Santa was very generous this year. Along with a bunch of scrollsaw blades, paint brushes, oil pencils, tips for my woodburning tool, hubby surprised me with a Taurus 3 glass saw. I about fell out of my chair. I never even mentioned it but my two other saws are out of commission so.....................Yeeeeeeeeeeee Hawwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I am a happy camper. Santa's helper's (sister in law and partner) got me my carbon paper I desperated needed, more tips, paint brushes and oil colors and three new paperbacks from my favorite authors. Plus they got me a new woodburning pen with lots of tips and extra doodads.............Yeah! I'm glad someone reads my christmas list. I don't know which project to do first................ I was going to take down the little 3 foot christmas tree (freecycle)and hubby said no leave it up ? ? ? ? ? He suggested I make ornaments for Valentines Day, St. Patricks Day, Easter, etc and hang them on the tree............Wow what a great idea! Hugs, Judy

He did, Woodie! Here you go Linda. It is like having a coffeecake in a cookie. This is Sherry's original reci-pe. "Santa's Helpers." Cookie: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar Add 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla Beat until smooth Add: 2 cup flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp salt Beat until smooth Topping: 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup sour cream 1/2 tsp cinnamon Stir until smooth and then add: 1 cup chopped walnuts Divide dough into quarters. Form each quarter into 6 balls. Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. With finger, make a wide deep depression in each cookie, clear to the edge. Fill with topping. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, (or in a convection oven, about 9 minutes) If you undercook these, the filling is so heavy that it will break through when you pick them up, so I make them crunchy. You could also not make the depression in them as deep and there would be more dough to suport the filling so that it did not break through. These are my family's favorite cookies, and we have never ever seen them anywhere else. (They were my secret weapon) Also, if I make a huge depression in them, I sometimes make half again as much filling so I don't run out. Makes 24 cookies

I ended up adding a little sour cream, and it definitely helped the dough. The first batch just came out, and while I think they look a little pale on top, they taste pretty darned good :) I will add vodka to myself later on ~

RR, I love my life too. It's busy and crazy and full and sometimes I'm tired, but I love it all. Even that snow out the kitchen window. Tell Maggie to eat an extra cookie for me, but don't tell her that I let Makayla have COFFEE in that Christmas mug by her elbow. Well, about a cup of milk with lots of sugar and a little bit of coffee, but still, it was coffee, and so very "grown up". Bud just wanted milk with his cookies, he's such a brother! Those cookies were SUPPOSED to be checkerboards, LOL, but they were a little.....um......misshapen. (grin) Cathy, we let Makayla pass out presents at the family Christmas party too, she even got to wear my elf hat that plays "We are Santa's Elves". The kids got $50 worth of fun out of that $5 hat! Pat, I like peanut butter on Ritz crackers, I'm not so sure about adding chocolate, I'll have to try that. Ann, playing with the kids is one of life's greatest pleasures for me, they don't expect me to act like a grownup! Annie Annie