Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Showing posts with label Christmas Cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas Cookies. Show all posts

Friday, December 29, 2023

Angel Cookies ~ A Recipe that I found reading a library book!

 


Angel Christmas Cookies.  Recipe is online, but I found this recipe in a book I read years ago - Aunt Dimity's Christmas, by Nancy Atherton.  We use the recipe for our traditional cut-out cookies at Christmas, but Christmas has passed, so I made them "winter" themed this year - snowflake cookies.

I'm glad I went searching for the book on my blog, because the link does not work anymore, and the recipe has been changed over the years.  

In the book, the recipe is called "Angel Cookies" because she makes them all angels.  I make all sorts of cut out shapes with the dough.  Very easy to make and you can make it the day before to chill the dough.

The recipe states that if the dough is sticky to chill it, but every year we've made these cookies, we chill the dough.  I take half the dough out, cut the cookies, and take out more chilled dough as we bake them.  You can also chill this dough overnight.


Did you know that if your dough is cold when you cut your cookies out, they are more likely to keep their shape vs. puff out when baked?

Over the years, I have only used the frosting recipe that comes with this cookie recipe.  I noticed the only change in ingredients was the amount of butter in the frosting.

Recipe from the book says:  1/3 cup butter
Recipe online says:  1 cup butter 

All other ingredients are the same.  I used one stick this time, and had enough frosting for 38 of these snowflake cookies.



TIP:   I use parchment paper.  My notes (on my own recipe card) stated that I used air bake baking sheets and did not grease my sheets, but that is not the case.  I have no idea why I wrote that down ha ha!  These cookies will not come off the sheets without greasing them or using parchment paper.  I highly recommend using the parchment paper (original recipe states to lightly grease your baking sheets).

A little "ditty" about the cookie recipe. . .

The cookies were so popular with my kids, that one year a daughter took all of my recipe cards out and copied them.  However, when she filed them, she did not put them in the right place in my recipe box.  I had to go on my blog and find the recipe again for these.  Later I found the recipe card filed in my box under something else.

Another year, our youngest wanted to make this recipe.  She rolled the dough and cut the cookies, but forgot to grease the cookie sheet.  They all stuck to the baking sheet and she cried and cried.  I felt so bad for her that year.


Angel Cookies © Dec 2023 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Thursday, December 21, 2017

More Cookies Please ~ Random Thoughts

I am on a roll this Christmas.  What cookie was chosen next?

Well, it was random.  Everything is random today.



Whiskey Caramel Cookies.  The dough is made with my homemade yogurt (recipe calls for "greek" yogurt).  No eggs.  It's a "Taste of Home" recipe if you are interested.

I have become intrigued with reading vintage cookbooks lately.  I don't know why, but some times I find a hidden gem inside, and continue to read them.

King has become obsessed with socks.  He doesn't eat them, he just picks them up and takes them to other places.  He did this to my daughter's friends while they slept over recently (ha ha ha!).

What is something you enjoyed getting as a gift, but never asked for? The first thing I thought of - books and jewelry.  I love surprises, and winter is the best time to read a book around this homestead. Or summer camping trips, or porch time. . .

I never find an open jar of peanut butter here.  Why?  Because I only buy organic, and no one likes to stir it when it's first opened. Ha ha!  We used to have a peanut butter stirrer from the general store, but it broke and was never replaced.

Well, I was right when I said it would plummet, but now they are saying the teens and snow.  We may get snow for Christmas - yay!

Hubby and I looked at the weather forecast to plan another good wood cutting day.  Why oh why can I not get that man to cut wood all summer and have it done already?  I do not know.   I need to figure out a way to motivate that man.  

Our "Grad" daughter, now with two jobs, is ex-haus-ted!  She is over worked and constantly complaining how tired she is.  I keep reminding her she'll be getting a nice fat paycheck.

Our "Vet Tech" daughter came out for a visit and brought our grand pup.  She raided the Christmas cookie stash and he (dog) was treated with a cooked egg.  

I've been taking a tablespoon of my four thieves vinegar, on any day I have a teensy bit sore throat, drainage, or runny nose.  It's working I tell ya'!  So far, I'm the only one brave enough to take it. It's not that bad. It tasted like garlic vinegar.

Monday, December 18, 2017

Sunday Work Day

Sunday was a work day for us.

First thing, I got up early and baked homemade fresh biscuits.  They look yellow because the lights were on an it was still dark outside.  It was foggy as well.  The weather is a teensy warmer, so hence the morning fog.

The recipe is on my blog:  Here


Coffee was brewed, and Hubby and I ate a "lumber jack" breakfast of home grown fried potatoes, gravy made with homemade organic sausage, and home raised eggs.  The kids slept in.  Then we got to work.  The girls were to do the dishes but later I found it they didn't.  It was Hubby who did them all.


We cut another load of wood from the barn beams and boards.  I donned my steel two boots and headed out to the rubble.  The nice part of cutting barn beams etc. is that it's just cut, haul and stack.  No splitting required.  Evidently, I removed enough nails to provide kindling for two more loads in the future. 

We brushed ourselves off, shook the gloves and what not.  Then I showered, and Hubby did the surprise for me in the kitchen.  I guess he went upstairs, and found one kiddo doing homework, so he just washed the dishes for me.

Then teamwork began again.  All of us started on some Christmas goodies.


We got a few cookies done, including our favorite cut-out recipe using organic butter and a butter frosting.  Speaking of butter, there is a shortage of organic butter in our area.  I went to two largest groceries that I could, and the largest store of all was completely sold out.  Then at the next store, only 3 pounds left.  So, cookies are limited this season, but we do have some stashed now for the up coming Christmas day.  I have no access to raw milk here, to make my own, and this shortage has brought up the topic of raising dairy goats again.

Needless to day, Hubby and Youngest, fell asleep at 7pm-ish.  I got about 11 hours of sleep and boy it felt good to get it.  

Monday, September 25, 2017

Holiday Menu "try-its" ~ Winter Prep ~ Motorcycle Rides and More Garlic

It's been one year since Hubby's mild heart attack.  We are so thankful he is doing well health-wise, and doesn't get sick as often either.

We took the Harley out on Saturday, and visited the flea market festival we visited the very day he had the heart attack.  It was fun to get out to ride.  We ditched it early due to the 90 degree sweltering heat and us in long pants and leather boots. We took a long ride to get lunch.  We rode all day, visited a family birthday party and ended it at home to fry up some bacon.

I tried a new recipe for an overnight breakfast casserole.  It used "croutons" vs. cubed bread.  I had some (homemade) in the freezer that needed rotated out for new, so I tried it.

I used homemade sausage and organic bacon both.  We typically make a sausage/egg souffle (also overnight) dish, but I wanted to try a new one with greens in it.

The results?