Stuckey Rhymes with Cookie: 2015

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Decorated Sugar Cookies

Why the crazy blogging spree yesterday? Well, we made sugar cookies during Thanksgiving break. You know, the get out all of the sprinkles and let the kids play kind of cookie day.
These were easy and so delicious. I wanted to blog the recipe combination to make sure I don't forget. Because these are keepers! But, then I realized that I was more than 6 months behind. Oops. So, basically there were about 37 posts which were photo dumps. But I feel better. And now, to the reason I came here...

There are lots of great sugar cookie recipes. I love a good lofthouse-style cookie that is super soft with over sweet frosting. However, this cookie is a nicely balanced butter cookie, from King Arthur Flour. I've made it lots of times before. It is excellent with the traditional buttercream frosting, rolled in sugar or just plain. We made this batch with this cream-cheese frosting from Averie Cooks. It is not super sweet like many sugar cookies, and I really like it. Like, I can't stop eating them. Therefore, I have to keep them in the freezer. Because, seriously, I.Can't.Stop.Eating.Them.

Here's the recipe:

Sugar Cookie - King Arthur Flour

3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
1 large egg

1. Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar.
2. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts, and the egg.
3. Add in dry ingredients, mixing at low speed just until evenly combined.
3. Place dough in a plastic bag, form into a disc and refrigerate an hour before rolling and cutting.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes, until starts to turn golden brown at the edges.
Makes 6 dozen 2" cookies.

Cream Cheese Frosting - Averie Cooks

6 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup (half stick) butter, softened

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Beat cream cheese and butter. Beat in powdered sugar and salt.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Thanksgiving 2015

Trying to wear both the pilgrim and Native American gear simultaneously. I didn't realize until later that I never got pictures of the table or the company! Sue had sung in The Creation at Hesston Thanksgiving evening, so we enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. We had a collaborative effort and it was quite tasty.

We had an ice storm that seemed to never end on Thanksgiving week/ weekend. This girl was all about it and spent hours playing alone outside.

My little helper who wanted to get out and decorate the tree. Why not?! We were stuck inside anyway and I love the coziness Christmas lights bring.

I mustache you a question. OK. That's lame, but they still love their silly straws from Steamboat this summer.

No one was hurt in the posing of this photo...Tyler just wanted to show Grandma Sue his new nerf gun...purchased with birthday money but finally picked and delivered.

Ronald McDonald

One of the benefits of working some weekends at the hospital is, you know, paying bills. But the down side is missing things like Aubrey's first Girl Scout service project. We went to Dillons to pick out our donation, but I missed the delivery of the donation and tour of the Ronald McDonald House. Luckily, her friend and friend's mom are pretty great people. They took Aubrey since I couldn't go. And, aren't our little Daisies cute!?

Patty Griffin

Michelle invited us to go to Norman, Oklahoma to see Patty Griffin play.

We enjoyed a nice German lunch and walked through downtown...which didn't take long. :)

But there was this cool mural. So, picture!

And this funny Wayne posing for a picture.

And these two goofballs.

Don't forget these two goofballs, too!

Stalking the Sooner Theater

Darlingside opened for Patty. I was smitten.
It was the last night of their tour, so the Patty crew pranked the Darlingside crew...one came out dressed like a bear and wandered around. Then they all came out and threw glitter at them.

And then, Patty. She has a pretty amazing voice.

It was a lot of fun. :)

Tyler

Elephant and Piggie

Aubrey and I LOVE Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems. When we saw that the library program was Elephant and Piggie we were all over it. It was nothing fancy, but we enjoyed ourselves.

Pirate Music Program - November 9

Tyler's music teachers put together an excellent program. This year, the theme was pirates. He didn't think it was as impressive as last year, but I thought it was pretty great.

November 3-4

Eating at one of our favorite Vietnamese restaurants...I actually got Tyler to pose for a nice picture for me...since I told him Great Grandma Billie hadn't seen him with braces yet. Yes, I did actually send this to her. And, yes, I'm glad to know that Grandparents have clout.

Aubrey joined Girl Scouts in November. We were trying on her tunic to make sure it fit.

Playing nicely at the playground.

We played hide and seek. This shot was taken in my "best ever" hiding spot. I could see Aubrey from here. Unfortunately, she panicked when they couldn't find me and was crying when I came out because they gave up. Oops.

Halloween 2015

Aubrey was Sadness from Inside Out

Tyler was a red ninja...again...only with a new, more comfortable costume. And weapons.

Trick or Treating buddies

Visitors - October 25

I work PRN weekend social work at Via Christi St Francis Hospital every 3 weekends or so. I love when my loves come visit me at lunch. It makes me miss them a little less. They were quite photogenic on this particular day. ;)

(They're both trying to give me a dirty look for trying to take a picture).