My favorite holiday cookie

This is the perfect time of year to dust off the old rolling pin & mixing bowl. I have fond memories around Christmas. My mother baking me cookies that would melt in My mouth with each bite. "Pan de polvo" Also know as Mexican wedding cookies, A shortbread cookie coated in cinnamon & sugar. This special cookie has been passed down many generations.
Eva Longoria who is also from my mothers hometown of Corpus Christi Texas loves "Pan De Polvo". Here is her delicious rendition of this Hispanic tradition :


Ingredients:
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2/3 cups butter-flavored shortening
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup, plus 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Directions:
1 Preheat oven to 325°F. 2 In a saucepan bring to a boil cinnamon sticks and 1½ cups water. Let cool. Discard cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate liquid until chilled. 3 In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. 4 In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening, vanilla, ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup cinnamon "tea" until light and fluffy. Stir in flour mixture. 5 Roll dough into 1" balls. Place 2" apart on baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes or until slightly browned around edges. 6 In bowl combine 2 tbsp sugar and ground cinnamon. Dip cookies while still warm in sugar-cinnamon mixture. Makes 3 dozen.

Whats Your family's holiday tradition?

*photo courtesy of inStyle magazine