Candy Cane Cookies

First up in the cookie cue: Candy Cane Cookies. This recipe originated with My Mom's Mom, and both My Mom and Auntie L still make these cookies for their families every year (sometimes twice). They're a tasty little treat and about as festive-looking as you can get.

The merry ingredients:
1/2 c. butter, softened (note: you can use margarine if you like, but it's real butter all the way in my life, baby)
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. confectioner's sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract (or up the vanilla if you don't have almond on hand)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. red food color
1/2 c. crushed peppermint candy
1/2 c. granulated sugar

The festive steps:
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, shortening, powdered sugar, egg, flavorings. Blend in flour and salt.

Divide dough in half; blend food color into half.



Make rolls on floured board, twist into candy canes.



Place on ungreased baking sheet. (I use parchment paper. It's terrific.)



Bake about 9 minutes or until set and very light brown. Mix candy and granulated sugar. Immediately sprinkle cookies with mixture (go overboard--plenty of it will fall off) and remove from sheet.