Christmas in July, by, Cookbook Author, Gina Meyers: White and Chocolate Frosting, Black and White Cookies, Pumpkin Cookies

White and Chocolate Frosting, from scratch

4 cups of powdered sugar
1/3 cup boiling water
1 ounce of semi sweet or bittersweet chocolate, melted

Directions: Place powdered sugar in a bowl. Gradually stir in boling water until it is a thick able spread mixture, add more water if needed and add more powdered sugar if too watery by the teaspoonfuls. Next, divide the sugar mixture into two bowls. Add the melted chocolate into one half, leaving the other half white. Decorate each cookie, half with white frosting, half with chocolate frosting. Place the frosted cookies on a wire rack or plate to dry.

Black & White Cookies

4 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup of unsalted butter, softened
4 eggs
1 cup of milk
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon of lemon extract
White & Chocolate Frosting

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease two baking sheets. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cimbine the sugar and butter, beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in eggs, milk, and vanilla and lemon extract. Stir in the flour mixture until the cookies are just mixed. Drop the cookie dough by tablespoonfuls onto the baking sheet about 2-inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. Makes two dozen cookies approximately.

Pumpkin Cookies
1/2 cup of butter/margarine
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
1 egg
1 cup of canned pumpkin (with spice already in the mix)
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of baking powder
2 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Optional: 1/2 cup of diced almonds, or 1 cup of chocolate chips (mini)

Directions: Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, pumpkin, and vanilla. Mix and stir in flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Add to creamed mixture and mix well. Add more flour by the tablespoonfuls, if needed. Add almonds and chocolate chips, if preferred. With a spoon, drop mixture by teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Once baked, remove from hot cookie sheet and let cookies rest on a plate or cooling rack.

It's Christmas in July, check out Gina's cookbooks today: https://www.amazon.com/Gina-Meyers/e/B0039KMPSS%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share