Wednesday, February 15, 2012

sugar cookies that i like

I was never a huge fan of sugar cookies except for the ones my grandma would make. She pretty much ruined every other sugar cookie I have tried since. I honestly cannot find a recipe that competes with this one. I realize every human in this world has some sort of sugar cookie recipe. 
But truly, you will throw them away once you have tried this one. 
It is the best. I am Nell-O and I stand by this message. 
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The Best Sugar Cookies in the World
(Italics added for effect)
  • 1 C butter (I didn't say these were healthy by any means)
  • 1 1/2 C sugar 
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/2 t baking soda
  • 1 T almond flavoring (this is the magic right here)
  • 2 T vanilla
  • 4 1/2 C flour (I usually add a titch more since the altitude here is elevated)
  1. Beat sugar, eggs and butter until fluffy. (I use my KitchenAid and they aren't paying me to say that...but they should). 
  2. Add rest of the ingredients and beat until mixed.
  3. Lay out a piece of SaranWrap (not paying me either) and half the dough. Lay one half on the SaranWrap and carefully roll out. 
  4. Wrap and place in the fridge. Repeat with other half.
  5. Best left for 4 hours (or overnight which I find is easiest).
  6. Roll out to a 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes and bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes.
Frosting

  • 1/2 C butter, softened (like I said, no calorie cutting with this recipe)
  • Half and Half or Cream (or I use whole milk)
  • 3 1/2 C powdered sugar
  • Almond flavoring to taste (like I said, magic)
Mix, frost and enjoy!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

valentine

Celebrating Valentine's day can sometimes become much of the same. This year we changed up a few things. First, we started the day with a Valentine breakfast which we have never done before.

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We had strawberry pancakes shaped like hearts and pink milk. We ate on red plates and had heart name tags on our chairs. Second, I didn't expect to have the doorbell ring after lunch, only to find the hubs standing on the porch with a dozen roses. It was a very pleasant surprise.

Third, in elementary school land Valentine's day is celebrated on the 13th instead of the 14th. (Who knew?) So the annual Valentine's day manner's tea was celebrated yesterday. Mase looked pretty slick:
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Fourth, the hubs and I tried out a Valentine buffet instead of me cooking up a holiday meal.
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Yes, I was alone when I snapped the picture. Only because I didn't want to subject the hubs or our friends to a during-a-buffet-dinner picture when you are feeling besotted by food. And they were off filling up their second plateful. But what I want you to see in this picture is the women were handed a rose before we were seated. We thought that was a nice touch before stuffing our faces.

We did do a couple of things which have become tradition. We were sure to make our favorite sugar cookies.
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This actually started with my grandma. She would make one for each grandchild every year for Valentine's day. It would have our name written on it with icing and decorated all fancy. I'm not as fancy with my cookies. We stick with the hot pink icing and call it good.

And we read this book every year:
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It is still my favorite Valentine book.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

attencion

Um...yeah. So. Where were we?

As you can you tell there are a few pictures missing from this blog. I am not sure why Photobucket decided to cancel my account or take away my pictures. There is definitely something fishy about it. But here we are. Again.
What have we been up to you ask?

1.
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I am completely intrigued. Anyone else? With all the garbage on TV these days (do I sound like I'm 70?) it is nice to have a show with actual depth. With all its deserved accolades and awards, it should be on everybody's must list.

2.

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We sold our car. Why is this worth mentioning? This car has been with us for so long that we honestly felt like a piece of us was being taken from us. Feeling this way was all very new to us and weird. We brought Omi home with us from the hospital in that car. We took the kids to Canada for the first time in that car. We were a one car family for so long and this was a third child. But after actually having a third child we knew it had to go.

3.

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Yes, I despise the techno savvy of the world we live in. How accessible it is and how it has found a way into our little world. This was my Christmas present from the hubs. I realize it was for him too. I'm just grateful he didn't take a cue from Homer Simpson and give me a bowling ball with his name inscribed on it. Though it did, at first, feel a bit like that. But since I am in a three step program and step number 1 is admitting you have a problem then I feel I must tell you that I have a problem. iPad is thy name.

4.

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Do you know how many muscles are in your arm? Would you care to know? Yeah. Me either. But in order for me to truly understand medical transcription, I'm required to know. Not fun. I am waist deep in this and am completely oblivious to the basic every day. Laundry? What is that exactly?

5.

I really don't care who plays in the Super Bowl. What I like best are the commercials. If millions of dollars are spent to entertain me for a mere 30 seconds, then yes major corporations, I will partake. And how cool is it to preview them weeks before they air? This is one of our favorites:



6.

Last, but most certainly not least, I am completely obsessed with my favorite people on the planet:

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