Go with the flow

12.14.12-  {this post is a blast from the past but a good one!} 

It's been baking central around here.  

{Thank goodness I got this all done before the cold hit me}

*-I've baked 2 batches of Gingersnaps

{It was about 120 cookies.  The girls & I shared them at a cookie exchange party & gave them to neighbors}

This might just be the most requested recipe. Everyone loves my Grandma Hall's recipe.  

*-A huge batch of Scrabble 

{love to have a salty mix around to go with all the sweets}

You can get that recipe HERE.  I substituted Honey Nut Cheerios in the recipe this time & LoVED the little sweetness it added

& a double recipe of Sugar Cookies. 

{This is a terrific recipe, I've been making them for years.  These are one of my favorite cookies to bake & eat}

Sugar Cookies
{Have been using this recipe for years, it's the best.  Got it from Martha Stewart's Living magazine, love!} 

2 sticks of softened butter 

2 C. sugar

-Cream together & then add eggs 

2 Eggs 

-Mix together well & then add:

2 tsp. Vanilla 

1/2 tsp. salt 

1 tsp. Baking Powder 

4 C. Flour 

1 tsp. Lemon Juice 

-Cover with plastic wrap & chill for 30 minutes.  Take out of fridge, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough into desired thickness & cut into shapes. 

-The festive shapes that the cookies will become- 

-This picture makes me happy: sugar cookie dough, a rolling pin & flour sifter. I really do enjoy baking & around the Holidays is just the best!-

 Place onto an un greased cookie sheet & bake for 8-10 minutes.   

Place cookies on a cooling rack & cool completely before you decorate. 

You know that a kitchen really enjoys making Sugar Cookies all year round when there is a drawer devoted entirely to holding all the different shapes & sizes of cookie cutters.  

After the cookies have cooled  Now... comes the fun part, the decorating!  A&E decided to have a few friends over for a cookie decorating party so it was time to set the stage. 

 The Quigley's "official" cookie sprinkling plate & that's all it is used for around here.  Haha, do you have one in your house?  I'll explain.  

When we decorate sugar cookies I've always made my girls place their cookie into this plate to collect all the stray sprinkles that don't stick.  Then the last couple of cookies we decorate get all the remaining sprinkles put on them.  I think they really turn out to be the cutest cookies & it totally helps eliminate the mess. 

{TRuST Me!} 

-Ty & I got this as a wedding gift, I'm sure it was never intended to be used for Sugar Cookie decorating. It was a set of 4 but this is the only one remaining.- 

 Another sign we love to bake & decorate in our house.  We have a entire pull out drawer, on the side of the stove hood, that holds a wide array of every kind of sprinkle imaginable.  All colors of Sugar, jimmies, holiday  sprinkles. 

Recipe cards for the girls to write down their recipes on. Set out little bowls to put the frosting in.  Got these as a birthday present a couple of years ago from one of my foodie friends & I have LoVED them!  Use them for so many things.

{Thanks C}

 Some finished recipe cards. 

{I told this little friend, she had great penmenship.}

-The hubby got this paper serving trays a few years ago for a project he had & we had ToNS left over.  At first I thought,  "What are we going to do with 500 of these?"  Now, I'm a little sad we are down to just a few left they have come in so handy over the years for many things.  I'll have to get some more- 

-A couple of trays of finished cookies.  Love that you can see a bite mark out of one of them. I haven't found a Sugar Cookie I could resist either!- 

-Oh, what a sugary, sticky, island mess! Pass me the advil!-

All the mess I had to clean up made it worth it when I see this picture.  A fun, cute group of friends laughing & having a blast. 
{not to mention being very, very silly!}  

-Sugar Cookies make everyone happy, right?!- 

Still ahead on our holiday baking schedule

*-Cinnamon petal rolls 
{a giant big cinnamon roll- a family favorite for any holiday!} 
*-biscotti 
{Haven't made it for a while & it sounds good}
*-French Hot cocoa
-Cinnamon roasted Almonds
{Miss Mace made these a few weeks ago & they are GooD!! We decided we needed to make another batch just before Christmas 
She got the recipe off of Pinterest & pinned it to her board} 

Glad there is still 11 days to get all the baking done.
{& to feel a bit better}

{M}

**Oh, did you hear?  

All remaining H&H Christmas items are now 30% off!  Click the SaLE button on the right side bar to see what's still on the shelfs. 

{There is still some really great stuff so check it out. Seriously, if a certain frames doesn't sell it's going up on my shelf next week, too cute! I can't believe someone hasn't gotten it already}