Sugar Cookies - Cookie Decorations

Sugar cookies are one of my favorite kinds of cookies. There are 1,000's of ways you can make them. I found a great recipe about a year ago and have made some slight changes to it and LOVE IT.

ENJOY!!!

My Famous Sugar Cookies!
1 1/2 cups butter
1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tbsp. lemon zest
5 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Powdered sugar, for rolling

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cream butter and sugars in a mixer for 5 minutes.
Add in eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly.
Add in vanilla, almond, and lemon zest.
Beat for 10 seconds.
Add in baking powder and salt, beat again.
Add in flour 1 c. at a time, mix for 15 seconds between each addition.
Do not over mix, this process should take about one minute.
Chill dough for up to a week in the fridge, or roll out and cut right away.
Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet for about 7 minutes, or until golden brown on the bottom.

This recipe made about 50 cookies

Wilton Royal Icing:
3 tablespoons Meringue Powder
4 cups (about 1 lb.) confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons warm water

Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer).

NOTE: Keep all utensils completely grease-free for proper icing consistency.

Chicken Noodle

I have had an upset stomach pretty much the entire day so what better than to make Chicken Noodle for dinner! There is simply no wrong way to make Chicken Noodle soup. I love soup! and I am super excited that it is once again soup session!!!!! :) Bring on the soup recipes!

The Ingredients.

Broth.

1 chicken fryer (whole chicken)

Enough water to cover the chicken

1 TBSP Lemon Pepper

1/4 - 1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/2 TBSP - 1 TBSP garlic, chopped

1 TBSP Italian Seasoning

1 - 3 Bay leaves

***Sometimes I add a chicken bouillon cube.

Soup.

(I really don't ever use the same amount so just use your best judgement)

Carrots

Celery

Onion

Potato

Noodles, Rice, or Quinoa

The Directions.

In a large pan or crockpot cook the chicken fryer with the broth ingredients. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked and falling apart. Set aside chicken and let cool. Meanwhile, cut up the vegetables you would like in the soup.

I strain out all the onion, garlic and some of the Italian season from the broth. I also try to get out the layer of fat on the top of the broth. I don't use all the broth. I usually pour out some broth (into a freezer safe jar and freeze the extra) because we like less broth and more vegetables and chicken!

De-bone your chicken fryer and add meat back to the pot. Add carrots and onion first. Cook until the carrots are tender. Then add the celery and potato. Finally add the noodles and cook according to the package.

This is always a crowd pleaser!!!! :) Like I said there are so many ways to make Chicken Noodle. I am sure I will post more variations soon!

*** I sometimes add Parmesan cheese to the finished product to add a little extra flavor.

Spicy Tomato Mac 'n' Cheese

Need a warm up from a cold day. This is the best comfort food with a slight twist.

The Ingredients.

1/2 pound penne pasta

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter

1/2 medium-sized sweet onion, chopped

1 (8 ounce) loaf Mexican-style pasteurized prepared cheese, cubed (See Options)

1 cup sour cream

1 (14-1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained (see Options)

The Directions.

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain well.

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat; add onion, and saute 3 minutes, or until tender. Add cheese, and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Stir in sour cream, blending well.

3. Stir in tomatoes and pasta; cook constantly, for 5 minutes, or until thoroughly heated.

Options.

1. For less kick use regular pasteurized prepared cheese.

2. For less kick you can also use regular diced tomatoes without green chilies.

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Oatmeal cookies have always been a favorite of mine. I always love to try to come up with new twists...

Here is a YUMMY Thanksgiving twist on Oatmeal cookies!

The Ingredients.

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 6-ounce package Dried Cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

The Directions.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in sweetened dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Banana-nut Bread

I really don't like wasting food. Banana's don't usually go to waste in our house but when they do.... I LOVE this recipe!

Ingredients:
2 large very ripe bananas
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole-wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly-grated nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 TBSP lemon or orange zest
3/4 c. toasted, chopped walnuts
2 large eggs
3/4 c. firmly packed dark brown sugar
6 TBSP unsalted butter, melted
1/2 c. 2% milk
Demerara or Turbinado sugar, for dusting (optional)
walnut halves, for decoration (optional)

Directions:
1. In a dry skillet, toast walnuts until fragrant. Set aside to cool before chopping.

2. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour or spray one 9x5 loaf pan or three mini loaf pans.

3. In a small bowl, mash the bananas. You should have about 1 1/2 c.

4. In a medium bowl, stir together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, citrus zest, and chopped walnuts. Set aside.

5. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine eggs, brown sugar, butter, and milk. Beat on medium-low speed until just blended.

6. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three batches, alternating with the bananas, and beginning and ending with the dry mixture. Do not overmix.

7. Pour the batter into prepared pan or pans and smooth the top. If desired, sprinkle Demerara or Turbinado sugar over the tops and stud with a lone of walnut halves.

8. If making one loaf, bake approximately 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. If the surface gets too brown, cover with foil for the last 15 minutes. If making mini loaves, put the three pans on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes.

9. When done, remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool in the pans for five minutes. If making one loaf, turn out onto the wire rack after five minutes to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for two to three days or freeze for up to one month.

Crockpot 16 Bean Soup

As I mentioned in the previous post I have been put on a strict diet of little sugars to no sugars at all. I have been having to become a little creative with my family meals. Today I made 16 Bean Soup. There are so many ways to can make this. I do not eat any PIG so I made it with Chicken Broth.

The Ingredients

1 bag of soup mix (if it comes with a flavor packet, throw it away. The ingredients are scary.)

1 onion

3 cloves chopped garlic

2 t of your favorite spice rub

1 can of Italian-style tomatoes

4 cups chicken broth (mine was homemade from the freezer)

water***

salt (add the salt at the last minute, a teaspoon at a time, according to taste)

***It is up to you how much water you use. I did not measure, but covered the beans completely and filled the 6qt oval crockpot two to three inches from the top. If you want more broth, use more water, if you want it thick and beany,use less.

The Directions.

cook on low all day. Soup tastes the best the longer you cook it, and it tastes even better the next day.

I haven't forgotten

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lack of recipes this week... I have been put on a strick diet for a couple of weeks. Trying to keep the baby in longer so I don't get to enjoy yummy meals.

NO SUGARS what so ever until the Doctor tells me otherwise.

That means... No breads, No candy and other obvious sugars, Nothing to drink but water, NO apples, oranges, bananas, my list goes on.

I will be back with recipes soon!!!