Easter Goodness

My guys love sugar cookies, especially for holidays. Sometimes I make the cut out cookies, frost, and decorate. A bit of fuss. Then guys being guys they inhale them. Making short work of my big effort. This recipe is the sugar cookie at warp speed.

And at this time of year no one is biting little heads off chicks and bunnies.

You may remember my botched attempt last week with this recipe. It was worth trying again and this time I think we're okay.

Sugar Cookie Bars

1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 13 x 18 inch sheet pan and line with parchment paper. I didn't line the pan, just sprayed Pam.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixture, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes on medium high. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Add the vanilla. Add the flour mixture in 2 addition, mixing until just combined.

Press the cookie dough into the sheet pan, using a greased spatula or parchment paper to spread it evenly. Bake for 10-15 minutes until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool completely.

Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
4 cups confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4-5 tablespoons milk
Pinch of salt
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the shortening and butter until combined and smooth. Add the vanilla and salt and mix until combined. Add the confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Cream together on medium high for about a minute. Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until smooth. I only needed 4 tablespoons of milk to get a light spreadable consistency.
Spread onto cooled cookies. Slice into bars and serve.

Besides Baking...
Looks like the Element is full for a trip to Seattle to Pioneer Woman's book signing. A really fun group of women, we will be laughing all the way! Shelly, Leslie and Jerrie are going on an adventure!

I had a flight yesterday that ended badly. My feet came off the ground at boot camp in an attempt to heave the ball and I landed face first, full body on the gym floor. I'm sore today but fine. The triple bruises on my knee match beautifully on both knees. I'm going to the hot tub this morning before I get busy cleaning the house. My dear Hubby mopped yesterday so I won't be on my knees today.

Our church had a powerful Good Friday service last night. I felt so blessed to be a part of that community of believers. If you don't have a church home for Easter let me know. I would love to have you be a part of my church as we celebrate the Resurrection on Sunday. Wishing you a Blessed Easter!

No April Fools Here

Max had his first soccer game yesterday at Bender Fields. The rain let up. Hubby and I bundled up and went. To think I was this close to missing out on the action this year. Thank you Max! If he hadn't played it would have been the first soccer less year since Danny (age 23) was in second grade with no soccer games. So, I am back to my long silk underwear from eddie bauer, my smart wool socks, gloves and a parka at Breezy Bender. LC lost but they are looking good.

The big news this morning is that Pioneer Woman is visiting Seattle April 17th. I'm a little excited and am taking credit for her visit. After all I emailed, commented and suggested she visit Seattle. I may have begged. I'm taking my book to her signing and if you want to come with me, please leave a comment. It'll be fun!

In other news this week I got into a little trouble on Travelocity. I may have pushed the confirm button one too many times, well actually, I did click and we are going. First I found a great deal on a cruise, then on airfare, then a hotel deal and so Hubby and I are going on a little honeymoon. I made him a deal that I wouldn't buy any new clothes for the trip. Shoes aren't clothes, are they?

Max was mad until I told him I'd leave him with a BiG pan of enchiladas. Don't worry kiddo, I'll be here for you the other 359 days this year.

If you know our last name you'll know that Hubby and I may get special treatment on Holland America's just refurbished Ryndam.



I'm off to the museum and then going to buy my guys a BAH. They love a BAH* and since it's Easter week the BAH are on sale. Isn't life grand?

*code for a BiG A** ham.

Monday, Monday Randomness

A weird weekend was had by all. Hubby had an awkward schedule this weekend, midnight shifts extended into the day shift. Every time he got out of bed, I got into bed.

Friday I felt like cooking and baking and got busy in the kitchen. I tried a new recipe and totally botched it. They look good but trust me they are doughy, yucky globs. Wasted 3 cubes of butter, 5 cups of flour, 4 eggs etc. etc. Going in the garbage today, if I have to look at them another day I could have a melt down.

So, my baking confidence was shot. I was really destroyed by this failure. It's pretty rare for me for have a cooking calamity. But I did. I took it kinda hard.

Next I made Pioneer Woman's Meatloaf recipe. I thought Max and probably Jesse would be here for dinner, uhm, no. However, while Hubby and I were walking we ran into a friend and had an impromptu dinner party. So, that was a good thing. The meatloaf was yummy! Try it.

I'm going to get back in the saddle this morning and do some baking. I'm kind a scared. Lots of correspondence to take care of today. A mountain of laundry to wash and some tidying up. I'll be doing this very quietly as Hubby should be home soon and going to bed.

One week 'til Spring Break!

A Nice Day Out

Yesterday Hubby and I drove south to Edmonds to meet up with Danny. We celebrated his 23rd birthday. We ate lunch in Edmonds at e.po.lu bistro. After a delicious lunch we checked out Shoreline Community College where Dan starts classes on Monday. After our campus visit we drove to Anthony's Homeport Restaurant, where Danny is a waiter. We browsed at the antique mall in Edmonds before saying good bye to Dan. He had to work the dinner shift.

The rain held off until we started for home. The flowers in Edmonds were gorgeous, including the pots and planters. They are one gardening zone different than Lynden and it makes all the difference. It was such a nice day out.


This pic cracks me up. Danny is pointing one way and Hubby is looking the other way. We were trying to figure out which island was which.

Late to the Game

I BEGGED Max to play soccer this Spring. He had played for years. Nope. He was having none of it.

So, he goes to the first game as a spectator and comes home wanting to play, wishing he had played. I told him to ask Coach De Ruiter. A part of me (the big mean part) was wishing and hoping Max would learn a lesson. That Coach would tell him, "NO way, you're too late, you should have listened to your Mom, maybe next year, good bye!"

No lesson there. Coach told Max, "Great, we'd love to have you, excited to have you, blah, blah, blah, get some cleats and start tomorrow!" Grrrrr.

Max has to get in a number of practices before he may play in a game. Last night he got his team bag with uniforms and warm up suit inside.

He may have learned his lesson! He got the last of the gear. The gear that some stinky boy turned in last year without washing.
"Mom, I need help, this is terrible, can you wash it, can you make this better?", Max sobbed.

Maybe now Max has learned Mom is always right and he needs me to help make decisions.

Max is loving the soccer. We are happy for him. I hope he has a good season. He says it feels good. Max comes home happy every night. Nice.

Now I get to go to Bender soccer fields and freeze my bum off and wash smelly gear.
No hard feeling here.

The Prettiest Blue

-where nothing bad could happen amid that lovely smell of silver and alligator wallets-Holly Golightly

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote is a well known story. I had the movie and Danny gave me the book for Christmas this year. Holly Golightly's character is glamorous and tragic.

This week I am reading the biography, Summer at Tiffany. Marjorie Hart spent the Summer of '45 in NYC with a college girlfriend. They got summer jobs at Tiffany. A sweet memoir.

I've visited New York City but not Tiffany's NYC store. I'm thinking I need to add that to my list of Things To Do.