New additions for me this year: OKEECHOBEE BOBBERS Moist coconut and a touch of orange add tropical flavors to these rich butter cookies. 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup butter, softened (no substitutes!) 3 large eggs 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1-1/2 tsp. orange extract 1 tsp. vanilla extract 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup flaked coconut 1 Tblsp. finely grated orange zest Heat oven to 350° F. Combine all ingredients except flour and coconut in large mixer bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (2 to 3 minutes). Stir in flour and coconut by hand until well mixed (2 to 3 minutes). Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Makes 5 dozen cookies. Recipe courtesy of Land O Lakes®. SPICY CARDAMOM CRISPS These Scandinavian spice cookies are great to have with a fresh brewed cup of coffee. 1-1/3 cups sugar 1 cup butter, softened 1 egg 2 Tblsp. dark corn syrup 1 Tblsp. water 1 tsp. vanilla 3 cups all-purpose flour 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda 3 tsp. ground cardamom 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. allspice 1/4 tsp. ground cloves Sliced almonds Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg, corn syrup, water and vanilla; beat until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add all remaining ingredients except almonds. Beat until well mixed. Divide dough into thirds. Shape each third into 1/2-inch thick squares. Wrap each square in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm (1 to 2 hours). Heat oven to 375° F. Roll out dough, one-third at a time, on lightly floured surface (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 12x10-inch rectangle. Cut into 2-inch squares using pastry cutter or sharp knife; cut squares diagonally in half to form triangles. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Lightly press almonds into center of each cookie. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned and cookies are set. Yield: 7-1/2 dozen cookies. © 1997 Land O'Lakes, Inc.

I always make Spritz, a little sugar cookie you roll into balls and press down with a glass bottom dipped in sugar and something we always called "Wallies" - a soft fruit and nut filled cookie (no citron or weird bits). Soft Fruit Cookies 1 cup butter 1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar 2 beaten eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 2 and 1/2 cups flour (reserve the 1/2 cup for dredging the fruit) 1 cup pecans - rough chop 1 cup walnuts - rough chop 1 cup filberts - rough chop 1 pound of dates - cut fine 1/2 pound candied cherries - cut into smaller chunks 1/2 pound green & yellow candied pineapple - cut in smaller chunks (the candied fruit seemed kind of pricey this year - but I've often bought two of the 8 oz. packages of the cherry/pineapple mix and chopped down the pieces using the extra 1/2 cup flour to keep the sticky fruit from clumping.) Mix all together in your largest electric mixer bowl. Drop by rounded teaspoon. Bake at 350 for 10-13 minutes. Done when slightly brown at edges. Approx. 125 cookies. None of my recipe copies call for greasing the cookie sheet, but I've always been a fan of parchment paper.

Almond horns, made with almond paste. They are sooo delicious, I only make them once a year because we always manage to eat them up within a day or two. 1 box Almond Paste, grated (I use Odense, I think it's 7 ounces) 3/4 cup confectionary sugar 1 large egg (room temperature), separated 1 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour 1 cup thinly sliced almonds, slightly crushed 4 oz bittersweet chocolate DIRECTIONS Line cookie sheet with parchment or foil. In a food processor or with a mixer combine Almond Paste and sugar. Mix until the texture of fine crumbs. Add egg white and flour, reserving yolk. Mix until dough becomes a smooth paste, it will be slightly sticky. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With floured hands roll dough into a 12 inch log. Divide into 12 equal pieces and roll into balls. Roll balls between palms into 3 inch logs, slightly tapered at ends. Spread almonds on a plate. Beat reserved egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of water. Dampen log with beaten yolk. Roll each log in almonds until coated, bending into crescents. Place crescents 2 inches apart on cookie sheet and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until light golden in color. Cool sheet on wire rack for 5 minutes, and loosen crescents with a spatula. Slide parchment off of sheet and back onto wire rack to finish cooling cookies. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Dip cookie ends into melted chocolate. Place back on parchment until chocolate is dry. Layer 'Almond Horns' between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container.

Everyone! Harry sends his heartfelt thanks for all the good wishes. He's back to "normal" now and just waiting for the next feast. Ole Joyful - I was worried for him. Chocolate is not good for dogs; I understand it, and raisins, builds up toxins in their liver. There were just a few of the treats that had chocolate chips or drizzle, and he's a big active boy, but I'm sure he's had his limit for 2015 and 2016. Sam wasn't' left out in the cold, LOL. But he was locked in the mudroom so he couldn't "share" in the bounty. He's still Harry the Perfect. It doesn't mean he doesn't get creative and mischievous now and again, he just does it perfectly! LOL Sam the Not often follows his lead. Phoggie - I don't know if pumpkin would help our tummies or not. It probably wouldn't hurt to try it. I don't know the science of research on pumpkin, but the vet once recommended it so I keep a few cans on hand in case either dog seems to have an ache. Socks - Harry the Perfect has never once in his 12 years, 11 months, and 2 weeks (give or take a few days!) had a boo-boo in the house. Not even when he was a baby puppy. Of course, had the cookie feast resulted in an accident, I would have understood. I would not like it; but I would understand. Watchme - Sam is the world expert on "stinky." He has two favorite treats when he's out on the prairie for a hunt. Mice, and Moose Poop. He ranges so far out that Wes can only watch and wonder what he's into now. Mice are easy; both boys do the coyote jump, up high, down on the front paws, grab the mouse, toss it in the air, jump up, catch it, and swallow it whole. Disgusting. But coyotes will be coyotes. Harry (the Perfect) does not bother any type of poo. Neither does Sam - except for moose poo. Oh Gracious. It's nasty (like huge, huge rabbit droppings) and he has major, loud, nasty, gas for days and days after he gets into some. Wes is trying to break him of this habit, but once Sam goes after a moose trail he's so far out there that Wes can't see him. We don't hunt moose; Wes tries to avoid them, but Sam is bound and determined to "retrieve" one. Little Goofus. Lukkiirish and Jo Mooney - Harry and Sam are both Deutsch Drahthaars; a German breed of versatile hunters. They hunt, retrieve, track, point, anything from a quail to a bear. My boys hunt upland birds, waterfowl, and small game. I've told Wes they are not allowed anywhere near even the scent of bear or pig. That's for other people and their dogs - not mine! They are as serious and dedicated in the field as they are silly and uncontrolled in the house. Upland bird hunting...Sam on right. Harry is actually much bigger, but he doesn't look it here. Sam in the duck boat wearing his floatie vest.