Christmas (Cook)Keys 761 - 796

A long time ago when I first began my key-making adventure I had visions of making "cook-keys" once I reached 1000...now baking season is here and if I wait until I reach 1000 I will be making Easter cookies and not Christmas ones. Perhaps the best learning from this Adventure 5000 is that I can make my own rules, and flow with whatever is around me.

Thanks to Queen Bee Coupons for this lovely cookie recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Beat together: 1 cup of butter (softened at room temperature) and 3 oz of cream cheese (also softened) until creamy

Mix in 1 cup sugar and beat until light and fluffy

Mix in 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Slowly add 2 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt - mix well

Press and decorate cookies; bake for 10 - 12 minutes until light brown around edges

I doubled this recipe and am about halfway through making keys from the dough. Here's what I've got so far (plus a few "experimental" ones that didn't make it to a finished product - well, OK, I just ate them instead of decorating them):