8 CHRISTMAS COOKIES TO SWEETEN YOUR HOLIDAY TABLE.

With just weeks to go before Christmas, now is the time to get serious about making sure you’re well stocked with holiday sweets, says Judy Smith. She’s a member of the San Antonio chapter of the international culinary organization Les Dames d’Escoffier, and a lifelong baker.

Over the coming days, her oven will crank out numerous confections. Some of those will be enjoyed on the spot, others held for future emergencies in the refrigerator or freezer.

“Things always pop up at Christmas,” Smith said. “I like to be pre- pared.”

For Smith, being prepared usually means having a batch of Chocolate-Tipped Butter Cookies ready to go at a moment’s notice. She picked up the recipe decades ago from a 1984 issue of the food magazine Bon Appetit, and it’s been a constant companion since.

And therein lies an important Christmas cookie truism: Whether it’s your first or 50th season baking for friends and family, having a recipe you can trust is critical.

To that end, this week we present recipes for eight cookies appropriate for (but certainly not exclusive to) the holiday season. Smith and former Express-News Food

Editor Karen Haram shared their favorites. Some were contributed to community cookbooks by area residents. Others came from trusted authors.

Two (Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies and Bourbon Balls) are personal favorites.

But they all have one thing in common: these Christmas cookie recipes are dependable and delicious. And what could be a better gift from a home baker when the jingle bells start ringing?

Paul Stephen/ Staff