Cookie Day 2008

Last year I blogged about Cookie Day. It's a big workday at Bluff Spring Fen. The occasion is the opportunity to get rid of the end of all of your Christmas cookies- but it's really an excuse to get a very large group of volunteers together to do some major brush and tree clearing. This year, I left my camera at home, but I did get some great before and after pictures.

Just for grins, we'll start with the picture taken just before last year's Cookie Day. We kept working in the same area- so this year's "before" picture is last year's "after" picture.

December 29, 2008- 1 week before the workday

Jan 6, 1 day after the workday. We are doing final cleanup and spreading a whole bunch of prairie seeds here. The snow endured until Cookie Day and disappeared in about 24 hours.

Some years ago, I actually had some Jan Hagels make it from Christmas until Cookie Day. They were a big hit. The next year, it was pointed out (repeatedly) that I had NOT brought them. Now I have to make a batch every year just for Cookie Day (which alsays seems to me like it's defeating part of the purpose. But I digress). Lemuel will vouch for their popularity.

Jan Hagels are actually easy to make

Ingredients:
1 c butter (2 sticks)
1 c sugar
1 egg, separated
1 tsp almond extract
2 c all purpose flour
1/2 c sliced almonds
1 tblsp sugar mixed with 1/4 tsp cinnamon


1. Cream butter and sugar. Stir in egg yolk and almond extract.


2. Stir in flour.


3. Turn dough into a 15 x 10 x 1 cookie sheet. Spread evenly to the edges with a spatula.


4. Beat egg white until foamy. Use a pastry brush to spread evenly across suface of dough. Scatter the sliced almonds evenly across dough.


5. Sprinkle sugar cinnamon mixture over dough. Bake 20 minutes (or until golden brown) at 350°. Cool cookies 10 minutes in pan. Cut into 8 lengthwise strips and make 12 diagonal cuts.

Hungry yet?