Festus Cookies

We make these at Christmas in mimicry of the cookies in a Festus and Mercury story about Christmas. (Festus and Mercury are characters in children's books by the Swedish author Sven Nordqvist, although some translations keep their Swedish names, Pettson and Findus.)

The recipe is adapted from one for "coconut rounds" in a back issue of Good Housekeeping.

2 c AP flour
1 c butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
2 t vanilla extract
1/2 t salt
2 T milk
desiccated coconut; colorful nonpareils

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix dries and wets separately and combine. Use a 100 or 70 scoop to shape into 3/4 inch balls. Roll the balls in desiccated coconut or colorful nonpareils. Place 2" apart on cookie sheet and bake ~15 minutes, until golden. Cool.

Sharon's Canapes

All the food at my Friendsgiving this year was delicious, but most unexpectedly wonderful were Sharon's canapes. Just that week, at my family's Thanksgiving meal, I made a jesting motif out of my dislike of radishes (and my use of cute watermelon radishes in my salad to spite that). So when I saw the canapes, each topped with a single slice of red radish, I thought "huh, some people like radish enough to plop them on a canape. What a world." And then... they were really good.

So you take slices of those really slender baguettes-- you know, the kind you make large croutons out of, as for French onion soup.

And then you make crouts out of them by oiling them, salting & peppering them, and baking them until crisp and delicious.

Generously spread garlic Boursin cheese on them.

Then you top them with a slice of radish.