St. Nicholas Day-- December 6 (PartB)

One Nicholas story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value — the larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home, providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

I like this part because my wife's German heritage includes sweet tasting goodies and small gifts today!

Here's my gift for you --
Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

(I use the shape of stockings and coins to honor Nicholas today!)

Ingredients:

½ cup           butter / margarine

1 cup          sugar

1           egg

1 tsp           vanilla

2-2/3 cups           flour

1 tsp           baking powder

½ tsp            soda

½ tsp           salt

¼ tsp            nutmeg

½ cup           sour cream

Recipe:

Heat oven to 425 degrees.

Mix butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.

Blend dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.

Roll ¼” thick on well-floured surface.

Use cookie cutters or glass lip (less than 3”).

Place cookies on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes (less is better!)

Eat with cold, cold milk while they are soft and HOT!