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Christmas Cookie Recipe
My sister-in-law and I decided on Thursday of last week that we were going to throw a holiday party on Sunday. We would invite our girlfriends over to decorate cookies and exchange baking themed gifts. 3 days til go time, I started researching the best sugar cookie recipes. The Pillsbury roll of pre-made dough just wasn't going to cut it for this party. We needed a recipe that would taste good, but would hold its shape in the oven.
After a bit of research, I decided Sweet Sugar Belle's recipe would be the best for our experiment. The cookies on her website are unbelievable! She has a serious gift. It's going to take more than one cookie party for me to get on that level. It may have taken 3 batches and a bit of modification, but I ended up with great results!
Ingredients:
- 1 Two sticks of real unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 tsp of vanilla (Sweet Sugar Belle likes Almond extract, I prefer vanilla)
- 2 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine together softened butter and confectioner’s sugar
- In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg with the vanilla
- Combine the egg/vanilla with butter and sugar in large bowl
- In a third bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the bowl of butter, sugar, vanilla and egg. I did 1/2 cup at a time, stirring between until it was completely mixed. It shouldn't be too sticky at this point.
- Roll out onto parchment paper to about a 1/4 inch thick (NOTE: Do NOT use wax paper in the oven. You WILL smoke out your house....oops)
- Use your cookie cutters to make the shapes
- Bake for 5 minutes at 400 degrees.
Bake time will differ depending on your oven, so just watch carefully. My first batch caused the whole house to smoke after just 3 minutes because of the wax paper. Seth and Soldier actually had to leave, but I was committed. I left the second batch in for 6 minutes, as suggested by Sweet Sugar Belle. They were black on the bottom. By the third, I had hit the spot. 5 minutes at 400!
All my ingredients separates into bowls!
These cookies on the wax paper didn't see what was coming ... :(
Not a bad ratio in the end!
After a solid 3 hours, I was satisfied with my results. The icing holds best when they sit for a day before icing. So on the counter they sat...until Soldier came along.
I'll end this post with the picture below picture. See the two empty plates, and quite a few candy canes missing off of a third? This is what happens when you leave a 6 month old golden retriever home alone with 12 dozen cookies. I didn't even know the pup could reach that high. I found out. And then I cried. And then I rushed to make another batch before the guests arrived!
Gift Guide Day 5 - The Weekender!
I can't say I have ever been super excited to buy luggage for myself... except maybe when I just had to have the lime green Vera Bradley duffel in 2007. Didn't everybody? But when I saw this weekend bag at a local boutique in Lexington, my heart sank. But $225!? I can't spend that on a travel bag for myself for no reason! It is officially on my Christmas list, and now my gift guide! Problem solved.
The Spartina Barrel Duffle has so many things going for it...
- It is on trend with the hounds-tooth pattern. They also have a couple other fun patterns.
- It would fit in the over head compartment, which is HUGE for when I fly to Chicago to Lexington in those tiny planes
- It looks professional for work trips
- It has interior and exterior pockets for OCD organizers like me!
- It has super durable leather straps that fit comfortably over your shoulder
I'll take one, please!
Gift Guide Day 4 - C Wondeful
A friend of mine gave me some really cute monogrammed candles and soaps from C Wonder for my birthday. Thanks Ali! Weirdly enough, I had just seen their monogrammed storage boxes when I was having drinks at another friend's apartment. Between the two, I felt like I was missing out on the world of C Wonder.. I was extremely excited to check out the site. Gold mine! And today they are having a SURPRISE SALE! with some amazing gift ideas.
I am totally obsessed with this jewelry box.This is such an amazing storage solution for your jewelry/cosmetics because it actually looks pretty on top of a vanity. If you know me at all, you know that organization solutions are my everything. Extra points for being aesthetically pleasing!
Gift Guide Day 3 - Tis the Seasoning
Homemade treats and little DIY projects are great gift for co-workers and neighbors. This jar of seasoning is the perfect combination between the two. And it won't break the bank! You can get a crate of 12x mason jars for under $10 on amazon. Then I spray paint the tops with chalk board paint so it is easy to label. Add some burlap ribbon to spice it up! Packaging is everything!
This recipe works on steaks, chicken, seafood and pork! This will make for about 12 mason jars full of season!
- 3 Cup Sea Salt
- 3 Cup Garlic Powder
- 3 Cup Onion Poweder
- 1 and 1/2 Cups Black Pepper
- 1 and 1/2 Cups Paprika
- 1 Cup Basil
- 1 Cup Parsley
- 1Cup Dill
- 1 Cup Thyme
Gift Guide Day 2 - Heartfelt Photo Books
I have another thoughtful gift idea
to add to my gift guide, and I know it turns out great from first hand
experience! Back when I threw my sister-in-law a baby shower, the other hostess
and I gave her a photobook from Shutterfly after the event. It turned out so
cute that the grandmothers wanted one too! I am signed up for Shutterfly's
emails blasts and they always have great deals on their books. Plus it is super
easy to put together. They make for a very heartfelt and thoughtful gift that
any mother would love!
Here are some examples from
their website....
Back to Reality - Gift Guide for Christmas Shopping!
The last week has been a whirlwind. We went back to Chicago for Thanksgiving where I was able to spend time with family and friends, and take care of a lot of wedding details. Then we got back to Lexington and it was my birthday! Now that Thanksgiving and my birthday have passed (both were amazing!), it is back to reality. That means work and Christmas shopping. Lot's of Christmas shopping.
I thought I would do a little gift guide over the next few days. I love giving personal and thoughtful gifts. And oddly enough, I love receiving gift cards. Not so personal. Maybe I should take a hint and just cave on the gift cards. But unless someone says "get me a gift card", I am going to put in a real effort and give them something I know they will love!
My friend Tara told me about the Coordinates Collection jewelry, and since then I have been seeing them everywhere. If you are looking for a thoughtful gift, it doesn't get any better than these. Here is how it works. Everyone has a special place. Coordinate Collection allows you to wear it on your sleeve. You type in the city and state, and they give you the coordinates. Then they custom engrave your peice of jewerly.
I would do Chicago (where I am from) and Oxford, Ohio (where Seth and I met in college).
The Legend bracelet is my favorite bracelet. Great for stacking!
The Legend ring is also amazing!
And the Legend necklace is my favorite necklace.
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