Maryanne's sugar cookies

I had to bring a dessert to a church function the other night, and John had mentioned he had been craving my sugar cookies, so I made these. I tried to find some cute fall sprinkles to go with the season, maybe some leaves or something, but I was too late. The stores are gearing up for Christmas, and the fall stuff is all but gone. The best I could come up with was frosting them orange then sprinkling them with red and yellow sugar. Next year I will make sure to get my sprinkles early!

When I was little, there was a lady in my neighborhood named Maryanne. She was my mom's friend, and from what I remember an over-all exemplary person. A good friend, mother, and wife. She was multi-talented, caring, and loved by everyone who knew her. My memories of her are fuzzy, I remember playing with her kids, and I think she watched me a couple times for my mother. She was a great cook, and shared with my mom her recipe for her fabulous sugar cookies.

Maryanne got pretty sick, and the doctors didn't know what was wrong with her, then just like that, she was gone. Cancer. I don't know what kind. She left behind 5 kids, three boys and a set of twin two year old girls. Totally heartbreaking. I probably think of her every time I make these cookies. Her cookies.

Over the years, these cookies have served me well. They are a favorite of moms everywhere. I can't tell you how many times I have taken a plate of cookies over to a family only to have the mom confess to me later that she ate them all and didn't share them with anybody. The first time this happened, I was lucky enough to be a witness. I had explained to a friend how my plans for that day were to make sugar cookies and she gave me a funny look, and then said "Just go buy some cookies from the store. Don't waste your time."

"But you don't understand," I said, "these cookies are the best."

"Well, now I'm curious." She replied, "I normally don't like sugar cookies, but you're gonna have to bring me some, so I can try them."

At that point we had a standard Thursday night date night to watch Friends and CSI together after her kids had gone to bed. Her husband is a cop and at that time was working evenings. I brought over four cookies. One for every member of her family. She tried the first one, and agreed they were the best. She loved it. About every 15 minutes, she would come up with a new reason to eat an additional cookie. "My kids don't need to eat these. I'll have two and save two for my husband." "He doesn't need to know there were four. I'll just save him one." "He doesn't even need to know they were here." Of course all the while I am laughing at her struggling with not eating four cookies, and her justifications.

They take a little more effort than your standard roll of refrigerated dough, but your efforts will be rewarded.

Maryanne's Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

4 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp soda

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients, then add. Refrigerate for at least an hour- dough is very gooey, and it is easier to handle when refrigerated. (I usually make up the dough the night before, then refrigerate over night, but just an hour or two of refrigeration works well also) Roll out thick (about 1/2" ) on floured surface. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Simpler cookie cutters work best. My standard favorite is a circle, then I decorate according to the season. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 cube butter

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese

1 pkg (1 lb) powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Food coloring (if desired)

Cream together butter and cream cheese. Blend in powdered sugar and vanilla. Add food coloring if desired.