During the twelve days until Christmas break, the King Street Chronicle will again present staff favorites from the holiday season. This third edition will not include three french hens, but beloved Christmas songs, recipes, movies, crafts, and festive wear.

• One cup (two sticks) of unsalted butter, softened
• Five tablespoons of granulated sugar
• Two teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
• One-quarter teaspoon of kosher salt
• Two cups of organic all-purpose flour
• Two cups of finely chopped walnuts (optional)
• One and one-half cups of confectioners’ sugar

Steps:

1. Arrange an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350ºF.
2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
3. Using an electric stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, or handheld electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in the vanilla and salt.
4. Gradually add flour; beating after each addition. If desired, stir in the nuts; mix until fully incorporated.
5. Divide dough in half and refrigerate in plastic wrap for approximately 45 minutes.
6. Measure dough using a small, 1-inch spring-loaded scoop making sure each scoopful is level. Roll dough between palms of hands to achieve a small rounded ball.
7. Place dough balls one and one-half inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven until the cookies are just beginning to brown, about 12 to 14 minutes. Do not overbake. The underside of the cookies should be only lightly browned. And, the cookies should not crack.
8. Cool cookies on baking sheets on wire racks for approximately Two minutes. Remove cookies from baking sheets using a metal cookie spatula.
9. While cookies are still warm, gently roll them in the confectioners’ sugar. Place the sugar-coated cookies on wire racks to cool completely.
10. Roll cookies once again in the confectioners’ sugar.

• A wire coat hanger
• A glue gun
• Fake Christmas foliage
• About 50 plastic ornaments of various sizes

Steps:

1. Bend open the hanger to form a circle.
2. Unscrew one end of the hanger.
3. Thread the ornaments onto the hanger. Until the whole wreath is covered.
4. Use fake foliage to decorate the top of the wreath as desired.
5. Rescrew the ends of the hanger together to finish the wreath.

 
Fashion: