Memories & Sugar Cookies

I love making sugar cookies for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and other special ocassions... like when I tried to be a fabulous mom and make "V" cookies when Natalie ran for studentbody officer.
Here is Kendall with a Halloween cookie today - note: he picks off the m and m's and candy corn as part of his routine in eating them.
I remember from making them with my mom - they needed candy corn for the eyes and nose, and m and m's for the mouth!

I made sugar cookies in the shape of dog bones and took to work on Pantera's birthday and she wore a party hat. (Sorry Cricket - next birthday you can wear a party hat)
My sugar recipe comes from Erin. She shared this recipe when she was just ten years old for my cookbook, "Good Food, Good Thoughts - Cooking and Living with Vision Loss" ... She has Retinitis Pigmentosa and 11 years ago our families enjoyed time together in Washington, DC. Her dad's tip for the book was the clock method in helping someone who is blind know where something is -- "He says, "Imagine yourself as the middle of a clock. Looking straight out is 12 o'clock, to the immediate right is 3 oclock, immediate left is 9 oclock. If he notices something and wants Erin to be aware of it - he may say, Erin there is a dog at 3 oclock. The numbers in between the clock are also used. Walking down the street she or I may say, "There is an airplane at 10 o'clock. It really works well." (I will agree it is a very helpful method.)

Here is the recipe:

3 cups flour
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 Tbs. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter. Gradually add sugar. Mix well. Stir in egg, milk and vanilla. Add flour gradually. Mix well. Roll out dough 1/4 inch in thickness onto a flour surface. Cut into shapes. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-8 minutes. When cooled, decorate with your favorite frosting.