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Snowball Cookies

Buttery, nutty, and blanketed with powdered sugar, these nostalgic snowball cookies make a festive addition to any cookie tray. Here’s a clear, calm, truly step‑by‑step guide so you can just follow along and bake. Recipe overview Snowball Cookies  Yield: About 36 cookies Oven temperature: 350°F Pan: Unlined baking sheet (you can use parchment if you like, but not necessary) Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks) ½ cup confectioners’ (powdered) sugar, plus more for coating 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2¼ cups all‑purpose flour ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup finely chopped pecans (or walnuts) Instructions: 1. Get ready Soften the butter Take the butter out of the fridge about 1 hour before baking. It should be soft enough to press a finger in easily, but not melted or greasy. Preheat the oven Set oven to 350°F . Make sure the rack is in the center position. Prepare your pans Use unlined baking sheets (or line with parchment if you prefer). No need to...

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U.S. Economy Ends 2023 with Strong Job and Wage Growth


The U.S. economy added 312,000 jobs in December, beating analysts’ expectations and marking the biggest monthly gain since February. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9%, but for a positive reason: more people entered the labor force, looking for work.

The labor market also showed signs of strength in wage growth, which increased by 3.2% over the year, the fastest pace since 2009. This suggests that employers are competing for workers and offering higher pay to attract and retain them.

The strong job and wage numbers cap off a solid year for the U.S. economy, which grew by an estimated 3% in 2023, the highest rate since 2015. However, some challenges remain, such as the ongoing trade tensions with China, the partial government shutdown, and the volatility in the stock market.

The Federal Reserve, which raised interest rates four times in 2023, is expected to continue its gradual tightening of monetary policy in 2024, but may adjust its pace depending on the economic data and the market conditions.



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U.S. Job Growth Exceeds Expectations in December, Wages Rise Solidly

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy added 514,000 jobs in December, exceeding expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 3.9%. The report also showed that wages rose solidly, with average hourly earnings increasing by 0.5%. This is a positive sign for the U.S. economy, which has been recovering from the pandemic.

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