Saturday, November 20, 2010

EVERYDAY SUGAR COOKIES




EVERYDAY SUGAR COOKIES
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Sift flour and baking powder.
Add half of the flour mixture, stir in milk and vanilla, then the remaining flour mixture. Mix only until combined.
Cooks Tip: Flour absorbs more or less liquid at different times of the year or due to humidity in the atmosphere or type or quality of the flour. You may
need to adjust by adding more flour than is called for (or more liquid) to get the right consistency of dough for easy rolling. A general rule in all baking
is to add a few tablespoons of flour at a time when your recipe is too sticky, or a few teaspoons water when your mixture is too dry or crumbly, until
your mixture is just right for what you're making.
Keep in mind that adding more flour will make a heavier and drier cookie, so add flour sparingly, only if needed. After refrigeration, more flour is absorbed
and this can help make rolling out easier, too, which is why cookie dough is often refrigerated.
Wrap mixture in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or more before rolling out 1/4-inch thick on a lightly floured work surface. Cut into shapes.
Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon sugar or grated nuts, if desired.
Variations: Adjust the taste of the cookie dough as you prefer it; you may want to substitute lemon or orange flavoring for the vanilla extract, or various
kinds of flavored liqueurs. Some vanilla brands bake off and leave behind little flavor; if you're using one of these, or old vanilla, you may want to
add 2 tsp. instead; you be the judge. Never use artificial vanilla - use only good quality brands.
Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly golden on edges of cookies (depends on size). Decrease oven temperature if cookies
are browning too quickly.


*** Billie's notes
I don't have much space to roll out cookies, but I mixed together 1/2 cu sugar, 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon Ginger and 1/2 teaspoon Poppy seeds.. mixed well together. dropped a small spoonfull of dough into the sugar, rolled it around a bit, then put on the cookie sheet. Bakes for 10 minutes at 350F.


Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com/

Moderation, not deprivation, is the key to a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

309/274





November 20, 2010 Good Morning

For Today... November 20, 2010
Good Morning.
(10am,) Just got back from the morning walk, and some dog training. The man who feeds the horse was getting it's feed from the shed and I made the dogs sit and watch without noise. We did get to speak before Macon started to bark.  I can't take the dogs to the trees behind the camper today as the camper on that side has someone visiting, with dogs. Not going to risk a dog fight. Have to wonder when the dog is tied up to a tree outside but is in the truck just how bad a dog is it?  We ate at the Mall last night.. Oh boy.. didn't know what we were getting in to.  Seems that Santa was due any time when we got there. We had Chick fil a. It was ok. There was music playing. Mostly Christmas while everyone was waiting for the man in the red suit. I had to wonder though, what Sweet Home Alabama has to do with Christmas in Mississippi.  It was the last song played before "Here comes Santa Clause" was played. We walked around a little and Jerry picked up a new pair of work boots. I asked him for his old boots. It will be spring before I "need" them for an idea I have of planting them with a couple of flowers and putting them by the doorway. I want to put moss rose in one and marigolds in the other. I also wanted the box the new boots came in. I'll have to pull it back out of the van as well.  I have a bit of loose stuff over my bed that could go into that box and clear up some space. Jerry didnt think about that.
 
He loved the cake I made yesterday. Wants me to make more like it.  Next time I may add some cocoa to it.
I have a recipe I want to try today. As soon as I finish writting this I'm go mix it up. If it turns out like it should,I'll post it this afternoon.
 

Outside my door ... Oh so nice.. The sun is shining and it's just the right tempature to walk outside without a jacket on.
 
The dogs ... Had their walk this morning, did some stay training and then they got the treat of some spilled dry cat food. The Kittens spilled it on ROckys kennel and since it wasn't much and they did fairly well with this mornings walk, I brushed it off onto the floor for them to seek and find. They loved it.
The Kittens ... are playing hard. from the Bathroom to the Living room (all 3o foot or so of inside space) they are racing, jumping and pouncing on each other, the dogs' rope. Me.. what ever is in the way.
From the kitchen...  Dinner will be Hamberger patties with Chili on top. After we eat we will go food shopping. Oh yeah.. Today I'm baking some sugar cookies to see if it's a recipe I want to keep or not.
 
I am hearing... some movie on the tv, motor coaches leaving, the fan on the heater. the dogs bark every now and then and the kittens trompling through the camper.
 
I am wearing... light grey sweat pants and my wild and free tshirt.
 
I am reading... recipes and emails
 
Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com/

Moderation, not deprivation, is the key to a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

309/274





Friday, November 19, 2010

I have this in the roaster/oven right now





I just made this cake in my "New" roaster/oven. I just had to try it and since Spice cake is one of Jerry's favorite cakes I figured why not.


Easy One Egg Cake
1 1/4 cup flour
2/3 c milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 c shortening
2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Ginger

1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp Salt
1 egg



heat oven to 350°. Grese and flour bottom of a 8 to 9 inch round cake pan, or 8 inch square pan. Blend all the ingredients at low speed on the mixer until moistened. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a pick come out clean. Bake cupcakes for 18 minutes, or pick come out clean.


Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com/

Moderation, not deprivation, is the key to a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

309/274





"Corney Cookies

In a message dated 11/19/2010 12:37:42 PM Central Standard Time, MountainRose57@aol.com writes:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYLEjnxRUZocuhaUvaoy9wRKGVlOI2S-_9S4espxgTw9zbITeavAkfS-jRmRK9Tn9btnhbld-CtmIDY7NF2ecusLaFlg5SMz9Fp7KBA__pObrvM3syMbCYHARC5y4eXn6tV0GdE6ZCtE/s1600/corny-cookies-thanksgiving-recipe-corn+cookies.jpg

CORNEY COOKIES

These candy-topped treats are a blast for kids to help decorate for your feast -- or a Thanksgiving school party. You can use the sugar cookie recipe here or store-bought dough.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Vanilla frosting
Green fruit leather
M&M's or Reese's Pieces candies

DIRECTIONS:

Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the flour a little at a time until the ingredients are well combined. Chill the dough for several hours or overnight.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Divide the dough into 3 parts. Working on a floured surf ace with one part at a time, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a knife, cut out corncob shapes about 4 inches long. Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 9 minutes or just until the edges brown. Let the cookies set on the sheets for about 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frost the cooled cookies. Next, use kitchen shears to cut husks from the fruit leather to fit the sides of each cookie. Press the husks in place atop the frosting, with the tips down a bit. Now fill in the middle with candy kernels gently pressed into place. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies


Moderation, not deprivation, is the key to a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!