Monday, June 20, 2011

Sugar Cookies



Didn't know that having some teeth pulled would put me out of sorts for awhile. Did bake these sugar cookies before I went to the dentist, but never got it the recipe or pictures on until now. Also a down size is that it is too hot to bake and heat up a kitchen. So I will have to try and see what recipes are in the box for summertime!
Will be putting on all the recipes for sugar cookies, as there are a few and everyone should know how to make your favorite.
I chose this recipe to bake up as it is from a dear friend and a neighbor we use to live by for more than 30 years. I am still best friends with the daughter. In fact Debbie is my BFF. We have known each other since we were eight years old, so that makes over 50 years of friendship! Maybe that is one good thing of getting older, knowing and keeping your best friends.
How I love the Christmastimes we have spent together as children. At the Palmquist house, they would open presents on Christmas Eve and Santa would visit on Christmas morning. In our house, we were allowed to open just one present on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas morning, along with Santa's gift. But as soon as we were done with opening of gifts, Debbie and I would go to each others homes as see what everyone received. Good times. You see we just lived across the street from each other and the streets weren't very large, so it was like a hop, skip and a jump and we were there! We graduated together, she was my maid-of-honor, and has always been there when I needed her. She also spoiled my two oldest daughters, as we lived close then. Now we live in different states. There are so many good memories, that I could share, but will get on with this recipe from her mom, Audrey.

My moms handwriting, Audrey's recipe, how special is that?

Sugar Cookies
1/2 cup fat (part butter) - meaning 1/4 cup vegetable shortening and 1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk or cream
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Chill dough - roll out, cut and bake at 400 degrees - 5-7 minutes.



Glenda's way of mixing the recipe:
In a large bowl, mix with electric mixer: shortening, butter with sugar, until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and milk, mix until smooth.




Sift flour, baking powder and salt and add to creamed mixture.
Chill dough in refrigerator for at least an hour.


Roll out dough on floured board or counter top and cut with cookie cutters. Put onto greased cookie sheets. Bake in preheated oven (400 degrees) for 5-7 minutes. Watch and don't let burn. The edges will just start to brown as you take them out.

I decided not to use cookie cutters, but just put them on with two teaspoons and made round cookies. They were delicious! As you can see from the first picture, I also made ginger cookies that day. They are posted here: http://domesticatedengineer.blogspot.com/2011/06/ginger-cookies.html

Now for the other sugar cookie recipes!
Again my mom doesn't put on the whole instructions on how to bake. She and I just know and so we use short-cuts to write out recipes. I'm thinking you do too!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, part vegetable shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2-3 tablespoons milk
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, mix: butter, shortening, sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in egg, vanilla, and orange zest.
Sift flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder together and add to creamed mixture along with milk. Rolled out on floured board or counter top and cut with cookie cutters. Put onto greased cookie sheets. Bake in pre-heated oven at 375 degrees F for about 12 minutes. Watch to make sure they don't burn.


This recipe was printed in the Los Angeles Times sometime in December 1995. It mentions that is originally came from the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena. I wonder if Julia Childs parents were members there, back in the day?? Did she have this recipe?

Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs, beaten
3 2/3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

  • Cream butter and sugar. Blend in baking soda, salt and vanilla extract. Add eggs and beat until smooth.
  • Combine flour and baking powder and add to creamed mixture, mixing until smooth. Chill dough until firm enough to roll out and floured pastry cloth.
  • Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Place on greased baking sheets and bake at 450 degrees until cookies are golden, 8 minutes.
Makes 10 dozen medium-size cookies.

Interesting that this recipe add the soda with the wet ingredients verses the dry. I might have to try these and see what difference that makes.
Hope you enjoy these recipes!