Birthday Cake Rice Crispy Treats

Whitney & the Creels' hostesses
Mattie, Sam, Kate, Whitney, Amy, Britnee, Keri, & Kristie
Not pictured: Frances

July 21, 2013: My best friend, Whitney, is due September 18th with a baby boy, Kolt. I joined up with a group of our girlfriends (Kristie, Keri, Sam, Frances, Britnee, Amy, and Mattie) to host a pool party to  honor the parents-to-be yesterday.

Gift & Snack tables

We had all kinds of baby boy & pool/beach themed decorations, but we needed a cool and unique party favor for our guests, so i made Cake Batter Rice Crispy Treats.  I've made these for all kinds of occasions- co-workers' promotions and birthdays previously, and I knew they'd be easy and quick (not to mention a crowd-pleaser).

"Smooth as a baby's bottom buns"

The shower turned out beautiful. The Pinsons’ home was perfect- they have a great living room that spills out onto a huge patio with a pool.  Right past the pool, the guys had ample room to play washers while the girls ooh’ed & ahh’ed over Whitney’s belly and baby onesies. 

Whitney & me Hookin' & Giggin' 'em!

I’ll admit, I got a lot of ideas for the shower from Pinterest, but it all came together perfectly. I have a pet peeve of people asking “What is this?” (who cares, just try it! Unless you have a food allergy. In the case, ask. But if you don’t- go on, be adventurous!) so I made signs that said what each food item was, and the signs were baby/boy/beach themed.  We had “Smooth as a Baby’s Bottom Buns” and “Cheeseburgers in Paradise,” “Sailboat Salad,” “Ocean Water,” and “Weiners(!)”

"I like mine with lettuce & tomatoes... Heinz 57"

For snacks, we had goldfish, Swedish fish, “drift wood” (pretzel sticks), life savers, “pool noodles” (twizzlers), “kickboards” (Starbursts), and dips for the chips that said “Take a dip.” Kristie made the super cute banners, which ended up matching the theme perfectly.

Snack table

Here’s the wreath I made for Kolt’s nursery. It’s by far my favorite wreath that I’ve ever made. It matches the colors in his nursery very well (if I do say so myself!), and I am ready for him to be here so we can meet the little nugget!

"Thank you for swimming by! Take a treat!"

Oh, and the Birthday Cake Rice Crispy treats? Judging by Whitney’s niece, Kaylee,’s picture below, they were as big of a hit as I’d hoped. They had tags on them that said “Thanks for swimming by! Love, Kolt.” In fact, they were such a hit that I’ve decided to make them for another shower that I’m helping through in November. Who knows, perhaps Kaylee’s chowing down will be the new face of Katherine in the Kitchen!

Kaylee chowing down on a Birthday Cake Rice Crispy treat

Birthday Cake Rice Crispy Treats
Servings: 30
Modified from www.gimmesomeoven.com

"Thanks for swimming by! Love, Kolt"

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 (10 oz) bag mini-marshmallows
• 3/4 c funfetti cake mix (the dry cake mix, not prepared into batter)
• 6 c rice crispy cereal
• 1 container of sprinkles, color of your choice
• Non-stick cooking spray
• 2 sandwich bags
• 9x13 pan, coated in non-stick cooking spray

Birthday Cake Rice Crispy Treats

Directions

1. Spray a large bowl with non-stick cooking spray
2. Melt butter in bowl in microwave
3. Add marshmallows- melt again in microwave
4. Stir well with a spoon that has been coated in non-stick cooking spray
5. Satire in the funfetti dry cake mix
6. Add in cereal, coating cereal, in butter/marshmallow mix
7. Sprinkle in 3/4 of the sprinkles, coating well
8. Put the sandwich baggies on your hands, and coat them also in non-stick spray
9. Use your bag-covered hands to scoop the bowl of marshmallow covered cereal into the pan
10. Smooth out mix in the pan
11. Add last 1/4 of sprinkles on top
12. Allow to sit for 30 mins before cutting

I made three batches for the shower!

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

Birthday Cake Popcorn

The wreath I made for Charleigh Marie's nursery

My friends, Natalie and Thomas, who I have mentioned many times in previous blog entries, were expecting a baby girl, Charleigh Marie, on May 4, 2012.  I offered to help Natalie's sister, Lauren, throw a baby shower.  Lauren and Natalie's friend, Kara, had most of the shower covered, so she assigned me to party favors.  After seeing numerous cute baby shower posts on Pinterest for "_____ is about to pop!" pop-themed parties, we decided to go with that.  I had my friend, Michelle, make up some cute labels for both the party favors and the champagne bottles.  Michelle's labels for the champagne said, "Natalie is about to pop!" and the labels for the party favors said, "Thanks for popping by!"

"Thanks for POPPING by!"

I looked up recipes for creative popcorn, but I wasn't really pleased with any one in particular.  Again, in true Katherine in the Kitchen style, I took a recipe, and I made it my own.  "Birthday Cake Popcorn" was basically candied popcorn with an assortment of sprinkles mixed into it, but for Natalie's shower, I chose pink sprinkles for a baby girl.  The popcorn was sweet from the candy coating and salty and crunchy from the popcorn- one of those "M&M's and popcorn" or "fries dipped in milkshake" kind of tastes- you don't know why the contrasting flavors taste so good- they just do.

Itty bitty Charleigh!

Natalie and Thomas' Benbrook home was beautifully decorated for the shower, complete with modern decor and delicious food.  Natalie chose to have her guests bring their gifts unopened, so we could all see each of the presents- from the itty bitty teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini to the wreath I made with a large "C" for Charleigh.

Welcome, Charleigh Marie! Harper's Bluebonnet Bakery Cake

I made this popcorn again for a staff meeting at work, but the meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather.  Good thing, too, because there was a grand total of seven tornadoes that touched down in the metroplex that night.  I am the Birthday Coordinator for the unit, so I was bringing the March birthday cards and birthday treats to the meeting.  I took my ginormous bag of Birthday Cake Popcorn to my Intake and Inpatient co-workers, despite the weather, because God knows that I didn't want to be hunkered down in "the room in the most central area of my house with no windows" with a hugmongous bag of sugary goodness. Everyone absolutely loved it! I was asked for the recipe by six people, and my co-worker, Meredith, even claimed to have dreamt about it the next night.  That may be the best compliment that I've ever gotten about my food!

Andy and Charleigh

Making this stuff is MESSY.  You get it all over your hands, but it's not like I was complaining to have to lick the candy coating off of my fingers (when I was done of course!)  Because the coating gets so thick, you can't really drizzle it on the popcorn, so you have to just stick your hands in it, pick up some of the popcorn, and toss the popcorn with the coating.  Despite being super easy, like I said it is super messy, but would definitely be fun to make with kiddos.

Natalie is about to Pop party favors

So instead of just zapping a bag of popcorn in the microwave next time and dumping in a bag of M&Ms, try Birthday Cake Popcorn.  Just making it is deliciously fun, and it's a yummy snack to take to any celebration!

Birthday Cake Popcorn

Pinterest.com/Kate Strickland

Servings: 30

Birthday Cake Popcorn

 

• 3 bags un-buttered/un-salted popcorn
• 1 c vanilla candy wafers (available at Michael’s/Hobby Lobby in the cake decorating section)
• 1 c vanilla cake mix (just the powder- don’t mix up the mix)
• Small sugar sprinkles

1.       Pop popcorn in the microwave & allow to cool
2.       Melt wafers (about 1 min in microwave)
3.       Add cake mix to melted wafers & stir
4.       Melt wafers/cake mix another 10 secs
5.       Toss wafers/cake mix mixture with popcorn so popcorn has the sticky mixture all over it
6.       Sprinkle on sprinkles (the smaller sugar sprinkles work/stick best)
7.       Allow to dry

Keep on cookin’!

-Katherine

S'Mores Stuffed Cookies

Jennifer and me camping at PK in 2010

My love for camping began in elementary school, when I was a member of both Camp Fire and Indian Princesses.  Our troop and tribe would go on camp outs at Camp El Tesoro and Camp Carter with our moms and dads.  I think my love for s'mores started on one of these many father-daughter or mom-and-me camping trips.

Andy and me camping at PK in 2010

In the words of Ham from the iconic 1993 movie, The Sandlot, "First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham.  Then you roast the 'mallow.  When the 'mallow's flaming... you stick it on the chocolate.  Then cover with the other end.  Then you scarf.  Kind of messy, but good!"  "Good" doesn't do s'mores justice.  They're the perfect combination of gooey, crunchy, messy amazingness without which no camping trip is complete.

Michael and me camping at PK in 2008

The last few times I have been camping, it has been to the same spot out at Lake Possum Kingdom by our friend, Brian's, lakehouse.  We load up the trucks with tents, sleeping bags, coolers, hot dogs, and of course, s'mores stuff, and head out to the lake for a night of star gazing, beer drinking, and cool weather cuddling fun.  The timing for camping in Texas is a bit of an art.  You can't go when it is too hot or you will be sweating in your sleep all night.  You can't go when it is too cold or you will have to many layers on to function.  The perfect camping weather is about 60-65 degrees without a cloud in the sky- neither of which is frequent in Texas.

Chelsea and me camping at PK in 2009

Recently, I found a recipe on Pinterest (duh, are you surprised?) for s'mores stuffed cookies.  Say what?!  A s'more INSIDE of a cookie.  Now that's inventive.  Similar to the layered Reese's Brownie Bars and Oreo Cookie Dough Brownies, S'Mores Stuffed Cookies definitely fall into the category of "Is This Real Life?" kind of desserts.  They're super easy to make and much less messy than a traditional s'more.  These insanely sweet treats will leave you (like Smalls in the Sandlot) certainly wanting "s'more."  "Some more of what? I haven't had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?"  "You're killing me, Smalls! These are s'mores stuff!"

Andy and me camping in 2010

S'Mores Stuffed Cookies

S'Mores Stuffed Cookie, photo props to my LPC-S, Phil

• 1 tub Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie dough
• 1 package marshmallows
• 5 Hershey's milk chocolate bars
• 12 graham cracker pieces

1. Prep a 9x13 pan by either coating it in non-stick cooking spray or with a layer of parchment paper
2.  Spread 1/2 of the tub of cookie dough in the bottom of the pan
3. Layer 1 layer of graham crackers atop the dough
4. Layer 1 layer of the Hershey's chocolate bars atop the graham crackers
5. Cut the marshmallows in 1/2 to make one side flat.  Layer a layer of marshmallows atop the chocolate bars.
6. Place second half of the graham crackers in a layer atop the marshmallows
7. Spread the second half of the cookie dough atop the graham crackers
8. Bake at 350° for appr. 30 min

Keep on cooking'!

-Katherine

Reese's Brownie Bars

This one sums it up the best.

Pinterest is really great for... well... everything.  Primary, it is really great for every dream wedding/recipe/workout/home in the world all combined into one.  And it's addicting.  "It's 11:30 on a work night, why am I pinning chocolate brownie cookie dough brownie batter sprinkled cupcake cookies?!"  Yeah- it's a cook's new, technologically savvy, best friend.  (Also, "cook" can be replaced with wedding planner/gym rat/woman/person/human- whatever).  Point being, if you like longing to fill your home with items you'll never be able to afford, workouts you'll never actually have time to do, and more recipes than the 365 days in a year will allow, go ahead and log on.  And then follow my pinboards: kstrickland.

and drool over amazingly delicious mouth-watering yumminess.

I have been working in our behavior health intake department since about March, and each time it is someone's birthday, we celebrate.  Cause, let's be honest, who needs a reason to take an hour out of your work day to stuff your face and fill your belly?  Over on the inpatient unit we have a bajillion staff members, so we just celebrate once per month, but the intake office gives everyone their own day to shine.  We print off signs of each others' favorite bands and themes and plaster them all over the (teeny tiny) office, we sing "Happy Birthday," we eat, and we exchange recipes.  At a co-worker's going away party last week, one of the only two male staff members was talking with a few of the staff ladies and myself.  We were all saying, "I made (this)" or "I made (that)"- Brad chimed in and said with a clever chuckle, "I made the money to buy those cookies over there!"  

Last month, it was two of our staff members, Stephanie & Cheryl's, birthdays.  We had a little fiesta that was seriously delicious down to the last tortilla chip crumb.  I immediately knew I wanted to bring something from Pinterest, so I started going through my "KITK Sugar, Aw Honey Honey" board.  Yeah, that's the name of it- don't be jealous that I'm wicked-creative.

For my monthly dinner club, I had made this same dessert but replaced the Reese's with Oreo cookies.  I gotta say- the original recipe was good, but this one was to die for.  My peers were raving, and the whole pan was gone in an hour.  Good thing I pre-cut Andy's take-home piece before they were devoured!  Now you may have read  my post on healthy substitutions and ways to lighten up meals... go ahead and print that off, put it in your recipe box, and don't think about it again until you've made these and relished in their sweet sugary amazingness.  There is NOTHING healthy about Reese's Brownie Bars, but I can assure you that they added enough sugar to my co-worker candy girls' birthdays.  Forget birthday cake- Pinterest would find that boring.  Who wouldn't want three rich, gooey, chocolatey desserts in one?!!

This totally happened to me today with the first quote on this post...
I was super stressed when I couldn't find it! Thank goodness for Google!

Reese's Brownie Bars
Pinterest.com

Ahhhh deliciousness doesn't even begin to describe these

• 1 tub Nestlé Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (or make your own, but this is just as easy), room temperature
• 1 package brownie mix
• 10 packages of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Reese's Brownie Bars, pre-baking

1. Spread a piece of parchment paper in a 9x13 baking dish
2. Spread cookie dough in bottom of dish
3. Even place a layer of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups atop the cookie dough
4. Prepare brownie batter as indicated on box but do not bake
5. Pour brownie batter atop cookie dough/Reese's cups
6. Cover with foil
7. Bake at 350 for 30 mins
8. Uncover and continue baking for another 20 mins

Layers and layers of chocolatey amazingness

And a close up for your mouth-watering pleasure

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Oreo Cookie Dough Brownies

It is a commonly known fact that Andy and I met through a mutual friend, Michael, while they were playing kickball together in the spring of 2010.  (Read about our first date here).  Every Thursday night for the next year and a half, you could find Andy on the kickball field in one of his many WAKA colorful kickball t-shirts .  Every Thursday night you could find me on the sideline, cheering both him and his team on.  Last season, everyone was a little burned out on kickball, and most of our friends dropped their Thursday night tradition.

Annalise, Jennifer, me, and Elise (all dinner club gals!)
at Ryan & Ashley's Wedding

In lieu of kickball, our friend, Elise (read about her and her husband, Sean's, wedding here), suggested we get a group together for a monthly dinner club.  How grown up of us! We came up with a start date and a plan.  Each week, whoever is hosting the dinner club also prepares dinner for the group.  The list of people interested who could attend regularly included me, Andy, Jennifer, Annalise, Michael, Ashley, Ryan, Leo, Katie, Sean, & Elise.  We also periodically have had Devin, Mallory, Holly, and Jason join us.  The first week, we met at Elise & Sean's, where we had Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork- hopefully Sean will send that recipe to me soon!  Everyone had fun catching up, and it was nice to be in the air conditioner instead of sweating it out on the fields of Z Boaz Park.

Ashley & Me at Beerfest on So7th

The next month was March, and we had dinner club at my little sis, Jennifer, and her roommate, Annalise's, house.  This dinner club was right after my throat & sinus surgery (the details of which you are sure to be blessed with in a future post), so I wasn't really able to truly enjoy the Italian spread, but the main dish was chicken lasagna, and it looked and smelled amazing!  I was able to suck on 1/8th of a lasagna noodle, but that was about it.  I'll have to convince Jennifer to make that meal for me again sometime! (Or, you could be a guest post on the blog- hint, hint!)

Katie & Leo at their engagement party at Mira Vista Country Club

The next week was my week, and I made Candied Almond Salad with Baked Ziti.  For dessert, I made a Pinterest recipe of Oreo Cookie Dough Brownies.  Andy and I cleared out the living room to make way for two tables with chairs to set up for the spread while the cookies' sugary bliss wafted through my house.  They turned out absolutely decadent- a layer of cookie dough, a layer of Oreo's, and a layer of brownies... pass the milk.  This oreo one was more of a cookie consistency than when I made it again later for a co-worker's birthday (post to come next).  The ones layered with Reese's instead of Oreo's are more of a brownie/fudge-like texture and taste, versus the cookie/cake bar taste of this one.  But don't get me wrong- we still finished the pan without a problem!

Me and Michael at a TCU game

Oreo Cookie Dough Brownies
Pinterest.com

• 1 tub Nestlé Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (or make your own, but this is just as easy), room temperature
• 1 package brownie mix
• 1 package oreos

1. Spread a piece of parchment paper in a 9x13 baking dish
2. Spread cookie dough in bottom of dish
3. Even place a layer of Oreo cookies atop the cookie dough
4. Prepare brownie batter as indicated on box but do not bake
5. Pour brownie batter atop cookie dough/Oreos
6. Cover with foil
7. Bake at 350 for 30 mins
8. Uncover and continue baking for another 20 mins

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

Key Lime Pie



My dad and me at Epcot Center, November 2003

 The only pie I liked when I was younger was my Granny Strickland's Cherry Pie with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream on top.  I certainly wanted nothing to do with anything that was greenish-yellow and of a think, custard-like consistency.  Senior year, my dad and I went on a "college visit" to Disney World.  See, when I was a senior, it was considered an "excused absence" to miss school, if one was visiting a college/university.  Lucky me, there is a college associated with Walt Disney World called the Disney Institute. (For real, click the link).  My dad had a lawyers convention on the beach in Florida, so he stole me away for a week and headed to Orlando.  I mean, we went on a college visit to the Disney Institute.

Me and my dad on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride-
we started making funny faces in all of the pictures on the rides

Now, my dad has always had a way of making the most out of our Disney World vacations.  We have been five times, and each time he gets better and better at planning our adventure.  I kid you not, my dad will copy the "ideal itinerary" from the Unofficial Guide to Disney World, minimize the pages, laminate them, and provide each person in our party with a copy of the game plan.  Sometimes they have wrist straps attached to them.  When I was younger, I hated how strictly he adhered to the schedule ("We have to be at the gates when they open so we can be in the Space Mountain line by 8:04, so we can be in the Splash Mountain line by 8:52.")  Senior year, I loved our punctuality.  We did more in three days at Disney World than we had done when we'd spent seven days there in the past.  It was a whirlwind trip, but it was so fun being a kid again at 17. 

Me and Dopey at Magic Kingdom, November 2003

My dad and me on the Rockin' Roller Coaster

After our Disney visit, we went to my dad's lawyer conference on the beach.  I don't remember where we were, but I do know that I had just figured out how to text message.  I sent my mom a message saying, "I think I belong on the beach.  How about the Disney Institute instead of UT?"  It was at this conference that I tried key lime pie for the first time.  How had I never tried it before?!  It was light, tangy, and very refreshing! You mean my mom had been baking this pie for the past 10 years, and I had been leaving it up to my dad to consume the whole thing?!  Well, there would be no more of that, sorry Pop.

My dad and me at Rainforest Cafe at Disney World, November 2003
This was also the night I got a text from my mom telling me I'd received my first college admittance letter!

My mom's key lime pie is made with full-fat ingredients because desserts are made for indulgence (and my dad is picky).  I wanted, however, to find a lighter recipe for the pie.  I came across one on Weight Watchers last week, and I made it for Andy's fantasy football league draft party at my house.  I totally forgot about it during the party, so I took it to our friends, the McDaniels', house that night when we went over to watch True Blood.  Per my dessert eaters, and per myself, this lighter version is just as good as the full-fat, but without the guilt.  Guilt-free indulgence? Count me in.

Andy and his KA buddies at my house for their 2011 Fantasy Football Draft
Andy, Matt, Adam, Derek, Thomas, & Caleb

Key Lime Pie
Weight Watchers
Servings: 12, Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 5

Key Lime Pie

• 6 oz graham cracker pie crust
• 14 oz sweetened, condensed milk
• 8 oz fat-free egg substitute
• 3/4 c fresh lime juice
• 3/4 c fat-free whipped topping

1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Place crust on baking sheet, set aside
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, egg substitute and lime juice- pour into crust
4. Bake about 15 mins, until center looks set, but still shakes a little when you tap it
5. Remove to a wire rack and cool completely
6. Transfer pie to a refridgerator and chill for 1-2 hours
7. Slice into 12 slices & garnish each slice with 1 tbsp whipped topping

Key Lime Pie

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

Star Cookies

No matter where we spent the holidays of my childhood, one thing was for sure- there would be star cookies.  I didn't know until I was older that there was a difference in the cookies at the different grandparents' homes, thoguh.  First, there were my Granny Strickland's star cookies (a recipe I always thought was from my Great Great Aunt Hazel, "Auntie").  These cookies were different from my Granny Poirot's sugar cookies.  To complicate things even more, what I've grown up thinking are Granny Strickland/Auntie's sugar cookies, are actually a recipe from my Granny Strickland's friend, Carol Stalder. 

Me, Gillian, and Granny Poirot baking cookies in her kitchen- Wichita Falls, TX

Per my mom, Carol was a wonderful cook whose husband was stationed in Germany at the same time as my Grandad Strickland.  Granny Strickland called these "Star Cookies" because Carol always made them in the shape of stars.  This recipe called for lemon extract in the icing glaze, so they had a bit of a tang to them.  My Granny Poirot's Sugar Cookies did not have lemon in them.  Since my dad never liked the tangy zest, my mom started leaving the lemon extract out of the recipe.

Star Cookies and Christmas tree shaped Star Cookies at my 3rd Annual Holiday Cocktail Party

No Thanksgiving or Christmas was complete without Star Cookies.  I remember my Granny Strickland staying up until midnight with my mom and aunts making Star Cookies on Christmas Eve and waking up at 5am on Christmas Morning to start the pies and turkey.  Star Cookies were the cookies I left for Santa on my "Cookies for Santa" plate that I made in second grade art class.  Weeks before Christmas, my dad would walk into the kitchen with a glimmer in his eye- just hoping some Star Cookies would be there waiting.  When there were no cookies to be found, my dad would pout and say, with a dejected face, "Oh... have you not made any cookies yet?"  Of course, my caring mom would immediately head to Albertson's and get everything to make the cookies for my poor, pitiful, "all I want is a measly cookie" dad.  (Kidding, Dad!)

Santa always eats Star Cookies at the Strickland house- this is the plate I made in 2nd grade

There are stipulations on the cookies though- they have to be juuuust right.  The perfect Star Cookie is thin, crispy, with just the right amount of homemade icing glaze.  (Icing the cookies has always been my favorite part- nothing like the warm, sugary goodness!)  The cookies have evolved from the traditional star shape to also include Christmas trees, stockings, and candy canes.  There are cactus cookies, coyote cookies, Texas state cookies, and (of course) longhorn cookies.  When The University of Texas Longhorns take on the Texas A&M Aggies every Thanksgiving, my mom always makes a big platter of longhorn cookies to cheer on our favorite burnt orange clad boys.

Longhorn shaped Star Cookies

Last year, while eating a leftover Star Cookie, I was creeping looking on Facebook, I saw my family friend, Kacie Skipworth (now Kacie Turner), had posted pictures of stockings that she had had made for her and her now-husband.  The stockings were so unique and so different than any I had ever seen- I knew right then that I wanted to have some made.  Kacie told me that her family friend, Carol, had made them for her and suggested that I Facebook message Carol and have her make me some, too.  So here I was, in January, already working on stockings for the next December.  Sweet Carol said that she would love to make me some stockings, and, as is typical in Wichita Falls, she also happened to know my my family.  Small world, right? Well- it gets smaller.

Ashlea, Kacie, and Me at Richard & Rhonda Poirot's house, Thanksgiving 2008

I went to Andy's sister, Carly's, house over Christmas when we were celebrating with our Wichita Falls families.  There, hanging on her fireplace was her son, Greyson, 's first Christmas stocking, and it was a Carol stocking! "Oh my gosh!" I told Carly, "I just asked Carol to make me some of those!"  As it turns out, Carol lives next door to Carly and Andy's parents, Melody and Bill.  Small, SMALL world.  Below are a few pictures of the stockings that Carol has begun for me, Andy, and my dog, Abbie.  For more products by Carol, click here to visit her Facebook page.

Abbie, Andy, and my stockings that Carol made- thank you!

Thank you so much, Carol, for adding to my Christmas traditions of homemade goodies! Maybe you can enjoy a star cookie while making some of your precious products this holiday season :)

Star Cookies
From a recipe combination of Carolyn Poirot, Great Aunt Dollie, Carol Stalder, Granny Poirot, and Granny Strickland!
Servings: 4-5 dozen (48-60 cookies); Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value:  2/cookie, un-iced (3 pts when iced)

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

1. Cream butter; gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy
2. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla
3. Sift in flour, baking powder and salt
4. Gradually add to creamed mixture
5. Chill for ease in handling
6. Roll out cookie dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thick
7. Cut with floured cookie cutters into desired shapes
8. Bake on cookie sheets in preheated 350 degree oven 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned
9. Remove to wire racks to cool

Icing
Great Aunt Dollie
Servings: 60 (for cookies); Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 1/serving (on each cookie)

• 1/2 c butter
• 2 c powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Melt butter over medium heat on stovetop
2.  Gradually add sugar and vanilla
3. Gradually add milk
4. Use a small spatula or knife to ice cookies

I want to try to healthify this recipe over the holidays.  While sugar cookies are meant to be buttery and rich, 3 points per cookie is awfully high value for such a small portion.  I'll let readers know how my experimenting goes, if I try it out!


Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine