Tuesday, February 14, 2012

. . . Cookie Time Tuesday--Grocery Store Frosted Cut Out Sugar Cookies . . .

Happy Valentine's Day! 

 You know those amazing cut out cookies you see in the grocery store that are round and frosted and have sprinkles on them?  You always buy them for your kids promising you won't eat any but somehow you manage to eat more than the kids do?  Oh, wait, that isn't you doing that, it is me!

I found this "copycat" recipe over at Authentic Suburban Gourmet for the Lofthouse Brand Cut Outs and knew I had to give it a go!  These didn't turn out quite like those but they are still really good.  After making them all and letting them cool completely I realized that 7 minutes of baking time in my oven was probably a bit too long.  I would say that I should have done more like 5 to 6 minutes to have these turn out as soft as the grocery store cookies.  The flavor is great and the frosting is a real keeper!  I liked that it hardened up just enough that it doesn't smear all over everything when you package them.  The frosting has a nice sweet taste but not overly so.

I hope you enjoy these cookies!
Print recipe HERE
 You will need:
Cookies
6 cups all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 c. butter, at room temperature
2 c. granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 t. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. sour cream
Frosting
1 c. butter, room temperature
1 t. vanilla extract
4 c. powdered sugar
6 T. heavy cream
Several drops food coloring
Multi-colored Sprinkles

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 • Gather your ingredients
• Cream butter and sugar until fluffy
• Add eggs one at a time and beat well
• Add vanilla and sour cream and mix completely.  You will also add your dry ingredients and combine well.

• Divide dough in half.  Place a long sheet of plastic wrap on the counter and smooth it out and place the dough on top.
• Fold the plastic wrap over the dough
• Start pressing the dough into a rectangle shape
• Cover in plastic wrap completely and put in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours or up to overnight.

 • Once the dough has chilled you will unwrap the plastic wrap and sprinkle the top with flour.  Flip the dough over, leaving it on the plastic wrap, and flour the other side
• Roll dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut out in circles using a circle cookie cutter.  If you don't have a circle cookie cutter you can use an upside down glass with the rim dipped in flour.

 • Bake for 7 minutes at 425 degrees (I found in my oven that 5 or 6 minutes would have been better)
• Gather ingredients to make the frosting
• Cream butter and vanilla then add the powdered sugar until blended well.
• Add heavy cream one tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

 • Add food coloring of your choice.  I used Wilton Gel Color in Rose to make a hot pink.  You can see it takes just a tiny bit to make a bright frosting.
• Combine the food coloring well 
• Frost the cookies
• Add sprinkles and let the frosting set before packaging.

I added the sprinkles and gently pressed them into the frosting so they would stay put.  They look good enough to eat.

 I gave these to my son's teachers for 
Valentine's Day with a tag that says
"You are one SWEET cookie!"
 

Now don't eat too many at once--oh shoot, 
again I'm talking about ME and not YOU ! 


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Monday, February 13, 2012

. . . Simple Window Treatment . . .

A few years ago I was getting ready to host a party and wanted a new curtain on my kitchen windows.  I rushed off to the store and picked up some cloth napkins and some fluffy trim and whipped those little windows into shape.  Now, I'm in the process of switching our bedroom over to gray and green and wanted to have a pretty treatment up quickly.  I ran to Target and grabbed a 4 pack of gray cloth napkins and used some buttons I had laying around the house and now have a $10.00 window treatment that looks awesome.  
*I already had the rod from my previous curtain.

• • • • • • • • • • Simple Window Treatment

 
 • • • • • • • • • •
 • Grab some cloth napkins--the quantity will vary depending on the size of your windows.
• Use your iron to smooth out all the wrinkles
• Fold the napkins into a "triangle" by bringing two points together.  Iron them so you have a nice crease at the top.
• Place your buttons where you will want them.  Sew them on using coordinating thread.  I used gray on the green buttons and green on the black buttons.  A little detail that you can't really see unless you are up close but it looks nice.

 • Once your buttons are all sewn on you will want to iron any new wrinkles then get ready to slide them on your rod.
• I had a rod that is sort of a silver/pewter finish
• Slide the napkins onto the rod with the points down
• You will either overlap them as I did or have them meet point to point.  Just play with them to get them the way you like and you are all set.

  • • • • • • • • • •
Now you can sit back and
• • • • Enjoy the compliments

I now have to paint those walls--grrr.  I really love to paint but I hate the taping and moving furniture so I've been putting it off.  Somehow I don't think my beige walls compliment the gray and green though.

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Saturday, February 11, 2012

. . . Chocolate Iced Coffee Drink Revisited . . .

This post has been my most viewed post in the history of my blog.  I am enjoying a cup of this frosty drink right now and thought I should share it again for all of my new readers.  It really is one of the yummiest treats!  I hope you all enjoy it.

 • • • • • • iced chocolate coffee drink

I love iced coffee and make a cup everyday with some half and half and a few packs of Splenda.  I brew a big pot of coffee and keep it in the fridge so it's right ready to go when I'm ready for a cool coffee drink.  Sometimes I crave something a little richer and this drink is the perfect remedy for that craving.  So easy but so yummy--my son fights me for it if I only make enough for one cup.

• You will need Half and Half, Hot Chocolate Packets ( I like Swiss Miss.  I love that they have other flavors now too ) , Sweetner and Coffee

• Pour desired amount of half and half and coffee into blender.  Add sweetner and hot chocolate packet.  Depending on the amount of coffee and half and half I sometimes use more than one packet of hot chocolate mix.

• Run the blender until the mixture is well combined. 

•  I use a StarbucksDouble Walled Cup that I have had since they came out with them a couple years ago--it's like a Tervis Tumbler and they are great!  I fill my cup with some ice and pour the coffee mixture over it and ENJOY.

• • • •Other Iced Coffee Ideas:
• Blend some butterscotch instant pudding mix, cinnamon, half and half and coffee together and serve over ice.  This is really good with some pumpkin added to it
• Blend coffee, half and half and some caramel ice cream topping and serve over ice
• • • •What is your favorite coffee drink?
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Friday, February 10, 2012

. . . Fun Friday Finds--Purple . . .


I am a pink girl at heart but there is something about anything done in a deep rich purple that is so beautiful.  While working spending time on Pinterest I found so many beautiful photos featuring the color purple.  I know it's a favorite among many so I thought I'd share a few things that I have pinned. 


On a side note, I'm wondering if Pinterest is going to come out with a 12 step program to help all of us that are addicted? I know I'd need to be one of the first in line although there would probably be a lot of us fighting for that honor spot.

**I'd love for you to follow Itsy Bitsy Paper on Pinterest **




What is your favorite on this list?  If nothing cries out to you here leave a link to something purple that is your favorite!