Foodie Friday (Christmas Sugar Cookies and Royal Icing)

Every Christmas for as long as I can remember my grandmother has made her famous "Santa Cookies" and in fact, the last time I was at her house two or so week's ago, she had her apron on and was icing cookies. So, in the Christmas spirit of my cookie-baking grandmother, I thought I'd try my hand at it. Two sugar cookie recipes and three batches of Royal icing plus icing bags and squeeze bottles, food coloring, decorator tips and endless research has led to lots of Christmas goodies.

 

This came from Betty Crocker's Best of Christmas Cookbook.

Melt-in-Your-Mouth-Sugar Cookies

Prep: 25 mins.; Chill: 2 hrs; Bake: 8 min per sheet; Cool: 30 mins

Makes about 5 dozen

 

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 egg

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

 

Beat powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, almond extract and egg in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed or mix with a spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.

 

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease the cookie sheet. Divide dough in half. Roll each half 1/4 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.

 

Bake 7-8 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool completely. Then proceed with the decorating.

 

Note: I will say this -- Make sure you put in the cream of tartar. I didn't and I had a sticky mess but I got through it by adding more flour while rolling the dough out. You can live without the almond extract if you don't have any. Some people like lemon in their sugar cookies. I just stuck with the vanilla. I don't think I got 5 dozen cookies but that depends on the size of your cookie cutters.  

Now, the challenge -- Royal Icing. This recipe comes from Sweetopia. I looked at several recipes and all are basically the same.

Royal Icing
3/4 cup warm water
5 tablespoons of meringue powder
1 teaspoon of cream of tartar
2.25 lbs. of powdered sugar

Hand whisk water and meringue powder for 30 seconds; add cream of tartar and whisk for 30 seconds; and finally add all the powder sugar and use the electric with paddles and slow mix for 10 mins. Separate and tint with food coloring. To prevent drying, place a damp towel over the bowl to prevent drying out.

Notes: In this state, you should be able to remove the paddle and turn it upright and a stiff peak (like pie meringue). This is the perfect consistency for outlining your cookies with your icing bags and tips (No. 2 tip). And once that's done, don't touch your cookies.

About 30 mins. later, you can fill them in but you need to thin your icing a little. Do this in 1/2 teaspoon increments.  Bake at 350 has a great post on this.

And you get this....

And the final result...

If you don't like crispy, crunchy cookies, I suggest using this recipe for Sour Cream Sugar Cookies. It makes a lot of cookies. You've been warned!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and fun making cookies. My sister, niece and I are going to be decorating some on Monday. She's almost 2 so it's going to be interesting.

Christmas Cheer

 

I'm a little late to this party but I've been up to my eyeballs in cookie dough and icing. So here a look around the Dees home for the holidays. I really worked hard on the tree this year. I said I wanted more stuff and less tree! I think I got it.

 

 

Our kitchen Christmas tree with our Mickey and Minnie bobble heads located on top of the fridge. We love Disney and every time we go, we return with a ornament.

 

My grandma gave me that Santa musical wind-up so that one day when she's gone I'll have something to remember her by. I think her exact words were "When I'm dead, you can say my grandmother gave me that." She's still very much alive at 82. The photo stays up year-round of Paul and I from our honeymoon to Disney Word. We were on a carriage ride at Disney through the decorated campground for the holiday season.

 

Part of the only thing I collect -- Snowbabies.

 

One of our sweet kittens, Phoebe, hiding in the deco mesh. She even took a nap while I was decorating and she hide from Scout, our cocker spaniel. 

The mantle with the remaining snowbabies on the mantle. Also, this is before the adhesive hooks holding the garland caused it to look less than perfect.

This is probably my newest piece of Christmas décor. A vintage Santa cookie jar that I bought at our monthly antique auction and it came from a personal collection of a well-known Kosciusko resident.

 

We do have a bathroom Christmas tree up on a shelf and its gold and covered in N.O. Saints ornaments.

 

 

 

And here's what you missing in Leslie's world...

1. We survived Paul's 25th football season (My 10th, well actually 9 1/2) and we won our last two games for a total of three wins on the season (one more than last year). We've had lots of ups and downs -- disciplinary problems and lots of injuries. That makes it hard in 1A football with 32 players but I'm proud of the way they continued to play hard and work as a team. There are also lots of players that aren't on the field that help make each Friday night an reality from our stat keepers to the parents to the wives and teachers on duty and of course, the cheerleaders and band. What really, really stinks is that I don't have many photos from the season since I am no longer working at the newspaper.

2. Over Thanksgiving Break, we took a trip to Branson. We had a really relaxing and chilly time. We did a lot of Christmas shopping and saw The Texas Tenors (They were on a season of America's Got Talent) and a capella group -- The Cat's Pajamas. We also did a little antique shopping and I got some metal cookie cutters just like my grandma's. Also, I have a great love of vintage Christmas decorations.

3. I am starting to assemble and make my own jewelry! I've been doing it for years for gifts and such and while, I'm still doing that this year I've toyed with the idea of selling some too. Maybe an Esty store or something. I love these!

Foodie Friday (Fall Bread Baking)

My dad grows pumpkins and everything seems to be pumpkin flavored these days so I tried this out. Plus, I've added my mom's awesome sourdough bread and my favorite banana nut bread! I know everybody wants to be gluten free but sometimes you just gotta have some bread! 

 

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Courtesy of Pillsbury

1 can of Pumpkin

4 eggs

3/4 c. butter

4 cups of all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/8 c. miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp  nutmeg

1 tsp salt

2 1/8 cups sugar

2 Tbsp pecans

1/2 cup water

 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of two 8X4 loaf pans.

Next, mix dry ingredients and set aside.

Then in a large bowl beat sugar and butter with mixer until creamy. Next add eggs, water and can of pumpkin on low speed.

Add nuts and chips.

 

Bake for 1 hour 5 mins to 1 hour 15 mins.

Cool for 1 1/2 hours.

 

I have always loved my mom's sourdough bread. I usually make it for Christmas happies for Paul's coworkers. When I make a pot of soup and if I have time, I love making this bread! You don't have to feed the starter for days.

 

Sourdough Bread

Starter:

1 c. warm water

3/4 c. sugar

1 pkg. of yeast

3 T. of potato flakes

Bread:

6 c. bread flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. oil

1 c. starter

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 c. warm water

Make starter and let it sit in a closed container for 1 1/2 hours until smells sour.

Mix sugar, oil, salt and water together. Add starter. Stir in two cups of flour at a time. Place in greased bowl to rise in a warm place. When doubled in size, about four hours, knock down and knead. Divide into at least two loaves. Let rise again until doubled in size. Bake at 350 until brown.

 

Banana Nut Bread

1/2 c self-rising flour

1 cup sugar

3 eggs, beaten

3 med. bananas, mashed

2 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped nuts

 

Combine all ingredients and pour in loaf pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 mins and then 350 degrees for 35-40 mins.

 

Being a coach's wife is hard but you've got to embrace it...

I follow several blogs written by coach's wives and there was a guest post on The Football Wife and it just made me so unbelievable sad. The wife talks about the resentment she felt about her husband coaching but she also discusses how she has dealt with it. I wanted to tell her -- you are missing out.

From the moment we set foot on Ethel High School's campus, I've totally embraced my role as a coach's wife even more so than I did at South Pontotoc. There are some great and rewarding moments and moments when you have to stop, take a deep breath and pray to God. We love them like they were our own children.

I've baked cookies, cleaned the field house, washed jerseys at our house and shed many happy and sad tears over the years and it's all because I've embraced the team and the coaches as my family. You take care of your family and support your family.

I've embraced that my husband isn't going to be home much and there will be many nights when his supper waits for him in the microwave. Sometimes, that's hard but I also know all the pressure he puts on himself and how hard the players and coaches work and that takes time. Every year it's an adjustment.

I've embraced that fact that we aren't going to have many true friends because of Paul's coaching. With the exception of the coaches and their wives and several teachers, we've got a small tight inner circle and I'd rather have five great friends than  several hundred "good" ones.

There is probably one thing I won't ever embrace or except and that's the critics. Win or lose, there is always someone out there that has their opinion about how Paul coaches. I know how hard he works, how much work he brings home, how many hours are put into each week...not to mention the devotions he leads on Friday mornings, the counseling his gives and how in a lot of cases, he's the only father figure some of those players have.

For nearly 10 years, I've either been the coach's girlfriend, fiancée or wife and I wouldn't trade where I've spent those Friday nights for anything in the world. Cause you see, my heart lies on that field.

I'm finally done with PUMPKINS!

I've pretty much been on the go the last two week of October as I've been traveling to Rolling Fork to work at my parents' pumpkin patch, Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, to not only work on the weekends but also to assist with the school field trips during the week. It's really been a great month and I've finally caught up with my sleep. Our school groups were awesome and I enjoyed every minute of their pumpkin patch visit. Plus, I got to see some old friends and some family.
 Yes, I've seen every one of Paul's football games too.

 Just an afternoon at Farmer Jim's!

 Landry and her pumpkin!

 

Educating school children on the life cycle of a pumpkin. 

October is always a WILD RIDE!

Most of last week was spend in spent in "The DELTA," helping my parents get ready for the opening weekend of Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze. Everything was a little bit behind. We opened on Saturday to the public and Sunday we were closed due to the rain. We were able finish setting up the our new store Sunday afternoon. Also, I got to see some family and make it back for the Paul's football game.

1. Being a Farm Hand is hard work but I got to take in some beautiful sights! It's also a great workout! I've lost 5 pounds!

2. Eating at the Onward Store with some cousins, who later visited the patch! It's just up the road from Rolling Fork and is the site of where Teddy Roosevelt didn't shoot the bear and how we all have come to know the "Teddy Bear." Rolling Fork holds the Great Delta Bear Affair on October 26. Lots of activities.

3. Landry dances at Farmer's Grocery to the live Blues Music after a hard Saturday at pumpkin patch. She never slows down!

4. We love our new store at the Patch. So proud of our building and Jason is haunting it a little early this year. Our haunted maze is October 26.

5. Took some awesome photos Saturday. Can't share yet as they are a SURPRISE! I wish I could do photos all the time and get paid. It's so much fun.

Ethel Homecoming is this Friday! Can't wait to share photos and my thoughts on being a coach's wife! Hopefully, that will be before November.

Getting to know you...getting to know all about you...

1. What is your favorite thing to do in your hometown?
Paul and I have lived in Kosciusko for 7 years but I still consider my hometown, Rolling Fork, in the Delta, my "home, home." In addition to visiting my family and church family, I love to ride with the windows rolled down and cruise the wide open flat land, eat a  Rolling Fork original "Chuck's Burger or Chicken Strip Basket, do a little shopping at The Green Apple, The Shoppe (which has lots of local and MS made items), and Deep Delta Drugs and Gifts, and just chill out with my family. We've also got several fabulous murals painted in town and several chainsaw carved 8-plus feet tall wooden bears around town that I enjoy photographing.
2. What is the best vacation spot in Mississippi?
Growing up so close to Vicksburg, I think I took the history for granted. You can have a unique shopping experience Downtown near the water front, locally owned restaurants including several B&Bs and of course there is the history -- the military park.
Next I would have to say Natchez. My parents have been twice and they've enjoyed several historical tours and shopping and eating at Fat Mama's for the weekend. Paul and I are going one day.
3. Tell us about the most fun date night idea in Mississippi.
Paul and I started dating in the middle of his football season about 10 years ago, so "fun" for us was just being together. We went to several MSU football games (we are both graduates) and dinner at Harvey's afterwards.
This may not be in MS but the Saturday morning his football season was completely over, he took me to Graceland (I'm an Elvis nut) and we did the complete tour and got souvenirs. We still laugh about how it rained and rained during our tour and we got soaked.
4. What is one fun fact that very few people know about you?
I'm left-handed and that makes me one of the chosen few to be in my "right mind" because the left side of our body is controlled by the right side of our brain.
5. Who is your favorite sports team (if you have one) and how did it start?
My Dad went to MSU and my parents lived right off campus for a semester after they were married so I was born to be a bulldog! By 6th grade, I would watch MSU football games with my dad with the sound turned down and Jack Cristal on the radio. My dad always watched the New Orleans Saints, no matter how much they lost back in the day and I even had a New Orleans Saints football of my very own.
6. What are your top three “Best Eats” in Mississippi?
1. Rusty's in Vickburg -- On the water and fresh seafood is flown in daily.
2. Little Dooey's in Starkville -- BBQ staple and I love their chicken strips. There seafood is good and I just love the atmosphere.
3. Onward Store in Onward -- It's the only landmark in the town that is where Teddy Roosevelt didn't shoot the bear while on a hunt. Recently remodeled with the history on display. Variety of food and I know the chef personally and he can dish it out. Variety of seafood, steaks, sandwich plates and daily lunch specials. Hamburgers and the Delta staple -- Tamales.
7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see Paul and I with a child (biological or otherwise) and he will be retired from football but we will still go to football games on Friday nights. We will continue growing our antique business. I can see maybe an antique jewelry line in my future as well. I want to be at a good health weight which has been a constant struggle with me for my entire life.
8. If you could choose an actress to play you in real life, who would you choose and why?
Well, I don't think my life is that interesting but if someone wanted to tackle the role of me as the coach's wife then I guess I would pick Lost's Evangeline Lilly because she's about my age, came coloring and freckled. :)
9. What is a southern tradition you and your family have? (Note: Get your guest posts on “Traditions” ready for December!)
10. List 5 things on your Bucket List you hope to do before you die.
1. Fly on an airplane and go to someplace fabulous like Europe.  I'm afraid of heights and that would be a major deal.
2. Take my parents and immediate family on vacation. Growing up we went on vacation twice and I would like the chance to do that with them again. I'm thinking Disney.
3. Write a book. Not sure if it would be coach's wife related, a children's book or even a cook book.
4. Speak a foreign language. After four semesters of college Spanish, I can't speak hardly anything.
5. I just really can't think of a thing. My life is pretty good. :)

Getting ready for Football Friday -- Recipes

With the addition of the new field house last year, we finally had a place where our coaching family could gather after the games. It's also a great blessing for the players to have a place that is safe, clean and really nice. The team is really proud of the facility and so are the coaches. Here's what we were dealing with before.

Inside the new field house last year, with the coaches and the 2012 seniors.

Anyway, onto the recipes.

Tuzzi Dip
1 lb. of breakfast sausage, cooked, crumbled and drained (I've used turkey, pork and deer breakfast sausge before)
1 can of RoTel
2 blocks of cream chees (full fat, 1/3 less fat, fat free -- all work fine).

After cooking and draining the sausage, add room temperature cream cheese and RoTel in a boiler and mix and melt well. Place dip in crockpot on warm and serve with a heavy corn chip.

Rolo Brownies
2 rolls of Rolls, remove foil and place in a bowl in the refrigerator
1 brownie mix, prepare per instructions

In a mini-muffin pan, poor brownie mix and cook per instructions. After removing from the oven, press rolos (small side down) into the center. Wait until they are completely cooled before removing.

Yesterday, I bought a $1 brownie mix pouch and a $1 bag of Rolo minnies. It made about 16 brownie bites.

Five on Friday...Randomness

Hooray for Friday!

1. Paul's birthday was Thursday and we've been celebrating all week. We had catfish and fixins' with cupcakes for dessert. However, he's been getting his "favorite things" in brown paper packages tied up with string. Also, we had movie night with popcorn and Redbox DVDs on Tuesday and I decorated the dining room for his birthday.

2. I tried a new product this week from one of my Birch Boxes. I love getting samples and trying new stuff.  Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls was just that soft curls and it didn't make my hair limp. However, this gel was kind of thing and I wasn't cracked up about the scent. I will tell you that I love my Deva Curl products. They are awesome!

3. One of my favorite TV shows of all time is on Amazon Prime -- Friday Nigh Lights. If you've ever wanted to know what the life of a high school football coach, it's pretty dang close. Hopefully, I will be doing a fun blog on fall TV soon.

4. Thankful for girl talk! I had a surprise visitor at the antique mall while I was working yesterday. One of Paul's former students and my friend of the same name -- Leslie stopped by. As much as a love my husband and my bff, sometimes it's nice to have a girl to talk too. Leslies RULE!

5. My sweet niece has the hand, foot, and mouth virus. It's only on her feet right now and since my mom is off today, she's watching her. This is a photo from our first home game at Ethel. Grana and Paw Paw brought her to see me and Uncle Paul. She loved the football field, the lights and the band. Her mama made her shirt for the special occasion.

Three weeks into the season and we are off this week....

Blogger's note: If you are new to my blog, then you know I primarily started it to chronicle our journey as my husband, Paul, coaches the Class 1A Ethel Tigers, and players that he coaches. So, just a little background before I jump right in to the current season. We moved to Kosciusko the summer of 2007 in a hurry because summer is a busy time for football coaches. Paul was getting to "go home" and coach on the very field he played on. There have been more losses than wins but the greatest reward we believe is being role models to these players we call our kids and they teach us too.

I feel like I've come full circle as a coach's wife. I started out in the bleachers at South Pontotoc and then onto Ethel Tiger field with my trusty camera for The Star-Herald and now I'm back in my chair on Friday nights. That part about me sitting in a chair is not quite true! I walk, sit, repeat. 

The first two weeks, I felt quite disconnected from the game and the team. There is just something about being on the sidelines at a game. However, week three for some reason was different.

We played the other Attala County High School -- McAdams. I always go directly onto the field when the game is over. I've been on the field after many games many many times. Before the team left the field, Paul always ends with a prayer and this time the guys wanted me in the circle with them. Such a sweet moment! Oh yeah, and we won 40-16, which is our first win of the season.

We also get a break from football this week as this is our "off" week and it's also Paul's birthday week.

If God is for us...My Five on Friday

I don't talk a lot about my faith or my relationship to God. Don't worry, I have one and as far back as I can remember it has been a constant comfort in my life. Sure, God and I have had our difference of opinions at times. So, my Five on Friday list is dedicated the gifts that were given, the tasks we face and the unknown but all the while, knowing that God is there.

1. I believe that in 2007 God moved us to Attala County and I can see the work that he is doing through my husband as a coach. Most recently, he has been leading the team devotionals on Fridays and the response from the coaches and players have been overwhelming. I've been giving him a letter a week from a former player and he uses them as inspiration.

2. I believe that God carries us through the storms of life. When the newspaper downsized under new ownership and I lost my job in the process, it was very painful. Things got neglected in my personal life and mounting stress over money was looming. Two weeks after being unemployed, I woke up and for some reason I knew everything was going to be OK. Our antique side business took off as it became my full time business and for now I'm content with that as a look for my next big adventure. Thank you, Jesus.

3. I believe that God put Paul and I together for a reason. At the core, we are very similar but our thought processes are completely different. He is the calmer and doesn't get mad often and I'm impatient and hotheaded. I am thankful for God choosing the right partner for me (of course, it took me awhile to warm up to the idea of dating Paul but that's another entry for another time) and we balance each other.

4. I believe that God picked me to be a coach's wife. It is be far the best and worst job I will ever have. It's awful because your husband is way for hours and hours during the season and as much hard work as he puts in, there are always critics. As Paul always tells me -- You better believe that if you follow God's plan and do his work, then know that the Devil is working just as hard. The best part of the coach's wife gig isn't the t-shirts and the late night chats after games, but when a player is about to graduate and they hug you and they say "I love you" because you've been supportive and given them words of encouragement. It just makes you happy!

5. And finally, "If God is for Us, who can be against us."

Happy Friday!

Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze

It's that time of year -- well almost! Farmer Jim (that's my dad) and Farmer Lynn (my mom) will be opening Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze starting October 1. It's a family operation and my sister and I help out quite a bit on the weekends. We also do school and church groups!
We are located on Highway 16 in Rolling Fork in the South Delta. Besides being able to pick our own pumpkin off the vine (and we've got some HUGE ones) and getting lost in the corn maze, is watching the people explore the farm. Most children these days don't know where their food comes from and have never seen a working farm.

Our Web site is under construction but you can find the basic information at www.farmerjimspumpkinpatch.com and Like us on Facebook by searching Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze.

We've been featured in The Clarion-Ledger, The Delta Democrat Times, Mississippi Magazine, Delta Magazine, and Farm Country (The Farm Bureau bi-monthly publication).

Best Dang Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever!

I've always used the Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe and I've always had great tasting cookies but sometimes they didn't look so pretty.

I little Pinterest research and I've made fantastic cookies! Who knew room temperature butter and a 1/2 cup more of flour would make all the difference. 

Look here for the recipe and tips.