Lemon Cookies

Click Here to Print: Lemon Cookies

“He takes a small yummy and lemony bite, says thank you and please without ever a fight.”

As if we haven’t had enough sweets lately.  I mean, it was only yesterday that I was finally given permission to toss the last of the Christmas cookies.

Nevertheless, Ozzy wanted to make cookies and I did just buy lemon extract with a coupon and these cookies in mind.

Lemon cookies from the dinosaur book, it is!

The book calls them “Fossilized Lemon Tracks” and suggests pressing “tracks” into them.

So we got out a variety of tools to make tracks in the cookies.

This “track” was from the end of the tongs.

This was from the handle of the measuring cup.

This one was from the side of the ravioli cutter.

And this one was from the spoon handle.

Super cute, huh?!?!  We were really excited about them.  Buuuuuuut, as you can see from the first picture in this post, they totally flattened out in the oven.  Bummer.

Oh well.  As I was typing this post, my hubs said, “These cookies are good!”  This made me smile.  (Especially because he didn’t know this is what I was doing on the computer.)

So, despite my disappointment about the tracks not working out, we will be making them again!  They’re tasty!

Ingredients:

• 1 c softened butter
• 1 ½ c sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ t lemon extract
• 1 t vanilla extract
• ½ t salt
• 1 t baking soda
• 2 ¾ c flour
• ¼ – ½ c sugar for rolling

Instructions:

1. Stir together butter and sugar.
2. Add each ingredient in order (except the sugar for rolling), stirring after each addition.
3. Roll the dough into small balls.
4. Roll each ball in the extra sugar, coating it completely.
5. Place them on a cookie sheet with space between them and bake at 375° for 7-10 minutes.

Here are some ideas to get your “kid cook” involved with this recipe:

• Have her do the mixing!
• Let her help roll the cookie dough into balls and then around in the sugar.

We’re getting better about working with dough that has raw egg in it. He understands now that he shouldn’t wipe his doughy hands on his shirt!

This recipe, along with Cinnama-Saurus Rex Cookies, are found in the book: How Do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies? By Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

Cinnama-Saurus Rex Cookies

Click Here to Print: Cinnama-Saurus Rex Cookies

What little boy doesn’t love dinosaurs and cookies?!

My friend has been giving Ozzy books since before he was born.  She’s always so thoughtful about the ones she chooses.  Knowing that Ozzy and I love to cook together, she gave us this scratch-and-sniff dinosaur cookie book!

I’ve known this friend since sixth grade.  Now, she teaches sixth grade in addition to following her passion of becoming a children’s book author.  Her first book will be published soon.  It’s called “Bad Day, Go Away” and her name is Sarah Canter.  You should follow her on Twitter.  Just sayin’.

Anyway, the boys and I read this after school recently and as we finished it, Ozzy said he wanted to make cookies. (Duh!) So we did. 🙂

Danny watched from his chair across the kitchen and Ozzy did the stirring up on the counter.

…Oh, the next day the book was still on the counter and Josh was wondering about this picture…

Haha… anyone have an explanation?

Ingredients:

• 1 c butter, softened
• 1 c sugar
• 1 c packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1 T honey
• 1 t salt
• 1 t baking soda
• 1 T cinnamon
• ¼ t ground nutmeg
• ¼ t pumpkin pie spice
• 2 c flour
• 3 c oats

Instructions:

1. Stir the butter and sugars together.
2. Add each ingredient in order, mixing well each time.
3. Roll the dough into small balls and flatten them a little bit.
4. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake for 9-12 minutes at 375° F.
5. Let them cool 2 minutes before removing with a spatula.
6. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Here are some ideas to get your “kid cook” involved with this recipe:

• Give him a spatula and have him do the mixin’!
• Use smaller than necessary measuring spoons and cups so that he can help count to a higher number as you add ingredients.  For example, use a ¼ t measuring spoon and count to 12 to add 1 T cinnamon.

This recipe is found in the book: How Do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies? By Jane Yolen & Mark Teague.  The book calls for 1/4 t ground cloves, but I didn’t have any so I used pumpkin pie spice and they were delicious!