There is never a wrong time of year to make cookies! Really, they are very simple to make and a fun activity with your family. Also, there is an immediate reward for your hard work -- a great taste that is totally different from store-bought cookies.

My mom was a great cookie maker, and I learned a lot from her. The biggest hint was to first mix together your sugars (brown sugar and white sugar), then add the butter or shortening and cream this mixture well. Some electric mixers even have a setting that indicates "cream butter and sugar." Next comes the liquids -- egg, milk, vanilla -- and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine your dry ingredients, such as flour, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tarter and salt. Then you can stir in these ingredients into the creamy mixture. (Not all recipes will have all of these ingredients, but you get the idea.) Remember not to over-stir. The final step is to add any chips, candies, fruits or nuts, stirring in these ingredients with a large wooden spoon, unless your recipe indicates using the mixer. I have found this order of mixing works for nearly every baking recipe. 

It's difficult to determine my favorite cookie -- I love them all! Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, molasses, chocolate candies, peanut butter, and even no bake. Usually a scoop is used to place the  cookies on the baking tray, and parchment paper saves a lot of clean-up. When in a hurry, bar cookies are a good choice. Probably my very favorite cookie, and my family's, is an iced sugar cookie made at Christmas. Can't wait for them!