Rainy Card

Spent the last three days working on this year's Christmas card. It is nearing completion and then to the printers. Made a few changes to my approach to the card and it seems to have worked out well.

Will finish it up next week and then try to get it to the print shop before the week ends. Got to see if I can purchased those Santa Claus stamps I saw in my news feed. so I posted a few pencil teasers here are some follow up ink teasers.

Here is a recipe for some SAnta Claus cookies as St. Nicklas Day approaches. 

Speculaas Holiday Cookies

Makes 60

Ingredients

• 1 Cup unsalted butter; softened
• 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 Cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Teaspoons baking soda
• 2 Teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 Teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 Teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 Teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 Teaspoon ground anise seed
• 1/8 Teaspoon salt
• 1/2 Cup sliced almonds

Directions

In a large mixer bowl combine butter and vanilla with both sugars and cream until light and fluffy.
Add beaten eggs and continue mixing. Sift the flour and all remaining dry ingredients together and beat into the butter mixture.
Mix in the sliced almonds by hand.
Divide the dough into four equal portions, cover and chill overnight.
Pre-heat oven to 350ºF.
Roll the dough out into 1/4-inch thick portions and cut with cookie cutters or shape with a special Speculaas mold or other cookie mold or stamp.
Bake for 10-15 minutes and store in an airtight container.