Sugar Cookies

Today is my Dad's birthday. He would have be 69 years old today. But really, he is only 64, 2 months and 27 days old.

My Dad on July 24, 2008 

When I think of my Dad, there are so many things he taught me and my family. He was a funny guy with a quirky sense of humor. A wealth of expressions and actions. Why we thought those funny faces and cliches were so damn funny. They are Butchies now. 

In honor of my Dad, I should post a recipe for chocolate cake w/peanut butter frosting or a peach cobbler. Those were his favorites.  That is not in me today. He had a few favorites, but really he loved good pastry. I made Sugar Cookies for a customer yesterday. They were for a 50th Anniversary party. My sugar cookies are amazing. I wish I could give him one or two....

I double the size of my cookies, to make this thick large size cookie. The cookie was not a floury tasteless dry mess. They were frosted, decorated, sleeved and bagged. They turned out to be a nice gift at each person place setting.

My Mother has made cookies also forever. My Dad always love cookies also. This recipe is not hers. 

Sugar Cookies

adapted from theprofessionalpalate.com

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper

Beat butter and sugar until white and creamy. (about 10 minutes). VERY IMPORTANT

Beat in egg, vanilla and milk

Add in four, salt and baking powder. Beat slowly until just mixed together. You can chill for an hour if you want. Most of the time I believe in chilling dough. This recipe is ok if you do not.

Scoop into balls and place on your cookie sheet. Should be about 2 inches apart.

Flatten cookies. My current method involves a flat spatula dipped in water. Use a flat bottemed glass if that works. Sprinkle with White sugar and place sheet in the oven for 10 minutes. The edges should be BARELY  brown. 

They are waiting to be flattened and sugared

A pretty renegade slipping off a tray.

So, it has been five years since we celebrated my Dad's last birthday. I do miss him and think of him often. 

Bake something today. Even a small batch of cookies. Remember the good people in your life. 

Cashew Butter Cookies

Well.... so much for my 4th of July post. Two weeks late. Good Governors, as my Grandma used to say. I came across this recipe at the end of June. I went on a search for Cashew Butter. Checked out all my local grocery stores, and no luck. Fruitful Yield (a health food, gluten free, vitamin, and other cool things store) had the Cashew Butter. It was a bit pricey. $9.25 for this jar. Use prudently and Refrigerate.

Well Cashew butter is amazing. I did not sit an gobble it down like Nutella. A couple of tastes, yummy. These Cashew Butter Cookies are lovely. A shortbread butter cookie with an fantastic undertone. Slightly crunchy on the outside and chewy and smooth on the inside. You could add ground Cashews if you wanted to. I did not have any on hand, so I stuck with the recipe. A fantastic tea cookie, or great for the beach.

Cashew Butter Cookies

adapted from bakingbites.com

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup cashew butter

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.

In a large bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in cashew butter until combined. Add in egg and vanilla extract until mix in. Reduce speed of mixer, gradually blend in flour mixture until just combined.

Shape dough into balls and place on baking sheet. Either use a fork or damp spatula and smash down. 

Bake for 9-10 minutes. Until edges start to barely turn brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

This recipe was a snap to put together. You could always chill your dough. These were made on the fly. 

The Cookies will puff slightly on then settle. They are a very nice looking cookie for any event.

We went to the beach for a cook out. Brats and Dogs and loads of sides. The Cookies were nearly gone before we ate dinner. That is ok. My Mother made this FABulous berry cobbler. It was out of this world. 

Jasmine

HELLO readers. Where have I been. NO where. Probably in my kitchen baking cookies and bars. The weather this year is SO Different than last year. It rains all the time. There has been no lawn watering. Everything is lush and green.  Little bits of air conditioning because it is cool out. The drought from last year has been flooded away. I am getting more organized with my Sweets business. My website is Fabulous. If you have a moment, check out SweetsbyShayla.com. My friend Stephanie did such an amazing job. But the Blog has so taken a back seat. This was my outlet, to tell my stories and share new recipes. The only new thing for me, is that I like Fondant. I would not eat it, but it looks great on a cake. A creative way to make so many designs. Decorating can come in so many different forms. It is mind blowing.

This is a Deluxe Tray. Four different types of Cookies, A delicious mouth watering Brownie feature earlier this year, and Gourmet Rice Krispie Treats featured last year. Scroll through the blog. The Sugar cookies will be soon. They are wonderful. 

This is Jasmine. I have had this plant for three or four years. During the winter it comes in the house, and it weeps all over the floor. Leaves such a sticky mess. The leaves seem to always get a fungus on them. It is the first plant that goes out in May. Then it cleans it self up and starts to make these delicate blooms. I always wish it would bloom more than once a year. Jasmine smells wonderful. It smells like perfume. Because of the cool summer, we have had the windows open. I sometimes catch a lovely whiff blowing in. That is such a good thing.

A box of 24 cupcakes for a customer for their Fourth of July Party. They looked so patriotic. I really wanted to sit and eat cupcakes last night at 11:30. Really, I just wanted to go to bed who am I kidding on a Tuesday night. The Flags added such a nice touch to the cupcakes. Sprinkles are just FUN.

Tomorrow, we celebrate our nation's independence. I have a new cookie recipe to try out. It contains Cashew Butter. I am excited to try something new. Thank you for taking the time to read. Be safe on this Holiday and enjoy great food and fabulous friends and family. 

Brown Butter, White Chocolate & Pecan Cookies

Today is one of my sister's birthday. She lives in Florida. I really wish I could hang out with her and eat cake, or cookies or pie. When we were younger, my Mom would make Triffle for her birthday. (Each one of us has our favorites.) Strawberries were still in season, homemade vanilla pudding and whipping cream. And Cake.  OMG amazing. Such a simple dessert could be SO showy and delicious. My Mom always used this big glass vase on a tall pedestal for this dessert. It did make a birthday special.

I have not made anything showy in awhile. Between cookies and bars for my Sweets business, a day job, and taking a Wilton Cake decorating class, my days buzz by. I am on the third level of classes from Wilton. Fondant. I was not sure I would like this class, but I like the creative side of it. I am working on Calla Lillys, Roses and Carnations.  I really like. I still like the taste of butter cream frosting, but fondant is just fun.

I have two trays to make for customers for Friday. About a month ago, I came across this recipe. It is amazing.  I love brown butter in anything. The dough is delicious and the cookies just melt in your mouth. These are a very bad habit. Even if I sell them all, there is always 1 or 2 left behind

The combination of brown butter, toasted pecans and white chocolate. The flavors just meld together and burst in your mouth with deliciousness. The recipe goes together quickly and they always set up nicely. I have made at least five batches of these cookies, always the same. YUMMY.

Brown Butter, White Chocolate & Pecan Cookies

adapted by coffeeandcrumpets.com

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup toasted chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper. Set aside

To make the Brown Butter. Place both sticks of butter in a saucepan on medium to low heat. As the butter melts, swirl around in the pan. The butter will bubble and foam up. Continue to swirl and stir. Brown bits will start to form and a nutty smell will fill your kitchen. Do not let it burn, just brown. 

In a container, add both sugars and pour in brown butter. Mix together. Let cool completely. It can be made the night before. Chill for 1 - 24 hours. If made the night before, please refrigerate.

Mix the flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.

In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, add brown butter and sugar mixture. Mix for 2 -3 minutes until nice and smooth. Add one egg at a time, beating after each one. Add vanilla extract and just mix. Add the flour mixture to batter and mix until just incorporated. Fold in the white chocolate chips and toasted pecans until evenly distributed.

You can then chill the dough again if you want. I love the flavor of dough. Just like my chocolate chip cookies, this is a three day dough. You do not have to do that, if it does not work for your schedule.

Using a cookie scoop, place dough on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. The should just be golden around the edges. 

Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer onto a rack to cool  

I am always tempted to just eat the cookie dough

Lovely cookies that spread just so.

I believe my husband ate all of these.

I really recommend these cookies for any occasion, especially a birthday. 

A perfect combination of flavors.

Crinkly Biscoff Toffee Cookies

These cookies are amazing. I found Biscoff at my local Target. Do you remember flying on ATA. They would give you Biscoff cookies and Peanuts for your flying pleasure. You can also purchase this spread at Trader Joes. I could eat this spread out of the jar. Spoon, fingers, I would  not care. Why bother with crackers or celery. Creamy or Chunky, I love both of them equally.

So, yesterday, I decided I needed to find a recipe. I found this cookie recipe and a bar recipe. Both of them sounded fantastic. I was making a cookie tray, so cookies it is?

If you noticed, we are also HAWKS fans. THEY are in the Stanley cup this year. Last night they won Game 1 in Triple overtime. Can you hear the excitement in my voice. 

WOOT. WOOT.

Crinkly Biscoff Toffee Cookies

adapted from thecafesucrefarine.com

Ingredients

3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup Biscoff spread

1 cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 8 ounce bag of Bits of Brickle chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with a Silpat or parchment paper.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

In a bowl with a paddle attachment, combine both sugars, Biscoff and butter and mix until fluffy. Add each egg one at a time, mixing until incorporated. Add Vanilla extract and just mix in.

Add flour mixture and mix until just combined. Add toffee bits and just mix in.

Scoop dough into 1 1/2 cookie scoop. Place dough onto sheet pans about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle cookies with TURNBINADO (raw) sugar. Bake for 10-11 minutes or until edges just turn brown. Cool for 5 minutes and transfer to a wiring cooling rack. Store in an airtight container or just start eating.

Nice firm cookie dough

You need the 2 inches apart on the sheet. The cookie does spread

A nice thin crispy cookie. Perfect for a party or watching Saturday nights' Hawks game

Declaration Day

Memorial Day was yesterday. We went to the cemetery with my Mom to plant flowers around my Dad's grave. The weather was crappy. We did not have any picnics scheduled for Monday, so it just worked.

My Husband also put flags in the front yard. He placed 405 flags in the yard this year. Even though, he did not serve in the military, he feels very patriotic about this. As people drove by, we got a few thumbs up and some wonderful comments. It really warms my heart to hear this. People taking a moment to slow down and say "THANKS." 

My family also suffered three losses in one day on Sunday. How do three people we know die in one day? It was really unbelievable. These were all separate incidences. One wake and funeral will be in Iowa, and the other two are local. My Mom is travelling to Iowa by herself, due to all of the other conflicts. Keep her in your thoughts. Life is very mysterious. Living on a roller coaster. My sisters and I also have heavy workloads right now. Focusing on what is necessary and immediate. 

I read about Memorial Day. What is it exactly. It was started around the 1860s. Many of the deceased of the Civil Was were not identified. There were no dog tags or next of kin notifications at that time. People felt is was very undignified not to give the deceased the proper respect in death. They declared that the last Monday in May would be Declaration Day. So, Happy Memorial Day just does not sit right with me.

My friends, Lynn and Nick welcomed home their son from Afghanistan. They are so happy to have Christopher home safely. This is why we put out flags and go visit my Dad. It is to thank everyone who has served and those who are no longer with us.

ONE Year Blogiversary

ONE YEAR...
WOW ... one year...TODAY

You can take certain events in your life and then measure what has changed. You always here people say that "Nothing ever Changes," I so disagree with that. "Isn't it funny how day by day, nothing changes but when you look back everything is different.." C.S. Lewis

My Blog has evolved, I feel it has gotten better. My Photo quality is improving, but it still needs work. I do like Banana Bread and Cookies. Writing a blog is a large amount of work, I credit people who write almost every day or even every week. I was thrilled when I got my first comment. I try very hard, but sometimes, time just slips away. It is funny that sometimes people find interesting tidbits in my life.

Clematis on the side of my house

My Sweets by Shayla business is also evolving and growing. I have had jobs every weekend since the beginning of March. I now have business cards that are very cool, a Facebook page and my website went online on May 11th. I actually feel REAL. I have been busting my a$$ to make this work. I still have a day job, catering has been cut way back. Sadly, also has my yoga program. That I really do not like. Happy Peaceful Shayla is such a wonderful thing for myself and everyone else. JUST ask my Husband....

I feel that writing this blog is what help to propel me into moving my Sweets business forward. I have always love to cook and bake. Now I can get paid to do this. It really is about more than that. I still search the internet for new recipes. I could make something different everyday if I had my way. Bringing smiles to peoples faces is what makes me the happiest. I really appreciate their gratitude.

As I review this past year. So many changes have happened. One sister got her Master's degree and found a job. Another sister went back to school to get a degree in interior design. And my other sister is moving on with her life and preparing her girls for college. My Mother is wonderful. She has evolved into her own person. She entertains and helps so many people. She is not the old widow who sits home all the time.

Should only have 1 candle

My Husband is happy that my business is evolving. He is always selling for me. Pushing my cookies and treats. He has tasted more cookies than he ever thought he could. He has also washed more dishes than he would ever dream of. He wishes I could sit with him on the sofa sometimes, and just rest.

"There are places I'll remember All my life though some have changed, Some forever not for better, Some have gone and some remain, All these places have their moments, With lovers and friends I still can recall, Some are dead and some are living, In my life I have loved them all." John Lennon. This is one a my favorite songs. It makes me sad and happy in the same moment. The world has changed so much in the past year. Very special people in my life are now gone. WE are always changing. Those people who leave make us sad  and yet we cherish others because they are gone.

I would like to thank everyone who reads my blog. I hope this coming year is even more interesting.