Keebler Elf Sunday

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... that song has been going through my head a LOT the past few weeks!! (Whether I am doing something I enjoy, or feeling the frantic-hectic pace that this time of year brings!!) Yesterday we had our yearly Weixler Family Keebler Elf Sunday. We've been doing this for YEARS!!

This year, however, we went from making dough (which Amelia and I did in the morning before church - 10 batches of it!), to having all the neighbor gifts DELIVERED in less than 12 hours!! Sheesh!! It was GREAT having all the kids home and helping, though ... lots of talking and laughing (DESPITE how Amelia looks in this picture, they WERE having a great time! Somehow my kids find it funny to pull DORKY faces - hence, Devan's over-the-top look - can't hardly get them to be "normal" anymore!)!

And here is what they look like all finished!! Since I was making 54 tags, I decided to take the "easy" way out and use my Cricut (you can't see in the photo, but I embossed the white layer with polka dots ... they turned out cute and didn't take long at ALL!)!!

And I tradition I now have on my blog every year is sharing this most DELICIOUS cookie recipe with you!!

Lucky Pennies

2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt
3/4 C. (1½ sticks unsalted butter, softened)
1 C. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 C. molasses
1 large egg
granulated sugar (for coating cookies)

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt. In a separate large bowl, use a wooden spoon to cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and egg and mix until well blended. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until combined. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 1 to 2 hours or until firm enough to roll into balls.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Use a teaspoon to scoop the dough from the bowl and roll the cookies into about 1"-in-diameter balls. Roll the balls in a shallow bowl of granulated sugar. Place the balls on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between the cookies. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes or until the cookies are crinkled and set.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat until all the dough is used. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month and at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Makes about 8 dozen cookies.

Wishing you all the MERRIEST of HOLIDAYS ...

Paper: Gumball Green, Whisper White
Accessories: Cricut Very Merry Tags Cartridge, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon