Snickerdoodle Cookies and Gellish

I got this snickerdoodle recipe years ago (back when we lived in Katy, TX) from one of Charles’ co-workers.  She brought them to work all the time and Charles wanted me to start baking them at home.  I recently  made a couple batches and remembered how great they were and wanted to share them with you!

SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES:

• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• **Set aside 1 tablespoon cinnamon/ 2 tablespoons sugar (mixed together)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, mix shortening, butter, sugar and eggs thoroughly.  In a medium size mixing bowl, mix together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients gradually while mixing.  Form dough into balls – the size of a whole walnut, just a little smaller than a golf ball.  Gently roll the dough balls into sugar and cinnamon mixture.  Place 2” apart on a baking sheet – I use silpat type liners.  Bake for 10 minutes… ‘ish’  All ovens are different and I’ve made these in 4 different houses… sometimes they take 8 minutes and sometimes 13 – it all depends on the size of the dough ball and the exactness of your oven temp… the smaller the cookie the faster it will cook (but also more likely they won’t be soft).

I have to watch these like a hawk.  If you want them soft and chewy (like I do) then you need to take them out just after they’ve cracked a bit.  They will feel extremely soft – but trust me, don’t move them until they are completely cooled… they will deflate so don’t worry if they look puffy.. however, they will be crunchy if overcooked.  I find it to be tricky because they never brown, even when they are ‘overdone’ by my taste.  So just watch these – they will be worth it, I promise!

The “COOKIE MONSTER!” He was helping me watch them…  I don’t know who likes these more – me, Audrey or him.. well maybe Charles wins…. we all devour these.. they are not too sweet, have a hint of salt.. and 100% SCRUMPTIOUS.

Ok. So if you are still wondering what Gellish is – It is the same as Shellac in the USA.  Just a different brand here.. It appears to be just like regular nail polish but it lasts for 3 weeks without chipping or smudging.  I was curious about this, but never really paint my nails a “color” however – I adore a french manicure, but getting tips here costs like $80 (US).Bananas. I thought why not try the gellish, but ask for it in french manicure.. LOVING IT! My nails look fabulous and they are actually my nails.. not tips, no heavy goop over the top that breaks or cracks.. just polish *that lasts long enough to justify the cost. Score!

- my fellow abu dhabians would recognize the background as a ramp escalator – we have these and the regular stair kind in the malls – Since the grocery stores are inside the malls and you have to go to different levels for parking with your grocery cart they have these ramps that the “trolley” (grocery cart) magnet wheels stick to.

And here is a just because pic of me and my munchkins before leaving for school today.. I love how brown Will is. 

Muah!