Spools for Tea

Even though it has been hot here on the prairie

The front porch always seems to be cool

It's tree shaded

And faces East

There always seems to be a breeze as well

For a porch I like wicker

And tables to hold tea things

A tray with a plate of Lemon Spool cookies

And two glasses of tea

(iceless because our icemaker was broken . . .

but the tea was cold . . . for it was well chilled in the fridge)

The cookies are fun to make

And I suppose one could do other "flavors"

Although my recipe called for lemon

A glass of lemony cold tea and a plate of lemon cookies

However, two seem to feel that they're forgotten

They're inside

And the cookies are outside!

The cookies are fun to make and I love the design the spool creates in the dough!

Almost like a flower.

LEMON SPOOL COOKIES

2 1/2 c. flour

1 t. salt

1/2 t. baking powder

1 c. sugar

3/4 c. vegetable shortening

2 medium eggs

1 T. grated lemon rind

1 T. lemon juice

1/2 t. lemon extract

4 drops lemon food color

For the design, use a large empty plastic spool from thread.    Remove the paper from the ends.

Mix flour, salt and baking powder.    Set aside.    Beat sugar and shortening in a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy.    Beat in eggs, lemon rind and juice, lemon extract and food color.   On low speed, gradually beat in flour mixture.    Chill dough 1 hour.

Heat oven to 400.    Make colored sugar by stirring together the sugar and yellow food color until uniform in a small bowl.    Form dough into small balls the size of a walnut.    Roll in colored sugar.   Place about 2 inches apart on silicone or parchment covered baking sheet.    Press flat with the bottom of a glass.    Cookies should be about 1/4 inch thick.    Press spool about half way into each cookie center to make design.    Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until light golden color.    Cool or wire racks.    Store the extra colored sugar for your next batch of lemon cookies.   (You sometimes can find yellow sugar in the baking aisle so you don’t have to make your own!)

It's Tuesday and I'm joining Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday and Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday.