Hodge Podge of Stuff

It has been a busy week and there are things that I really wanted to get posted here so I am just going to take the time and do it. Here is a quick page to show our gingerbread house activity. We have been cheating the last few years buying the Wilton kits where the house is all assembled and you just add the decorations. One of these years I am going to use the molds I bought from pampered chef. (first I have to remember where I stashed them)

I wanted to share the recipe that we used for our cookie making activity last week too. It is a great classic sugar cookie recipe. Jen shared my other sugar cookie recipe on her blog a while back but in case you missed it I'll give you it too. This one is called Carol's soft sugar cookies and they are super tasty too. I love the cream cheese frosting. The reason why I sometimes go back to the classic recipe is that they are easier for the kids to decorate and the frosting sets so that you can put them on treat plates and the frosting doesn't stick to the plastic wrap. Happy baking!!! If you make them... bring me one.

Classic Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter flavor shortening
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp milk
4-5 cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp salt

Cream the shortening and sugars together. Beat in eggs one at a time; add milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Mix into creamed mixture until well blended. Chill for one hour. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out 1/3 of the dough at a time, to about ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out with cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle with colored sugars and decors or leave plain and frost when cooled. Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden. Remove immediately to cooling rack. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Buttery Cream Frosting

In a medium mixing bowl, combine 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, ½ cut butter flavor shortening and 1 ½ tsp vanilla. Slowly blend in 6-7 Tbsp milk to desired consistency. Beat on high speed for 5 minutes.

Carol’s Soft Sugar Cookies

3 ¼ C flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ C softened butter
1 C sugar
1 egg unbeaten
1 ½ tsp vanilla
½ C thick sour cream

Sift flour, soda and salt. Cream butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix sour cream into creamed mixture along with half of the dry ingredients. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir by hand. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Divide dough in half, roll out and cut. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

½ C softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
½ lb cream cheese
3 ¾ C powdered sugar

Beat butter and cream cheese together until well blended. Add vanilla and sugar; beat until smooth.



And finally, I have been wanting to share my "home improvement" with you. Remember that red wall I was going to paint? Well, I did it and I love it. It was a treacherous wall to do up and down the ladder worrying about dripping red paint on the carpeted steps below me. I had to put a stack of books on a stair to make a platform to put the ladder on and every time I climbed that ladder, I read the label on it that warned about incorrect use leading to serious injury or death. That was a comfort - NOT!

I went to Four Sisters in Shelley and had the vinyl lettering done with the scripture from 3 John 1:4 and I am so happy with it. Wish photos did it justice, but they don't so if you are ever able to, you should come and see it for real. Whew! I feel better to have all this posted - not that you aren't all too busy to read it lol.

Ok and one more little goodie.... I love http://www.pandora.com/ You can listen to any kind of music you want to there. Check it out! Now I am off to help my kids make their gifts for grandparents. Have a great weekend.