Posted by The Encore on 7th on 11:07 AM
We hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!
Posted by The Encore on 7th on 11:06 AM
We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday!
Posted by The Encore on 7th on 10:20 AM
Do you love sugar cookies? Perfecting the best recipe might be a challenge for you. Here is a great sugar cookie cut out recipe that will produce beautiful and tasty sugar cookies. You can learn more at The Kitchn.
Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
2 to 3 dozen cookies, depending on size
1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for 1 hour
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), cream the butter and cream cheese with the sugar. Beat for several minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and lemon zest.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl then gradually add to the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.
At this point the dough can, and should be, chilled or frozen. If making cookies in the near future, divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness between large pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or freeze the dough balls, wrapped in plastic wrap and a freezer bag, for up to 1 month. To thaw, leave in the refrigerator overnight then proceed with the recipe.
To bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment or a Silpat. Cut cookies out of the rolled dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to a wire rack.
Cool completely before icing or decorating, and store in a tightly covered container.
Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (Large Batch) 8 to 12 dozen, depending on size
3 cups unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for 1 hour
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons lemon zest
9 cups flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), cream the butter and cream cheese with the sugar. Beat for several minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and lemon zest.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl then gradually add to the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.
At this point the dough can, and should be, chilled or frozen. If making cookies in the near future, divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness between large pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or freeze the dough balls, wrapped in plastic wrap and a freezer bag, for up to 1 month. To thaw, leave in the refrigerator overnight then proceed with the recipe.
To bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment or a Silpat. Cut cookies out of the rolled dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to a wire rack.
Cool completely before icing or decorating, and store in a tightly covered container.
Posted by The Encore on 7th on 10:20 AM
Are you looking for a new Christmas tree in your apartment? What about a book tree? These can be great decorations with meaning behind them. Keep reading and try to make your own book tree.
Apartment Therapy has great holiday ideas for every room in your home.
The talented ladies at my local public library created a few charming book trees out of a seldom-used set of reference books, a string of lights, and an old, unreadable book. Perhaps you have similar supplies around the house?
Your collection of Babysitters' Club book would make a perky, pastel tree, while the complete works of James Patterson would create a huge and darkly dramatic tree, full of ominous titles such as 1st To Die and Cross Fire. Bonus points for Merry Christmas, Alex Cross! A set of leatherbound books with gold writing would make for a particularly rich and glamorous tree.
Simply arrange a layer of books in a rough circle, and build from there, staggering the books across the gaps in each previous layer, and moving inward as you work. It may take a few attempts (or a particularly analytical mind) to figure out how big to make each layer, but it's a mess-free low-stress sort of problem to figure out. Once the books are stacked to your liking, drape sparkly lights around the whole thing.
If you'd like to take the theme even further, use an unwanted book to create a book tree topper- a tutorial can be found at Creative "Try"als. You could also use any paper that matches your color scheme to craft a folded paper tree to put on top - Julep and Madame Bonbon have tutorials.
If you do create a book tree, please show off a photo!
Posted by The Encore on 7th on 11:04 AM
Are you a cookie fan? Check out the Joy of Cookies Tour in Lawrenceville! The event will be held from December 5th-December 8th. The stores in Lawrenceville will be passing out tasty treats while showcasing their stores. You can learn more at Living Pittsburgh.
The 13th annual Joy of Cookies Cookie Tour will once again offer yummy samples to shopping cookie connoisseurs this holiday season.
From Thursday, December 5 through Sunday, December 8, 2013, over 30
participating stores in Lawrenceville’s Business District will be
serving up tasty treats while showcasing the many fabulous independently
owned shops, galleries and boutiques Lawrenceville offers.
Rides from Molly’s Trolleys will be available to take people between stops on Saturday from noon to 6pm.
The 13th annual Joy of Cookies Cookie Tour will once again offer yummy samples to shopping cookie connoisseurs this holiday season.
0 comments:
Post a Comment