Story submitted by Nina Freedlander Gibans in honor of Gram, Sylva Hirsch Gibans
The Story Behind the Recipe:
These cookies were introduced to our family by Jim Gibans' mother. While she was alive they became an absolute favorite. When she died, out organic farmer/caterer daughter Beth became the chief preserver of their special taste and they have been key to every celebration. Even during the isolation here at Judson Park, she made them for my birthday and sent them from Oregon so that I could share them with everyone here. In doing so, we had to package them in glad bags individually! When Jim passed away two years ago, everyone attending the memorial service was given the recipe and invited to bring a batch.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
For Cookies:
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups bown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cups walnuts (optional)
For Frosting:
6 Tbs. butter (or 8 Tbs.)
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar (or 2 cups)
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
For Cookies:
Preheat oven to 400.
Cream butter, add sugar gradually and cream thoroughly. Blend in well beaten eggs. Sift flour, baking powder and soda, and salt together.
Add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. Blend in vanilla and nuts. Chill. Drop by spoonfuls on lightly greased baking sheets. Leave space for spreading. Bake 10-15 minutes until golden. Cool.
For Frosting:
Melt butter until golden brown. Blend in confectioner's sugar. Add vanilla. Stir in slowly up to about 4 Tbs of hot water. Don't add all at once. Just add enough until icing is right consistency to spread smoothly. (Gram used the larger quantities of butter and sugar, but I find that I don't need that much icing).
Frost cooled cookies. Once set, mail to your siblings. Enjoy!!
For Cookies:
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups bown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cups walnuts (optional)
For Frosting:
6 Tbs. butter (or 8 Tbs.)
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar (or 2 cups)
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
For Cookies:
Preheat oven to 400.
Cream butter, add sugar gradually and cream thoroughly. Blend in well beaten eggs. Sift flour, baking powder and soda, and salt together.
Add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. Blend in vanilla and nuts. Chill. Drop by spoonfuls on lightly greased baking sheets. Leave space for spreading. Bake 10-15 minutes until golden. Cool.
For Frosting:
Melt butter until golden brown. Blend in confectioner's sugar. Add vanilla. Stir in slowly up to about 4 Tbs of hot water. Don't add all at once. Just add enough until icing is right consistency to spread smoothly. (Gram used the larger quantities of butter and sugar, but I find that I don't need that much icing).
Frost cooled cookies. Once set, mail to your siblings. Enjoy!!