Crazy Christmas Catch-Up (and Cookies!)

I have an embarrassing number of e-mails wondering whether I have dropped off the face of blogging forever. Eeeep.
.
No, I have not.
People, Thank-You. But I am just not that interesting, I don't have anything amazing or yummy to report or any breath-taking photos I just have to share.


Life has somehow charged into overdrive and I'm attempting to keep up. Or catch up. The rest of my blogger-friends seem to be surviving beautifully, but somehow I'm a bit swamped. After Christmas it'll be WAY less crazy in this household and I'll be back to blogging as much as ever. Not to fear; I enjoy cooking vegan, creating messes, inventing interesting recipes and eating tasty food FAR too much NOT to keep talking (or blogging) about it.

But, for those who asked - here's what the Fairly Odd Tofu Family has been doing the last few weeks...

¤ Dressing up pretty for School Christmas Concerts, Holiday Banquets, Choir Productions and other fun and festive Christmas-type events.

















¤ Playing the Role of VERY PROUD MOM for all my kids' events.


















¤ Hanging out with loved ones. (My oldest 'Sprout' and her Auntie - aren't they beautiful?)

















¤ Hanging out with crazy friends.

















¤ Choosing and cutting the "perfect" tree. (The tiny one above was for my oldest daughter's dorm room).


















¤ Playing in the snow.



















¤ And baking Christmas cookies!!















YES! I have a recipe, and it's actually a timely, and useful one!!
Here's my all-purpose basic sugar-cookie recipe. It's simple vegan-ized Betty Crocker or someone, more of a short-bread texture than some Christmas Cookies. I didn't include a frosting recipe because that part is open to your preference and interpretation....

Christmas Sugar Cookies for Decorating

1 cup (2 sticks) vegan margarine (I use Nucoa because it's cheap, but Willow Run is good too)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
"Egg-replacer": 1 Tbsp. tofu blended with 1 Tbsp. soymilk and 1 tsp. flax seeds

OR if you don't like the "specks" in the cookies use commercial egg-replacer powder mixed with water equiv. to 2 eggs.

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 - 3 drops anise, lemon or rum extract

3 1/2 cups sifted flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tartar

1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 400°.

Cream margarine and sugar until fluffy.

Add egg-replacer, vanilla, and extract.

Beat well. Sift together dry ingredients.

Add slowly to wet mixture. Form into ball of dough.

You may need to add a tiny bit more flour or water to get the perfect consistency for rolling (I do have to "play with it" a little bit here) .

Chill for 1/2 hour.

Have extra flour on hand to sprinkle on the rolling pin and on your hands.

Roll out on very lightly floured board, a little over 1/8 inch thick.

Cut rolled dough into fun shapes.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 8 minutes at 400° or until firm and barely starting to brown.

Cool on wire racks and decorate with glaze, frosting and/or sprinkles...

.

Hope you're all getting ready for Holidays in a safe, sane and FUN manner.