these shoes are made for walking

I may have mentioned that I am walking more.  Walking more not as part of a resolution but so I can be prepared for adventuring.  Wahoo!  The pair of shoes on the left are my every day but Sunday walking shoes.  The pair on the right are my Sunday walking shoes.  When they do not feel the same, it is time to make the Sunday shoes every day shoes and to get a new pair of Sunday shoes. 

Now, after work I feel the need for something a little bit decadent.  I have been taking tea and cookies on my walks.  I have a Yeti cup so that works well.  And I found that the sugar cookie recipe I used for the hedgehog cookies seem to stand up well to being put in a pocket for a few minutes.  Yes, I do things like that.

I come home.  Take the dough out of the refrigerator, roll out a few cookies, bake.  On my way.  I decided to try this recipe in the first place because my sugar cookie dough for the cookie decorating parties makes enough cookies for an army of boyos even when you cut it in half.  This one makes enough for a few days for me.  It almost takes like a shortbread but a shortbread would crumble in my pocket.  There is no reason that I would know this (cough, cough).  This is not a sweet cookie because it is made for frosting but I like them plain.  They also make really nice hedgehogs!

walking cookies

Note:  based on this Bon Appetit cookie but I tweaked due to the half batch, and my tastes.  Also, my total dislike of baking powder.  I can almost always taste it when used.

4/06/2016 I modified these with 2 teaspoons of cardamom.  So good.  I started with 1/2 teaspoon and worked up until I could taste the cardamom.  It will depend on what your want to taste and how fresh your cardamom is for the amount needs.

10 tablespoons room temperature butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy.  Mix in the egg and vanilla.  Mix in the flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar.  Bring into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap for at least 30 minutes or until you are ready to roll out.

When you are ready to roll the cookies out, preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.

Lightly flour a clean surface.  I usually only roll a portion of the dough for a few cookies but feel free to roll it all if you wish.  Roll it out to about 3/8 of an inch thick.  Cut out with a cutter.  I use circles on a day to day basis.  Put on the baking sheet.

Bake for 12 minutes.

I usually pick up a few while they are warm to take walking with me.  On days I walk home from work, I miss my tea and cookies. 

Simple things.