Crummy News

"Carol Cookies" are legendary in Caribou, Maine. Growing up across the street from Carol Thibodeau I was fortunate enough to eat them more often then most. I looked forward to every holiday and occasion that Carol would bake her famous sugar cookies...Christmas, sorority luncheons, Easter, etc. Occasionally she would bake a batch just for my sister or me when we were home from college!

Each year my family hosted a Christmas Eve Open House. Since we didn't have family close by we opened our home to our neighbors and friends as they traveled back and forth between shopping, church, and their own family gatherings. One year Carol arrived with two boxes of cookies, one for my sister and me. She always packed them in a shirt box with tissue paper between each layer to protect the icing and keep the sprinkles from rubbing off. My sister and I were so excited we quickly ran off to hide each of our boxes in a safe place so no one else would eat them (not sharing meant more for us). I hid mine in the oven temporarily until I could locate a more secure location. A short while later, my friend Allie arrived with her mother who brought her famous "Hot Bites" appetizer to share with our guests. Mrs. Allie told my mother that the Hot Bites needed to be warmed in the oven, so the oven was set to preheat with my precious box of "Carol Cookies" inside. I was the first person to notice the burning smell filling the house. I yelled, "MY CAROL COOKIES ARE RUINED!" as I quickly ran to open the oven door and retrieve my charred box of cookies. On Christmas morning, Carol delivered another shirt box filled with her beautiful cookies to me. It was my favorite (and most delicious) Christmas gift that year.

A few years ago my sister started a Christmas tradition with her daughters called, The Sweetest Story Ever Told. The kit she bought came with cookie cutters and a book that tells the story of people coming together to make sugar cookies to share the story of the first Christmas with their friends and neighbors. The kit also included a sugar cookie recipe which my sister replaced with Carol's recipe since it is they are by far superior.

My sister gave me the kit for Christmas two years ago and last year I read the story to Tanner and Abigail and we made the cookies to share with our friends and neighbors. I also used Carol's recipe and the people who received our baggies of treats raved about how tasty they were.

Carol Thibodeau passed away yesterday, ending her three year battle with cancer. She will forever be remembered as a loving wife, mother, neighbor, and friend. When I heard about her death I immediately went to my kitchen to make a batch of "Carol Cookies" in her honor. Her cookie legacy will live on with her children, grandchildren, my sister, and me. Every Christmas I will make her delicious cookies with my children and while we do I will tell them stories about her so they will know how special she was to my family and me.

Carol Cookies

3-4 dozen

3/4 c. Butter Crisco OR part shortening part butter
1 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

1. Mix shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla thoroughly (I use my Kitchen Aid mixer).
2. Add flour, baking powder, and salt; blend well.
3. CHILL in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
4. Roll dough 1/8" thick on a lightly floured surface and cut with cookie cutters.
5. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until cookies turn a delicate golden brown around the edge.
6. Cool on a wire rack and frost with powdered sugar and milk (or water). Decorate with sprinkles immediately. Let cookies sit out for icing to harden.