Oh, how I heart heart day.
I've made these sugar cookies at least ten times, and they turn out differently every single time. I don't know if its the temp of the butter or the quality of the shortening or just the mood in the kitchen. But they really are no-fail.
3/4 c. shortening (I use butter-flavored crisco, usually)
1 c. butter (I sometimes use cheap margarine. Like I said, no-fail.)
1/4 c. cream cheese (no low-fat for this one)
1 c. sugar
1 c. powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper (Just kidding. Just checking to see if you're listening.)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tarter
4 1/2 c. flour
Cream together the shortening, butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in the salt, soda, and cream of tarter. Mix in the flour.
Roll, chill, and slice.
Or chill, roll, press.
Or chill, roll out, cut out.
Or chill, then scoop.
Once again, no fail. The ones in the picture were chilled then scooped.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Let them cool a bit on the sheet before removing them to wax paper.
And just because this is all about sharing the love,
here's the Butter-Creme Icing recipe:
2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. butter (use the real stuff this time), softened
pinch of salt
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla (be generous with it)
To make it chocolate butter-creme, add 1 1/2 squares of unsweetened chocolate, melted
Mix the sugar and butter and salt until light and fluffy. Add the milk and vanilla and mix until smooth. If it is thicker than you like, add more milk.
And more Vday....What do you do when your husband is working a double shift and its still 2 hours til bedtime? You get out the butcher paper and make a giant valentine. We decided this was our Valentine card to our own selves. Had a great time together, especially because it was divided in half down the middle into "your space and mine". That's how love works sometimes, isn't it?
Sage is doing much better. Still not herself, but no fever, and we don't hear a rattling when she breathes. I've noticed her eyes are funkier when she isn't feeling well. She has Marcus-Gunn Jaw-Wink Syndrome. Click here to see more about that. Or here's a youtube video with an example and info. We're feeling like its time to get to a pediatric optometrist and learn some more facts, plan any needed treatment, etc.
But look at that sweet sweet face.
Oh my happy heart!