1. Don't assume you know your recipes so well that you can just start mixing up the first one you flip open to. I turned to a book that I knew had one of my favorite recipes, and instead of making sugar cookies, made a double batch of Snookerdoodles. Apparently the name at the top of the recipe didn't make any difference until I had 2 ingredients left to add. Goody! I have Snookerdoodle dough for another day.
2. Don't assume that you can substitute ingredients when doing cookies for a special day. So after starting over, I begin making a double batch of the Sugar Cookies I know and love. I decided to substitute butter shortening for the butter or margarine the recipe called for. Not a good idea. Hours later, after chilling, I attempt to roll out the dough and cut the cookies. It does nothing but crumble apart, but I made it work and baked the cookies.
3. Don't assume that the previous mistakes will yield cookies worth eating! There's not enough frosting in the world to choke down these cookies! Yuck!
Lesson Learned: Just bake the recipe that did work out, and don't mess with things you don't know won't work on a special day.
-Peggy
