Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Overconfident Domestic Goddess

The other day, Cadence, Cooper and I along with our downstairs tenant, Miranda, were going to go to Mia and Frannie's house to make birthday cupcakes to celebrate Frannie turning one. Amelia had to cancel, but I got this great idea!!! I thought 'Let's make sugar cookies, and decorate them for Halloween. We could make sugar cookies once a month, inviting a different friend over, decorating the cookies for the holiday of that month and then taking some remaining cookies to people to tell them that we are thinking of them.' I want to raise my kids to be giving and thinking of others.Being the domestic goddess that I am (Yeah, right), I didn't freak out that I didn't have a sugar cookie or frosting recipe, cookie cutters or have any idea what I was doing. I could find a recipe and cut the dough with a knife, I thought. This would be simple. WRONG!!!

Miranda still came and I told her my good idea! She said she had a yummy sugar cookie recipe and cookie cutters. Her recipe called for shortening. To make a REALLY LONG story short, the shortening was rancid, as was the second container of shortening we tried. It was grossy-gross (as Cadence would say.) I got another recipe and made it. The problem with this recipe was that it wasn't a recipe that you were supposed to roll out the dough and make designs. WE Tried it anyways. BAD IDEA!!! Finally, Cadence just plopped some dough on the pan and I smooshed it flat. I didn't really have a recipe for frosting and just combined powdered sugar, butter and milk until I thought it looked and tasted good. It took us FOUR HOURS to get one batch of cookies to turn out and be baked and to make the frosting. Miranda left before we even frosted the cookies because it was taking so long. After a break, Cadence and I frosted the cookies and decorated them with sprinkles.

I am NO DOMESTIC GODDESS, that is a proven fact. This incident just reinforced that I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to cooking (and many other things). My overconfidence in just "pulling this off" was humbling, but I just laughed at myself for thinking I could do this. The cookies ended up tasting good and looking like a 2-yr-old made them.However, I am looking for a yummy sugar cookie recipe where we can actually roll the dough out and use cookie cutters to make shapes. I also need a frosting recipe. Anybody have an amazing recipe? Let me know. I still want to follow through on my 'good idea.'

6 comments:

highdeekay said...

That IS a good idea. Maybe I'll borrow it. I have a good recipe in one of my books, I'll see what I can find and let you know...

Jacqui said...

Here are a couple of recipes for you. Now I do have to say I haven't tried them...but everything else in this book has worked out WONDERFULLY!!! It's in the Essential Mormon Celebrations cookbook.
Soft Sugar Cookies
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup margarine
1 egg
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
In a large bowl cream butter and margarine together. Add egg and mix. Add powdered sugar and beat well. Add remaining ingredients, mix. On a floured surface, roll out dough about 1/2 inch thick. Add additional flour if dough is too sticky. Cut dough into desired shapes. Bake on greased cookie sheets at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire rack and frost with Cream Cheese Frosting. Makes 2-3 dozen.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8ox package cream cheese softened
1/2 cup butter melted
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream the softened cream cheese; blend with butter. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well.

Good luck to you and what a fun idea.

Tina said...

Oh yikes. Rancid shortening doesn't sound fun. Looks like you all had fun anyway!!
This is one of my favorite recipes for sugar cookies. http://blog.ernstrom.net/?p=15

It does require shortening too though. And I personally LOVE that you paint them (and so did Bridget) and only add a little frosting... so much better for you right?!?

I've actually been thinking lately that I need to make them again (only with Halloween cutters). But, costumes first... *sigh*

Aaron and crystal said...

You are much more of a domestic goddess than I am... I love how the cookies turned out and its a memory that Cadence will always remember.

Brooke said...

michelle, you made me laugh with this post. you are too funny and I admire your attempt to bake and have fun with your kids!

Cortney Chambers said...

I promise I have the answer to all your sugar cookie problems!!! This recipe will make you very happy:
Sour Cream Cookies

1 c sugar
1/2 c shortening

Cream together and add:

2 eggs
1 c sour cream
1 tsp vanilla

Beat until smooth, then add:

3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

Let stand in refrigerator for an hour. Add more flour when rolling out for the first time (soft and sticky dough.) Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. These cookies should not get brown.

I frost these with a buttercream frosting.

1 softened cube of butter
3 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup milk