GRADUATION DIPLOMA COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray cookie sheets with no-stick cooking spray. Generously butter handle of wooden spoon. Set aside.
• Combine egg whites and lime juice in bowl. Beat at high speed until foamy. Continue beating, gradually adding sugar, until glossy and stiff peaks form. Gently stir in flour and butter.
• Spoon 2 teaspoons batter onto prepared cookie sheet; evenly spread batter to 3-inch circle. Repeat with remaining batter, placing only 3 cookies onto each cookie sheet. (Do not re-use cookie sheets without first washing and re-applying no-stick cooking spray.)
• Bake 5-8 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Using thin metal spatula, carefully lift edge of cookie; immediately shape by wrapping around buttered handle of wooden spoon. Gently slide cookie off spoon handle onto cooling rack. Place cookie seam-side down to cool completely. Repeat with remaining cookies. If cookies harden before rolling, return cookies to oven about 1 minute to soften.
• Melt candy coating in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, 3-4 minutes or until smooth. Carefully dip each end of cookie in coating. Gently shake cookie to remove excess coating. (Cookies are very fragile.) Place onto waxed paper 15 minutes or until coating is set. Repeat with remaining cookies and coating.
• Write messages on narrow strips of paper. Insert 1 message inside each cookie. Tie ribbons in school colors around center of each cookie.

Steps:

• Beat butter, shortening and brown sugar until creamy. Beat in baking powder, salt, vanilla and egg. Stir in flours. Divide dough in half. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Roll each half of dough into 15x6-inch rectangle on floured surface. Cut lengthwise into three 15x2-inch strips, then cut crosswise into two 7 1/2x2-inch strips. Working quickly, spread about 1 teaspoon melted chocolate over one strip to within 1/4 inch of one long side. Gently roll up, starting at long side with chocolate. Repeat with remaining cookie strips and chocolate. Cut each roll into 2 pieces; roll each cookie slightly to shape. On ungreased cookie sheet, place cookies about 1 inch apart.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool 1 minute; remove to cooling rack. Cool completely. Place remaining chocolate in plastic bag. Cut hole in corner and squeeze out chocolate to look like ties.