A Very Merry Year: June

So, instead of going crazy with holiday baking last year, I decided that it would be much more fun to spread the joy out over the year and gift someone each month with something lovely from my kitchen.June is all about thank yous — we have several overdue TY's, and what better way to deliver them than customized fortune cookies?! These were relatively easy, quite tasty, and very fun. The kids were pretty impressed. So, who are they for? Well, you'll just have to wait and see if you get a delivery of them!

Fortune Cookies (adapted from Allrecipes.com)
24 assorted fortunes or other messages printed on 1/2-inch x 4-inch strips of paper (I adjusted the margins on a Word doc and printed them out).
2 egg whites
1/4 tsp. vanilla (I used vanilla powder, plus 1/4 tsp. almond extract)
1 dash salt
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar

Preheat oven to 375-degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or a Silpat sheet (trust me, greasing the pan is WAY more trouble - I managed this time, but will take a different approach in the future). Whisk the egg whites and vanilla until foamy, but not stiff (I hand whisked). Then, mix in the flour, sugar and salt. Put one teaspoon (measuring spoon) of batter on cookie sheet for each cookie and spread it into a mostly circular shape, approximately 3-inches in diameter. Put three on a sheet (max) at a time and bake for 4-5 minutes, until outer edges are golden and center is pale ivory. While one sheet is baking, prep the second.

Remove from oven and quickly place one cookie on a wooden cutting board, upside-down. Place fortune in the center of the cookie and fold in half, then place the folded edge over the rim of a coffee mug, and pull the pointed edges down, one on each side of the cup. Repeat with other cookies. If the cookie gets too hard to maneuver, put back in the oven to warm up again. Put cookies in muffin tins to cool so they keep their shape.