Brown Sugar Butter Thumprint Cookies

One of the kinds of cookies I just got done making...it gets rave reviews every time.

MAKES ABOUT 2 DOZEN COOKIES

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 Tbsp. skim milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
jam or preserves

In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the sugars with the butter and blend in the egg, milk, and vanilla.

In another large bowl, stir the flour, baking soda and salt together. Add the butter mixture and stir until smooth. (In warm weather only, cover and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until the dough is firm enough to handle).

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets. Shape the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and place onto the prepared sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or just until browned at the edges.

When the cookies are done, remove from the oven and immediately make the "thumbprint" indentation in the top of each cookie. Remove cookies to cool on a wire rack until completely cooled.

Once cooled, use a teaspoon to add the jam or preserves into each thumbprint.

Per cookie (without the jam): 73.8 calories, 25% calories from fat, 2 g fat, 9.63 mg cholesterol, 23.9 mg sodium, 0.16 g dietary fiber.From Light and Easy Baking by Beatrice Ojakangas

Soft Cranberry Cookies

It's that time of year, the time for tons and tons of Christmas cookies.  This is yet another recipe that I've modified to make my own.  The original called for raisins, but I decided to use Craisins instead, for that Christmas feel.  This is so simple and quick, with minimal clean up.

Yield:  36 cookies

1 (18 oz) vanilla spice cake mix
2 c quick cooking oats
1 c applesauce
1 egg
2 Tbsp light margarine, melted
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 c Craisins

Combine first six ingredients in a mixing bowl, stir until well blended.  Stir in Craisins.  Drop by tablespoonfuls (I used my Pampered Chef large cookie scoop) 2 inches apart onto baking sheets that have been lightly greased or sprayed.  Bake at 375 for 10-13 minutes or until edges are slightly browned.  Cool on wire racks.