Dinosaurs for Santa

We’re seriously getting in the mood for Christmas this morning. Cookie time, taking a short break from the normal home improvement and decorating stuff since the gifts are wrapped and ornaments are hung. I’m taking a chance and using this recipe that I found in my Great American Cookie Cookbook. Here’s to hoping it’s a winner:

B&W Cutouts: 3/4 c. sugar; 1 c. butter; 3 oz. cream cheese; 1 egg; 1-1/2 teasp vanilla; 3 c. flour; 1 c. choco chips; 2 tablesp shortening. 375 for 7-10 minutes.

In addition to the heart, santa, and christmas tree shapes, I discovered some dinosaur cookie cutters at Sur La Table when I was in San Fran this fall – and 4-year olds happen to be big fans of dinosaurs. So, our twist on the Black and White cookies was to make a few in Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus, and T-Rex formations. Important note: Sur La Table had approximately 300 unique cookie cutters for the choosing; when I bought mine, they were 50% off, only costing 50-cents each if I recall – what a selection, and what a steal!

There’s not much to say in how it all went down, because it was pretty smooth, as most cut out cookie recipes are, except FYI: chocolate congeals and will never melt if water so much as touches it in the double-boiler melting process… a fact I will never forget. Here’s what the end products looked like:

They’re amazing. It’s the cream cheese. Merry Christmas, people!