~ Sugar and Spice Cookies ~

 

 

 

I made a double batch of sugar cookies yesterday.  I didn't frost them because they were made for the express purpose of having small children frost them at a party.
Let's just say they were a big hit.  There may be a few children in southern California who may have stomach aches tonight after consuming large amounts of cookie + frosting.

  I still use my original copy of the recipe from a ward (church) cook book from ... 1978.  Keep in mind that this was before personal computers and graphics programs.  Those stickers you see in the above picture were considered a classy touch.
I miss the 70's.

  The amounts in this recipe are for the double batch.  I made the dough, covered my Kitchen Aid bowl and put it in the fridge overnight.  Then I rolled out small amounts at a time (on my [floured] SilPat), continually adding fresh cold dough from the cold bowl to the scraps as I rolled out again.  If you want chewier cookies roll them thicker, crisp cookies ... thinner.

1 Cup butter-flavored shortening (1 stick)
1 teaspoon vanilla + 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon salt + 3 teaspoons baking powder
2 Cups sugar
4 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon milk
4 eggs, well beaten

Cream the shortening, vanilla/extract, salt and baking powder together.  Add sugar gradually.  Add beaten eggs.  Add the flour and spices, alternately with the milk.  Chill (see above), roll out on a floured surface and cut. Bake for 8 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

I should really wear an apron.

~ Simple Apple Cake ~

                                               

My heart is getting deep into holiday mode here, so I am really trying to eke out some Autumn while I can.  I made this Apple Cake a couple of weeks ago and what with all the sewing and giveaway winning, I haven't had a chance to give this cake her due. 

I actually froze half and then thawed it (sooner than I expected I would ... and not just for myself.) It was still delicious.

3 C flour                  1 C chopped pecans
2 C sugar                 1 T vanilla extract
1 t salt                      3/4 C oil
2 T cinnamon            3 eggs, beaten
1 T baking soda       Garnish: powdered sugar
3 apples, peeled, cored and diced

Mix flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking soda in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix apples with pecans and combine with four mixture.  In a small bowl, mix vanilla, oil and eggs together; add to flour mixture.  Place in a lightly greased and floured Bundt pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until tested done.  Let cool for 10 minutes and invert onto a serving plate.  After it's cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Bake, eat, enjoy.

Enjoy this season.
                             

~ Peachy Keen ~

I hope that your Fourth of July celebration was just swell.
Or at least as peachy as mine.
I began the day by making a peach pie.  I made one last year for the Fourth so this is clearly an annual tradition.

I'm not much of a baker, but I do like making pies.  This stems from a moment barely 3 months into married life where I took a pumpkin pie to my family's Thanksgiving celebration ... with a 1/4" thick crust.  Picture it this way ... it's as if the pumpkin filling was sitting on a layer of Lorna Doones.
I vowed on that day that I would learn how to make a decent pie crust ... and I did.

Years later, after I had perfected my crust ... but before I had a graphics program on my computer ... I passed out this recipe at a Church get together.  By way of explaination:
Shortening = Crisco's Butter Flavored Shortening
Putting the prepared/unbaked crust filled pie plate into the freezer first, sucks some of the moisture out of it (that's what a "self-defrosting" freezer does) and thereby makes it flakier.

Here is my completed peach pie.  I got the filling recipe from Cooks.com. 

Flaky ... and Patriotic.
A winning combo, indeed.

I saw these Sailboat Deviled Eggs at Completely Coastal  and made them for our celebration. I think deviled eggs are always nummy.
These were Nummy ... and Nautical.

Here's my latest project on the design wall. Stay Tuned.

Did I mention that we watched the fireworks here in SoCal with sweatshirts on?  I actually saw a woman walk by in a down coat.  That was not necessary ... but it was chilly.
I watched with a five-year old on my lap and felt warm and cozy. Since the majority of the firework's shows I have attended were in 100+ degree temps, I am not complaining at all.

Do tell ... how was your celebration??