Anyway, in an effort to keep busy/kill time waiting for baby sister to come, Griffin and I decided to make Valentine's day cookies. Well, I made the cookies, and frosted them, and he helped decorate. A little.
My Mom's Morning girls had participated in a cookie bake awhile back and shared their yummy sugar cookie and icing/frosting recpies. I hope they're not special family recipes we were supposed to keep to ourselves, because here they are!
Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 C sifted powdered sugar
1 C butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond flavoring
2 1/2 C flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cream of tarter
Directions:
Cream sugar and butter. Mix in vanilla, almond and egg. Blend dry ingredients together; stir in (do not use mixer). Chill 2-3 hours. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface. Bake 375 for 8 min or just beginning to turn golden on edges.
Sugar cookie Frosting
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup shortening
5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspon vanilla extract
food coloring
Directions: In a large bowl, cream together the confectioners' sugar and shortening until smooth. Gradually mix in the milk and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth and stiff, about 5 minutes. Color with food coloring if desired |
Side Note: I'm not a big "baker," so I had some questions while looking through these recipes. But first I have to admit that I did not own a rolling pin and had to borrow one from my neighbor:). So to all you expert bakers: how thick would you suggest the dough to be when rolling it out? (I made mine a little thicker than a fruit leather strip) Is 'sifting' the sugar necessary? (I didn't do it.) What kind of milk would you use (1% ok?)? And, what is cream of tarter, and why is it a powder and not in the 'dairy' section of the grocery store?
I always get a little nervous 'baking.' It seems so precise and exact compared to cooking....but each of these recipes were pretty simple and I think the cookies turned out ok....
....a little thicker than a fruit leather...
Placed them on a baking sheet (didn't grease it...because it didn't say to...)
And let them cool on tin foil (so I could use my one baking sheet for subsequent batches).
I was a little disappointed in the purple...it's more lavendar than the "go viking" variety I was going for, but it's still pretty cute:)
While watching the "State of the Union," I frosted cookies....
Lots of cookies....
Piles of cookies....
One of the reasons I have never made sugar cookies before is that they really aren't my favorite. I much prefer sweets of the dark chocolate variety. But in this case, making cookies I don't really like helped me to refrain from eating them all.
I did eat a few....come on, I'm 38 weeks pregnant:)
As you can see, I decorated most of the cookies before Griff was even involved in the project.
I think I made total like 70 something cookies. I probably did 50 the night before and left 20 plain purple, pink and white for Griff and me the next day.
Then I gave him the baggies (which he also proceeded to lick) and another cookie and let him add a few drizzles to some pre-decorated cookies. Thankfully I was done decorating:)
He was very proud of himself and even fell for the purple as a "go viking purple cookie."
It was a good exercise in fine motor control...see educational and yummy!
He definitely liked the "pile up" look.
Our first baking experience was a success....even though he was only part of it for a few minutes, he's still talking about, "Mommy and Giffy decorating cookies!"
While watching the "State of the Union," I frosted cookies....
Lots of cookies....
Piles of cookies....
One of the reasons I have never made sugar cookies before is that they really aren't my favorite. I much prefer sweets of the dark chocolate variety. But in this case, making cookies I don't really like helped me to refrain from eating them all.
I did eat a few....come on, I'm 38 weeks pregnant:)
As you can see, I decorated most of the cookies before Griff was even involved in the project.
I think I made total like 70 something cookies. I probably did 50 the night before and left 20 plain purple, pink and white for Griff and me the next day.
After lunch, (and yes-I highly recommend doing this on a full stomach:) I broke out the cookies and the decorating frosting (in plastic baggies), and let Griff have at it. I guess my teaching skills have gone downhill after being out of the biz for a few years because the first thing he did was lick the cookie. I let him eat that one...
I quickly realized that he was more interested in eating the cookies than decorating them (DUH!). So, while he ate his first cookie, I decorated all but a few.Then I gave him the baggies (which he also proceeded to lick) and another cookie and let him add a few drizzles to some pre-decorated cookies. Thankfully I was done decorating:)
He was very proud of himself and even fell for the purple as a "go viking purple cookie."
It was a good exercise in fine motor control...see educational and yummy!
He definitely liked the "pile up" look.
Our first baking experience was a success....even though he was only part of it for a few minutes, he's still talking about, "Mommy and Giffy decorating cookies!"
Yum! These are super cute! You should enter your photos from this project into Craftbaby's Hearts Craft Challenge :-) http://www.craftbaby.com/contests/43/those-tiny-toes-hearts-craft
ReplyDeletexo,
Candie