Cherry Almond Jello Cookies

Okay, random thought but on second viewing perhaps I shouldn't have quite placed those cookies in that fashion on the plate. Looks a bit like I left two burlesque pasties for Santa, oopies. Heh.

So how late is this recap, yeah? Sadly I thought I had prepped a few more blog posts to go up around the holidays (when I was traveling all over this blessed little state). Thought. Apparently not. And then add my post-holiday chaos of trying to catch up on other parts of my life, and there you go. Just now posting my Santa cookies. Only a few weeks late isn't bad, right??

Now, in truth: I started this whole blog thing to keep myself busy. I love to bake/cook, I love to play with my camera, and I needed a low-budget yet highly-interesting hobby while I waited for us to finally buy a house and get a move on with this thing called life. So was born my blog.

Only: these days I have quite a bit on my plate. Work's been more hectic for the past several months, so I've been working long hours. I have a house to renovate, and Hubs and I are expecting our first child in the early summer, so there's plenty to plan around that as well :)

I kept up the good fight through most of the excitement of the past few months, posting loyally every other day, but the last couple of weeks have really walloped me. I couldn't even get the Daring Bakers Challenge finished. I have thought about just taking a hiatus from the blogging, or perhaps shutting the blog down altogether, but in truth? I've grown to love my little "hobby", and it's one of the things that has kept me sane for the past year and a half.

So I made a pact with myself, or actually a New Years Resolution: the blog stays, even if it is extra work. Only the posts might start coming every 3 days instead of every other day as I've kept up for the past year. A few posts a week are better than nothing, I figure. And I get to keep up with you lovely darlings :)

So there you go! Now on to the important part of this post, the cookies: the dough was super-simple, and very very cherry. My favorite, mmmm. I tried to make this work with my new cookie press, but had a bit of an issue - I just couldn't get it to press through, even after adding some water. So hrmph, but still they rolled out just fine. And tasted good, and that's all that matters really, in the end :)

Cherry Almond Jello Cookies

(adapted from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

3 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. butter, at room temperature
1 c. granulated sugar
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cherry jello
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract

Preheat oven to 400 F. Whisk together flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Cream butter, sugar and gelatin. Add egg and almond extract. Beat well. Gradually add flour mixture. Blend until smooth.

If using a cookie press: use dough immediately. Press shapes onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment, and make for 7-10 minutes (until just slightly beginning to brown).

If rolling cookies: refrigerate dough until firm, about 2 hours. Roll into balls and press with bottom of glass with sugar on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 7-10 minutes (until just slightly beginning to brown).