I'm Alive. Eat a Cookie.

I'm alive. I'm ok. I'm just a bad blogger lady. Thanks to all of you who showed concern.

I started this blog with the intention of pushing me into living a fuller life with goals, passions, beauty, and lots of food. It really has done that for me, but with many changes and events going on, the blog had to go to the back-burner for a little bit.

So here I am. I'm back.

Now, just because I haven't been blogging doesn't mean I haven't been cooking and baking. Far from it... I've been baking like a mad woman.

Something that may be a bit unusual about me is that I tend to not repeat recipes. Not because I don't love the recipes I've tried, but because I'm excited to try new and different delights!

And then I found these sugar cookies... in the last two weeks I have made these cookies 3 times. They are glorious! Plus, you can whip them up in about an hour and half. PLUS, they're pretty :)

Friends, family and co-workers always love cookies, but another group of people who REALLY love cookies that you may not know about is the residents at The Ronald McDonald House in your city.

If you didn't know, The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for those who have children in the hospital, and they love receiving baked goods. It really adds to that sense of home.

So whip these puppies up! Save a few for you, give some away to those around you, and give some away for those in need of a little comfort.

Soft Sugar Cookies

recipe adapted from University of Cookie

cookie ingredients:

11 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 1/3 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, 5 minutes. On a medium speed, add in the eggs and vanilla until well mixed. On a low speed, add in baking powder, salt and flour and mix until it comes together (it looks like it won't, but give it some time and the flour will incorporate and looking like traditional cookie dough). Roll into walnut sized balls and flatten with your palms. Place about 2 inches apart on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes. They won't look finished, but they are, trust me. Let set on the baking sheet until cool enough to move over to a wire rack. Cool completely before frosting (to speed up the cooling process, stick the pans in the refrigerator).

frosting ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
food coloring of choice

Cream your shortening and powdered sugar together for a few minutes. Add in your milk and vanilla, and beat until very smooth. Add in your food coloring.

Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Jill