Sunday, December 16, 2012

Marlene's Cookies

For years now, I have envied my sister Margaret at Christmas, because her mother-in-law Marlene would mail her a care package of cookies.

Boy, oh, boy. Marlene bakes THE best cookies in the world. But until recently only way I could enjoy them was to show up at Margaret's, sneak over to the box, and snarf as many as possible! A few months ago, Marlene moved down to Florida. So today I sat down with her and learned a few of her secrets:

* She starts in October. There are some doughs that can be frozen and baked later.
* She uses the Betty Crocker Cooky Book.
* She takes careful notes of what works and doesn't work.

For example, she makes her bar cookies last of all because they get hard. On the mornings when she's baking, she takes the margarine, butter and eggs out of the refrigerator first thing, so they can come to room temperature. (Who knew it mattered about the eggs?)


A lot of her dough chills in the refrigerator, even for days, before she bakes the cookies. When she's ready to pack them up, she lines a shoebox multiple times with wax paper and carefully adds the cookies.

According to Marlene, there's a wonderful pumpkin roll that we've never tasted because it doesn't transport well. But she's making some this year.

I'm banking on Margaret saving a piece of that for me. Or else. I mean, what's a sister for if she won't share her cookies?

5 comments:

Susie R said...

I love the Betty Crocker Cookie Book. Mine is a newer version but like my Big Betty Crocker Cookbook I bought when I was 12 years old it has become Scratch and Sniff after getting spilled on during years of baking.

Felix Lee said...

That takes a lot of advanced planning, making doughs in October. Her cookies are probably worth it though from what you've said. I'd love to get a package of cookies. Who wouldn't?

Linda O. Johnston said...

I'm impressed with both Marlene and you, Joanna. My holiday cookies are generally store-bought.

sandybear76 said...

I love the Betty Crocker Cooky Book. I used it in lots of 4-H projects and for making lots of cookies at Christmas. We had several favorites we made every year but we always picked 2-3 new recipes from the Cooky Book to try. Some of them became favorites while a few were good at other times of the year.

Betty Hechtman said...

I have that cook book. Too bad I won't get to use it this year. I'm too busy trying to finish my manuscript that is due Jan 2. The only baking I'll be doing is the Happy Birthday Cupcake recipe I'm going to be including in the book.