By Mary Emma Allen
An enjoyable experience of childhood consists of cutting cookies from
rolled
dough. A wide array of shapes may be formed by using these aluminum,
plastic, tin, or
steel gadgets.
Then you can decorate them with icing of various types. Or you might
make
designs in the cookies by placing raisins, maraschino cherries, nuts
and/or sprinkled
sugar on the cookie before baking.
One interesting variation is the gingerbread boy with raisins for facial
features
and buttons down his belly. At Christmas time, many shapes are cut and
decorated.
Sometimes theyÂ’re even hung on a tree. The Pennsylvania Dutch cooks
have been for
their fancy cookies cut in the shapes of animals and people.
Cutters for Collecting
However, cookie cutters fascinate more than youngsters. Many adults
enjoy
collecting them, exchanging them, and joining cookie cutter clubs.
The story of cookie cutters dates back to at least three thousand years
BC when
historians think they were used in Egypt. Cookie makers in Asian and
European
countries utilized some type of cutter or stamp to make designs on
cookies throughout
the ages
The cookie stamps usually were of wood with designs carved on them.
These
then were used to stamp the decorative figures on the dough before
baking.
Cookie Cutters in the US
Tinsmiths in the early days of our country began to make cookie cutters,
and
frequently found this a good way to use up scraps from various projects.
Eventually
cookie cutters were made of aluminum and plastic and some of stainless
steel.
I can remember the tin, well-used cookie cutters of my childhood and
even found
a few of them when I moved my mom to my home when she was overcome with
AlzheimerÂ’s. Those IÂ’ve used with my daughter and grandchildren were
made of plastic
and aluminum.
However, my daughter and I look for old or unusual cookie cutters at
yard sales
and antique shops. Why do we collect them?
We both have an interest in cooking. They also bring back memories of
family
fun in both our childhoods. We can use them for cookie baking fests with
the
grandchildren.
Cookie Cutters for Use & Decoration
Some collectors use most of those they collect; others use cookie
cutters mainly
for decoration in the kitchen, on shelves, in a wire vegetable hanger, as
mobiles, etc.
Collectors enjoy researching the history of various cutters and
exchanging these in clubs
and conventions.
If you have cookie cutters in your family, record the memories
associated with
them. These can be fun for future generations to read and reminisce.
GRANDMAÂ’S BUTTER COOKIES were a favorite of my childhood, a recipe
Mother used for making "cut-out" cookies.
Sift together 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup sifted confectioners sugar, 1/2
teaspoon salt.
Cut in 1/2 cup soft butter and 1/2 cup other shortening until mixture
resembles coarse
meal.
Beat one egg until light. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the beaten egg and
2
tablespoons vanilla over the mixture (use a little more egg if mixture is
too stiff); blend
well and form into a ball; chill the dough until firm. (You donÂ’t have
to chill the dough,
but many cooks feel it rolls out better.)
Roll 1/3 of the chilled dough at a time out on floured board or pastry
cloth,; roll
to 1/8 inch thickness (1/4 inch if you donÂ’t want such a crisp cookie.)
Cut with cookie cutters and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees
F. for 5 -
10 minutes until crisp and golden.
(C) 2002 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has been writing her "Cooking Column" for newspapers
and online publications for 30 years and
has compiled a family cookbook. SheÂ’s currently compiling a
cookbook/story book,
"Tales From a Country Kitchen." Visit her web site for more cooking
articles. Contact her at me.allen@juno.com
