My favorite Sugar Cookies

I have to share this recipe with you.  This is a recipe I got from mine and Kevin's first neighbors, Justine and Matt. They lived on the other end of the duplex apartment we lived in. We were both newly married couples so we would switch recipes. She shared it with me because her husband loved these and she thought I would enjoy them.  I was so upset because I had lost my recipe I had for years. Thank goodness for facebook because we are friends and I just facebooked her and a few hours later I had it.  I hope you all enjoy this as much as we do.  Thanks Justine!

 

 Preheat oven to 350

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

 Mix dry ingredients together. Then mix the wet ingredients.

3/4 cup softened butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

After the wet ingredients are mixed gradually add the dry until mixed well.  Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

  

Roll out and begin cutting in whatever shape you like.  We are doing football theme because of the superbowl. Place on pans and bake for 6-8 minutes.  Do not let them get brown! Let cool and then decorate however you like.

 

  

 

 

Honey Oatmeal Bread

 

This was a recipe that came with my kitchen aid mixer.  I was really pleased with how it turned out.

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup margarine or butter

5 1/2-6 1/2 cups all purpose wheat flour (or white)

1 cup quick cooking oats

2 teaspoons salt

2 packages active dry yeast

2 eggs

1 egg white

1 tablespoon water

oatmeal

Place water, honey, and margarine in small sauce pan.  Heat over low heat until mixture is very warm.

Place 5 cups four, oats, salt and yeast in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to speed 2 and mix about 15 seconds. Continuing on speed 2, gradually add warm mixture to four mixture and mix about 1 minute.  Add eggs and mix about 1 minute longer.

Continuing on speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix about 2 minutes, or until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl. Knead on speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Punch down dough and divide in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in greased 8 1/2 x4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch baking pan. Cover. Let rise in a warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.

Beat egg white and water together with a fork.  Brush tops of loaves with mixture.  Sprinkle with oatmeal.  Bake at 375 for 40 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks. 

Snowman

 

I got the idea for this at The idea room . She tells how to make one.  I had to change a few things  , but I think it is still too cute.

Pillows

I love this pillow.  I made it for my daughters bed.  I used the same technique as the Valentine wreath except with fabric and sewed them on.

 
 

Here it is upclose.

 
 

This was just a basic pillow and I sewed rick rack just to add some lime green color, which Savannah wanted.

 

Snow Again

Here is a picture of my backyard at 9:45 this morning.  My children are out of school yet again and are eating me out of house and home already.  To be honest I am looking foward to a board game and crafting day in my PJ's.  Thanks goodness I went to Panera to get bagels and to JoAnn fabric to get my crafting supplies yesterday. Of course everyone else in this town was at the grocery store.

Sickness

I have to say that during the winter months I live in fear of someone getting the stomach bug.  It hit my family in NC last week and I felt so bad for them.  It was at a time when my brother in law was on a mission trip.  My sister had her 2 boys and my mom was helping them. They all got the stomach bug.  Now after being in 5 days with snow it hits my family.  My husband and son were so sick last night.  My day today has been spent bleaching and washing.  I know that God never gives us anything we can't handle. I have kept that in my mind all day.  God is good and will see us through.

Salty and Sweet

These are such a quick and easy snack. The kids love to make. All you do is unwrap Hershey kisses and place them on a pretzel. Put them in the microwave for about 1minute and 30 seconds. (this all depends on your microwave) then plave an M&M in the middle and let set until hard. You can change the color of the M & M's to fit the holiday season you are in. These are so quick and easy!