If you’re seeing this in a feed reader, you might not be able to view the slideshow below—I couldn’t see it in Google reader, anyway. Click on through to see the photos!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR from bethany actually’s Flickr photoset farewell fiesta.

Brenda and Toby hosted a last-minute Mexican-themed going-away potluck for us this past weekend, and it was completely fun. I’m not going into detail describing it, because most of what I’d say would probably be pretty boring, and I think the photos above give a good idea of what it was like. Also, Brenda wrote a wonderful post about the party that makes me smile and tear up a little each time I read it, and there’s no way I could top that, so I’m just gonna send you over there to read her post. Before you click over, I’ll just say this: we have awesome friends here in California, and we’re going to miss them a lot. Thanks, you guys!

I’ve been talking about my all-time favorite apricot cookies for two Christmases now, and promising to post the recipe. It took me a little longer than I planned, but I’m finally getting around to it.

Honestly, these are more like little pastries than cookies. But years and years ago when we were first married, my next-door neighbor Julie gave me a plate full of assorted cookies on Christmas with the recipes attached, and the title of her recipe was Best Apricot Cookies so that’s what I’ve always called them.

Reasons 1 and 2 that these cookies are so good: butter and cream cheese, lots of both.

Reasons 3 and 4: dried apricots and Grand Marnier. Yum.

They’re not terribly photogenic, or pretty. They require some thinking ahead, what with the dough and filling both requiring time to chill in the fridge, and rather fiddly with all the rolling-out of small circles of dough. But oh man, are they ever delicious and highly addictive. Consider yourself warned.

Best Apricot Cookies
Adapted from Julie Thomas’s recipe
Makes about 6 dozen cookies

The chilled dough will be very hard to manipulate at first, but as it warms up it gets very sticky, so if you want you can work with half at a time and leave the remainder in the fridge. I find these cookies are much easier if you have someone helping when you assemble the cookies. Your helper might complain about how annoying they are to make, but let them taste a warm cookie from the first batch and they’ll see the work is worth it. (And really, although the day-old cookies are tasty, the hot-from-the-oven ones are divine.)

DOUGH:

• 16 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 2 c. (4 sticks) butter, softened
• 4 c. flour

FILLING:

• 16 oz. dried apricots
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 1/4 c. Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
• powdered sugar and flour for rolling out dough

DIRECTIONS:

1. A day ahead, mix the cream cheese and butter together, then add the flour a cup at a time and combine thoroughly. Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Also a day ahead, place the apricots in a saucepan and add water just to cover. Simmer over low heat till the apricots are soft enough to mash with a fork and the water is mostly absorbed. After you mash them all up, add the sugar and liqueur, then cook over low heat till the mixture is thickened and bubbly, usually just a few more minutes. If you like you can run the filling through a food processor once it’s cooled but it’s not usually necessary. Place in a glass or ceramic bowl, cover, and store in fridge till ready to make the cookies.
3. Preheat oven to 375F.
4. In a small bowl, mix equal parts all-purpose flour and powdered sugar together, about a half-cup of each.
5. Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls, coating hands with the flour-sugar mixture as necessary to prevent sticking, and rolling each formed ball in the flour-sugar mixture to coat it.
6. On a clean surface dusted with the flour-sugar mixture, roll each ball into a circle about 3 inches in diameter.
7. Into the center of each circle, place about a teaspoon of filling. Fold one side over the filling, then fold the opposite side over so it sort of looks like a burrito with open ends. Or you can experiment and find the best method for yourself. I’ve also done mini-turnovers (fold the circle in half and pinch the edges shut). Lightly press the open ends with your fingers to seal.
8. Place the cookies one inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes, till puffy and golden. Move to cooling racks immediately. Try not to eat them all at once.

“Did you know that when you type your fingers kinda look like they’re dancing?”
11:18 PM Dec 15th, 2009

“Not everyone has stinky farts! Some people have farts that smell like…like…morning blossoms!”
1:16 PM Dec 8th, 2009

“Mom, I drew this for you ‘cuz you love rain. I put colors in it because when the sun hits it, it makes a rainbow!”
2:32 PM Dec 5th, 2009

“I’m gonna need my sleeping bag, a shawl, my baby, and some hot cocoa.”
6:43 AM Dec 1st, 2009

“You never know when you might need a hanger.”
11:27 AM Nov 29th, 2009

“I REALLY miss Daddy. When I see him again, I’m gonna give him TEN-HUNDRED hugs & kisses, because I haven’t hugged or kissed him in weeks.”
9:57 AM Nov 28th, 2009

“I wish the world was made of chips. That way when I was hungry I could just take a bite of sidewalk, or the yummy yummy tree.”
1:19 PM Nov 26th, 2009

“If I ever see Chuck, I’m gonna say, ‘Can I have your autograph?’ Almost everyone likes Chuck, even little kids like me & Bug!”
1:51 AM Nov 26th, 2009

“Get ready for the one and only mix-a-roon-o batch of play-dough.”
4:13 PM Nov 25th, 2009

“This meat Miss Brenda made is SO tasty. She should be a famous cook!”
6:33 PM Nov 24th, 2009

“I just wanted you to know that I’m really enjoying my relaxation time.”
11:54 AM Nov 23rd, 2009

“This party is SO Barbie!”
4:22 PM Nov 21st, 2009

“I really need to try a tomato plain one of these days.”
5:47 PM Nov 18th, 2009

“Being a mom is a BIG responsibility. I sure am glad I’m not you!”
4:35 PM Nov 17th, 2009

“Sometimes when you drink hot chocolate, it can mess up your mind.”
1:06 AM Nov 17th, 2009

“I am the Queen of Pretending.”
9:07 PM Nov 13th, 2009

“I can’t believe all these years I wasted not eating pickles!”
10:20 AM Nov 12th, 2009

“I’m not really a kindergartner. I’m a Secret Agent Double-0-0! Like Casey and Sarah and Chuck.”
2:07 PM Nov 11th, 2009

“Can I get you a snack while I’m downstairs? Or a Diet Coke?”
2:34 PM Nov 10th, 2009

“Mama, you’re funny in some ways. Everyone in my family is funny in some kinda way!”
1:26 PM Nov 9th, 2009

“San Diego is warm all year round, ‘cuz it’s close to the heat radar…ya know, the line around the middle of earth?…Ohhh right, equator.”
9:01 PM Nov 6th, 2009

“I’m NEVER gonna hold onto a big bunch of balloons.”
11:31 AM Nov 5th, 2009

Singing, “If you stand up so proud and tall, you’ll find your true hidden talent that’s hi-i-iding under your skin! Oo-oo-ooh…”
11:50 AM Nov 4th, 2009

“This would be a great opportunity for you to get me some ice-cold water.”
2:25 PM Nov 3rd, 2009

“Yes, I tried a nacho. Actually, no, I didn’t try one. I will now….Mmmmm! These are delicious!”
12:35 PM Nov 3rd, 2009

(watching Chuck vs the Helicopter) “If you get shooted with a tranquilizer dart, it won’t kill you. It just makes you sleepy.”
7:48 PM Nov 1st, 2009

“It’s called the Southwest Air Loop-de-Loop Liner!”
9:45 AM Nov 1st, 2009

“I like to call my brain ‘Smarty.’”
6:37 PM Oct 27th, 2009

“Index cards…I need index cards.” 11:27 AM Oct 26th, 2009

“I just like doodling, because I’m really good at it. Oops, I broke my pencil again.”
2:45 PM Oct 18th, 2009

“I would like some entertainment.”
6:21 PM Oct 13th, 2009

“Hey, I *am* feeling better! Can I go swimming now?”
4:12 PM Oct 9th, 2009

“I’m so tired of being sick!”
8:21 AM Oct 9th, 2009

“I don’t like octopuses, because they’re too suction-cuppy.”
7:11 AM Oct 8th, 2009

“This taco is SO good, I can’t resist it!”
11:16 AM Oct 3rd, 2009

“It’s on my to-do list.”
12:28 PM Oct 2nd, 2009

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but…SHE’S IN TROUBLE!!! Can I have some more chocolate?”
11:54 AM Sep 24th, 2009

“I think I got more carrots than I meant to. But it’s okay. You can NEVER have too much of the good stuff!”
5:31 PM Sep 23rd, 2009

“This is my pet unicorn. I call her Grape, because her mane and tail are so shiny and purple.”
9:01 AM Sep 21st, 2009