Cook Up a New Tradition

I say this every year – ‘where does the time go?’  The time this year flew by like a month! Oh well, what can we do?  Personally, I am really trying to savor the time with family and friends. I remind myself how fortunate I am and plan to simply enjoy the season. This is the time of year for great smells: the Christmas tree and cookies baking.  Do you
have traditional cookies you make every year?

I remember my mother and I spending weekends before Christmas baking 15 to 20 different kinds of cookies. We’d have them all stacked up in Tupperware^® containers just waiting to be enjoyed by family, friends, the milk man and the mail man – as well as our veterinarians. It was our way of saying Merry Christmas and thank you!

I am a believer in traditions and the starting of new traditions. And of course food traditions are important to me.  My memories of going to my Grandmother’s house are vivid. The smells of the meal cooking, the Fannie May^® candy (we could eat as much as we wanted) and the beautiful table set with her best china (which I now possess and use on special occasions).  My sister and I duplicate her turkey dressing every year. It is perfect, not too wet – just moist enough – with a nice balance of sage and onions. 

As you think about your traditions and memories food evokes, don’t forget about adding a little soy! Soy flour to your baking, shelled edamame to your favorite vegetables, textured vegetable protein to your cookies and soy cream cheese and soy sour cream to your appetizers and dips. Keep it a secret until you hear the compliments. Please visit www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com for lots of recipes and ideas.  I have included one of my new favorite cookie recipes. Enjoy!

Wishing only the best to you and your family!

From My Kitchen to Yours.

Holiday Apricot Oatmeal Soy Cookies

Makes approx 4 ½ dozen cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup flour
1/2  cup soy flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2  teaspoon salt
1- 1/2 cups oatmeal
1- 1/2 cups Texturized Soy Protein
1 cup chopped dried apricots
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup coconut
3/4  slivered almonds, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 F.

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy.
2. Add next 7 ingredients and mix until just blended. 
3. Stir in remaining ingredients until blended.
4. Drop by rounded tablespoons, 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake 14-15 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Cool cookies on wire racks.