Janet, what a story and what a test of tact that must have been. Ann, I love shortbread. If anyone wants to start a fan club, I'm there. I didn't have time earlier to post it, but has anyone tried Regan Daley's Butter-Toffee Crunch Shortbread from "In the Sweet Kitchen"? It is the most incredibly rich brown sugar shortbread variation. I don't make it often; I have to be sure I have lots of recipients lined up first so I don't keep too much in the house. It's deadly to diets. BUTTER-TOFFEE CRUNCH SHORTBREAD Makes 50 3-inch fingers "Awfully impressive, and dead easy, this is just a good basic brown sugar Scottish shortbread recipe, enhanced with butterscotch and toffee bits. As with any shortbread, the quality and freshness of the butter and flour make all the difference in the flavour and texture. Use the best, and make sure they're fresh. This makes a large batch, perfect for giving, and the shortbread keeps very well in airtight tins. If desired, the recipe can be reduced by half." 2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup rice flour, or substitute cornstarch if rice flour is unavailable 1/2 teaspoon salt 1-1/2 cups (3/4 pound) fresh unsalted butter, at room temperature 6 tablespoons fruit sugar or superfine sugar 6 tablespoons tightly packed light brown sugar 3/4 cup miniature butterscotch chips 2/3 cups English toffee pieces for baking such as Skor Bits (available in the baking sections of most supermarkets) Additional unsalted butter for greasing pan Preheat the oven to 325° F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch metal baking pan. Line the bottom and up the two long sides with a piece of parchment paper. Leave about a 1-inch overhang over the sides to make removing the cooled shortbread easier. Sift the all-purpose and rice flour together with the salt and set aside. In the bowl of an electric or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon, beat the butter until very smooth. Gradually add the sugars and cream the mixture until it is very light and fluffy. If using a mixer, transfer the creamed butter-sugar mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add the flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time, fully incorporating each addition before adding the next. Use your fingers to knead the final portion of dry ingredients into the dough, keeping your palms off the dough as much as possible, so the warmth doesn't turn the butter oily. When the last of the flour is fully blended, add the butterscotch and toffee bits and knead them into the dough until they are evenly distributed. I should warn you at this point, that this dough now smells better than any cookie dough you have ever experienced. Restrain yourself; you will do yourself no favors devouring the entire mess at this point, and the baking doesn't take that long. Press the dough firmly into the prepared pan and use the back of a metal spoon to smooth the surface. Prick the dough all over with a fork and set the pan in the center of the oven. Bake the shortbread for about 45 minutes, then prick the dough again to release any trapped air. Return the pan to the oven for another 15 to 30 minutes, or until the edges are light golden brown, and the center feels just firm to the touch. The shortbread will set to a very firm biscuit as it cooks, so it must be cut while it is still warm. Cool the pan on a wire rack for 7 to 8 minutes, then run a sharp paring knife around the outside of the dough to loosen the edges. Make two long cuts in the shortbread, dividing it evenly into three rectangles, each cut beginning and ending at a short side of the pan. Cutting from long side to long side, cut the rectangles into about ¾-inch wide fingers, wiping the knife on a clean towel between each cut, as it gets sticky and can pull and tear the cooling shortbread. Leave the fingers to cool completely in the pan, then re-cut and transfer them to airtight tins. This shortbread can be frozen before or after it is baked. Freeze the dough pressed into the prepared pan, well wrapped with plastic and aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, without disturbing the wrapping, and bake directly from the refrigerator. The baking time may have to be increased by a few minutes to compensate for the chilled dough. Freeze the cooled fingers in airtight bags or containers, layering between sheets of waxed or parchment paper and wrapping the whole tin or container with aluminum foil. Thaw the entire package, without removing the wrapping, at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours. I haven't previously frozen the dough, but I do intend to do that this year. Very handy for the holidays. Carol

I always make these at Christmas. I make the vanilla and push a chocolate mini-kiss into each, then I make the chocolate and push an almond slice into each. I use the food processor method, make the vanillas first. Then I have a flat basket that has 4 divisions in it, I fill the two opposite corners with the white cookies and the other with the dark cookies, it's really pretty. Melting Moment Cookies 1 cup unsifted flour 3/4 cup butter 1/2 cup cornstarch 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 confectioners sugar In bowl stir together first 3 ingredients. In large bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat butter until smooth. Beat in flour mixture and vanilla until well blended. Refrigerate 1 hour. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet; flatten with lightly floured fork. Bake in 375° F oven 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Makes about 3 dozen cookies. Food Processor Method: In bowl of food processor fitted with metal blade, stir together flour, corn starch and confectioners sugar. Cut cold butter into 1-inch chunks. Add to flour mixture. Add vanilla. Process 15 seconds or until well blended and mixture forms a ball around blade. Continue as in basic recipe. Chocolate Melting Moments: Follow basic recipe. Sift 1/4 cup cocoa and 1/4 tsp. salt with dry ingredients. If desired, place a nut on top of each cookie before baking. (from C&H confect. sugar box)

I always thought sugar cookies were pretty tasteless until I tried this recipe from Taste of Home: 24 Servings Prep: 15 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch Ingredients * 1 cup butter, softened * 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened * 1 cup sugar * 1 egg yolk * 1/2 teaspoon Spice Islandî Pure Vanilla Extract * 1/4 teaspoon almond extract * 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1/4 teaspoon baking soda * Tinted frosting or colored sugar Directions * In a bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar. Beat in egg yolk * and extracts. Combine the flour, salt and baking soda; gradually * add to creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until * easy to handle. * On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. * Cut with a 2-1/2-in. cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place 1 in. * apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375ð for 8-10 minutes * or until edges begin to brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing * from pans to wire racks. Decorate as desired. Yield: 4 dozen. They are tender in the center and melt in your mouth!

Oh wow...there is alot missing from the Death cookies, isn't there! I never noticed before and I've made this recipe countless times. I use the 12 oz bag of chocolate chips. I go big on everything! ;) Pat here is the Lemon Pistachio Cookie recipe from Mary. LEMON PISTACHIO COOKIES (Mary) 2 Cups flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 3/4 Cup butter or margarine, softened 3/4 Cup plus 3 Tbs. sugar, divided 1 Large egg 1 Tbs. lemon zest, grated 1 Tbs. lemon juice 1/3 Cup pistachio nuts, finely chopped In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Cream butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, mixing until just combined. Add lemon zest and juice. Blend in dry ingredients, mix to thoroughly combine. Wrap dough in plastic and chill for 1 hour. Combine pistachio nuts and remaining sugar in a small bowl. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in pistachio-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press cookies down with a small glass to flatten slightly. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until golden. Transfer to racks to cool. NOTES: I add the zest from a entire lemon. And I add about 2 T. fresh lemon juice. I worked and worked on a lemon cookie recipe and it took me about a year before it dawned on me to add cream cheese which made the cookies just perfect. I have to admit they are the best lemon cookies I've ever eaten but of course they are to my taste and puckery lemon. Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies (My recipe) 1 c. butter 1-3 oz package of Cream Cheese 1 c. sugar 1 egg 1 TBL fresh lemon juice (you can add a bit more juice I DO!) Grated lemon Peel (I grate the entire lemon) 2 1/2 c. flour 1 tsp baking powder Lemon Glaze Juice of 1 lemon Grated Lemon Peel (I grate the entire lemon) Powdered sugar Cookies: Cream butter and cream cheese. Add sugar, egg, lemon juice and rind. Add flour and baking soda and blend into cream cheese mixture. Chill dough. Use cookie press, drop and crisscross with fork or press flat or you can roll out and use a cookie cutter. Cool cookies before glazing. Glaze: Mix lemon juice and rind and add powdered sugar until you have a nice glazing consistency. You can grate more rind and sprinkle on top too. Michelle