As I write this column, I have to admit that it has been hard coming to grips with it's being November. Where I live, the weather has been warm and not at all conducive to embracing the holidays. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving is less than a month away and Christmas, hot on its heels. While balancing the holidays with a busy schedule and a stretched budget is always a challenge, some pre-holiday planning can help keep seasonal anxieties in check.
Linzer tart cookies can be formed with a specialty Linzer cookie cutter and insert (pictured left), or shaped with a 2-inch crinkle-edge biscuit cutter. When using a biscuit cutter, cut an opening in the top cookie with a miniature cookie (or aspic) cutter. Look for Linzer cookie cutters and miniature cookie cutters in stores, or on-line sources that sell specialty bakeware.