Merry Christmas

The card is from Katherine R. Norwood and it was mailed to Henry T. and Gladys Norwood and their son Henry E. Norwood who was nicknamed "Sonny."  Katherine used the spelling "Kathryn" at different times. She was an Army nurse stationed overseas.

Christmas Cookies

 Frosty Anise Rosettes

This is a classic cookie in my family. My mother has made these every year at Christmas as far as I can remember.
These days she mostly lets her daughters and granddaughters make the rest of the cookies but she still makes a batch of these.

They are one of my favorites. The recipe is in the book Pillsbury's Best Butter Cookie Cookbook 

Vol. 2.  I can not find a year of publication but it is from the 1950s.

Yum!  You'll love them too! Here is the recipe.

Sift together:

• 3 cups flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream:

• 1/4 cup butter, gradually add
• 1/2 cup sugar, creaming well

Add:

• 3 unbeaten eggs, beat until well blended.

Stir in:

• 2 tablespoons anise seed
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind and
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice. Add
• 1 teaspoon anise extract, if desired.

Add gradually:

• 2 cups of the dry ingredients, beating well after each addition. Stir in remaining dry ingredients with a spoon. 

Knead on floured surface for 1 minute until well blended and smooth.

Divide dough into 8 equal parts. Roll each into a strip 1/2 inch thick and 18 inches long, then cut into five pieces.

Cut slits half way through each piece along one side at 1/2 inch intervals, then seal the ends together to form a circle. Place on greased baking sheet.

Bake in hot oven, 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Cookies do not brown. Cool. Dip the tops of cookies into sugar glaze, allowing glaze to drip down sides.

Sugar glaze is 3 cups confectioners' sugar and 1/3 cup hot milk. Thin with more hot milk a teaspoon at a time, if necessary.

Don't forget to add some decorations!

Blue Christmas Tree

Here is my grandfather Henry T. Norwood decorating the Christmas tree.

It looks like he wasn't aware he was going to be photographed. I was told he loved to decorate the Christmas tree with blue lights. He also spent a lot of time getting the tinsel placed perfectly. 

This picture of their tree was colorized by my father. I found this in his photograph album and under this photo he wrote the year 1948.