Cookie Memories

My parents moved to TN a year ago after living in the same town in MS all of my life...23 years! My mom had grown up in the same town, so she had lived there all her life (minus 8 years) as well. Let's just say, it's been a big transition. The biggest adjustment has been making new friends. It's hard enough when you, let's say, go to college...but imagine moving when both of your children are in college or graduate school. Really different. Well, my parents have been super blessed and found a great church. At this church, a little girl named Lily attached herself to my dad! It's a really fun relationship that they have and I can't wait until I have a little girl so he can be a great grandad (and mama and wonderful grandmom)...ANYWAY! Lily loves Daddy (who apparently is "Miss Alice's (my mom) wife), she told her dad, after noticing a bow on her dress, "Dr. Bill wears bows, too!" You see, Daddy always wears bow ties! Since attaching to Daddy, Lily has also warmed up to Mama. So, when Lily's birthday came around last week, Mama wanted to do something fun with her. I suggested making cookies...snickerdoodles in fact. You see, I don't remember this, but we have a picture of me making snickerdoodles with Mama when I was about two or three (don't you love my styling shirt! Yep, that's me!). They are great cookies for little hands and SO much fun. I think Lily really enjoyed her birthday treat, which included making cookies, watching Charlotte's Web, and going for ice cream along with her brother, Eliott. So, if you have little kids, grandkids, or just a special friend that you want to have some fun with....make cookie memories with them! Snickerdoodles
1 cup butter, margarine, or shortening, softened (Yes, I've used all three and all three work great!)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
¼ cup milk (If you think your dough is going to be too sticky, you can leave this out)
3 ¾ cups flour
½ t cream of tartar
½ t baking soda
½ t salt
3 T sugar
1 t cinnamon

Preheat to 375 F. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and milk. Blend in dry ingredients. Shape dough into balls. Mix remaining sugar and cinnamon together (you probably will need more than this). Roll balls in mixture. Place on a cooking sheet or stone and bake for 8 minutes or until set. Don't let them brown too much or they'll get hard. Immediately remove from baking sheet. If you don't feel like you have time for this, try using a cinnamon swirl cake mix. It has a separate cinnamon sugar mixture in it. All you have to do it add 1/3 cup oil and 2 eggs to the cake mix and stir. The roll balls of the dough in the provided cinnamon mixture and cook as directed above (except probably at 350.). Above all, HAVE FUN and be sure to take pictures...it make make a memory for someone later! If you recognize this plate, it is a Gail Pitman plate. She is a local potter in Jackson, MS and Paul Dean uses these plates on her show!!!!!!