipe to follow), but first a bit about the snow or lack thereof!  I thought we were going to have this big "snow event" and to be sure some areas did get snow.  Many of our friends got over a foot of snow but down here in the south (45 miles) we got just a trace.  Poor Andrew, the only one who was really looking forward to getting snow this early, walked down the stairs this morning with a disgusted look on his face, pointed out the window and said, "This!  This is NOT snow!"  Haha!

Now onto our favorite sugar cookie recipe! 

Soft Sugar Cookies

1 C. butter
1 C. shortening   (I use 2 cups of butter flavored Crisco)
1 C. sugar
1 C. powdered sugar
2 eggs
4 C. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. pure vanilla
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Cream butter, shortening, sugar and eggs.  Add vanilla, baking soda and cream of tartar and mix well.  Add in the flour by cupfulls, mixing well between each one.  Roll into balls and then roll in sugar.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  You want them to look not quite done but not too soft.  Cool on rack for two minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.  If you want the cookies to stay softer store them in a tupperware or rubber container - they will get a little harder being stored in a cookie jar.

Enjoy!  If you make these for your family, let me know how you like the recipe.

Blessings,
Theresa