Cookie School

The very first batch!!!


Smile!


The whole gang


It must be love...




So a couple of weeks ago I started getting into cookie baking. Since I have lived at my place, I have not made cookies one time (I've been here for almost 2 years!). Mainly because I do not have an oven to cook in, and neither does Vann, so I have depended on my little toaster oven to get me through. Knowing the task that it would be to make any type of cookies is really what has kept me away from baking. That, and the fact that my kitchen is incredibly small (my dryer is in my kitchen, and my kitchen table doubles as a place where I fold my laundry...).

I would like to clarify that Vann and I do both have ovens in our places, but they are gas, and my place is so old that I am not comfortable at all with getting my gas turned on...and Vann really doesn't do that much cooking or baking at his place, so he doesn't need it...at least not right now.

The first picture is the very first batch of cookies that Vann and I made. Cute, aren't they? I thought so :) Vann decorated the top 3, and I decorated the bottom 3. The smiley faces are the second batch that I made. And the hearts are the third batch that I made yesterday for Vann to take to work with him last night for everyone to try. According to him, the cookies got rave reviews!

I have had an absolute blast making these cookies! And I finally found the BEST sugar cookie recipe and icing recipe! The only issue that I am having is that I cannot get my flood icing to dry smooth like it is supposed to. I am thinking this is because I'm not getting all of the air bubbles out (even though it always looks like all of them are out when I put the icing in the squeeze bottle, but who knows?), but that's not the definite reason. Only practice and time will tell I suppose!

It Must Be Love

Remember how Johnny Carson had that old lady on his show that found different potato chips that were shaped like different things? Well, a while ago I had purchased a sack of potatoes from Kroger. (This is when Vann and I were really on our baked potato kick.) Anyway, while searching for a potato one night for us to have for dinner, I came across this one. Shaped in a perfect heart. Cute, huh? As soon as I saw it, I put it in the freezer so that it would keep. Vann wanted to eat it, but I just couldn't bring myself to cosume that little potato!

The Best Alfredo

1/2 cup butter
8 ounces garlic and herb cream cheese
1 cup half and half
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. garlic powder
Salt
Black pepper
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 pound linguini noodles, prepared as directed

In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Next add cream cheese. Once the cream cheese has melted, add heavy cream and half and half. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes (or until sauce begins to thicken) over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese. Serve over hot linguini noodles.

I have finally been able to add pictures on here, and I cannot tell you how excited I am about that! Unfortunately I don't have pictures of all of the recipes that I have on here, but I'm sure that I can have that taken care of soon :) This is a recipe that I found on www.recipezaar.com a few weeks ago. I have always been afraid to try alfredo recipes just because I am VERY picky when it comes to the way the sauce tastes, and I have tried alfredo in several different restaurants and have always managed to be disappointed. However, when I saw this recipe I knew that I had to try it. I am so glad that I did! As soon as Vann and I sat down and tasted this, it was love.

I actually followed some of the suggestions that people had made on the website, and it turned out perfectly. Needless to say this is a staple in our house now. It is extremely easy to make, and if you double it, you will have leftovers coming out of your butt. I took this to work the next day the first time that I made it and let all of my co-workers try it, and everyone wanted the recipe and said that it was better than anything they had ever had in a restaurant. Give it a try and enjoy!