merry christmas 2012

December came upon us so quickly this year. I took photos of our home throughout the month, but had little spare time to edit and share photos. So before the New Year falls upon us, I thought I would post a few of my favorites . . . 

~ early December ~

~ a simple garland ~

~ I love these TWIG reindeer from the Pottery Barn collection ~

~ Hark the Herald Angels Sing! ~

~ My mom bought this for me at a specialty gift shop in Solvang, CA

this year. We named her Abigail, and she found the perfect place

under our Christmas tree. ~

~ Affectionately called "the miracle tree" ~

~ It fell FOUR times!! Twice without ornaments, 

and TWICE WITH lights AND ORNAMENTS! ~

My husband and I were awoken at 1:30 am 

by a LOUD crash. He thought someone broke in . . .

and I just knew it was the tree . . . and it was! ~

~ Not only had it fallen FOUR times, but its 1500 lights

have had glitches through most of December ~

~ THIS photo was taken when the lights decided to work, lol! ~

~ I buy a Christmas ornament from Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo

every year. I bought several silver bells, and they're still one of my favorites! ~

~ Love its swirls! ~

~ antique tea spoon turned ornament ~

~ I have up to 15 hand beaded snowflakes hidden 

among the branches in our tree. They're so pretty lit up! ~

~ my growing mercury glass collection ~

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas friends and family!

holiday (cream cheese) sugar cookies

One of my happiest childhood memories was decorating sugar cookies at my Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Don's house.  My sisters, cousin, and I would gather around their dining room table at Easter and Christmas for fun, laughter, holiday music, and dozens and dozens of cookies just waiting to be frosted and adorned with sprinkles. 

Besides the fun of decorating them . . . between my two sisters and I ~ we would bring home upwards of 40 cookies. And since I've always been a BIG fan of sugar cookies . . . this was a dream come true (smile)! 

I thought I would bring this joyous tradition into my home for my kids.  With a 14 year age gap between my first and second child, I feel a great responsibility to create fun and memorable opportunities for my kids to connect and make memories TOGETHER. 

We had a fun afternoon . . . and I hope we're able to gather again in the Spring to decorate Easter themed cookies! You're never too old to explore your creative culinary side! 

Although I LOVE the basic sugar cookie . . . I need to share this GREAT recipe twist with you. Yes, these are holiday sugar cookies . . . but they're much more than a simple sugar cookie. They're a CREAM CHEESE Sugar Cookie . . . tender and flavorful with flecks of orange zest and cinnamon. Add a sweet cream cheese frosting, and they're downright YUMMY!

It's never too early, or too late, to start a new family tradition.  I hope these recipes help you make new ones with your family!

Orange Cinnamon (cream cheese) SUGAR Cut-out Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen (4-inch) cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 Tablespoon orange zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine butter and cream cheese. Beat at medium-high speed with an electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes, or until fluffy. Add sugar and brown sugar to butter mixture, beating at low speed for 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined. Increase speed to medium-high. Beat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until fluffy. Add eggs, orange zest, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, beating to combine.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. 

Add flour to mixture, 1 cup at a time, beating at low speed to combine.

Increase speed to medium, and beat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined.

Divide dough in half. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness.

Cut into desired shapes, re-rolling dough once, if necessary. Place on prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.

Allow to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes.

Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Cream Cheese Icing

Makes about 3 cups

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

5 cups confectioners' sugar

1 Tablespoon heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and butter. Beat at medium-high speed with an electric mixer for 3 to 4 minutes, or until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating at low speed to combine. 

Add cream and vanilla, beating at medium-high speed until combined.

Add coloring and beat until thoroughly combined.

~ Hmmmm . . . decisions, decisions ~

~ Charley's decorated cookies! ~

~ I LOVE that she put a HAPPY FACE on everything!~ 

 

 ~ Ford is working hard on his sugar man ~

~ My oldest son's (Nick) finished cookies! ~

~ the more the merrier ~

~ Nick's girl-friend, Megan, joined us for cookie decorating too ~

You don't need fancy decorating tools to make pretty cookies!

All you need is family, friends, and the desire to have a good time!

Happy baking!!

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home

on Facebook

Sharing with . . .

Rain on a Tin Roof, A Stroll Thru Life, CedarHill Ranch, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, Savvy Southern Style, City Farm House, Elizabeth and Co, Chef in Training, The Recipe Critic, Our Home Away From Home, Finding Fabulous, Ashley's Dandelion Wishes, The Style Sisters, Fluster Buster, Lamberts Lately, StoneGable, Katherine's Corner, Live Laugh Rowe, Jann Olson, From My Front Porch to Yours, The Newleywed Pilgrimage, Pink Recipe Box, French Country Cottage, Posed Perfection, Becoming Martha, The Cottage Market, 504 Main, House of Rose, Tater Tots and Jello, Chic on a Shoestring, Designs by Gollum, Brambleberry Cottage, A Delightsome Life, Jennifer Rizzo, Cooking with Curls, Your Homebased Mom, A Little Claireification, What's Cooking With Ruthie, Suburbs Mama, Serenity Now, 52 Mantels, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Tablescaper, Lady Behind the Curtain,  Sunflower Supper Club, Sensational Creations, The Velvet Moon Baker, With a Blast, Living Better Together, Simply Dream and Create, Tumbleweed Contessa, Tater Tots and Jello, Made from Pinterest, Boogieboard Cottage, Too Much Time, Simply Gloria, Twigg Studios,Flamingo Toes, Carrie This Home, Sweet Sav, The Heart of Your Home, Creatively Living, Common Ground, Twelve O Eight, Home Coming, Finding Silver Pennies, My Heart Lives Here

gingerbread girls & boys

I love gingerbread! 

Whether it's a moist gingerbread loaf, tender cookies, or gingerbread holiday bars . . . there's just nothing that says "It's the holidays!" like gingerbread! 

I bake Gingerbread Girl & Boy cookies for my niece and nephews every year. I make extras for my little ones and friends too.  It's a simple, yet special, tradition that not only fills my house with the warm smell gingerbread, but these cute cookies bring smiles too! 

I've researched and sampled gingerbread cookie recipes over the years, and THIS ONE is my absolute favorite! It yields a very flavorful cookie that is moist and tender. They are delicious!  For ease and good flavor, I decorate them with Almond Bark. I think white and vanilla chocolate are a wonderful compliment to gingerbread cookies!

So grab your holiday sprinkles and rolling pin . . . and bake a few Gingerbread Girls & Boys this holiday season! 

Ingredients

5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

4 teaspoons ground ginger

4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup packed dark-brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups unsulfured molasses
6 small blocks of Almond Bark, melted (found in the baking section of your local market)

Here's how . . .
Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a medium bowl.

Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add flour mixture, and beat until just combined. Divide dough into 3 portions, and wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a generously floured piece of parchment, roll dough to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Brush off excess flour. Slide dough and parchment onto baking sheets, and freeze for 15 minutes.

Cut out desired shapes. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, and freeze for 15 minutes.

Bake cookies for 12 minutes. 
If you desire a flatter Gingerbread Cookie, then remove sheets from oven, and tap them firmly on counter to flatten the cookies. Return to oven, rotating sheets, and bake until crisp but not darkened, 6 to 8 minutes more. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Follow melting directions on the Almond Bark package, and spoon into a Wilton squeeze bottle, or spoon melted white candy into a pastry bag with a very small plain round tip (such as Ateco #0 or #1). Pipe designs on cookies. Let cookies stand at room temperature until set, at least 2 hours (preferably overnight). Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in airtight containers for up to 1 week.

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home

on Facebook

Sharing with . . .

Rain on a Tin Roof, A Stroll Thru Life, CedarHill Ranch, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, Savvy Southern Style, City Farm House, Elizabeth and Co, Chef in Training, The Recipe Critic, Our Home Away From Home, Finding Fabulous, Ashley's Dandelion Wishes, The Style Sisters, Fluster Buster, Lamberts Lately, StoneGable, Katherine's Corner, Live Laugh Rowe, Jann Olson, From My Front Porch to Yours, The Newleywed Pilgrimage, Pink Recipe Box, French Country Cottage, Posed Perfection, Becoming Martha, The Cottage Market, 504 Main, House of Rose, Tater Tots and Jello, Chic on a Shoestring, Designs by Gollum, Brambleberry Cottage, A Delightsome Life, Jennifer Rizzo, Cooking with Curls, Your Homebased Mom, A Little Claireification, What's Cooking With Ruthie, Suburbs Mama, Serenity Now, 52 Mantels, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Tablescaper, Lady Behind the Curtain,  Sunflower Supper Club, Sensational Creations, The Velvet Moon Baker, With a Blast, Living Better Together, Simply Dream and Create, Tumbleweed Contessa, Tater Tots and Jello, Made from Pinterest, Boogieboard Cottage, Too Much Time, Simply Gloria, Twigg Studios,Flamingo Toes, Carrie This Home, Sweet Sav, The Heart of Your Home, Creatively Living, Common Ground, Twelve O Eight, Home Coming, Finding Silver Pennies, My Heart Lives Here