Christmas gifts on a tight budget #1

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=christmas+cookies#/d1rvghj

It's Xmas time and there are only 26 days left until Xmas day! We are going to be having our Xmas eve celebration at my house this year. I am going to make Xmas happen with only a $150 dollar budget. When I say $150 I mean $150 for EVERYTHING. I will record for all of you to see everything that I spend money on.
The things I will spend money on are


Homemade Xmas Gifts
Xmas Decorations for home 
Xmas dinner
Xmas Tree & Decorations


Some materials I already have such as some gift supplies (ingredients, and extra wrapping paper and such)


Homemade gift #1-Baked Goodies 
What better way to spread love and joy then through cookies!? Even better, SNICKERDOODLES
I found a few good recipes such as The Elves Snickerdoodles that are simple to make and can be made in large quantities. 
Stay tuned for my next post to see how these turned out!

Ingredients

• 2-1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 tablespoons soft butter

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• Colored sugar or edible glitter

Instructions

1. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg into a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the shortening and butter. Gradually mix in the sugar. Beat in the egg until blended, then the sour cream, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
2. With a wooden spoon, stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture half at a time, until evenly mixed. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 30 to 60 minutes.
3. Shortly before baking heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease one or two large cookie sheets, or line them with parchment paper. Put the decorative sugar into small bowls.
4. With lightly floured hands, shape the dough into 1-1/2-inch-thick balls. Roll the balls in the colored sugar and place them on the prepared baking sheets spaced about 3 inches apart. Bake the cookies on the center oven rack for 15 to 18 minutes, until they're a light golden brown. Cool the cookies on the sheet for 2 to 3 minutes. Then use a spatula to transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Makes about 24 cookies.
   
   
   Original recipe by Ken Haedrich