Gramma Clara's Real Butter Butter Cookies and Jello frosting

I haven't blogged in forever. I miss it, I have promised myself to take the time to get back to it. I made these yummy cookies for our tailgate last night and had to share. These are the yummiest cut out cookies ever. They melt in your mouth and are perfect for every holiday and occasion. We make them every Christmas. You can decorate with sprinkles or add a frosting if you wish. Clara wasn't my Grandma, just a dear family friend that became a Grandma to me. Don't you just love friends like that!?

 

Gramma Clara's Real Butter Butter Cookies

1 cup  butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

1) Cream butter & add sugar slowly. Mix until light and fluffy.
2) Add egg and vanilla, then add sifted dry ingredient. I don't every time and they still turn out      delicious.
3) Allow to chill for about an hour. Then roll out to about 1/8" thick and cut with your favorite cookie cutters.
    Add sprinkles now if you don't want to frost them later
4) Bake at 350* for 7 minutes (or until set but not browned)
5) Allow to cool and frost.

Butter frosting

1/2 cup butter

1 pound of powdered sugar

dash of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

2-4 tablespoons milk

 

1)Cream butter.

2)Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with vanilla and milk. Add as much milk as you need to get the right consistency.

3)Tint in little bowls with food coloring and get frosting!

Jello Frosting

Mix one tub of store bought frosting with one small package of jello. Easy Peasy.

The favor is fabulous and color is perfect.

A 12th birthday party!!!

Good morning!!

I have been on a bit of a blogger hiatus for the past 3 months. Not really a conscious hiatus... life was just busy and I think I needed to decide if I wanted to continue.

So.. while I was away my baby girl turned 12. Here is peek at her birthday party. We went to Laser tag, then came back for a sleep over. (I really dislike sleepovers. I break down on occasion and let them have one. I like routine, and control so they make me crazy. Throw in too tired, cranky kids the next day.. not my thing.) I do prefer my house though.. all my people under one roof makes me sleep better. I never liked them growing up so maybe that's my problem. Every once and a while I cave.. and I'm usually glad I did.)

We are past themed parties here.. which makes me kinda sad.. but the teal and leopard  color choices were pretty cute! 

A crate paper curtain and a basement filled with balloons. Those polka dot ones are my favorite.

Our basement has a theater screen in it and has tons of potential. I haven't done anything down there since we moved in but I am slowly working on making it a cozy place courtesy of Target and antique stores!

I love details. We had coke with pizza after a couple rounds of laser tag.

 They disappeared to the basement only to come up for food. This is the pile of staying up too late that I found in the morning. They were super good though and this was one of those times I'm glad I let her have a sleep over.

We made a pancake bar for breakfast. I wish I had better pictures.. but I wasn't blogging. ;)  

peanut butter, mini chocolate chips, whipped cream, sliced bananas, blueberries and raspberries,  sprinkles (not shown) and butter. served with sausage and hot cocoa. 

(yes, I do believe there is a pancake under neath that whipped cream!)

She had a wonderful time. I can't believe my baby girl is 12, time flies. It's good to be back, see you all soon. 

Almond French Toast

I came up with this french toast when I was somehow out of vanilla.  It is a fun, simple twist on ordinary french toast. I like to sprinkle sliced almonds on mine. I adds a nice crunch and looks pretty.

Almond French Toast

3 eggs
1/2 c. milk
2 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp almond extract
1 tsp. nutmeg (I like whole nutmeg)
few dashes of cinnamon


Whisk all ingredients together in a shallow bowl. I use a pie plate. Place bread slices in to egg mixture flipping to coat but not allowing to get too soggy.

Fry on  medium hot griddle or pan. Flipping after golden brown. Garnish with powdered sugar, syrup and sliced almonds if desired.

Enjoy!

Buttermilk Pancakes and my 80-20 Rule

 I am a big fan of making things from scratch. Yes, I love to cook but mostly I like to know what is going in our bodies. I guess I have sort of created an 80-20 rule when it comes to food. If 80 percent of the time we eat real food, prepared in my kitchen and aren't eating the weird chemicals put in processed food then I don't have to feel too bad about the 20 percent we do eat. Realistically we all know our bodies weren't created to handle the chemicals we have in so much of our foods. Convenience foods have their place, even in my home... I just don't think they should be the base of our diets.

Artificial flavors, colors and preservatives are put into everything! Which is where I decided the 80-20 was a good ratio. My family wants to eat Doritos now and then. I will occasionally buy treats like frozen corn-dogs or grosser than gross... handi snacks (seriously that cheese smells like vomit.) I don't think depriving kids is the answer. Nor is depriving yourself, (I could learn to deprive myself a bit more but that is another story!) I put coffee-mate in my coffee every morning and until I find and alternative that tastes as good I'm going to continue to do it! 

We go through periods of time, usually when our schedules are off as well, when we (I) allow more fake foods into our diets. Then I have to reel it in. I allow more sugar and treats and then have to reel it in. We are back at a reeling in faze at our house. I have to get our schedules back on track and our diets. 

I clear out the cupboards and get back to real life, real bedtimes, real TV limits and real eating. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These pancakes are pretty much as easy as a mix. You need to measure 5 dry ingredients... how much longer will that take you? We love breakfast for dinner I will sometimes double or even triple this and freeze the pancakes for a quick breakfast, they are also great for a snack with peanut butter on them.

Buttermilk Pancakes


1 c. flour
1 TBSP. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 beaten egg
1 c. buttermilk
2 TBSP. oil

 whisk together dry ingredients and add to wet ingredients. mix well. pour batter on to coated (pam spray or butter) griddle, fry until edges start to bubble, flip and finish other side. Serve with real maple syrup or fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a special treat.


* if you do not have buttermilk you can make your own by combining just under 1 c. milk and 
   1 TBSP. vinegar or lemon juice. Add milk to measure 1 full cup. Sit about 5 minutes. That's it!

Yep, that is spray whipped cream, that's where the 20 % comes in. That stuff is FUN and is a special treat.

Happy Monday! ~Shelby

Christmas Tree French Toast

  I love cute food! Even though my kiddo's are 10 and 12. I still make fun food every once and a while. I can't remember a St. Patricks day I didn't make green eggs and ham for breakfast. My son has put a stop to sandwiches cut like hearts or shamrocks in his lunch, but at home he still thinks it's fun. He'd never admit that by the way.
 Christmas Tree French Toast is an idea I got YEARS ago from a Taste of Home magazine. It is so easy and cuter than cute!

Christmas Tree French Toast

• bread
• eggs and milk whisked together. I add fresh ground nutmeg, cinnamon, touch of sugar and vanilla. There are no measurements for my french toast, I just eyeball it.
• to egg mixture add green food coloring to desired color, 6-7 drops.
• Fry french toast as usual.
• Slice diagonally so you have 2 triangles.
• Stack and add a sausage link trunk. I have also used little smokies for trunks.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar "snow"
• I used red hots as ornaments but to make it just a winter tree you can omit these.

Fun, festive, easy and delicious! Enjoy!

Almost forget to check in on Family time!! We played games, Candy Land is still one of Maddie's favorites because some how she always wins, that and Sorry!, the boys played Stratego quite a few times. We also made an effort to read some of our Christmas books (I love my Christmas book collection!) We watched our family shows, as well as Polar Express. Nothing spectacular, just together time. Going to try and throw something new, fun and different into the mix next week!!!

Have a wonderful weekend! ~S