Frugal Kitchens 101 - The Cookie Jar

At one time a cookie jar filled with homemade cookies graced the counters of most homemakers.  Part of the fun grandchildren enjoyed was getting a delicious treat from Grandma's cookie jar.  The cookie jar was more than a cookie jar; it was a jar of homemade love from the kitchen.  Fast forward to living in the workplace and being brainwashed by the food industry that commercially prepared are superior to home cooked, the cookie jar has almost gone the way of the dinosaur.   This week's Frugal Kitchen's 101 discusses ways to make this old family tradition part of your kitchen.

• cookie jar - A cookies jar need not be fancy or expensive, it just needs to hold cookies.   A limited range of cookie jars can be found in department stores.   Resale stores and yard sales are great sources for cookie jars.  You can get creative and make your own ceramic cookies custom painted to match your kitchen if you have access to a ceramics studio.
• cookies -  The magic of a cookie jar is the cookies.  The great news is many homemade cookies are considerably less expensive than store bought.  Here are a few tips on keeping your cookie jar filled without taking up a lot of valuable time:
• refrigerator cookies -  Refrigerator cookies the homemade version of commercially made cookie dough except less expensive and greater variety.  The simply cookie dough that is rolled into a tube about 2 - inch diameter.  The roll is wrapped in wax paper ready for you to use anytime you want.  The nice thing is you don't have to use the entire tube all at once, just cut into slices the desired amount.
• freezer cookies - Most cookies freeze nicely.  Make a large batch of the desired cookie dough then divide it into what you would use for each pop-in-the-oven fresh baked cookies.  Wrap well then freeze.  Thaw in refrigerator then prepare and bake.
• cookies in a jar - Make up several cookies in a jar for both gift giving and your own use.  The dry ingredients are layered into mason jars.  The wet ingredients are added when you are ready to make the cookies.  Almost any cookie recipe will work for this purpose and the mix is shelf stable to is a great way to stock-up your pantry.
• bulk cookies -  Declare a cookie baking day then do a bulk baking session.  Bulk cooking and baking sessions are a great way to fill the pantry shelves and freezer. 
• family time cookies -  Declare a family cookie morning.  Each member of the family has a part in the cooking making process.  This a great time to bond, share laughter and knowledge in a fun activity.