Christmas Cookies #2-Sugar Cookies

FINALLY...the sugar cookie recipe has arrived!  I tell you it took a while, this week has been insane but better late then never!!  Remember way back to Monday when I posted my Cookie Kit gift idea?  Well this sugar cookie recipe is what I use to create them.  You could definitely buy the sugar cookie dough premade and save your self the step of making the dough but if you make this recipe you WILL NOT be disappointed.  When I told my Tater's that I was going to post this recipe he was pretty upset.  He did not want to share!  He loves this cookie and wants it for himself!  Lucky for you I am a little more generous.

I have had this recipe for so long that I can't even remember when I got it.  I believe that it was originally a Betty Crocker recipe but I have adapted it to my own likings over the years.  The addition of Cream Cheese helps this cookie stay nice and moist for a long time (although they won't last that long), they also freeze well for about a month.

To make the sugar cookies you will put 8oz. of cream cheese and 1 cup of butter/margarine in a mixer and beat until light and fluffy.  At this point add 2 cups of sugar and beat again.  Once combined add 1 teaspoon of baking power, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and one egg, combine.  Then you add 3 1/2 cups of flour (not all at once...a little at a time) to the mixture and mix until well incorporated.

Divide the dough in half, spoon onto plastic wrap and make two round discs.  Refrigerate for 4 hours, overnight or until easy to handle (although the dough will still remain soft).

On a lightly floured surface roll each portion to 1/4 inch thick.  Do not roll out too thin...a good sugar cookie is thick and soft (or at least to me it is).  Cut in desired shapes using cookie cutters and place about 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottom is slightly browned.  Cool on wire rack and decorate as desired.  This recipe will make about 24 large cookies.

I have most likely made this recipe more than any other recipe I have ever had.  I know there are good sugar cookie recipes out there but this one is my FAVORITE of all time.  I am always on the lookout for the perfect recipe for a particular item and now that I have this one I do not need to look any further.  I hope that you try it and enjoy it as much as Tater has.  Sweet sugar-J

Christmas Decor

I know that I had promised you my awesome recipe for sugar cookies the last couple of days but between battling a migraine and the 6th grade fundraiser I am in charge of it will have to wait a day or two.  I will get it posted though...I promise.

I had such an overwhelming response (thank you) to my Thanksgiving Decorations post that I decided to go ahead and post for Christmas too.  I absolutely, positively love decorating for all holidays but Christmas is like the holiday with extra caramel and mini chocolate chips for me (believe me...that's good).  My mom always set such a beautiful scene at our home for Christmas when I was a child and I love to recreate that for my children. 

I must admit that I decorate a few days after Thanksgiving but I don't leave it up after Christmas!  I'm usually the one you see with the dead Christmas Tree laying in the front yard about noon on Christmas day.  I don't know what it is...I love it...I just don't want it to continue a day past Christmas.  My mom was always good kept our tree up until the New Year but I just can't do it! 

I'm in a new home which is a fun challenge for me to find new ways to display my decorations.  It gets my creative juices flowing but it takes me a lot of time.  I'm too picky about it...I know.  So here is a peak into Lightle Wonderland...

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Love my fireplace and mantel...

Reading nook...complete with Nativity Scene...

Some candy wreaths, candles and garland finish my hutch perfectly...

My newly made burlap banner...

Country trees, snowflakes and candles on my buffet (favorite place to decorate)...

Table Centerpiece...

My kitchen tree...love the ornaments...

Even my kitchen bookshelves get a little holiday spirit...

So there you have it.  I hope you are having as much fun decorating your home as I did mine.  Sweet holidays-J

The winner of my Ladies Night ticket give away is Cindy Lane...thank you to Cindy and everyone else who participated.  I can't wait to see everyone tonight!!!

Handmade Christmas-Cookie Kits

Since I have been on the handmade Christmas kick my mind has been racing.  I have quite a few gifts in mind but today's idea is a Cookie Kit.  It can be done in a couple of different ways.

The first way that I am going to show you is what I would call the complete package.  The picture below is one that I donated a few months ago for a Halloween Silent Auction but it can be adapted for any holiday.  I baked 1½ dozen sugar cookies (I have an amazing recipe that I will post tomorrow), tinted some store bought cream cheese frosting (but you could make your own), a few packages of sprinkles and some plastic knives.  Everything someone you love would need to make some wonderful and tasty cookies with their own special touch.

To me it is all in the presentation.  I used cute little canning jars topped with fabric and tied with yarn to put the frosting in.  I also purchased small cellophane bags at Walmart to nestle the sprinkles in and topped it off with coordinating ribbon.  The cookies were pumpkins and candy corn (surprise) but for Christmas you could make them trees, holly, Santa hats, stockings or even a simple circle.

The second idea is just a variation on the same sugar cookie theme.  You could make or buy sugar cookie dough.  Give a few cookie cutters, frosting and sprinkles but they recipients would actually bake the cookies and decorate them. 

For presentation I would wrap the dough in parchment paper and tie both ends with ribbon or twine.  You could package the frosting and sprinkles just like above.

Either way would be such a great gift.  I can't wait to give them to a busy friend with kids...they can have homemade cookies for Santa, she can just open the package and let her children dive in.  I hope you find someone special to give a Cookie Kit to because I think any gift that can help a mom out is a great one.  Sweet cookies-J

More Handmade Christmas-Popcorn Gift Basket

One of my favorite things to do with my family (especially during the long winter months) is to have a movie night at home.  Being cozy by the fire, in your warm jammies and surrounded by those you love is a wonderful feeling.  For a few of my friends I am going to create the atmosphere for them.  All they will need to do is run to the Red Box or hit the Rent button on the TV remote.


I found these awesome popcorn containers at the Dollar Store and just couldn't help myself.  By adding a few of their favorite Movie Theatre goodies and some super cute filler (also a Dollar Store find) you can create a gift that anyone would LOVE to receive...

The best part about handmade gifts is that they are thoughtful and let your friend or family member know that you took time to think about them personally.  I think a little individual bucket for someone would also be a great gift (especially for a child)...

You could add a movie or a movie ticket/gift card, any kind of candy or popcorn that they love and you have gift that someone will be so happy to receive and even happier to use on a cold night in front of the television with the people they love.  Sweet popcorn-J

Christmas Cookie #1-Pecan Bars

It's December 1st and I am so excited to share this recipe with you.  I made them for Thanksgiving and loved them way to much (lets just say that I lost count at 5).  Pumpkin, cranberries, nuts and warm spices fill the air this time of year.  It is a fabulous time for baking because there is so much food inspiration everywhere!  I love the taste of pumpkin desserts but wanted to do something different.  Instead I thought that a nice and decadent Pecan Bar with a shortbread crust would be perfectly delicious.  I am always on the lookout for yummy recipes, especially this time of year when there are so many places to go and bring a great dish.

It is just something a little different but with the same wonderful flavors of the holiday season.  To make the pecan bars you will start with the shortbread crust.  Beat together 2 sticks and 2 Tablespoons of butter with 3/4 cup of brown sugar for about 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.  To that add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and mix well.  Then you will add a total of 3 cups of flour...1 cup at a time, making sure that each cup is incorporated before adding another.  It will be crumbly and look like this...

Press into a 9x13 pan that has been greased.  It should be an even layer about 1/4" thick.  Prick with a fork all over the crust and pop in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or until cool.  Then bake at 375° for 16-18 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool on wire rack until completely cooled.

For the filling you will add one stick of butter, 6 Tablespoons of honey, 1/2 cup of light brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream to a saucepan and cook on high until it boils.  Let it boil for about 1 minute, stirring constantly and then remove from heat and add 2 cups of pecan halves and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.  Pour over cooled crust and put in a preheated 325° oven for 15 minutes or until bubbly on top.  Remove from oven and let cool completely (I let mine cool over night).

Run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen bars and remove onto wire rack.  From there invert it back to a cutting surface and cut with a serrated knife.

I must say that I think I may have overcooked the shortbread a little bit (which is why I am having you only bake it for 16-18 minutes and not 18-20 minutes).  It gets baked twice so it doesn't need that much baking time.  The topping is amazing and the honey adds really nice touch.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.  Sweet pecans-J

Handmade Christmas-Picture Memories

Over the years I have really whittled down my shopping list.  I have realized that buying a gift for everyone in my amazingly large family is completely unnecessary!  My sisters and I won't even be buying for one another or each others children this year.  It just gets to be too much.  With furlough days, gas prices and other economic downfalls we all could use a little break.


I do however like to do little things for the people who have really helped me or made a difference in my year.  We all have that handful of family, friends and neighbors who we just couldn't live without...the people who put the skip in your step and the smile on your face during a bad day.  For those people and others I have decided to do a handmade Christmas.  From now until Christmas I will be giving you ideas that are inexpensive and yet thoughtful.


My first gift idea is one that you can do online.  It isn't completely handmade but it is VERY personal and something to be treasured forever!  At the photo shop of costco.com they have so many wonderful things that you can make with pictures that you download onto their site.  I think it would be so great to make a book with pictures of your families entire year together.  Trips you have taken, special events, camping, etc.  You can even add a few lines under pictures to remember a funny thing that happened or just an over cap of the day.


For about $35.00 you can have a gift for that special person on your gift giving list.  It is a gift that will touch their hearts and let them remember the year and all of the wonderful memories you have had as a family.  A preservation of your fun year together...I can't think of anything better. Sweet gifting-J


More handmade ideas to follow.  Let the holiday season begin.  Sweet gifts-J

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

Well the Christmas season has officially begun.  Black Friday is over, shopping is nearly finished, my house is decorated (except for the tree) and even my Christmas card picture has been picked...

You didn't think we would forget Jack did you??

I always love this time of year, the baking...the crafting...the wrapping...the lights...the smell of pine...the shopping and the compassion for others.  It is a wonderful time of year when people seem to think about others before themselves.  

I'm excited because I will be having two different series going on during the month of December.  The first is Handmade Christmas...ideas for making inexpensive and yet adorable gifts for those on your list.  The Second is a Christmas Cookie series, where I will be giving you recipes for my favorite Christmas cookies of all time.

Well I had better go...I have a lot of other posts to get busy on!  Please remember to enter my giveaway for a ticket to Ladies Night...Christmas, Crafts and Company.   Let Christmas season begin...Sweet December (almost)-J