Saturday, March 31, 2012

Cut Out Sugar Cookies for Easter















easter is just a week away!.....the time is surely flying by!
today i am getting a start on cleaning the house so i won't have so much to do at the end of
the week when i will be busy baking.

i am going to be listing several recipes and photos on foods which we prepare for easter.

i am making the dough for the cut out sugar cookies for easter.  this dough must rest in the fridge for
overnight before rolling out cookies.  then the cut cookies must rest in the fridge for several hours.
for this reason i am making the dough today, freezing it and i will take it to new york city with me
and roll and bake there and then bring the cookies home for easter.

i was thinking i might use some of the cookies as name place "cards" for our easter dinner.  (we shall
see how much time i have left at the end of the week!) i will be rolling out bunnies, carrots, eggs and
flowers.

here is the basic recipe:

2 c. all purpose flour (no need to sift)
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. baking powder
1 stick butter (no salt), at room temperature
1 c. sugar
1 egg, large
1 t. pure vanilla (not imitation)

1.  mix dry ingredients in bowl and set aside.
2.  cream butter, add sugar and then egg and vanilla, mixing well.
3.  slowly add dry ingredients, making sure to incorporate.
4.  wrap dough in saran and chill overnight.
5.  roll dough out and cut into desire shapes and place on parchment lined baking sheets. cover with saran.
6.  chill cut out dough for at least 2 hours before baking.
7.  preheat oven to *350.
8.  sprinkle sanding sugar onto cookies if desired and bake 8 - 12 minutes, depending on oven, til
edges are golden.
9.  cool on rack.  will keep for several days if kept in tight tin.


we got this recipe from martha stewart and therefore always called it "martha dough"....we would use this
same dough for our linzer tarts, which are absolutely delicious!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Grasshopper Pie for St. Patrick's Day!

this is the yummiest!....i have made this for st. patrick's day for many years now.  grasshopper pie is
a take on a drink served back in the 1950's and  it is a cinch to make.
 
1 Oreo Pie Shell (found in bakery section of food store)
1 (8 oz.) Philadelphia cream cheese, very soft (take out several hours prior to use)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 T. lemon juice
1/4 c. creme de menthe
1/4 c. creme de cacao
1 (4 oz.) frozen cool whip






Beat cream cheese til light and fluffy.  Slowly add small amount of condensed milk and continue beating.
Scrape bowl to incorporate all the cream cheese.  Then slowly add remaining condensed milk.  When
nice and smooth, add the lemon juice and the creme de menthe and creme de cacao.  Fold in cool whip.
Let chill in fridge 30 minutes.  Mound into pie crust and freeze for several hours or overnight.  Garnish
with Shaved Chocolate.  Serve right out of the freezer.   Enjoy!