Christmas Cookies 2006 – Pt. 2: Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies, Chocolate Cordials, Potica Nut Bread, and More!

Filling

• In a food processor, chop and blend walnuts, sugar, honey, cinnamon, 1 whole egg, and 3 tbsp of cream. Pulse until the mixture is the consistency of a chunky paste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter an 11×9-inch jellyroll pan. Flour table surface and roll out 1 sheet of puff pastry dough to form a 16 x 12-inch rectangle. Spread half of filling over dough, leaving 1-inch border all around. Beginning at the narrow end, roll up pastry like a jellyroll, tightly but gently, tucking in the sides as you roll. Place dough in prepared pan. Repeat with second sheet of dough and filling.
• Mix egg yolk with the remaining tablespoon of cream and brush over the rolls. Bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly on wire rack. Wrap tightly and freeze or refrigerate until ready to use. Makes 2 loaves. Enjoy!

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a mixer, blend butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, flour, lemon rind and almond extract and mix gently just until combined into a dough.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls, place on cookie sheets, and flatten slightly. Bake in preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes or until light brown. Remove from sheets to wire racks to cool.
• In a bowl, combine powdered sugar and enough water to make a glaze. Drizzle glaze over each cookie and quickly sprinkle with slivered almonds. Makes about 5 dozen cookies. Enjoy!

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour a 11 x 15-inch baking pan.
• In a bowl, combine all cake ingredients and mix well either by hand or with a mixer. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Cake is done when batter pulls· slightly from side of pan and is golden brown. Use toothpick test to be sure. Place cake on wire rack.
• To make icing, combine all ingredients and stir well. Frost cake while still warm. Decorate each piece with candied cherry. Place cake into refrigerator to thoroughly chill. Makes lots. (Note: These must be kept refrigerated until using.) Enjoy!

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line tassy muffin pans with paper liners.
• In a mixing bowl with a mixer, combine butter and shortening and cream well. Add sugars, eggs and vanilla and blend. In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt and add carefully to the butter mixture. Add walnuts, chocolate chips, cherries and coconut and mix with a spoon to combine.
• Spoon dough into paper cups and add 1/2 cherry on top. Place in preheated oven and bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack to cool. When cool, drizzle melted chocolate over cookie. Makes 6 dozen. Enjoy!