Snickerdoodle Cookies

1 - 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening, soft (we use butter flavored Crisco)
2 eggs
2 3/4 c flour
2 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix 1 and 1/2 cups sugar, shortening and eggs**. Stir in flour, Cream of Tartar and baking soda. Chill dough about one hour.

Mix together 2 tsp cinnamon and 2 Tbsp sugar into a small bowl.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls, about the size of a walnut. Then roll into the sugar and cinnamon mixture and place on cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

** Optional - we like to add 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp maple extract to egg mixture.

Also, you make substitute 2 tsp of baking powder for the Cream of Tartar and baking soda required for this recipe.

Sugar Cookies

This recipe comes from the family cookbook of Julie Lugo Cerra. We made them for teacher appreciation day at Hannah's preschool and were very well received!

Cream together:

1/2 c butter or shortening
1/2 c other shortening (oil or solid)
1/2 tsp salt
1 c sugar
1 egg

Add:

2 1/2 c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp lemon or almond extract

After well mixed, drop by the teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheets. Dip the bottom of a glass in granulated sugar, press cookie, dip in sugar again and repeat for each cookie.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

I asked someone for this recipe years ago and make it all the time when strawberries are in season. I just saw a friend who I haven't seen in years and Danielle remembers me making it for her baby shower.

Toss together in a bowl:
2 bunches of fresh spinach, washed, dried and torn
1 pint strawberries, washed, dried and sliced

For dressing whisk together:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 Tbsp poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp onion flakes
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp Paprika

Add dressing to taste and toss together