Simply Suzanne's AT HOME: shamrock

Showing posts with label shamrock. Show all posts

Sunday, February 22, 2015

minted sugar shamrock cookies

I bake these unique and sophisticated minted sugar cookies every March.

They remind me of an old-fashioned cookie . . . the kind of cookie that my grandma would've enjoyed with a cup of chamomile tea in her garden.

Although they might be a simple sugar cookie flavored with vanilla and peppermint, it's the minted sugar sprinkled on top that make them so special. Because the sugar is flavored with the oils from fresh mint leaves, it's taste is subtle and clean. The flecks of mint in the sugar are so pretty . . . and the texture of the sugar is fine, so the cookies taste delicate.

shamrock fun fact . . .

The shamrock was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring.

Minting sugar is a simple process of rubbing fresh mint leaves into sugar until they release their oils, naturally flavoring the sugar. This can be done easily, using an electric mixer.

It might be a little extra work, but the result is unique and quite pretty . . . making them the perfect little cookie to share with your best of friends, perhaps over a cup of chamomile or mint tea in your garden (smile).

Ingredients

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

12 Tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

1 egg, room temperature
3 tablespoons heavy cream
powder sugar (instead of flour) for rolling out dough

for minted sugar
1 cup sugar
15 fresh mint leaves

. . . . . . . . .

Preparation

To make the cookies . . .
In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt . . . set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and peppermint extract and egg. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in three additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Mix until just combined.

Form the dough into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or as long as overnight.

Preheat an oven to 350°F.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

On a lightly floured powder sugar surface, roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart, and bake until just golden around the edges, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. Transfer the pans to wire racks and let cool for 5 minutes, then remove the cookies from the pans and let cool completely.

Preparation for minted sugar

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a flat beater, combine 1 cup of sugar with the fresh mint leaves. Turn on slow speed for several minutes. The beater will rub the leaves in the sugar to release their oils; set aside until ready to use.

Remove and discard mint leaves from sugar. For quick mint leaf removal, SIFT the sugar.
Brush each cookie with a thin coating of cream and sprinkle with minted sugar.

Makes 10 to 24 cookies, depending on cutter size.

LET'S STAY in touch!

Simply Suzannes at Home

on Facebook

Sharing with . . . .

Stephanie Lynn, It's Overflowing, Twelve O Eight, Carrie This Home, Baking in Pajamas, Huckleberry Love, Dwellings, Smart Party Planning, The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, Lori's Culinary Creations, Home Stories, StoneGable, An Extraordinary Day, I'm Not a Trophy Wife, Between Naps on the Front Porch , Rustic Refined, Tumbleweed Contessa, A Stroll Thru Life,, Life With Garnish. Elizabeth & Co, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, The Recipe Critic, Janine Huldie, Carolyn's Homework, Fluster Buster Designs by Miss Mandee, Craftie Allie, Wednesday morning The Blissful Bee, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Chic California, Lamberts Lately, Live Laugh Rowe, Sweet Bella Roos, The Charm of Home, From My Front Porch to ours, Delightsome Life., Posed Perfection, Katherine's Corner, Nancherrow, The Freshman Cook, Jann Olson, Home Maid Simple, Anderson + Grant, Rooted in Thyme, Everyday Enchanted Home, Pure Grace Farms A Dish of Daily Life, Bacon Time, Sunflower Supper Club, Tater Tots and Jello, Cooking with Curls, Made from Pinterest, Simply Gloria

Saturday, March 8, 2014

tips on how to catch a leprechaun . . .

"Welcome, Leprechauns!"

I was surprised when our oldest daughter came home from school and told me that there were only three children (she was one of them) who raised their hand when the teacher asked, "Who knows about St. Patrick's Day?" ((I'm sure she was referring to the Americanized version of this holiday.))

I won't turn this post into a history lesson, but it's safe to say that there's no connection between Saint Patrick and leprechauns, except that they're both synonymous with Ireland; and that shamrocks, leprechauns, blarney, and green anything are heavily associated with St. Patrick's Day.

However you choose to 'celebrate,' whether it's eating corned beef and potatoes, soda bread, or wearing green . . . sharing a little leprechaun lore can be extra fun and stir excitement with your little ones.

Now on to the fun stuff . . . anyone familiar with the old Irish lore knows that it is tough to catch a leprechaun. They are so very clever that they hardly ever get caught by humans.

Of course, the attraction of catching one lies in the opportunity to get at the crock of gold that every leprechaun has stashed away for a rainy day.

Here's the scoop . . . the more you know about the leprechaun and his habits, the better your chances of capturing one and getting his treasure.

So how to catch a Leprechaun . . .
When searching for them, a keen ear and sharp eyes are important, but luck and cunning are essential. If you are lucky enough to come upon one of these wily, quick-witted imps, you must take great care not to let yourself be outmaneuvered by him.

Walk up close to him quietly and grasp him with both your hands. Stare straight at him and ask him directly where his pot of gold is hidden.

~ Thank you, Sam, for this rare Leprechaun footage! ~

sam hainlanovela

Bound by Fairy Law, he will be compelled to tell you the truth about the whereabouts of his buried treasure crock, but beware! You must be insistent in your inquiry, as he will try to trick, mislead, and distract you.

Skilled in the art of blarney, the leprechaun will also try to sweet-talk you into letting him go.

Also, if you take your eyes off a leprechaun for even a blink-moment while he is leading you to his gold hideaway, he will vanish.

One of the favorite hiding places for gold is at the ends of rainbows, for the leprechauns know that it is impossible for a human to travel to the end of a rainbow.

They also practice a little pick pocketing activity. At night, when the shoe-making is done, they go around stealing little pieces of gold to fill their crock up to use as a ransom in case one of them is ever caught by a human. However, the Leprechauns take pride in the fact that they always seem to be able to outwit and escape from the humans without losing their ransom money.

Armed with all their newly gained knowledge about leprechauns, our little ones have devised a plan of their own to catch the tiny sprites. Will they be successful this St. Patrick's Day? Will you?

I have a sneaky feeling that they will! (smile)

~ tiny Leprechaun footprints! ~