THE BEST SNICKERDOODLES

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (or more)


1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla. On low speed, gradually beat in flour mixture (or stir in by hand) until well combined.
4. In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon (or pumpkin/apple pie spice).
5. Shape spoonfuls of cookie dough into 1″ balls, then roll in sugar/cinnamon mixture. Place 2″ apart on ungreased (parchment-lined, if you prefer) cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove to a wire cooling rack. They will be slightly puffed when removed from oven but will flatten completely as they cool. Store in an airtight container.
Yield: 5 dozen cookies

Are you ready?

The book club meeting will be held in SLC at Althea's house. We will have a barbeque! How does everybody feel about having the meeting next week or the week after? I know a few of us have finished the book. How about the rest of you?

Fast Food Nation

I started reading the book yesterday and I can hardly put it down. With books like this, I often don't start reading at the beginning until after I've browsed the most interesting chapters of the book first and in my sampling, parts of the book remind me of a modern-day version of The Jungle.
This book will appeal to history buffs because it covers the history of the fast-food industry as well.
For our little get-together, I thought we could bring healthier versions of fast food (i.e. homemade fries) or, if you're up to it, slow food.

The book club returns!

I feel most of you had probably given up on this idea, but I didn't. This time around I think we can take a more organized approach to the book club. I will explain. We will each have a turn to pick a book, location, theme, and time for one monthly meeting. I picked the last book (which, admittedly, I never read...hence my hesitance to schedule the second meeting)and have passed the responsibility on to my sister Rachael. She can choose to have the meeting at her home, a restaurant, park, someone else's home, whatever. She can also choose a theme that will let all of us know what kind of food item to bring. If she were to choose a book that takes place in china she might just pick china as the theme. You get the picture. As soon as we have a better idea of who wants to be involved in the book club we can make out a schedule so you will know in advance when your turn will be.
Since I have heard sad remarks from several non-Utahns about not being able to be involved in the book club, I have decided to start the book blog where anyone can post thoughts, questions, comments, or anything you want about the book we are reading that month. I have sent each of you an invitation to the blog which means that you can post and comment as you please.
Rachael has already picked her book, but I will let her announce it with it's theme. Let me know if you have any ideas or complaints about what I have outlined.