Bow Tie Cookies Are A Family Favorite; Recipe From A 'Bridal Shower' Cookbook Scores Well For Any Occasion

I've been involved in giving a few bridal showers and a favorite 'favor' for our family and some of my friends is the publication of a cookbook filled with family recipes from aunts, cousins, nieces, parents, sisters, grandparents (and to be fair also from their male counterparts) and friends.

When my daughter got married a couple of years ago, a family and friends cookbook was my idea to give as a gift to our guests. Thanks to the 'miracle' of email, it was easy to get most of the recipes electronically so that they didn't have to be retyped. Of course, the older family members (with the most sought after recipes) were mailed. Putting a book like this together takes some time, a lot of patience and a sharing of talents. We asked artistic young people to illustrate some of the recipes.

My younger daughter, a design student at the time, helped me put it all together and though our first effort was a bit 'homey' we've since done a few more for friends that are quite professional looking. Of course, the most important thing in these books is not so much the 'look' but the inclusion of the recipes that get passed down from one generation to the next. In just the few years since our first book was printed, several relatives have passed and that makes these book even more valuable. Lots of schools and church groups do similar projects as a fund raising vehicle.

If you're interested in making a recipe book, you'll need to get a memo out with the shower invitation. Email addresses will need to be provided to receive the recipes and expect a few that will have to be retyped. An added extra could be a cookie cutter in a fun shape or a small wire whisk that can be attached to the book with a pretty bow. These can be purchased online for a dollar or less. You'll need to engage a local printer and work within his schedule or use one of the online services. A few cookbook websites are provided for you to look at but there are many more in all price points.

http://www.familycookbookproject.com/getstarted.asp?gclid=COTDy6K816oCFQfd4AoduAzf6A

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/cookbook-TC001018642.aspx

http://www.momready.com/articles/content.asp?ID=70

One shower book that was done for a friend of my daughter had a recipe for 'bow-tie' or 'chruscik' cookies. I believe this is a Polish recipe and I've made it many times. The word chruscik might come from an old Polish word for twigs which the pastry does resemble. There are many other European versions of the bow tie cookie. An Italian version is called crustci, indicating that one of these pastries might have passed from one country to the other. I forget how good they are from one baking to the next but even better, they're easy to make. When they're dredged in confectioner's sugar they are simply delicious. Give this one a try. The recipe makes about 3 dozen bows.
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Bow Tie Cookies
(Chrusciki)
Ingredients
4 eggs
1 stick of melted butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup of sugar
4 cups of flour
Powdered sugar
Crisco for frying

Directions

• Beat eggs, butter, baking powder and vanilla until mixed.
• Add sugar mixing well.
• Add flour gradually stirring as possible.
• turn out onto floured surface and knead for approximately 3 minutes.
• Cut off small sections and roll thin.
• Cut into strips using a serrated pastry roller. make each bow about 4 inches.
• Cut a 2 inch slit in the middle of the rectangular piece, lengthwise.
• Pull one edge through the slit and adjust to make it look like a bow tie.
• Fry in preheated Crisco until golden. They cook quickly once the oil heats up so stay nearby!
• Drain on paper towling.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar until coated.