Happy Mother's Day

What is it about Mother's Day that moms end up doing so much work? I had my mom over and made dinner.  And these two batches of cookies were for my mom and mother-in-law.  Really, this is not that much work, and less than I normally do, but anything these days with 3 kids (1 being less than a month old) I consider a superhero act.  You'd be wise to agree.  

#290 Soft Lemon-Ginger cookies

They are soft - think of those soft and chewy chips ahoy cookies - like that soft.  

They're not very lemony or gingery.  

Hopefully after being in the freezer for a couple of days and now in a box shipping across the midwest; they'll still be delicious for my MIL.

#291 Chocolate-covered Cherry Cookies

These were the ones that were my own Mother's Day treat to myself.  I've passed this recipe so many times thinking; those will be great; I need to save those.  They are great.  I've never tasted chocolate frosting so delicious (I ate probably 1/4 of it - after the cookies were all frosted).

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup baking cocoa

1/2 tsp salt, divided

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar.  Add egg and vanilla; mix well.  Combine the flour, cocoa, 1/4 tsp salt; baking powder and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Drain cherries; reserving 1 1/2 tsps of juice.  Pat cherries dry. Shape 1 tablespoon of dough around each cherry.  Place cookies 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes or until set.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  

For frosting, in a saucepan, heat chocolate chips and milk until chips are melted; stir until smooth.  Remove from the heat.  Add reserved cherry juice and remaining salt.  Frost cookies.