'Tis the Season

 Forgo the tinsel and mistletoe at the present moment...and bring on the butter and sugar! It's the time of year when we start making cookies. Each of us has our favorites; our cherished family recipes; our seasonal treasures! Whatever it might mean to you, for me, this is the time of year to make them all!

As the Christmas season progresses, I'll dig into my family recipes for our all-time seasonal favorites, which we pass out to family, friends and neighbors! But in the mean time, we began with one of our all-time favorites - year round - the Ten-Cup Cookie. As the name suggests, each ingredient (almost, anyway) requires a cup of each. Their delicate centers and slightly crisp edges, with each bite containing a copious number of flavors and textures...these cookies are hard to beat in my household and at work!! 

So,without further adieu, my recipe for Ten-Cup Cookies:

 Ingredients:

• 1 c. butter
• 1c. peanut butter
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 c. quick cooking oats
• 1 c. flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• dash of vanilla
• 1 c. coconut
• 1 c. raisins
• 1 c. butterscotch chips
• 1 c. chocolate chips
• 1 c. chopped nuts
• dash of salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, sugars, and eggs until fluffy. Add flour, oats, soda, baking powder, vanilla, and salt and mix thoroughly.

Slowly begin to incorporate the rest of the ingredients until fully combined.

Drop by tablespoon-fulls onto a greased cookie sheet (give them space...they have a tendency to spread!). Place filled sheets into the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are crisp and the centers look solid. Remove from the oven.

Let them cool for several minutes on the tray (will help the cookie continue to set-up) and then move them to a cookie rack to cool completely.

Enjoy them warm or cool...both are delicious and addicting!! They also keep fairly well and freeze superbly when wrapped in saran wrap and placed into a freezer Ziploc baggie!

They don't usually last long, so enjoy them!!

As time goes on, I'll share more of my cookies with you. What are some of your favorites? Are there any you make every Christmas? I'd love to hear!

Enjoy!